I am lucky enough to have a 28ft RV garage connected to our home in Arizona. The only issue is that there is not enough room in front of the garage to allow me to simply back the AS into the garage due to a 90 degree turn required and the lack of space for the AS and TV while connected.
So I started the search for a way to move the AS into the garage.
I initially considered the Purpleline trailer mover. It connects directly to your frame and engages the wheels to move your trailer. Research was difficult. I could find no reliable instance of these being used on an AS due to belly pan issues. Two dealers were willing to give it a try (Tampa and Scottsdale) but I did not want to be the first to try something like this, so we ruled it out.
http://www.purplelineusa.com/video-introducing-power-trailer-movers.php
Next I looked at the Parkit 360 and the Trax 6000.
https://parkit360.ca/products/traile…-capacity-base
https://traxpowerdolly.com/products/product/31-tx6000
I decided to go with the Parkit360 because I could power it using my AS batteries. I really didn’t want to maintain another set of batteries. The Trax required its own batteries.
We got the Parkit 360 and used it a few times with no issues. We then began to notice that the coupler to the trailer would move around when moving the trailer. Finally, it failed on me. I won’t go into details here but it was bad enough that I decided that my life and limbs were worth whatever a safer mover would cost. š
Parkit, however initially reticent, did take my Parkit 360 back, minus restocking and shipping fees. I was glad to pay them and kudos to Parkit 360 for doing the right thing for my self (and at least one other member of Airforums).
I was able to connect and commiserate with others through Airforums.com and found out about the Airtug. I heard from airforum.com users Kittmaster that Lewster uses them in his shop. Lewster apparently is moving Airstreams around quite a bit, so I decided to investigate more. Thanks to Kittmaster and Silvertwinkie I made the decision to purchase the Airtug.
Link to the Airtug Trailer Tug HD which I purchased:
As of July 2019, I have only used it once, but WOW. It is a very solid machine and handles the 27FB much much better than the Parkit 360. More importantly, I feel SAFE using it.
It couples to the Airstream in the same way a TV would – no special adapters that require special implementation. It does have its own batteries but also comes in a gas powered version. I think the best feature is that is has multiple wheels to make sure everything stays safe. The two main drive wheels, a steerage wheel under the handle and then two forward “wheely bar” wheels (their term, not mine) that are there to keep things in order should something go wrong.
I purchased mine (inadvertently) without a trailer brake controller. This actually works fine as I move the AS around on flat ground and itself is able to stop the AS. If you have any incline at all, you may want to consider the addition of the brake controller. I know that Kittmaster and Sivertwinkie both have brake controllers on their units.
My Airtug did not come with instructions on how to put it together, but there is this online assembly and operations PDF. Thanks to Kittmaster for taking my call and walking me through the assembly, it is very simple if your the handy type.
Here is my link to the instructions. Note this is a copy of what they sent me, it may not be the latest:
Here are some photos of the Airtug as it arrived and a movie of me using it the first time:
Video of very first use – just moved the AS a bit.
NOTE:
To those who may have the Parkit 360, the Trax or other movers – if they are working for you – GREAT! This thread is not intended to “put down” other movers, but rather to gather knowledge and discuss the Airtug.
I have cross-posted this on airforums.com as well:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238/airtug-trailer-tug-198908.html
Also check out my Airstream Links for other items we have purchased and find very useful for the Airstream!!!