As you Gull and Odyssey owners know, ground-transporting your birds is not
easy, especially with the longer wings. And forget removing or installing
the wing by yourself.
With limited range on my eGull, it will be just a matter of time until I
have to land off-field and retrieve my plane. Also, since I don't want to
rent a hangar, the weather here makes it desirable to at least put a
shelter over my pride and joy.
So I came up with this idea for a trailer / mobile hangar. Single-axle, 28+
ft long, enclosed except one side. After removing the prop and antenna, the
plane gets pulled up a ramp onto a turntable until it sticks out the other
side (pictures 1 and 2). The mains are secured in fixed chocks. The wing
gets unbolted and hoisted straight up under the roof. The turntable with
the fuselage gets rotated 90 degrees and the tail wheel gets tied down
(pictures 3 and 4).
The main advantage of this arrangement becomes apparent when unloading the
plane: the fuselage will sit in the perfect position to receive the wing,
and the wing can be lowered slowly, by one person.
To "hangar" the plane without dismantling, it would be good to have
top-hinged doors on both sides which can be secured in the open position
(not recommended in the windy part of the country!).
A couple rough spots: to make this long trailer stiff enough with one long
side essentially open (or covered by a curtain) will take some careful
structural engineering. And since the plane must get past the fenders when
it rolls in and out of the trailer on the ramp, the trailer axle must be
about 4ft aft of the trailer center, which may put too much weight on the
tongue.
It will be possible to slant the back part of the trailer floor up a bit,
though, to keep the long overhang from scraping.
What do you think?
trailer
-
rahulchoudhary73
Re: trailer
Wow! two inputs,
a. traffic indicators on the rear and sides, large sized
b. trailer feels too long. over six feet of the wing could go over the roof of the tow car (sedan type).
my only experience on the road was driving alongside a boat being towed at night on the DC beltway, that somehow got into the wrong lane while i was taking an exit; there were quite a few hard brakes that night
rc
a. traffic indicators on the rear and sides, large sized
b. trailer feels too long. over six feet of the wing could go over the roof of the tow car (sedan type).
my only experience on the road was driving alongside a boat being towed at night on the DC beltway, that somehow got into the wrong lane while i was taking an exit; there were quite a few hard brakes that night
rc
-
rahulchoudhary73
Re: trailer
Wow! two inputs,
a. traffic indicators on the rear and sides, large sized
b. trailer feels too long. over six feet of the wing could go over the roof of the tow car (sedan type).
my only experience on the road was driving alongside a boat being towed at night on the DC beltway, that somehow got into the wrong lane while i was taking an exit; there were quite a few hard brakes that night
rc
a. traffic indicators on the rear and sides, large sized
b. trailer feels too long. over six feet of the wing could go over the roof of the tow car (sedan type).
my only experience on the road was driving alongside a boat being towed at night on the DC beltway, that somehow got into the wrong lane while i was taking an exit; there were quite a few hard brakes that night
rc
-
mkoxxy
Re: trailer
Thanks, Rahul. Yes, lots of lights along the sides are a must. You never
know when you have to use the trailer at night.
I had been considering something like Mark's trailer, which extends over
his little car, or a 5th-wheeler type (which would also make it much easier
to maneuver). But at some point I may want to tow the plane behind my motor
home (my current one is only 18 ft long!). I may need a sway bar if I ever
use it at freeway speeds.
know when you have to use the trailer at night.
I had been considering something like Mark's trailer, which extends over
his little car, or a 5th-wheeler type (which would also make it much easier
to maneuver). But at some point I may want to tow the plane behind my motor
home (my current one is only 18 ft long!). I may need a sway bar if I ever
use it at freeway speeds.
-
rahulchoudhary73
Re: trailer
motor home and the plane trailer ;), wouldn't that look cool on a railway track like doc in 'back to the future', I'll hook up my trailer too when i get one. i kinda like Mark's open air flat bed trailer we saw in a video once..
couple more inputs. para cord and machinable plastic (or Corning machinable glass, density slightly less than aluminium, as an experiment) gears. I'd prefer loading from the left side, so the gear assemblies to pull the plane up, raise and lock the wing is on the right hand side, with the person standing on the right of the ramp. may be other ways to do it too.
how's this for a rough draft of a loading scenario,
o. unbolt wing
a. rotate turntable
b. lower ramp (better have a connecting rod like a ladder's step)
align plane
c. fix winch hook above front wheel (hook has para cord going up to the other side of the trailer and the back to the winch assembly on the loading side)
d. walk to the trailer on the right of the ramp
e. rotate gear to pull up plane onto the turntable (bow to keep head clear of wing's leading edge)
f. rotate another gear to pull up wing (may have to walk up to the fore and aft ends of the trailer to loop the para cord risers around the wing)
g. step back to rotate the tail
h. tie the boom to the floor with another para cord like a shoe lace)
.
