Pros and Cons of Schrader tow hooks

[Jack Derrickson]

Greetings all,

I am curious what the general consensus was on the Schrader style tow hook as I am seriously considering putting one on a sailplane that I am restoring. They seem to be easy and cheap to manufacture as opposed to ordering a new Tost or even finding a used one. I figured up that the Schrader hook would be around $140 in parts and I could do the assembly myself. Would it truly be worth spending the extra money for a Tost?

Thanks,

Jack Derrickson

077, 847, and P4

[David S]

Did you perhaps mean to say Schweizer?

   …david

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[Craig Funston]

Dick Schrader came up with a very simple and elegant tow hook for his sailplanes that retracts flush after releasing. As I recall, George Applebay used a version on the Zuni, and Bob Kuykendall is using it on his HP-24 kits. I’m unaware of any problems with this hook style. If you want more definitive information, I’d reach out to Bob K. 

On Sep 25, 2025, at 11:54 AM, David S <david.s....@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Bill Tisdale]

Laister also used the same style on the LP-15 Nugget. I think I've seen it on other HP designs. No adverse effects, easy to get a back release with excessive slack line. Does the original poster have the detailed drawings of the design?

Bill

[Jack N. Derrickson]

No, I am very familiar with the Schweizer hooks. The Schrader style is the hook that retracts flush with the fuselage after release and very common in some American sailplanes particularly the Schrader line, it has recently been used in the Duckhawk, where I was introduced to it.

Thanks, 

Jack N. Derrickson

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[Jack N. Derrickson]

I will reach out to Bob, I have a set of Marske prints that are extremely detailed. It is exactly the same as the Schrader hook.

Thanks, 

Jack N. Derrickson

847, LK, & P4

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[SS]

My SCHREDER-designed glider had a persistent oleo strut pressure problem that was fixed by replacing the strut's SCHRADER valve core.  The Schreder-style tow hook worked well but required coaching the typical rope runner on how to hook the SCHWEIZER tow ring into it.

[John Johnson]

"My SCHREDER-designed glider had a persistent oleo strut pressure problem that was fixed by replacing the strut's SCHRADER valve core"  

I see what you did there :-)

JJ

[Dave Nadler]

Jack, decades ago I had a glider with the Schreder retracting flush tow-hook.
It had a nasty habit of premature release on very light back-pressure.
Likely a problem with my particular hook (either build or spring), but I replaced it with a Tost.
Hope that helps!
Best Regards, Dave