Was watching Top Gear on History channel last night....comparing a Toyota , Dodge and f150. The last "test" was towing a 727 around airport obstacle course. All three did it but the F150 ecoboost blew the others away. Don't know the other engines ( they were V8's ) but they were all the top of the line in their model. Not a very scientific test but interesting to see. Whole show was kind of tongue in cheek but the Toyota and F150 both braked much better than the Dodge ( Toyota won by about a foot, Dodge lost by about 30 feet ). Going to buy me an ecoboost, find a 727 w/o wings and make me a airstream, although hitch weight could be a problem.

I saw the same commercial last night. If I ever need my B-727 towed over the Rockies, I'll be sure to buy me a Ford Eco Boost pickup for the job.:RHappy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

747...no big deal. The Toyota tows the Space Shuttle.

My Sears LT1000 does pretty good on spotting my 4200LB StarCraft 14RT around my yard. Much like this google shows...

Not a very scientific test but interesting to see.:S :S :SYou do realize that Top Gear is a comedy show much like I Love Lucy don't you?

You can tow anything with the right set up. It's the stopping it that's the real trick. We use to use warehouse tugs that had a slant six Chrysler gas motor in them and towed T-37 & T-38 aircraft all over. There were time we had to move fighters around and these tugs had no problem but always had a person in the cockpit to apply brakes to stop no matter what was towed for Safety and prevent damage to the nose landing gear. You also had a pair in the cockpit of any commercial aircraft to stop these aircraft when they are towed.

any one see the ecoboost towing a 727 | Good Sam Community

29 Replies

RCMAN46
Explorer
Nov 24, 2013
Here is one of the neatest tugs I have ever seen. This was in Anchorage, Alaska.
john_bet
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2013
Having towed many a heavy plane around the flightline in my 20 year career I for one am not impressed at all. But I did tow one of the aircraft that I was the crew chief on by hand. It weighed less than 4k and was an 0-2 Super Skymaster. The rest were in the 200k to 475k pound range.
jevanb
Explorer
Nov 24, 2013
06Fargo wrote:
Chuck_thehammer wrote:
to pull/tow anything.. its all about gearing... and a automatic transmission oil cooler... a big one.

going Fast does require horsepower...

that is why I always have a manual transmission... gearing.

I read right here on rv.net that gearing has nothing to do with it. It's all about HP HP and MORE HP. Yup read it here on the rv.net.
2 vehicles with same gearing and one with more HP I will take the more HP
BlindGuynAR
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013
Top gear is awesome funny. In this episode I wanted them to show the the dodge that Adam seeming totaled somehow.
Dog_Folks
Explorer II
Nov 23, 2013
06Fargo wrote:
Chuck_thehammer wrote:
to pull/tow anything.. its all about gearing... and a automatic transmission oil cooler... a big one.

going Fast does require horsepower...

that is why I always have a manual transmission... gearing.

I read right here on rv.net that gearing has nothing to do with it. It's all about HP HP and MORE HP. Yup read it here on the rv.net.

So it had to be true!
noteven
Explorer III
Nov 23, 2013
Chuck_thehammer wrote:
to pull/tow anything.. its all about gearing... and a automatic transmission oil cooler... a big one.

going Fast does require horsepower...

that is why I always have a manual transmission... gearing.

I read right here on rv.net that gearing has nothing to do with it. It's all about HP HP and MORE HP. Yup read it here on the rv.net.
RCMAN46
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013
Pulling a 727 that is nothing here is a man pulling a 767 that weights 207,000 lbs.

A human pulling a 767
jevanb
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013

line crew forgot to hook the tqlinks and chock the nose tires a wind pushed the tail down which is all ready heavy and the nose light and around she came, only reason she stopped is the big beam . this repair took 2 months including time at the engineers for a repair scheme so we could fix the dented skin and structure
jevanb
Explorer
Nov 23, 2013

as a operator of 727-200`s, a pilot, and lead mechanic for our airline, we tow them all the time, no way their was not a brake rider and someone turning the plane with the tiller, they are really tail heavy, and at the speeds turning it would of pushed the truck rear end around they also had to have about 2k pounds in the front just inside of the L1 door (proberly 55gal barrels with water) our tug has a 5.9 cummins and weights around 58k pounds and the nose of the plane can push it around on slick ramps if turned too sharp, did anybody see the about of sand bags in the beds, and the tow bar wheels were on the ground on 2 of the trucks prob to take the weight of the bar off it. I too towed it back from customs once with my truck because the tug was broke, it felt really heavy sitting @175k but the Dmax did great untill it had to stop
Dog_Folks
Explorer II
Nov 21, 2013
mkirsch said in his signature: "-Yes, I haul a popup with a dually. No, I don't think I need a dually to haul a popup. I think I need a dually to haul a popup and tow a 14,000lb trailer at the same time."

When we are asked that question, we respond with: Can't have too much truck. As a matter of fact, we were thinking of getting a bigger one" The look on their faces are priceless!!