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Anyone ever build a rope tow?

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WI_skier
Posts: 174 - Karma: 302
Im planning on building a rope tow in my back yard for next winter. I have an old motor, some tire rims and a perfect slope for about 200 ft. Its going to be a lot of hard work but i think it would be so worth it in the end of it works. Just wondering if anyone has attempted or succeeded in building one and how it worked/didn't work.
Mar 16 2015 8:21PM
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Dobber
Posts: 1698 - Karma: 9,834
I built a sand castle once
Mar 16 2015 8:23PM
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jackdonovan
Posts: 2248 - Karma: 3,079
/threads
Mar 16 2015 10:58PM
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corona
Posts: 12753 - Karma: 32,285
haven't built one but have some thoughts to chew on for yours.

what sort of rope will you be using? I'm thinking it would be difficult to get the required traction out of a tire rim even if you wrap the inside with rubber. A larger radius would for sure grip the rope better. Of course more tension means more grip, but how would you plan on tensioning 400 feet of rope? I feel like you would have to just have it dragging along the ground. Of course that means more friction. what sort of motor do you have? Would it have enough low end torque to be able to drive a hefty amount of rope at a slow speed? Electric motors are probably the best for that, diesel would be ok, and gasoline probably not the greatest but could probably still work. Maybe the best thing to grip the rope with a smaller radius rotor would be to have it act like a v-belt so it gets wedged into a v-shaped rubber groove or something like that.

anyways, it would be awesome and I hope it turns out. I like to think out problems like this, so if you're having issues you should definitely post em up.
Mar 16 2015 11:39PM
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powerbong2000
Posts: 737 - Karma: 1,802
KILLER OF DREAMS! saver of time/money
Mar 17 2015 1:19AM
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WI_skier
Posts: 174 - Karma: 302
VinnieFwhat sort of rope will you be using? I'm thinking it would be difficult to get the required traction out of a tire rim even if you wrap the inside with rubber. A larger radius would for sure grip the rope better.


As for the rope i was thinking about using a 1 inch manila rope. I forgot to mention there would be a large tire at the top as the anchor/drive. Thanks for the ideas!
Mar 17 2015 7:15AM
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a_burger
Posts: 5206 - Karma: 20,187
an_suckAs for the rope i was thinking about using a 1 inch manila rope. I forgot to mention there would be a large tire at the top as the anchor/drive. Thanks for the ideas!


Your going to need more then just a tire for the drive wheel. I would wrap the rope around it once and use a few other pulleys for tensioning.
Mar 17 2015 7:53AM
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