I think I would be more interested in an electric tug if anything, starting one in cold weather and maintaining the engine seems like more work then just keeping a battery all charged.

I will have to call and see if there electric models can move a MU2 with the link and the gear door, thanks for pointing out those two issues.

The old Clarkats are perfect for that job, if you can find one...they show up every once in a while. Pushed around L39s fairly well, it's about 3600#. Super compact, and a very tight turning radius too. I shared one for sale with the group at KAUW, and now we've got two on the field.

Mine's converted to propane, which helps quite a bit on the operations, more reliable/cleaner/easier starting than a gas burner.

Golf cart with chains and a 100 lb dumbbell in the back has worked well for us even in ice/snow.

On the TBM???

Electric or gas?
Golf cart was my short list at first.

I had ATV tires on my old golf cart and even with my 280# mechanic standing on the back it had difficulty pushing around anything bigger than a Baron. I used it for a 421 and my Aerostar for quite a while in the winter, but if you were alone, it was a PITA if the concrete wasn't clean. Dry concrete, and an electric golf cart is the winner or convenience and cost.

Steering a golf cart becomes an issue on snow or icy surfaces also as there is no weight on the front and the tires didn't grip well.

In my case I didn't put chains on it as I didn't want to damage the floor..

I used an AirTug http://airtug.com for a while and it seems to work good as long as you didn't want to go long distances with it. I moved a Conquest II with it for a while and it worked ok and allowed us to maneuver the airplane into a hangar with a door that was smaller than the wingspan for a while until the new hangar was built. It worked ok in the snow as long as it wasn't very deep and you stayed on the concrete surfaces. I used a similar tug for years at a small FBO and it moved anything from a C-414 smaller fairly easily.

One-owner 1978 FJ-40. Chev V-8 four bolt mains. Saginaw Power Streering. A/C. Rock solid, pulls or pushes anything. Also great for tooling over to Sbucks and making friends.

Tom wins.

Little more money than a lawn mower or golf cart....

That's alright !

It’s faster to push the plane around by hand, but that’s not practical once guys like me reach middle age.

I chose a well-drained T-hangar. That means it’s down going out, and up going in. It’s only a little when you look at it, but it makes a way big difference when moving the plane out and in. Yesterday was the first time in two winters, even with all of my might mind you, I couldn’t push the 182 into the hangar by hand myself, no way. Scattered hard pack snow and some thin ice, the plane was sitting fixed.


On the floor at the back of the hangar I bolted a piece of Unistrut channel with a mounted Harbor Freight Aircraft Supply electric winch and a very long cable and cord. I did that a few years ago, not yesterday. To move the plane inside, I hook the cable hook to the tail tie down ring, then quickly and effortlessly winch the plane back into the hanger.

She’s not very glamorous, but cheap, quick, and easy.

I know a guy who very neatly tore his tail tie down ring out of the fuselage mounting with this method. His wasn’t secure for that strength & direction of tension. YMMV

(You can tie into the gear legs instead but it’s not as convenient or accurate.)

What about a 4wd Mule or Gator? I don't think either would have any trouble

I went with the Best Tugs, and had them make an R8 (shorter chasis) with the R12 motor and transmission (12,000# rating). Incredibly well-made, has lights, and I've been consistently impressed with the company. I did not want to deal with a gasoline motor on the tug.

The R12 was designed for the PC12, so I think the length would accommodate a Mits.

I can't remember how the 182 tie down ring is mounted, but there is not a lot of strength in a Bonanza/Baron tail tiedown attachment. It's held on with four small screws into pretty thin aluminum.. Here's a picture of my V35A tiedown attachment before replacement of the metal that it is mounted to:

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!

Ouch! That sucks, Gary. Take care and best with the recovery. Already been a tough winter up north this year so far.