Enclosed trailer arangement

[dwreel]

If all goes well, I'll be getting an enclosed trailer this summer. I would greatly appreciate any tips or ideas anyone has on their experience with their trailers. Photos would be a big help also.

Most of my planes will be in the 80" to 100" catagory, .90 to 1.60 engines. Currently I;m considering a 6' X 10' trailer.Would appreciate any help the membership can send my way.

thanks,
dick.

[karl k]

Good idea. I have a feeling it will get old real fast loading large planes in and out of my truck.

I will follow for ideas as well.

Karl

[blucor basher]

Funny, I'm selling a 6X10 because I need to go larger.

[GWRIGHT]

Here's a shot of mine. It's 14 feet enclosed 3/4 height. A few suggestions,...

1.be absolutely sure that you need it.
2.Make sure you have a place to store it.
3.Make sure you have a vehicle that will tow it well.
4.Be prepared for much higher gas costs
5.Also consider a new vehicle (suburban/fullsize van/etc.)
6. When/if you do purchase one, give adequate time to planning aircraft storage and ways to secure the aircraft inside.
7. It's better to have something secured too tightly than too loosely

This trailer was Bob Violet's (BVMjets), so it allready had shelving and a combination of large velcro straps and bungee tiedowns to properly secure everything. It's VERY important to properly secure things or they'll get beatup/destroyed while towing. My tundra goes from 16mpg down to 11mpg when towing it (older Tundra, 2000 model with much less power than current ones). I have to pay $34/month to store it and that is 1/2 the going rate due to it being at a facility owned by a friend and neighbor (homeowner's association won't allow it in driveway and although I have a 4-car garage, most of it is "workshop", so no space for trailer <G>. This one has brakes, and I would not consider a trailer without brakes. Makes an enormous difference. Of course you need a vehicle with brake controller installed.

If my wife would allow, i would prefer to just have a fullsize van instead, or something like a suburban, as it's a lot of trouble to have to go retrieve the trailer, load it and secure everything, then unload, go by carwash, and return trailer to storage afterwards (took me a couple HOURS to properly load/secure for our phoenix trip a few weeks ago). That being said, I could never transport the same quantity of aircraft that I do, without the trailer. It's also very nice to park it at an event, and have a locked storage facility at the flying field every evening, while driving to restaurants, motel, etc.

[blucor basher]

I want this:

http://www.dodge.com/en/2007/sprinter/

[Vince53]

Hi,

I now have a plane that won't fit into any of our vehicles. But I do have a 6x12 trailer we used to go sell stuff at craft shows. It has shelves set up on one side, with the center and other side open. Can I see some pictures of how storage space is set uo inside the trailer?

Thanks,
Vince

[GWRIGHT]

Sorry, don't have any pics like that, and it's 20 minutes each way to/from retrieving the trailer, so it's not very likely that I'll go get it and load things up for pictures <G>

[HMX Dave]

I've got an enclosed snowmobile trailer that my flying partner and I are going to use this summer to get our planes to and fro. I'm going to have to come up with some sort of racking system that can be easily removed for quadding and sledding. I think the Home Depot plumbing dep't is calling.....

[blucor basher]

6 x 10' trailer

Photo shows 16 assembled airplanes, 6 more in boxes.

2 x 85" Katana
1 X 75" Edge
5 X 55" Airplanes
8 X 47" Airplanes

+ tent, 3 chairs, generator, and toolboxes

[tdearth]

6 x 10' trailer

Photo shows 16 assembled airplanes, 6 more in boxes.

2 x 85" Katana
1 X 75" Edge
5 X 55" Airplanes
8 X 47" Airplanes

+ tent, 3 chairs, generator, and toolboxes

What? No bathroom? :D

Tim

[karl k]

What? No bathroom?

He uses this (http://bumperdumper.com/)

;)

Karl

[Vince53]

Looks good. As far as I can see the planes are strapped down by the landing gear and the wings are in foil lined bubble wrap. That's a great idea for the wings, I have some of that material left over from an insulating job. Thanks for the ideas.

Vince

[GWRIGHT]

The larger wings that must go in back like that I usually strap down also. If you don't, It's amazing how they'll start out as pictured, but end up in the front of the trailer, underneath something heavy <G>. Of course, i tend to drive a bit fast so bumps are rather pronounced .

[NumbSkull]

I want this:

http://www.dodge.com/en/2007/sprinter/

I could see you in one of those.... :D

[sun.flyer]

I could see you in one of those.... :D


Good one Noah!! :p

Tim

[blucor basher]

HA! that's awesome. Dang, if I only had $40K lying around...

