BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Jan 2020, 00:51

+1 on the Jeep / Jeep variant option. Blizzard here today, so I decided to get the 'tug' shined up.

2013 Jeep Wrangler, front hitch, Brakett TR-53 Tow Bar. I also have a set of tire cable chains (Glacier Chains) from when I was in a north-facing T-hangar (ice rink all winter long). Be patient and always try to push in a straight line as much as possible.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Jan 2020, 01:00

Sorry to hear Gary. Doesn’t matter whether it’s a friend, or a friend I haven’t met. The empathy is the same.

I’ve fallen innumerable times while maneuvering various airplanes over the years. I agree With Gary. You’d pay the money for a suitable tug after a fall if you could erase the injury, but it doesn’t work like that. You have to be preemptive.

I’ve got a great tow bar when I’m on amphibious floats. I may work on a solution for when I’m on wheels and skis to tow from the front so I can push into my hangar. I use a front mounted hitch on an F150 for that.

Meanwhile my strategy has been to invite a friend to fly so I have extra muscle at the end of the flight.

I’ve learned to park so that using a tail wheel tow bar I can swing the tail from the grass taxiway into the hangar, and have my feet on dry ground in the hangar before I really lean in to pull it inside.

Also, ice cleats With elastic bands over shoes have become standard issue for all my employees. Even the office staff for making their way from the parking lot. Started as a liability thing, but they’ve proven valuable. The field staff actually like them. They’re a nuisance, but worth the trouble. May procure and employ a set myself going forward. :doh:

Please be careful out there.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Jan 2020, 08:24

Username Protected wrote:

I just experienced a very expensive and painful lesson, that I’ll be recovering from for the next year. I’m typing this while my leg is in a full immobilizer and will be for 8 weeks.

I was pulling my Socata Trinidad out of my hanger in Bemidji, snow the night before, but ground crew had plowed the area, still an inch of snow, with packed snow and ice underneath. Typical MN winter conditions. About 5 feet from where I would have stopped and POP, down I went. Turns out I ruptured my quadriceps tendon! Surgery that day, six month rehabilitation, a year before fully healed.

Moral of the story, whatever the tug costs, if it saves something like this happening to you it’s worth it! All I’d have is pull it out with my Jeep! Stupid!

My $6,000.00 “Best Tug” saves my $6,000.00 steering collar which I already replaced twice.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Jan 2020, 09:05

Username Protected wrote:

I just experienced a very expensive and painful lesson, that I’ll be recovering from for the next year. I’m typing this while my leg is in a full immobilizer and will be for 8 weeks.

I was pulling my Socata Trinidad out of my hanger in Bemidji, snow the night before, but ground crew had plowed the area, still an inch of snow, with packed snow and ice underneath. Typical MN winter conditions. About 5 feet from where I would have stopped and POP, down I went. Turns out I ruptured my quadriceps tendon! Surgery that day, six month rehabilitation, a year before fully healed.

Moral of the story, whatever the tug costs, if it saves something like this happening to you it’s worth it! All I’d have is pull it out with my Jeep! Stupid!

My $6,000.00 “Best Tug” saves my $6,000.00 steering collar which I already replaced twice.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Jan 2020, 10:13

A few years back, realized that I wasn’t getting any younger and pushing my 182 up a very slight grade into my hangar at KCMA was becoming more difficult. So I bought an electric tug... But did I use it —- No! Got a hernia and ended up in surgery at UCLA. Then I used the tug.

So the best tug is the one you use...

Blue skies,

Tom

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Jan 2020, 19:47

Username Protected wrote:

What I need to do is make this into an add campaign for "Best tugs".....Don't let this happen to you! Make some lemonade out of these lemons....cause right now it mostly lemons! :sad:

I don't have a dog in this fight. what I can tell you is that my hangar-mate called Best Tugs this morning, with a question about our R8/12 (custom), and Patey called him back immediately. it was obvious the guy was at home with his kids- but they care about their customers, and their products. and their tugs are badass. I've bought 2, and will buy more in the future (as my planes get bigger)...

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Jan 2020, 19:59

There’s a reason their name is “Best Tugs,” because they are.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Jan 2020, 07:13

I have a best tugs Bravo B8.. it has a built in light, lazy susan (so I don’t break the nose wheel), on board air compressor and GPU... works like a champ... and the company is great...silent motor tugging.
Is sublime.. I really don’t like the noise of lawn mower engines on gas powered tugs.

I can run my avionics off the gpu battery when doing data updates as well...

Best Tug Ideas (For the money)