Cord
Veteran Member
I like the idea, but the price and liability would scare me away: SKI HILL ROPE TOW MACHINE
Amazing what you can find on Craigslist...
- Thread starter Cord
- Start date
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MMagis
Veteran Member
I’m not “buying” it. The rope the skiers are holding in the one pic looks like 1” rope, in the other pic it’s maybe 3/8”. It’s not even the same mower in the two pics. Neither is capable of going in much snow, but I think they’re trying to pull a fast one.
PILOON
Super Star Member
When I started skiing all the tows were rope tows.
Usually about a one inch rope and generally driven by a car engine complete with transmission and rear end.
Usually one side of the differential was locked with the rim on the other side driving the tow rope.
As long as there was a skier every 10 ft or so it all went well but if you were alone, man that rope was heavy.
Some smart guy developed special ski mitts for rope tows: they had staples on the palm and inside the thumb to prevent wear.
It took both hands with strong grips to hang onto that rope and you hoped that the rope had not dragged in the snow as a wet rope was hard to hold on to.
You recognized the frequent skiers (ski bums) easily as all the left side of their jackets were well marked from the tow rope burn and dirt.
In those days packing the hills down for skiing was accomplished by giving free tow passes to the first dozen or so skiers that showed up.
Later came the snow cats.
Tow tickets back then were wired onto your garments and often on the ski pole.
The pole trick allowed you to share that ticket with buddies. (until they insisted to attach to the jackets using wire and lead seals)
LOL, as fast as the operators developed new controls we found devious ways of getting around them, I think the challenge was more fun than the sport.
At one time even the ticket printer was into scamming as he was one of us.
(We even had the wire seals and pliers.)
\
Hey, good memories. Thanks for bearing with me.
Usually about a one inch rope and generally driven by a car engine complete with transmission and rear end.
Usually one side of the differential was locked with the rim on the other side driving the tow rope.
As long as there was a skier every 10 ft or so it all went well but if you were alone, man that rope was heavy.
Some smart guy developed special ski mitts for rope tows: they had staples on the palm and inside the thumb to prevent wear.
It took both hands with strong grips to hang onto that rope and you hoped that the rope had not dragged in the snow as a wet rope was hard to hold on to.
You recognized the frequent skiers (ski bums) easily as all the left side of their jackets were well marked from the tow rope burn and dirt.
In those days packing the hills down for skiing was accomplished by giving free tow passes to the first dozen or so skiers that showed up.
Later came the snow cats.
Tow tickets back then were wired onto your garments and often on the ski pole.
The pole trick allowed you to share that ticket with buddies. (until they insisted to attach to the jackets using wire and lead seals)
LOL, as fast as the operators developed new controls we found devious ways of getting around them, I think the challenge was more fun than the sport.
At one time even the ticket printer was into scamming as he was one of us.
(We even had the wire seals and pliers.)
\
Hey, good memories. Thanks for bearing with me.
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,044
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
I remember tow ropes, too. Had them at the local county park. I think there were two or three of them.
Egon
Epic Contributor
Yes, tow ropes, poma lifts and T bars. Of course no one ever fell down while on the lift did they. Then there was getting back on if one did fall down.
Any recall wooden skis with metal edges, cable bindings or the name Hart, head or rossignol?
Any recall wooden skis with metal edges, cable bindings or the name Hart, head or rossignol?
RobS
Super Member
Still have a tow rope on the "bunny hill" at our local ski resort. Almost as much fun spectating there as a boat ramp!
MossRoad
Super Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2001
- Messages
- 58,044
- Location
- South Bend, Indiana (near)
- Tractor
- Power Trac PT425 2001 Model Year
There's still some of the tow rope pulleys and posts out at Bendix Woods up on the hills.
Here's a satellite shot of the park. Man, the Studebaker sign is really getting overgrown!
https://www.google.com/maps/search/bendix+woods/@41.6683049,-86.4931305,1257m/data=!3m1!1e3
Here's a satellite shot of the park. Man, the Studebaker sign is really getting overgrown!
https://www.google.com/maps/search/bendix+woods/@41.6683049,-86.4931305,1257m/data=!3m1!1e3
DuckSlayer1017
Platinum Member
Man I always dreamed of making a toe rope with our old Massey Ferguson 10 lawn mower when I was a kid. We had a couple nice sledding hills in my parents back yard. The neighbor kids, my sisters and I would send hours out there in the winter sliding down then making the trek back up the hill. Most days we only went in because we were worn out from walking back to the top. They still have toe rips on some of the bunny hills around here and yes they are as good as a boat ramp for entertainment. Most hills have put in the magic carpet lifts on the bunny hills though. If you have never seen one they are basically a big slow conveyor belt in the snow. They're easier and safer but way slower than the good Ol toe rope.
