Short range trailering
- KevinC
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Short range trailering
I've seen some really fancy trailers used to move Highlanders, etc. but few designed for the short haul. I'm only ~2 miles from the airport on lazy country roads. Anyone have any simple, easy to use ideas for moving the plane back and forth from home? Modified car dolley? Tow it backwards by the tailwheel?
Like Ross Perot: I'm all ears....
k
Like Ross Perot: I'm all ears....
k
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One idea
I've seen several that modify a small boat trailer and tow it backwards with the tail down near the hitch end. Seems to work great. Ramp goes up the center for the tailway to track into and the mains just come up onto small platforms at the very end with secure straps. The rest of the trailer is gone. Almost like towing a letter "T" backwards.
Paul, PA
Paul, PA
- juliant
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I only live about 3 miles from the airport so the few times I've needed to take it back & forth I keep it simple. I have a small trailer hooked to my truck and I tie the tailwheel down in it and tow it on the mains. Works good and is easy.
Steve Henry, Wild West Aircraft
(the Dead Stick Take-off Guy)
(the Dead Stick Take-off Guy)
- stede52
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- Johnny C!
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Hey!
I use to tow a Hiller G Model on
a trailer of similar construction,
though much heavier. With the
long tongue, it was very stable
at highway speeds.
Kevin.
For you tail dragger show offs, I don't
think it would be that difficult or costly
to buy a prefab steel trailer with no sides
& extend the tongue with the appropriate
channel, like in the European pic.
I will probably consider this even for
my trike config, but it will be quite
some time time before I need it.
I would prefer tail forward towing.
John
I use to tow a Hiller G Model on
a trailer of similar construction,
though much heavier. With the
long tongue, it was very stable
at highway speeds.
Kevin.
For you tail dragger show offs, I don't
think it would be that difficult or costly
to buy a prefab steel trailer with no sides
& extend the tongue with the appropriate
channel, like in the European pic.
I will probably consider this even for
my trike config, but it will be quite
some time time before I need it.
I would prefer tail forward towing.
John
There are many things that happen really fast when you are
flying an airplane. There is no sense in rushing any of the others.
I would much rather be looking down at the runway, than up at it.
Duane Sorenson & Rick Norton Gone West 6/8/09. Godspeed
flying an airplane. There is no sense in rushing any of the others.
I would much rather be looking down at the runway, than up at it.
Duane Sorenson & Rick Norton Gone West 6/8/09. Godspeed
- KevinC
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- Location: Prosser, Washington
"success"?
Well, 509KC made it to the airport for the first time today - although a short trip.
I used a 4x4 mini trailer from the Chinese Tool Store (Harbor) and cut a 2.5 x 1.75 notch in the deck. I put the tailwheel in the notch and strapped it in with ratchet strap. It pulled down the road at 35 mph no problem.
I will post a picture another day.
k
I used a 4x4 mini trailer from the Chinese Tool Store (Harbor) and cut a 2.5 x 1.75 notch in the deck. I put the tailwheel in the notch and strapped it in with ratchet strap. It pulled down the road at 35 mph no problem.
I will post a picture another day.
k
- Johnny C!
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Re: Short range trailering
Towing the plane backwards is entirely practical for short distances - especially if you have the baloon tires. A guy with a Kitfox who flew out of my former home airport did just that. He had a fixture that attached to the tail, and connected to the trailer hitch on his pickup. Seemed to work just fine.KevinC wrote:I've seen some really fancy trailers used to move Highlanders, etc. but few designed for the short haul. I'm only ~2 miles from the airport on lazy country roads. Anyone have any simple, easy to use ideas for moving the plane back and forth from home? Modified car dolley? Tow it backwards by the tailwheel?
Like Ross Perot: I'm all ears....
k
Dave
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- KevinC
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Here are a few pics of my trailer, I Have towed it at 70 and no problem,I do pull it forward and load over the tongue.
I use a scissor jack to raise and lower trailer tongue. It is made of 3"channel and 3" angle.
the axle is a low profile with highway tires,axle has rubber torsion inserts(pontoon boat)style.
you must cover the wing roots to protect from bugs.
[/img]
I use a scissor jack to raise and lower trailer tongue. It is made of 3"channel and 3" angle.
the axle is a low profile with highway tires,axle has rubber torsion inserts(pontoon boat)style.
you must cover the wing roots to protect from bugs.
[/img]
retired and luvinit