Super STOL Dimensions

[Bearhawk Builder]

Hi all, new to the forum here and am considering an SS build. If so one of the main reasons is the ability to trailer which leads me to this question. What are the dimensions of a super stol with wings folded and with 31 inch bushwheels, height and width. I would have an enclosed trailer built for transport and storage - sick of hanger rental. Thanks in advance.

[SuperFly]

Welcome Bearhawk Builder,

I am not sure of the exact dimensions, but that will vary somewhat with the charge in the shock absorbers and the weight of the airplane. I believe that SS can be folded down to 8'6" wide if one clips the corners of the flaps to make it fold in tighter. Without this mod, I believe the width to be 9'. So even with the clip, it would have to be open trailered in the US. The gear issue can be addressed by pulling the gear together to narrow them up, but the wing width would still be the issue. Perhaps Steve Henry, John Levy, or Jak can weigh in here with more exact dimensions.

Hope that helps some.

[taildrgfun]

My SS is 7'6" to the top of the wing on 29's. It is an inch or 2 higher on 31's. 6'6" to the top of the rudder. With a 3 blade prop that becomes the highest point but I didn't measure that. On 29's the tires are 8' outside to outside. 31's are a little wider.
Hope this helps. By the way if you decide you might want to get a SS or want to know more about them feel free to call me at 208-880-7887.

[Bearhawk Builder]

Thank you for the info. Steve, I will do that. Does anyone actually trailer their Highlander on a regular basis? I always wondered about fuel in the tanks, is there any special consideration before the wings can be folded?

[danerazz]

Not sure about the differences in the SS tanks from the highlander tanks, but on the highlander with a tailwheel the fuel must be low enough to be outboard of the vents when the wings are folded. The tri-gear version keeps the wings pretty level when folded so it isn't as much of a problem, but the tail has to be supported to keep the nose down.

[Familyflyer]

Regarding clipping the flaps. I did not have to clip the flaps, the wings fold fine. The flap end is just clear of the forward tail flying wire. If you fold any more than the flap trailing edge touching the vertical stab, the fold width only get narrower at the tips as the wings are parallel to each other with the flaps just clear of the vertical stab. (The root end sets the min width) Kits may very as it clears by very little. Check before you clip the flap.

[Gil T]

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I have a standard Highlander with Grove gear on it. That may make the nose slightly lower the most of them. I have to fold the wings and trailer it half a block to my house. With about 600 hours on it I have found that the magic number for fuel is about 7.5 gallons total to be pretty sure that it wont spit out of the vents. If its 8 gallons or more I put a tube on the vents and into a gas can so it doesn't go all over the wings. With some preplanning it works for me.

Gil T

[Trilander Ted]

Gil's last picture shows a "tee" in the overflow line. THIS is VERY IMPORTANT!!!! It breaks the vaccume to your catch can!!! I found out one warm day that the gas expanded and filled a five gallon pail so full I couldn't move it without a spill. Don't take a chance of a gasoline fire from a "flood" in the hangar, always install a vent "tee"....cheap and easy. Trilander Ted

[14PS]

[quote] I am not sure of the exact dimensions, but that will vary somewhat with the charge in the shock absorbers and the weight of the airplane. I believe that SS can be folded down to 8'6" wide if one clips the corners of the flaps to make it fold in tighter. Without this mod, I believe the width to be 9'. So even with the clip, it would have to be open trailered in the US. The gear issue can be addressed by pulling the gear together to narrow them up, but the wing width would still be the issue. Perhaps Steve Henry, John Levy, or Jak can weigh in here with more exact dimensions.
[quote]



Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but in most states you can pull trailers up to 10 feet wide without an escort, just put on a wide load sign. Over 10 feet you need an escort. Some states restrict oversize loads to daytime only.

I trailer my RV12 in a trailer I built myself on an old hay trailer frame. It is 8 1/2 feet wide inside, 9 feet outside. I put a wide load sign on the back of the trailer. I 've trailered it over 1500 miles, even at night, and have had no run-ins with the authorities. The horizontal stabilizer on the RV12 is 8 feet wide, so there's only 3 inches of clearance between the HS and the inside of the trailer. In order to ensure that the horizontal stabilizer wouldn't move around and hit the inside of the trailer, I framed a large hole in the wall of the trailer adjacent to the ends of the HS, and covered that with canvas. Near as I can tell, the HS has never hit the canvas.

I am hoping my new SS will fit in that same trailer, but if it doesn't, I plan to build another one that it will fit, using the canvas "window" idea for any places where the clearance between the airplane and the inside of the trailer wall is too close for comfort.

Wish I knew how to post a picture, but I don't. (Can anybody help?) My trailer cost less than $3,000 and really looks sharp. I covered it with roofing tin from Home Depot.

Jerry Sieren
SuperSTOL #340 on order

[Jamescham]

After investing 14 months and $X0,000.00 there is no way I was going on the cheap for a trailer. Shopped around and zeroed in on Big Tex 70 DM. 83" wide deck with removable (1 bolt) fenders 89". 22" tall deck with slide out ramps. 20' long car hauler,Steel plate floor with power coat. D.O.T RULE SAY THAT 102" is wides allowable load without escort and permits. S.S. Is around 102" and there would need to be at least 2" clearance plus wall thickness andThat trailer would take a Peterbuilt to haul! This is gonna be a real head turner going down the highway....

[14PS]

D.O.T RULE SAY THAT 102" is wides allowable load without escort and permits. S.S. Is around 102"

Is your trailer going to be enclosed or open. If enclosed, how do you get a 102" airplane into a 102" trailer (outside measurement)?

My trailer is 12,000 lbs GVW, compared to 7,000 for the Big Tex. I think 7,000 is plenty. but the hay trailer was 12,000.

Peterbuilt not necessary. I pull mine behind a Class B motorhome that only has a 188 hp V-6 Mercedes turbocharged diesel. Handles it just fine. Only drawback is the mileage goes from 18 mpg to 12 mpg.

Those 5 foot ramps sound like trouble city to me, plus there's no center ramp. My homemade ramp is about 9 feet long, full trailer width, and I consider it marginal. I load the RV12 prop first, but if you load tail first 5 feet might be enough.

I would be interested in more details regarding your trailering the SuperSTOL.

Jerry Sieren
SuperSTOL #340 on order.

[Bearhawk Builder]

I'd like to see a pic also, I'm ready to pull the trigger and this trailer issue is a big one for me. I've got to believe there's a way to enclose trailer a superstol.

[jak]

WE have put ss in a trailer Mark Sorenson builds a trailer for the ss our Alaska dealer took his from here to Alaska inside his trailer contact these people for your trailering needs Jak