Dodge Dakota Towing a CH-53E Helicopter

I worked on ch-53E for 5 years and this dakota isn't impressive at all. A tug that generally pulls the aircraft is a decently heavy garden tractor. They are slow and heavy. I'm not suprised in anyway that it was able to pull the aircraft, but what do I know I only worked on them for 5 years.

i changed about half the hydraulic components on this particular bird. its an MH-53E from the HC-4 Black Stallions. it weighs about 20 tons EMPTY! add another 20,000 pounds of fuel (they fill up before shutting down for a show) and thats 30 tons. we put a johndeer tractor in a wheelie trying to tow it while deployed to kuwait. the tractor we usually use was broken due to the punishment it takes. not any punk can tow this thing. but what do i know? i only worked in this squadron for 4 years

in theory you only need a few horsepower to move this, but there are other factors, traction gearing, etc

that is a MH-53...

i just a dakoda and didnt know if it can pull a boat, boat i think it will handle just fine now lol

i hate to burst your bubble, but if enough traction were available a 16 horse GARDEN tractor could pull this. Its not about power, its all about gears. I couldnt clearly tell, but if this truck had 4 wheel drive it my have a low range. With low range gearing the driver may have idled the entire time pulling the heli.

I'd like to see your garden tractor pull a 33,000 lbs plane. I don't see any one emptying the tanks for this stunt. So you've also got as much as 6,000 lbs of fuel in there to.

Its not about the garden tractor. I am saying that if traction were unlimited and your gears were very very short, it would be possible.

Well my dad's ford, when I was little. We got hit in the rear by idiot drivers 4 times. All at stop lights when like the light was red. Their cars were like dent in and broken while are bumper was stil intact. It was cool. It was a 1996 Ford Explorer. That's why I love Ford because of my own experience. Dodge is probably good too. It just depends on your experience with the car. From my experience I think Ford is awesome. Dodge is too, I like the Dodge Dakota.

i agree. i do respect ford in that they helped boost autos into what they have come to be. but ive never had any good experiences with ford.