Towing a Taildragger

Bartman

Bartman

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Messages
4,542
Location
New Jersey, USA
Hi Folks,

Taking some time off from my painting project for the next month or two to do some work related training. When I get done it'll be time to start painting the fuselage but I have to get it home first. The plane is about two or three miles from my house where the paint work is being done.

Would towing it backwards to my house with the tailwheel in the back of a pickup or strapped into the back of my Suburban be a bad thing?

Thanks!
 
Do you have any tiny trailers? I’ve towed all over the airport with putting the tailwheel on a mini trailer, having a type of dolly under the tailwheel that hooked to the ball in the hitch, or then simply just hook it up with a tow rope and walk with it.
 
I've towed numerous Huskys just the way you have described. It wasn't more than a few miles and not quite at cruise speed but it worked really well. We set the tailwheel in the recessed whole for a gooseneck hitch on a flat bed truck and strapped her down good. Just take it easy and be careful and i don't think you will have any problems.
 
I towed a J-3 several times with tail bolted to the trunk latch of my 1965 Mustang. Make sure the bolt is secure, put a board across the prop with brake and turn signal lamps, and remove the brake pucks. I think I used the tailwheel kingpin casting and a giant carriage bolt, but memory is fading. I may also have used a wood bumper for the bolt - easy on early Mustangs.

My traverse included city streets, freeways, and country roads, San Diego to Ramona.
 
It is rural western NJ so I can get away without the lights and the short distance means I can probably leave the brake pucks in there, no?
I have my parents' '68 Mustang convertible, is the Mustang a prerequisite for a successful tow? Lol
 
Mine are 64 and 66 convertibles. They look cool with a fuselage in tow. Drop those pucks - it only takes a minute. Tape the piston so it doesn't rattle out.
 

This is how we did it. We did not have far to go. Maybe a few blocs. We had put the tailwheel in the gap between the box and the tailgate then ratchet strapped the tailpost to the tiedown points in the box. This footage was taken this past summer when we put the fuselage in storage and make room to do the wings.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top