Electric Tugger vs. Electric Tow

Material handling electric tuggers

Electric tug vs electric tow
MasterTug moving glass stillages

Why does it matter?

Finding the right solution in an ever-saturated material handling equipment market can feel daunting. Terms like ‘electric tugger’, ‘electric tow’, and even ‘tow tug’ are thrown around and often used interchangeably to describe the same piece of equipment by manufacturers. As a customer, how do you understand the difference?

We’ll lay out the differences between an ‘electric tugger’ and an ‘electric tow’ and explain why the two terms describe two different machine designs, designed for different jobs.

At the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of the differences between the two, and a grasp on which machine style may best suit your application and needs.

What is an electric tugger?

Also known as a tug!

Electric tuggers utilize a weight transfer system and a specialist coupling set-up designed to get your load moving, steer it, and bring it to a controlled stop.

Our extensive range of electric tuggers is the culmination of 25 years of fine-tuning and engineering expertise. From highly controlled movements in the biopharmaceutical sector to the movement of sub-assemblies in construction equipment manufacturing, our tugs continuously deliver proven performance for customers worldwide.

Definitions:

An electric tugger: A machine designed to push and pull in an equal measure using weight transfer to gain traction.

Weight transfer – A clever system enabling the heavy movement of loads. Weight transfer involves a machine transferring an element of the loads' weight down onto the drive wheel of the machine to gain traction, allowing compact machines to move very heavy weights.

Electric tugger applications

Here are 3 things we look to understand when specifying a tug for an application:

Movement

1. The movement

For applications requiring precise positioning through pushing and pulling, the design of the tugger creates a perfect solution.

With the design delivering equally matched push and pull forces (simply the force a machine can pull or push in newtons or kilogram-force), a tugger provides a reliable solution that enables full manipulation and maneuverability of heavy loads in any direction.

Channel coupling

2. The connection point

Understanding how a piece of equipment will connect to your load is critical for any type of material handling equipment. For our electric tuggers, we have an array of standard and custom coupling options at our disposal, but the area we assess when looking into the suitability of a tugger is whether or not it can achieve weight transfer.

This involves creating a rigid connection to your load through the coupling system. For loads where this isn’t possible, or you have an existing drawbar, we’ll look to utilize the plug-and-play functionality of a tow pin on our MasterTow range.

Environment

3. The environment

The nature of the weight transfer system and the electric tugger design means that the floor and environment play a crucial role in assessing their suitability for your application. While able to cope with rough flooring and work securely on slopes, electric tuggers aren’t best suited to excessive use over rough terrain and obstacles such as drainage grating.

When we assess the suitability of an electric tugger, we’ll consider its’ ability to perform in your environment. Where an application has a specific need for predominantly outdoor use in harsh conditions, we’ll look to utilize the unique design of our MasterTows to deliver longevity.

What is a tow tug?

Unlike tuggers, which utilize a weight transfer system to generate traction, an electric tow ultimately uses its own weight to gain traction and get loads moving. For many people, electric tows are a more recognizable solution as they typically encompass a simple plug-and-play design that uses traditional towing couplings to connect (such as drawbars, tow pins, and ball hitches).  

Applications, where tows are often more suitable, are for pulling applications or where the movement requires extensive use in outdoor conditions. That’s why our tows are designed with unique All-Terrain Tires, perfectly suited for use in demanding conditions, to deliver consistent traction on less-than-perfect floor conditions.  

Definitions:

An electric tow tugger – A self-weighted machine predominantly designed to pull (or as the name suggests tow!) loads

Self-weighted – This is where machines use their own weight to generate traction and in turn, move heavy loads.

dumpstermover300-electric-tugger-dumpster-on-slope

Electric tow tug applications

Electric tows are often preferred for applications with existing cart and drawbar set-ups, or where the application was historically completed by machines such as ride-on-tow trucks. Our electric tows feature industry-standard coupling designs such as pin couplings and ball hitches which facilitate a plug-and-play solution to work with trolleys of corresponding design.

In the same way, we assess an application to understand if an electric tugger is suitable, and we carry out the same evaluation for electric tows. This focuses on understanding your movement, connection point, and environment to assess if an electric tow is the right fit for your application.

With a design predominantly focused on pulling (towing!) applications, electric tows typically have a greater ability to pull as opposed to pushing, despite having the same motor output. Don’t worry, electric tows can also push loads – but it’s important that pushing requirements are talked through with your chosen supplier to make sure the movements you need are feasible with a tow.

An example of where features such as heavy-duty pulling capacity, compact design, and universal connection points are highly sought after, is within the maintenance of aero engines (MRO). Industries like this typically have a high volume of carts, and dollies fitted with drawbars, meaning they require a machine that provides a universal connection point to their load – a perfect application for an electric tow.

MasterTug Electric Tugger Automotive Manufacturing

Tugger vs tow tug – It isn’t just about load weight

As we’ve outlined above, tuggers and tows work in different ways and it’s important that you work with a supplier who can interpret your needs to provide the right solution – whether that’s a tugger or tow unit.

It’s important to recognize that ‘electric tuggers’ and ‘tow tugs’ aren’t interchangeable and finding the right solution isn’t just about the load weight or rated handling capacity. A tugger and a tow may both be rated to move a 44,000 lbs. load but, one machine will be the right solution for your application, and one won’t.

There are several variables and factors in your application that determine the right solution. At MasterMover, we’ll work with you to understand your application and recommend a machine that is fit for purpose.

So, whether you need to precisely position a chromatography column in a cleanroom suite, or tow kitting carts to lineside – you’re in safe hands with MasterMover.