Working on the ideal single engine tug!

"Ross Richardson" wrote in message
...
My FBO has a old Craftsman lawn mower, sans blade, and a universal tow
bar. Works great. With the tow bar was a little lighter, though. I just
need to learn to back up with it. I am great with cars and trailers, but
this thing goes the wrong way with each turn. I just disconnect the tow
bar from the tug and stear it in. A 172 isn't that heavy.

Put a hitch (towbar attach point) on the front of the lawn mower. You will
wonder why you didn't do so, earlier.
--
Jim in NC

It has one, but I never set it up that way. Makes it easier???

I have seen cars and trucks pushing boat trailers that way because they
couldn't back them up. I never had to do that. So, I thought I could
succeed by backing up. It just didn't work that way. I'll try it next time.

Thanks
Ross
KSWI

Morgans wrote:

"Ross Richardson" wrote in message
...

My FBO has a old Craftsman lawn mower, sans blade, and a universal tow
bar. Works great. With the tow bar was a little lighter, though. I just
need to learn to back up with it. I am great with cars and trailers, but
this thing goes the wrong way with each turn. I just disconnect the tow
bar from the tug and stear it in. A 172 isn't that heavy.


Put a hitch (towbar attach point) on the front of the lawn mower. You will
wonder why you didn't do so, earlier.

"Ross Richardson" wrote in message
...
It has one, but I never set it up that way. Makes it easier???

I have seen cars and trucks pushing boat trailers that way because they
couldn't back them up. I never had to do that. So, I thought I could
succeed by backing up. It just didn't work that way. I'll try it next
time.

Without a doubt, the pushing will be simple with the hitch on front.

The difference is the type of trailer. Yeah, I too can back a conventional
trailer with my eyes closed. The problem comes with backing a trailer with
a steerable front axle. That is what some call a 4 wheel trailer, however
inaccurate that description may be.

The plane with a steerable nose or tail wheel, with a towbar is like the 4
wheel trailer. Everything is backwards. You put the hitch on the front of
the tug, and it all becomes easy, and intuitive.
--
Jim in NC

On Fri, 02 Jun 2006 07:56:05 -0500, Ross Richardson
wrote:
It has one, but I never set it up that way. Makes it easier???

I have seen cars and trucks pushing boat trailers that way because they
couldn't back them up. I never had to do that. So, I thought I could
succeed by backing up. It just didn't work that way. I'll try it next time.

With a free castering nosewheel, I believe it is even more difficult
to back it up than a stearable nosewheel... I use an ATV as a tug and
have hitches on the front and the rear... Most of the moves are just
in and out of the hangar, so I use the front hitch, but if I'm taking
it down to the mechanic or the wash rack, I use the rear hitch
(assuming I'm not going to need to back it into some place later)...
Care must be taken to ensure that you do not tow the aircraft too fast
with such a light vehicle or you will experience a case of the tail
wagging the dog... I've had it happen once and it was a a very
adrenaline inducing experience at the time...

"Grumman-581" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 02 Jun 2006 07:56:05 -0500, Ross Richardson
wrote:
Care must be taken to ensure that you do not tow the aircraft too fast
with such a light vehicle or you will experience a case of the tail
wagging the dog... I've had it happen once and it was a a very
adrenaline inducing experience at the time...

tell us more, we'd love to hear about the pilotless airborne airplane
pushing a panicked purveyor of an ATV

On Thu, 8 Jun 2006 15:04:34 -0500, "Tater Schuld"
wrote:


"Grumman-581" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 02 Jun 2006 07:56:05 -0500, Ross Richardson
wrote:
Care must be taken to ensure that you do not tow the aircraft too fast
with such a light vehicle or you will experience a case of the tail
wagging the dog... I've had it happen once and it was a a very
adrenaline inducing experience at the time...

tell us more, we'd love to hear about the pilotless airborne airplane
pushing a panicked purveyor of an ATV


How about alleged technician in a hurry to drag a 185 on amphib floats
up to the pumps using only the docking ropes and having the airplane
in question chasing him down a slight (but in hindsight seriously
rectum-clenching) decline in the taxiway/ramp?

TC