[portablevcb]

I have smaller planes and found a 8x12 trailer sufficient for my needs (interior 6 ft high).

I agree with all Gary said. One more. Don't get a trailer that is wider than your tow vehicle. I had a Ford Ranger and found that I was always cutting corners too close, or, letting the trailer tire drift onto the lane divider. I now have a Tundra and it works much better. Intersting that I also get 11mpg even with a trailer that is higher.

Try out a couple of different arrangements for 'floor plan'. I used hollow core doors for shelves. I put them up a couple of different ways (2x4 vertical supports) before I found the one I have now.

I bought a couple of rolls of sticky back velcro to place wherever I needed. For tie downs I got some high start tubing (stretchy black rubber). Got the velcro tie downs (the ones with holes in one end) and put one on each end of a strip of tubing. Cut to length for each plane.

Cushioning is essential. If you've ever driven on I-40 through Oklahoma City you'll see why :eek: I usually make a foam crade for each plane. Wing bags work well and they can be strapped to a wall.

Remember what Gary said, if it isn't tied down it will end up on the floor under the heaviest table that you have. An amendment. If the shelf isn't secured well it will fall on your newest/most expensive plane :eek:

charlie

[callen]

You can't beat a full size van for planes. This is a 2007 GMC and it rides like a car at 22 mpg on the highway. This is the van new before I put storage in it. Total cost new was only around 20 grand. Has a pull out tray in rear for working on planes. Got tired of trying to cram things in my old 84 4x4 GMC.

[jonnyjetprop]

Since I own a Suburban, I'll chime in. Not nearly as good as a van. You don't have the verticle storage. It's also a pain to take the thrid seat in and out or to find a place to store it. And don't forget the gas milage :censored:

John

[callen]

Since I own a Suburban, I'll chime in. Not nearly as good as a van. You don't have the verticle storage. It's also a pain to take the thrid seat in and out or to find a place to store it. And don't forget the gas milage :censored:

John

I'll loan you my van. Looks like Tuesday is going to be windy so I may not go to the field.

[dwreel]

Thanks for all the photos and suggestions. It's much appreciated guys. I've saved all the pics and written down all the suggestions and ideas. I'm sure they all will be a big help when I get ready to out fit my trailer.

The trailer will be doing double duty. I take care of my mother's yard and 2 elderly people whom are long time family friends.It's gotten to be too much hassle loading my mower into my pick-em-up.

Safe landings,
dick.

web site
http://www.DWRCMODELS.COM

[karl k]

Since I own a Suburban, I'll chime in. Not nearly as good as a van. You don't have the verticle storage. It's also a pain to take the thrid seat in and out or to find a place to store it. And don't forget the gas milage :censored:

John


I recently sold my Diesel Suburban :(

I miss that truck. $160 to fill, but go 800km (500miles) with all town driving.

I drove from Vancouver, BC to Florence, Oregon on 1/2 tank of fuel. The highway millage is amazing.

I bought a '90 4runner and it drinks fuel like there is no tomorrow. Not very happy with it now, but the price was right at the time.

Karl

[GWRIGHT]

If my wife would OK it,.. a fullsize van such as yours would be the next vehicle. Could only fit about half the stuff i take to events with the trailer, but that's enough anyway.

You can't beat a full size van for planes. This is a 2007 GMC and it rides like a car at 22 mpg on the highway. This is the van new before I put storage in it. Total cost new was only around 20 grand. Has a pull out tray in rear for working on planes. Got tired of trying to cram things in my old 84 4x4 GMC.

[callen]

PS....If you do buy a van and plan to put it in the garage be sure to measure vertical as well. I measured length but not vertical. After I got it home it only cleared by 1 inch. Whew............and living in a deeded community I could not park it outside.

[feathermerchant]

Yeah my 95 RAM 1500 4X4 with a topper barely fits too.
The Sprinter will have to sit outside or beside where the boat is now.
Anyone want a boat?

[jonnyjetprop]

I wouldn't be so quick to volunteer. I may take you up on it ;) Remember who suggested the cargo van. I miss my Scooby Doo van.

John

I'll loan you my van. Looks like Tuesday is going to be windy so I may not go to the field.

[jonnyjetprop]

I can't remember, but about 2 years ago, one of the mags had an article about setting up a trailer. I can only remember a couple of ideas. Since the trailer had a side door in addition to the back, the author rigged one of those nets that you see in lieu of a back tailgate of a pickup truck. He put it just behind the side door. That way, he could place all of the heavy items on the floor in front of the net. This left the back open for models. He had built adjustable shelves that were on rollers. He could slide them out to take full advantage of the space and they could be pulled out if the trailer was going to be used for something else.

