I'm probably 6 months into my ownership of a Chore Warrior Airplane Tug and wanted to share some thoughts.
Aside from the tailwheel engagement attachment, the tug operates pretty much as advertised. Battery capacity is good. On my most recent thorough and full charge, I'm working on 30 "moves" up my fairly steep approach to my hanger (2' over 45') and the battery capacity indicator still says more than half capacity remaining. I have to help the tug to pull an RV up the hill. It's not a lot of help, but it's managable. For flat-ish movement, it's very good.
I wrote Chore Warrior 4 months ago asking about a nose wheel attachment (for my -6A) and got one reply asking what a nosewheel plane consists of. I explained and have heard nothing. I'll likely build something later this summer or fall.
Back on the stock unit moving a tailwheel plane - it will not push a plane up a grade safely. The tailwheel will jump out of the attachment and potentially cause damage. I overcame this originally by strapping the wheel to the attachment. But this was time consuming. So I borrowed an idea from another VAF poster building a plane moving tool, and adapted my tug to this configuration. See photos below. This modification works very well pushing and pulling. It is secure and has the added benefit of allowing the tailwheel to carry some load rolling when pulling.
The fastner I used is a 4" x 7/16" grade 8 bolt. I cut off the end of the original attachment at a 45-deg angle and drilled a 1/2" hole in the lower section of the tubing. Installed the bolt and tightened. Cut off and filed the edges of the bolt. Bent it in the vise 20-25 degs. Dropped an unused bushing on the bent fastner from my bushing collection.
Last thought. Honestly, I cut the angle wrong on the tubing. I had intended to cut it such that the bolt engaged the top of the tubing. But I missed it by 180-degrees. But it works. It would likely work slightly better with the bolt attached to the top of the tubing.
Bryan
Aside from the tailwheel engagement attachment, the tug operates pretty much as advertised. Battery capacity is good. On my most recent thorough and full charge, I'm working on 30 "moves" up my fairly steep approach to my hanger (2' over 45') and the battery capacity indicator still says more than half capacity remaining. I have to help the tug to pull an RV up the hill. It's not a lot of help, but it's managable. For flat-ish movement, it's very good.
I wrote Chore Warrior 4 months ago asking about a nose wheel attachment (for my -6A) and got one reply asking what a nosewheel plane consists of. I explained and have heard nothing. I'll likely build something later this summer or fall.
Back on the stock unit moving a tailwheel plane - it will not push a plane up a grade safely. The tailwheel will jump out of the attachment and potentially cause damage. I overcame this originally by strapping the wheel to the attachment. But this was time consuming. So I borrowed an idea from another VAF poster building a plane moving tool, and adapted my tug to this configuration. See photos below. This modification works very well pushing and pulling. It is secure and has the added benefit of allowing the tailwheel to carry some load rolling when pulling.
The fastner I used is a 4" x 7/16" grade 8 bolt. I cut off the end of the original attachment at a 45-deg angle and drilled a 1/2" hole in the lower section of the tubing. Installed the bolt and tightened. Cut off and filed the edges of the bolt. Bent it in the vise 20-25 degs. Dropped an unused bushing on the bent fastner from my bushing collection.
Last thought. Honestly, I cut the angle wrong on the tubing. I had intended to cut it such that the bolt engaged the top of the tubing. But I missed it by 180-degrees. But it works. It would likely work slightly better with the bolt attached to the top of the tubing.
Bryan
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