I use a John Deere 445 tractor with a  hydraulically operated tow bar for the summer.  It lifts the nose wheel off the ground.  It works great but here in Minnesota the ice and snow prevent good traction in the winter even though the tractor weighs about 1200 pounds so I put an attach point for the tow bar on the suburban and carefully use that to get the  plane in and out.  Don’t tow the plane more than 5 mph or the nose wheel can oscillate on the tow bar.

 

Michael Smith

 

 

I live at Stellar Airpark in Chandler, Arizona.  I use a GEM Car (electric car).  I can hitch up the Lancair or Bonanza and tow it down to the fuel pumps with little effort using a tow bar from Brackett Aircraft.  Going up ramps and over bumps is also easy.  Speed can be easily controlled.  I also can load up 4 people and run around the airport at 24 mph.  This is not the cheap solution but maybe a good one for you.  Check Craig’s List for used GEM cars.

 

http://www.gemcar.com/

http://www.brackettaircraft.com/

 

Craig Berland

IV-P N7VG