Tow winch - New, Used, Buy, Build, Type?

[cascpa]

Our club has recently rented a hanger at Hearne Municipal Airport. We have decided to retire our old tow winch. We are looking to buy/build a new one. So we have the opportunity to get something that works well for us. I have not surface towed much in recent years and my knowledge of the state of the art is dated. What do you guys think?

Just to get the ball rolling, my ideas so far are:

1. Trailer mounted winch.
2. Adjustable hydraulic disc brake.
3. Dyneema Line.
4. Square chute for line retrieval off of the ground.
5. Electric rewind motor with two deep cycle AGM batteries (as opposed to gas).
6. Adjustable glider rack on trailer.
7. Ability to easily set up for foot or A/T dolly launch.
8. PG compatible. If 7 above is achieved, then should be good for PG.

What do you think. Am I lost?

Charlie S.

[cascpa]

oh yeah,

9. Level wind.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Hi Charlie and the AFFA,

I'm sorry I don't have a lot of towing experience, but I was just browsing the Crestline forum (http://www.crestlinesoaring.org/node/581) when I found a fellow selling a scooter tow rig:

IMG_0552s.jpg (174.06 KiB) Viewed 12666 times

I have a feeling that's not what you're looking for, but I thought I'd post it anyway in case anyone is interested in setting up a scooter tow.

Here are some descriptions from the fellow selling it:

STATIONARY SCOOTER TOW RIG $600 O.B.O.Must sell now

Submitted by Rando on Fri, 01/17/2014 - 10:53
Forums:
Marketplace

Designed and built by Brian Dahl.

Includes 1984 street legal Yamaha 180Z scooter.

4,000 foot Spectra line on drum that replaces rear wheel via 3 lugnuts.

Welded steel line guide.

Location: Dana Point, Ca.

Call Randy

714-235-7446

Sorry, I have no pics.

It's 3 separate pieces: The scooter. The line guide. The Spectra reel. No trailer.

The scooter is just a bit over six feet and fits in the back of even a small pickup at a diagonal

The line guide stakes to the ground in front of the scooter, and the scooter needs to be tied to something so it doesn't get pulled towards the glider.

I am moving and don't have any time to stop to do anything else, so no demo day. Sorry again.

If anyone knows how to get ahold of Brian Dahl (designer/builder) or Monte Bell,(the guy I bought it from) you could find out more than I know about it. I used it only once. 2 tows, worked well.

Monte said he would buy it back from me if I ever wanted to get rid of it, but I don't know where he is.

I paid $1500 for it. The concensus was that it was a really good deal.

Also, to be honest, I talked to someone about the reel size and he felt that it probably doesn't really have 4k feet of spectra line.like I was told

Even if that's true, it's still a screaming deal.

The glass is out of the left rear view mirror, and the gas cap is missing, and it needs a new battery. It was like that when I bought it.

I just did a quick search to see if I could find any pics. Didn't find any.

I found a few referrences. One of them mentioned a pulley out some distance from the scooter.

That is not the case with this one. The line guide is immediately in front of the scooter and the stakes need to be put in at an angle so it does't lift when the line angle gets steep.

Hope that helps a bit.

Hey SmokeJoe,

It's a turnkey scooter tow.

5 minute setup and you're towing.

Needs a jumpstart.if you dont want to buy a battery

If you want to drive it on the street, you would need to cut a new mirror glass, or buy a new mirror.

Takes 15 seconds to install.

Gas cap same thing.

very small project.

Make it $450 and you got a deal.

Rando

The outside layer is tan. Maybe 150 feet. Not frayed

Under looks pure white.

I remember there being several single knots (not tied together)

I didn't try to undo them.

Thought maybe thats not good to undo and why they weren't removed already.

Just got offerd $500 to deliver. Will see if I can get away for a couple of hours to do it.

Randy.

Ok, the $500 delivered backed out. I think he said wife wouldn't let him. Can't remember. Too much stuff in my life.

Anyway, I started it up today. Had a hard time. Googled it. Turned out it was because the side kickstand had to be up, and the brake had to be pressed to start. I totally forgot that. Ha.

