Titanium tie downs

[Richard Boyer]

I know we have had this discussion before, but I can't find it. I remember someone talking about titanium tie downs that utilized 3 rods and a ring and were very light.

I have found online titanuim tiedowns that look like the typical "dog tiedown". Coiled rod. I rember several opinions on the coil rods being quite negative.

So, where do I find the rods and a ring setup?

thanks

Richard Boyer
N95791
Georgetown, TX

[Robert Lees]

Re: Titanium tie downs

I had emails with these people a year or so ago.

I was concerned about the narrow 1.5" OD of the coil..he states he could do 2" OD.

My Ti-downs have an outer dia. of 1.5". I've never experienced the soil getting disturbed too much, in all the time I've used them. The points are sharper on my ti-downs than on the doggie ones, and mine have five coils instead of the four that doggie ones have, as I've added one coil where the straight part with the swivel on doggie ones is. The straight part is of no use to our planes. My Ti-downs have a 100% satisfaction guarantee...if you don't like them for ANY reason, I'll refund your money, even the return shipping. No one has ever returned a set or kit yet. They're also guaranteed never to bend or break...no one has done that yet either. The set of three, 5 coil Ti-downs with a cheater bar (for helping screw them into hard ground) weighs only 1.27 lbs. I'm sure you'll like them. Let me know if I can help you out. Sincerely, Randy Simpson Airtime Mfg.

p.s. I have made a special large dia set (2" OD), with 6 coils, for use in sand...but it's way overkill for most situations...the standard dia ones will do you good.

I actually use a set of 2" OD coils at the moment...aluminium, not titanium...and they hold down sufficiently for there to be air under the tyres in a 50kt wind.

I will probably be ordering a set of 2" coils.

Rob

[Richard Boyer]

Re: Titanium tie downs

Rob,

That was who I was looking at but wasn't sure. You have got to love the "breezes" you guy get over there!!!

Richard Boyer
N95701
Georgetown, TX

[VictorBravo]

Re: Titanium tie downs

Try www.wingsandwheels.com , a major supplier to the soaring and sailplane racing crowd. I also remember the circular tiedowns where the rods went out tangentially. Seems like a great idea, and I believe the sailplane owners use them.

Bill

[mhorowit]

Re: Titanium tie downs

Wasn't there something posted (or maybe it was in the newsletter) involving a trianglar plate about 4"/side, with holes at the apexes for spikes. had a "U" bolt mounted in the center. ?

[M Jones]

Re: Titanium tie downs

On a slightly different track, maybe take a look at these:

http://www.huntingsolutionsusa.com/products/claw.php

I have a set. They're light, easy to use, and well packaged. I keep the bag tied down just in front of the passenger side on the floor. It doesn't interfere with seating at all, and it also has just enough room for a few emergency tools. They're not really cheap, but considering what you get, I think they're worth the money. You might find a bargain at Airventure or a regional fly-in...

[Richard Boyer]

Re: Titanium tie downs

That is interesting, they don't list weight....how much do they weigh?

Richard Boyer
N95791
Georgetown, TX

[VictorBravo]

Re: Titanium tie downs

Their website says 8 pounds. Couldn't you home-brew a system using the same pronciple, except using 3 short ropes instead of the metal or plastic castings they use? They're loaded in tension anyway, and the whole secret is the angle at which you drive in the spikes versus the angle that the tiedown (casting or rope) is pulling. It seems that a $5 trip to the hardware store (three spikes, three short ropes with small steel rings on the ends, a large steel ring joining the three other rope ends, and one long rope) would do the same thing at a fraction of the weight and cost. Most of us have a hammer already, or can find a rock at the campsite.

[Carl Ellis]

Re: Titanium tie downs

I have a set of titanium coil tie downs. They are strong as hell but if the ground is rock hard they are really hard to get in. The ground must be either soft enough to push in to start or there must be a crack to gain purchase on.

- Carl -

[M Jones]

Re: Titanium tie downs

Bill,

You're right that you could make something that works with the same principle. I just decided I didn't have the time to do it myself. I used these at a few overnight camping fly-ins last year. By the way, the hammer provided isn't a 16 oz. hammer. It's smaller than it looks in the picture. It's also been modified (you could do this yourself) by having the claw notched to grasp the head of the spikes for pulling them.

[Richard Boyer]

Re: Titanium tie downs

The article I saw on this was in the Vintage Aircraft magazine. Here is the link:

http://www.vintageaircraft.org/informational_articles/index.html

If I made these myself (which I could do) I think they would be heavier than the titanium ones.

I think I'm going with the set Rob suggested. Save me time, the airplane some weight and lastly some peace of mind........

Richard Boyer
N95791
Georgetown, TX