Tug

[Mark Anderson]

I just got really lucky and finally was given a T hanger at my local airport after a long wait in a community hanger. I know there was a thread on this the other day but I couldn't find it. After just about pulling my back out trying to push my plane up a slight slope and over the hanger lip, I am now in the market for a tug? I have been looking at the Power TOW Brand gas poered For $1395. It's hard to find a used when when you need it. Any suggestions on brands, battery vs. gas ? For that amount of money I could almost buy a riding lawn mower or golf cart and tow bar!

Thanks

Mark

[N3322G]

Mark, I've seen folks move them with mowers and golf carts at our airport. We use the PowerTow 40 EZ, had electric and it died so went to gas and like it better. The electric one was re-wired by new Twin owner N5MA as he found exactly what you are talking about. http://www.powertow.com/40ez1.html
Hope this helps.

[Mark Anderson]

Pat, that is the exact model I am looking to purchase. Do they charge shipping on top of the price? I am afraid the golf cart or lawn mower would be much less maneuverable and would create more chance of hanger rash.


Thanks

Mark

[N3322G]

Mark,

It has been almost a decade and I can only assume they charged shipping - they used to offer the most assembly done by new owner but I guess that's off the table - saved about $400 at the time.

[SLIMDREDGER]

Mark:
I don't think you will find anything better than the gasoline tug from Idaho. I have 2 of them. (One at each end of my usual trip between Everett,WA. and SW Oregon). One is 15 years old or so, and still usually starts on the first pull! The self serve pump is 250 feet from my hangar and the little tug will quickly and easily move the PA30 to and from the fuel pump and save a cold start on the engines.

Al Powers ICS 2978

[Mark Anderson]

Al, thanks for the feed back. I will pull the trigger. I guess this is a small cost in the big picture, especially if it last 15 years!

Thanks

Mark

[Matt Bogard]

I've been chewing on this same purchase for the last month or so. As soon as I figure out where taxes are going to land this year I plan to get the Lindbergh AircraftCaddy 4k Jr - . Some of the other units out there look cheesy - like they were made in a garage out of spare parts - but run only slightly less than this unit.

I know folks have had good luck with the gas units but I hate small engines - priming/choking/pulling to start/the damn thing won't start if it's too cold/etc. With this battery-powered unit, it can be left on the trickle charger and always be ready to go. If I for some reason have to tow more than 300 feet (no idea how far this will tow, maybe it can go even further), I can always use a golf cart or my truck with a hitch-towbar. I did think about the possibility of a lawn tractor (used with a mower and snowblower) but I'm worried the slow-speed handling won't be what I need for getting it into the hangar properly.

I won't be sure how to do it until it gets here, but if I buy a tug I'm also putting LED headlights on it for easy night use!

[Mark Anderson]

Matt, how much do they cost?

Thanks

Mark

[9089P]

Matt,

I'm with you, much prefer electric to gas powered.

I bought an old gas tug and converted it to electric. Simply bought a 1hp motor from Shanghai Tool Co, changed the pulley to match the rpm of the gas engine, and with a small bit of welding mounted it in place of the engine. Bought the appropriate switch so I now have electric start and no worries about a dead battery.

Don

[Matt Bogard]

$1995 for the 4kJr.