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July, 2025

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Homemade rope tow

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Kyguyy
Posts: 614 - Karma: 6,580
Would anyone happen to know the recommended amount of horsepower I should have on an electric motor to power a backyard rope tow?
5 years ago
12 0
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Young_patty
Posts: 3354 - Karma: 39,453
Ian Compton made one out of an old 4-wheeler I believe and that thing would pull dudes up the hill at like 30 mph
5 years ago
9 0
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oldmanski
Posts: 3673 - Karma: 27,518
Are you looking to tow multiple people at the same time or just pull a single rider into a feature?
5 years ago
7 0
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GilsonSkis
Posts: 738 - Karma: 9,715
It 100% depends on your desired speed/weight capacities and what gear ratio you use. I've seen people use as low as a 1 or 2 hp, but they were geared to have a lot of torque and very little speed. If you use an electric motor with more hp you will probably need to run it on 220v not 110v. So keep that in mind.
5 years ago
5 0
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Saga.
Posts: 3812 - Karma: 45,341
You could try messaging the guys at The Cabin Report.

They have a pretty good looking tow built.
5 years ago
8 0
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sprite.cranberry
Posts: 8 - Karma: 81
Not sure about power but if ur building one urself, make sure u have an emergency brake. Can be dangerous if someone gets tangled up or something. Otherwise that sounds like a pretty sick project
5 years ago
4 0
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yessirskiii_
Posts: 245 - Karma: 1,684
You could also buy and then train a horse/donkey, or any large animal for that matter
5 years ago
19 0
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SeaUrchin123
Posts: 506 - Karma: 2,376
beenjammin669_You could also buy and then train a horse/donkey, or any large animal for that matter


The legend of Hannibal and the elephants lives on
5 years ago
5 0
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Celery
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 26,671
Also wondering about this, the motors I've been looking at spin way to fast for a ropetow, would it be better to buy a gearbox or attempt to make my own? I would just use a old pitbike or something but my neighbors are assholes
5 years ago
1 0
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Snakethepark
Posts: 15 - Karma: 93
I’ve seen one made out of a 5hp Honda pressure washing engine and a go cart torque converter. It wasn’t super fast or powerful with multiple people on the line but it got the job done
5 years ago
3 0
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iced
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 17,991
the red Gerard guy used an old honda dirt bike motor
5 years ago
2 0
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elm.
Posts: 1510 - Karma: 13,608
Get a Tesla, flip it upside down, attach a rope, and have your friend floor it
5 years ago
6 0
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