Started right up. Runs GOOD. Carb float stuck . Tapped on it with a hammer handle and it mostly stopped the overflow. However, it still drips 2 drops per second while running (but doesn't flood out). Stops dripping when not running. May get better, may not. It may need to be taken apart to clean the needle.

I don't have time to do that, Will take best offer (If there is one).

This thing really is slick. I would REALLY hate to throw it away(see below).The Variator transmission is amazingly powerful, and the inginuity of the way the feed comes out the front without interferrence is way cool. I just wish that I didn't have to get rid of it (even though I haven't used it forever) go figure.

BTW: I talked to Brian Dahl. He said that he didn't make this one, and that he had always tried to figure out how to do the "out the front" feed efficiently. Brian said that Marcello (DeBarros: AKA Atmosphere PG) had a couple of his builds at one time, and that they had discussed modifiing one, but didn't know of any such critter in existence.

Marcello is in Brazil right now, and I haven't tried to contact him.

If anyone cares, I think he gets email there. Maybe find out if this thing is as great as I think it is.

Bottom line: I don't have a place to put it and I gotta go. I have it in a friends garage but don't feel good about imposing.

I will keep it until next weekend

I won't want to hear "Don't throw it away, I'll take it".

SmokinJoe, Still interested? $300

Thanks guys,

Randy

[Bill Cummings]

1. Trailer mounted winch.
IF IT’S FOR THE CLUB THEN PROBABLY SO.

IF IT’S YOURS MAYBE IN A TRUCK BOX OR ON A FRONT BUMPER.
NO TRAILER LICENSE, TRAILER INSURANCE, MAYBE BRAKES, LIGHTS, CHARGING CABLES BETWEEN THE TRAILER AND THE VEHICLE, NO HYDRAULICS TO THE CAB FROM THE TRAILER.

2. Adjustable hydraulic disc brake.
IN THE CAB ADJUSTMENT. ADJUST ON THE FLY, NO NEED TO STOP.

3. Dyneema Line.
YES, IF YOU LIKE, BUT 2000 FEET OF 3/16 POLY-PRO WOULD KEEP ME HAPPY. STRETCH IS NICER WHEN FOOT LAUNCHING. DYNEEMA DOESN’T STRETCH MUCH. HARDER TO SPLICE DYNEEMA. (THERE IS THAT PRICE THING TOO.)

4. Square chute for line retrieval off of the ground.
IF I REMEMBER ATOL WENT FROM COAST TO COAST WITHOUT A LINE CHUTE. A CHUTE IN A BRUSHY AREA CAN BE MORE OF A NIGHTMARE.

FLYING INTO A BLOSSOMED CHUTE WHEN LINE TENSION IS LOST HAS TANGLED WITH PILOTS. BE CAREFUL.

5. Electric rewind motor with two deep cycle AGM batteries (as opposed to gas).
BEARINGS AND NOT BUSHINGS ON THE MOTOR. DOUBLE SOLENOID IN SERIES TO STOP RUNAWAY REWIND. (SOLENOID WELDED IN CLOSED POSITION---WHAT A DRAG! ---BEEN THERE.)

6. Adjustable glider rack on trailer.
QUICK ON QUICK OFF.

7. Ability to easily set up for foot or A/T dolly launch.
AND PLATFORM LAUNCH WITH HAND HOLDS UNDER THE BASE BAR WHEN PLATFORM LAUNCHING FROM A TRUCK OR TRAILER.
QUICK ON AND OFF (I MEAN REALLY QUICK) BASE TUBE SAFETIES) IF IN PLATFORM LAUNCH MODE.

8. PG compatible. If 7 above is achieved, then should be good for PG.
EASE AWAY FROM THE GROUND TO PREVENT SURGES IF TENSION IS LOST.

CONSTANT TRANSMIT WHILE UNDER TOW ---PILOT IN COMMAND. NOT FOR STUDENTS THOUGH.

SOME STARTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NOW.
EDIT: OH YES! AND LEVEL WIND.

[SamKellner]

http://www.TowMeUp.com

Charlie,

You might as well get the best ?

[Bill Cummings]

Also check out this bit of advice and nate's solution for a good nose release for platform towing.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1211&start=40

[cascpa]

Thanks for the input guys.
Charlie