TwisToTow® Drives

Big jobs require heavy-duty equipment, but getting equipment with an off-highway hydrostatic traction system to and from a job site can be difficult. Not anymore. The Power Wheel® TWISTOTOW® Drive from Auburn Gear brings innovative, easy highway towing to agricultural, construction, and other heavy-duty industries that need it most.  

Planetary Drive Power for Job Performance and Maximum Towing Capacity 

The TWISTOTOW® Drive is part of the PowerWheel Planetary Drive line from Auburn Gear, a versatile, powerful engineered drive solution. These drives power your off-highway hydrostatic traction systems on the job and allow you to pull or tow the vehicle or trailer at highway speeds (70 mph or 110 kph).

How it Works 

Simple is best, which is why you can engage or disengage TWISTOTOW® drive mechanism in two steps. 

  1. Pull
  2. Twist! 

Application Study: HELICOPTER TUG FEATURING MODEL 3 TWISTOTOW®

ABOUT THE DESIGN: In this helicopter tug (also an E-Trac™ application), the patented Model 3 TWISTOTOW® is used to propel all 4 omnix-type wheels. There is an additional 45:1 reduction in front of the 3.60:1 reduction in the Model 3. Thus, the total system reduction is 162:1. 

The 162:1 ratio provided too much resistance to overcome to move the tug around. But, if the drive system of this application were to become disabled, the Model 3 TWISTOTOW® mechanism allows the end-user to easily disconnect the drive system and push the tug around. 

TWISTTOTOW diagram

Other TWISTOTOW® Applications 

  • Industrial mowers 
  • Tree Pruners 
  • Broom Sweepers 
  • Trailers
  • Harvesters 
  • Diggers 
  • Excavators 
  • Tractors 
  • Other large agricultural and construction equipment 

Contact Auburn Gear today about which TWISTOTOW® Power Wheel Model might fit your application needs.

Model Maximum Intermittent Output  Torque Maximum Input Speeds (RPM) Maximum Radial Load Capacity Ratios
lbf-in N-m lbf kgf
3  20,000  2,300  3,500  9,900  4,500 3.60:1
6B  50,000  5,700 3,500/5,000  14,400  6,500 3.75 – 33.79:1
6B Plus  50,000  5,700 3,500/5,000  30,000  13,600 3.75 – 33.79:1
7  70,000  7,900 3,500/5,000  14,400  6,500 3.75 – 33.79:1
7 Plus 70,000 7,900 3,500/5,000 30,000 13,600 3.75 – 33.79:1
8B  100,000  11,300 3,500/5,000  18,800  8,500 3.92 – 1064.39:1
9  130,000  14,700 3,500/5,000  18,800  8,500 3.92 – 1064.39:1
145  145,000  16,400 3,500/5,000  30,000  13,600 3.92 – 1064.39:1

* 3500 rpm maximum for single reduction

MODEL 3 TWISTOTOW® Drives

Features:    Available with:

Additional Performance Data

Max Continuous Torque – 10,000 lbf-in (1,150 N-m)
Max Input Speed – 3,500 rpm (single reduction)
Ratio Range – 3.6:1
Hydraulic Motor Mountings – SAE A 4-bolt magneto mount , SAE B 2-bolt

MODEL 6B TWISTOTOW® Drives

Features:    Available with:

Additional Performance Data

Max Continuous Torque – 25,000 lbf-in (2,800 N-m)
Max Input Speed – 3,500 rpm (single reduction) – 5,000 rpm (double reduction)
Ratio Range – 3.75 to 33.79:1
Hydraulic Motor Mountings – SAE A, B & C

MODEL 6B Plus TWISTOTOW® Drives

Features:    Available with:

Additional Performance Data

Max Continuous Torque – 25,000 lbf-in (2,300 N-m)
Max Input Speed – 3,500 rpm (single reduction) – 5,000 rpm (double reduction)
Ratio Range – 3.75 to 33.79:1
Hydraulic Motor Mountings – SAE A, B & C

MODEL 7 TWISTOTOW® Drives

Features:    Available with:

Additional Performance Data

Max Continuous Torque – 35,000 lbf-in (4,000 N-m)
Max Input Speed – 3,500 rpm (single reduction) – 5,000 rpm (double reduction)
Ratio Range – 3.75 to 33.79:1
Hydraulic Motor Mountings – SAE A, B & C

MODEL 7 Plus TWISTOTOW® Drives

Features:    Available with:

Additional Performance Data

Max Continuous Torque – 35,000 lbf-in (4,000 N-m)
Max Input Speed – 3,500 rpm (single reduction) – 5,000 rpm (double reduction)
Ratio Range – 3.75 to 33.79:1
Hydraulic Motor Mountings – SAE A, B & C

MODEL 8B TWISTOTOW® Drives

Features:    Available with:

Additional Performance Data

Max Continuous Torque – 50,000 lbf-in (5,700 N-m)
Max Input Speed – 3,500 rpm (single reduction) – 5,000 rpm (all other reductions)
Ratio Range – 3.92 to 50.00:1 Triple Reductions from 70.61 to 183.02:1 Quadruple Reductions from 264.75 to 1064.39:1

Model 9 TWISTOTOW® Drives

Features:    Available with:

Additional Performance Data

Max Continuous Torque – 65,000 lbf-in (7,400 N-m)
Max Input Speed – 3,500 rpm (single reduction) – 5,000 rpm (all other reductions)
Ratio Range – 3.92 to 50.00:1 Triple Reductions from 70.61 to 183.02:1 Quadruple Reductions from 264.75 to 1064.39:1
Hydraulic Motor Mountings – SAE A, B, C, & D

Model 145 TWISTOTOW® Drives

Features:    Available with:

Additional Performance Data

Max Continuous Torque – 72,500 lbf-in (8,200 N-m)
Max Input Speed – 3,500 rpm (single reduction) – 5,000 rpm (all other reductions)
Ratio Range – 5.50 to 50.00:1 Triple Reductions from 118.13 to 183.02:1 Quadruple Reductions from 442.89 to 1064.39:1
Hydraulic Motor Mountings – SAE A, B, C, & D