At Aerosweep, we believe the importance of a well designed tow hitch cannot be emphasised enough. While some may see the device as a simple connection between the friction sweeper and the towing vehicle, its importance cannot be overemphasised.
Introduction
At Aerosweep, we believe the importance of a tow hitch cannot be emphasised enough. While some may see the device as a simple connection between the friction sweeper and the towing vehicle, others may argue that unless the tow hitch has been
designed, tested, and proven to keep the friction sweeper on the ground, in all operating conditions, then the best result cannot be expected. We firmly sit in the latter camp of thought.
If you have ever looked closely at the FOD*BOSS, you may have noticed that a very specific design has been used and this is for very good reasons.
Before we get into these reasons (and why we applied for patents to protect the final design), let’s review why a tow hitch is important to your FOD sweeping success and what you should be looking for.
Why Is The Design Important?
At Aerosweep, we believe the importance of a tow hitch cannot be emphasised enough. While some may see the device as a simple connection between the friction sweeper and the towing vehicle, others may argue that unless the tow hitch has been designed, tested, and proven to keep the friction sweeper on the ground, in all operating conditions, then the best result cannot be expected. We firmly sit in the latter camp of thought.
You see, a friction sweeper is exactly that, a sweeping system that relies on “just the right amount” of friction between the mat and the tarmac to ensure sufficient contact is being made with the ground.
This is a critical factor to ensure it can reliably and efficiently pick up all foreign object debris (FOD) it passes over. After all, this is the primary and indeed the sole function of the product. FOD is potentially a devastating result of normal airfield and racetrack operations, and airfield staff are constantly on the lookout for it as well as the standard routine FOD sweeping processes that are generally mandated by government bodies responsible for licencing airports etc.
The Perfect Partner To Your FOD*BOSS
The GroundForce Tow Hitch is the perfect partner to the FOD*BOSS because it has been expertly calibrated to provide the appropriate amount of downforce to keep the sweeper on the ground and delivering its unrivalled pick-up rate.
The impact of a poorly designed tow hitch is only going to be amplified when you start considering a Duplex or even a Triplex configuration. The main benefit of using either of these two configurations is that you can amplify your sweeping successes, and sweep a much larger area in a shorter amount of time. The Duplex can sweep an area of 507,520 m2 in just an hour compared to the single’s 253,760 m2, while the Triplex sweeps 759,200 m2 in the same timeframe.
Use our sweep time calculator to compare the 3 configurations of the FOD*BOSS using your own runways, taxiways, and apron areas. However, with a poorly designed tow hitch, you may be only just amplifying the problem and spreading that problem around. Why? Because each mat is further away from direct contact with the vehicle’s towing point and therefore diluting any affect this may have on the tow hitch’s ability to provide any amount of downforce.
However, with the FOD*BOSS, each sweeper in a multi-sweeper configuration has its own GroundForce Tow Hitch, ensuring the correct amount of downforce is being applied on each sweeper, thus ensuring your successful FOD sweeping operations.
Evolution Of The GroundForce Tow Hitch
When we first developed our tow hitch in 1994, it helped change aviation tarmac cleaning forever and has been protecting every major Air Force, Airport and Airline ever since.
So how has Aerosweep’s tow hitch evolved?
Below is a picture of our GroundForce Tow Hitch.
The GroundForce Tow Hitch has been specifically designed to:
-
Enable even higher operating speeds, providing sweep speeds from 5 km/h up to 65 km/h.
-
Ensure the sweeper tracks straight and true behind the towing vehicle and prevents “drifting” wide when towing around corners. Provide a greater ability to match the height of the vehicle’s towing point with the correct adjustment for downforce.
-
Critically it prevents the sweeper from becoming disconnected from the towing vehicle during operation
-
Easier attachment of the sweeper to the towing vehicle.
-
Allows the tow hitch to stay attached to the FOD*BOSS when it is rolled up for storage between sweeps.
Attaching the GroundForce Tow Hitch
Attaching the GroundForce Tow Hitch to your vehicle is a simple and straightforward procedure:
-
Ensure your vehicle has the proper trailer ball or pintle hook before you attempt to use the FOD*BOSS. If you have to modify your vehicle to tow the FOD*BOSS be sure you have the proper permission to do so.
-
Get to know which of the cross-drilled holes in the Hitch is correct to use for the height adjustment needed on your towing vehicle(s). Ensure the bottom of the hitch adapter is four inches (50 mm) above the ground in accordance with the operating manual directions.
DO NOT OPERATE THE FOD*BOSS WITH THE LITTLE 4” (50 mm) (Poly-Bump) HITCH WHEEL ROLLING ON THE GROUND.
This is a fairly common mistake. There is a label on the hitch to remind you not to do this. Make sure all your personnel are aware of it or damage may result.
Get A Quote
Thank you for your interest in our FOD*BOSS® Airfield Sweeping System.
Our FOD*BOSS friction sweeper changed aviation tarmac cleaning forever in 1994 and has been protecting every major Air Force, Airport and Airline ever since.
The FOD*BOSS Ultimate’s many benefits make it the safest, most effective airfield sweeper, guaranteed.
The FOD*BOSS is fully equipped with our exclusive and unique critical safety features that are the secret behind its unbeatable performance and essential to your successful FOD removal operations.
These are unavailable with any other sweeper.
Don’t take our word for it, see what our clients are saying at our website confirming our system is truly exceptional.
Aerosweep believes it is only by ensuring your friction sweeper contains this technology can you rest assured your sweeping operations are using the safest and most effective airfield sweeper, guaranteed! Now that’s kind of special, don’t you think?
