The Difference Between an Electric Tug and Electric Tow Tug

Why does it matter?

Finding the right solution in an ever-saturated material handling equipment market can feel daunting. Terms like ‘electric tug’, ‘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?

In this blog, we’ll lay out the differences between an ‘electric tug’ and an ‘electric tow’ and explain why the two terms describe two different machine designs, designed for different jobs. At the end of this blog, 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 Tug? (Also known as a Tugger!)

Electric tugs utilise 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 tugs 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.

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

1. The Movement

For applications requiring precise positioning through pushing and pulling, the design of the tug 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 tug provides a reliable solution that enables full manipulation and manoeuvrability of heavy loads in any direction.

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 tugs, 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 tug 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 utilise the plug-and-play functionality of a tow pin on our MasterTow range.

3. The Environment

The nature of the weight transfer system and the electric tug 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 tugs aren’t best suited to excessive use over rough terrain and obstacles such as drainage grating. When we assess the suitability of an electric tug, 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 utilise the unique design of our MasterTows to deliver longevity.

What is a Tow Tug?

Unlike tugs, which utilise 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 recognisable 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 Tyres, perfectly suited for use in demanding conditions, to deliver consistent traction on less-than-perfect floor conditions.  

Electric tows are often preferred for applications with existing trolley and drawbar set-ups, or where the application was historically carried out 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 tug 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 trolleys, 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.

Tug vs Tow – It isn’t just about load weight

As we’ve outlined above, tugs 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 tug or tow unit.

It’s important to recognise that ‘electric tugs’ and ‘tow tugs’ aren’t interchangeable and finding the right solution isn’t just about the load weight or rated handling capacity. A tug and a tow may both be rated to move a 12,000kg load but, one machine will be the right solution for your application, and one won’t.

As this blog outlines, 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 trolleys to lineside – you’re in safe hands with MasterMover.

If you have an application you’d like to discuss, or you’d like to explore our range of electric tugs and electric tows, contact us today.