Hoist (RB)

The name or term "Hoist" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Hoist (disambiguation).

Hoist the Tow-Bot is an Autobot from the Rescue Bots portion of the Aligned continuity family.

Hoist is the Rescue Bot force's Tow-Bot, using his impressive strength to pull his fellow bots to safety so they can be fixed up and get back into action.

Fiction

2015 Robots in Disguise cartoon

Following the restoration of Cybertron from the Great War, Hoist was one of the many Autobots blacklisted by the new High Council for being a supporter of Optimus Prime. Enemy of My Enemy

Toys

Rescue Bots

• Hoist the Tow-Bot (2012)

Part of the fifth wave of the original Rescue Bots toyline, Hoist transforms from robot into a tow truck. Pulling the tow truck's hook up converts him back into a robot.

The wave with Hoist and Medix was originally a bit scarce on retail shelves (though it hit Target clearance in some places), and as such the two demanded some hefty prices on the secondary market thanks to a surge of interest in the line thanks to the cartoon). However, there must have been a warehouse find or something, as eBay sellers eventually started listing them in large numbers for roughly original retail.

• More information on Hoist at TFU.info

• Hoist the Tow-Bot (Rescan Series, 2016)

Part of the eleventh wave of "Rescan" figures (second wave of the 2016 assortment), Hoist is a re-working of his original toy in a smaller scale. He transforms from robot to tow truck (and back) in a single step, activated by swinging his legs down (or up), which swings out (or in) his arms and head. His tow-winch is adjustable and can in theory tow another toy in vehicle mode, but the hook sits pretty dang close to his rear bumper and prevents some toys from hooking up with him.

He has 5mm post-holes on his tow-winch and both sides of his fists, though the ones on the bottoms of his fists have considerably more clearance for large "accessories" like the Rescue Bots Mini-Cons.

• Hoist the Tow-Bot (Flip Racer, 2017)

Part of the first wave of individually packed Flip Racers, Hoist transforms automatically from towtruck to robot when the vehicle mode is lifted up and placed on its end.

Notes

• The original Hoist's package art shows him teamed with an unnamed human partner in the shape, but not colors, of the original Charlie Burns figure. This character never materialized as a toy.
• His Rescan series artwork is a trace-over of the original rendered in style to match the cartoon's look. It also omits the human partner and changes a handful of details to line up more with the new toy.