John




Thanks for all the photos and suggestions. It's much appreciated guys. I've saved all the pics and written down all the suggestions and ideas. I'm sure they all will be a big help when I get ready to out fit my trailer.

The trailer will be doing double duty. I take care of my mother's yard and 2 elderly people whom are long time family friends.It's gotten to be too much hassle loading my mower into my pick-em-up.

Safe landings,
dick.

web site
http://www.DWRCMODELS.COM

[portablevcb]

Here's a rough drawing of mine. The L shaped shelves work pretty good, but, you might want to just put full width based on what you are carrying. It depends on 1) how many planes you want to get in there, 2) how easy you want access to be, and 3) what other things you will want to use the trailer for besides airplanes :eek:

The stuff on the front shelves is contained with one of those pickup truck cargo nets, reduced in size to fit. All my flight equipment, tool boxes and batteries go on the floor at the front of the trailer. The front shelves in mine are those wire storage types.

The space under the bottom shelf in the back is high enough to take two tables and two canopies.

charlie

[HMX Dave]

This is what I'm going to use in the summer. The whole rear is a door that opens down as a ramp. Obviously in this pic it's being used for what it was designed....hehehe. 14' long and 6' high.

[feathermerchant]

It says Triton on the side so I'm guessing a bunch of chargers or one really large one...

[Sabrejock]

Make sure that whatever size you decide on that it has a small door access to the front as well as the big rear doors. That's where your battery/generator/fuel? will go. If you can find one with leaf springs do it, as the ones with torsion suspension can't be adjusted and the trailer will be bouncing all over the place. [They're so light]. With leafs, the spring rate can be adjusted by removing a leaf or two. My $.02, Tex.

[dwreel]

Thanks again for the neet ideas. I'm headed down to Fayetteville, NC the end of the month( March) for a 1/4 scale IMAA and 80" + Fly-in. Have heard there will be a bunch of enclosed trailers down there. Gonna get pics of ALL of them. Think i'll borrow an extra battery for my camera.

dick

http://www.dwrcmodels.com

[portablevcb]

And don't forget to ask what folks like and don't like about their setups.

I saw a trailer at one of our meets and thought it looked perfect. Then talked to the owner. He disliked it for a number of reasons, most of which applied to what I wanted as well. It was his first 'build' and he was going to take it home and redo it.

have fun
charlie

[bigbobed]

Thanks again for the neet ideas. I'm headed down to Fayetteville, NC the end of the month( March) for a 1/4 scale IMAA and 80" + Fly-in. Have heard there will be a bunch of enclosed trailers down there. Gonna get pics of ALL of them. Think i'll borrow an extra battery for my camera.

dick

http://www.dwrcmodels.com

One of your club members Raoul Trudell has a trailer that's pretty well equipped. He's usually at the field with it on weekends.

[dwreel]

Didn't know Raoul had a trailer. I know he borrows the company truck from his work place sometimes. Other than that, all i've seem him useing ishis pickup with the camping cover. I'll check with him. Thanks.

dick.

[Captain Carlton]

OK, so I have spent a lot of time, thought, and money on my current trailer arrangement. It is 7 feet tall (so I can stand in it), 6.5 feet wide and 12 feet long. I collected tons of photos of other people rigs, and put it all together to create a Hybrid of all the best pieces.

Major Features.
It can carry 2 giant scale planes on the floor (I don't have a photo of this)
It has a separate bench on the side for by chargers and Helis.
It can carry 16 smaller planes, and two giant scale planes depending upon loadout.
2000 Watt Generator front, with a locked box with vent and a van cooling system, so it can run, stay cool and still be locked up. It powers a 12V charger, and a 120 strip on the front. The 12 Volt Charger chargers Big deep cycle battery located next to the generator. The charger is inside over the work bench so it can be easily managed. The battery powers an inverter and 2nd power strip, plus multiple 12V lines that run into the trailer for by LED rope lights. It looks like a Casino. It not has a Microwave too.

- Richard

[RC4x4]

That's a really nice trailer setup. I am looking at getting one in june.

Cory

[epoxy_addict]

This is a 6x10 trailer that I had about 3 years ago. I sold it (stupid move) because I thought I needed a stock trailer. I have since replaced it with a 6x12. I used Fast-Mount tracks from Menards, original intended for basement or garage shelving. I have never had anything come loose.