Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers
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Tow bar designs and low hangar doors
After crunching the (750) vertical stabilizer, bending the rudder, and replacing same, I started wondering whether anyone else shares my situation of having a hangar door too low for the tail.
I have rigged up a wood ramp that I put outside for the nosewheel to ride up on, thus lowering the tail; this works fine, but I'd rather have a tow bar that raises the nose without paying through the nose. Any ideas?
Even a better, stronger tow bar would be nice as the one with the notches for the tiny attachment points on the gear shaft is a tad too light for the job and pops off easily. I'd like to turn it easier too--bad knee and all that . . .
Lacking that, I may have to fabricate a ramp out of aluminum that has ramps on both ends with enough level surface to keep the tail down long enough to clear the hangar opening.
Much obliged,
Wayne
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jon Ramos on
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If you are on a hard, smooth surface, what about a modified floor or pallet jack for a tow bar?
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Permalink Reply by Wayne Tyson on
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Jon, I wish I was, but I need something with bigger wheels to handle the hangar door tracks and the rough tarmac.
Thanks for helping.
Wayne
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Wayne,
I was just 'thinking out loud'. In the end, given your situation, I really was not any help! How high do you need to lift your nose wheel to drop the tail the required amount?
Jon
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Permalink Reply by Joe Spencer on
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I did the same thing but not as bad...the leading edge was crunched but i mashed it out (sort of) by hand and am still running it. I knew it would eventually happen. I've had ramps like you talk about and that worked ok but am always changing plane positions in the hangar now so have abandoned that. I just pull the tail down by hand and push it under the door. I've got a homemade towbar that works ok for all but under the door. Mine is a 701...the 750 might not be as easy to pull down.
I'm ok with what I got now if I don't forget to pull the tail down again.
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I hear you. I did the same thing, but being a bit of a gimp, I feared I might slip and fall at the wrong time--so as long as can keep the nose gear on the ramp, I should be ok. I just need to build a lighter ramp or design a tow dolly that will hold the nose wheel securely and move over the rough spots. My gimpiness is an issue too, with this old tow bar.
WT
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Jon, I appreciate your input very much. I need to lift the nosewheel 3 or 4 inches. 4 to be safe. Unless I move to an even lower opening--I was in one before I moved to this one.
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