. (few more steps)
.
y. connect the wires for the indicators
z. test the signals, with an observer in the rear
feels like a couple of dozen dance steps of a shotokan karate "kata" to me. will be my pleasure to review the mechanical linkages and scenarios design document.
2 cents,
Rahul
couple more inputs. para cord and machinable plastic (or Corning machinable glass, density slightly less than aluminium, as an experiment) gears. I'd prefer loading from the left side, so the gear assemblies to pull the plane up, raise and lock the wing is on the right hand side, with the person standing on the right of the ramp. may be other ways to do it too.
how's this for a rough draft of a loading scenario,
o. unbolt wing
a. rotate turntable
b. lower ramp (better have a connecting rod like a ladder's step)
align plane
c. fix winch hook above front wheel (hook has para cord going up to the other side of the trailer and the back to the winch assembly on the loading side)
d. walk to the trailer on the right of the ramp
e. rotate gear to pull up plane onto the turntable (bow to keep head clear of wing's leading edge)
f. rotate another gear to pull up wing (may have to walk up to the fore and aft ends of the trailer to loop the para cord risers around the wing)
g. step back to rotate the tail
h. tie the boom to the floor with another para cord like a shoe lace)
.
. (few more steps)
.
y. connect the wires for the indicators
z. test the signals, with an observer in the rear
feels like a couple of dozen dance steps of a shotokan karate "kata" to me. will be my pleasure to review the mechanical linkages and scenarios design document.
2 cents,
Rahul
-
mkoxxy
Re: trailer
OK, looks like I did not overlook a serious flaw in the design, so let's
spin this a little further.
I would probably not take all the wing bolts out until the plane is all the
way in the trailer - a wind gust or uneven terrain could rock the wing
enough to lose balance. But since the trailer is essentially open on one
side, access will be almost as good as outside the trailer.
The ramp would probably have to have a third rail for the nose wheel,
slightly shorter (and steeper) than the main gear ramps, to help lift it up
onto the turntable. And as I found when I tried to push my fuselage into my
utility trailer, the ramps have to be really long to work with the 10° or
so max angle the plane can be tilted up. Also makes it really important to
keep the trailer floor as low as possible. My utility trailer floor is 24"
up, which meant I should have had 12 ft ramps - the 8 ft ramps I had were
definitely too short.
To pull the plane into the trailer, I would probably go for a 12V winch
with remote. Not much strength required, and Harbor Freight has them at
very reasonable cost.
Lifting the wing up under the trailer roof will probably require a couple
padded "trapezes", for a total of 4 cords. Permanently attached to the
ceiling would be couple pads, shaped like the airfoil. Once up, I would
probably want to lock the wing into position with something more rigid than
cords.
Regarding Mark's trailer: the aluminum tubing cross-bracing made it very
light, but still strong enough to carry the wing. At Arlington this year,
walking the wing up and down the rear ramp, with arms over our heads,
required several able bodies, and was still a bit scary. And of course
everything is out in the open. I have attached a photo of the trailer, when
Mark and Mike dropped off my D-cell.
Martin
spin this a little further.
I would probably not take all the wing bolts out until the plane is all the
way in the trailer - a wind gust or uneven terrain could rock the wing
enough to lose balance. But since the trailer is essentially open on one
side, access will be almost as good as outside the trailer.
The ramp would probably have to have a third rail for the nose wheel,
slightly shorter (and steeper) than the main gear ramps, to help lift it up
onto the turntable. And as I found when I tried to push my fuselage into my
utility trailer, the ramps have to be really long to work with the 10° or
so max angle the plane can be tilted up. Also makes it really important to
keep the trailer floor as low as possible. My utility trailer floor is 24"
up, which meant I should have had 12 ft ramps - the 8 ft ramps I had were
definitely too short.
To pull the plane into the trailer, I would probably go for a 12V winch
with remote. Not much strength required, and Harbor Freight has them at
very reasonable cost.
Lifting the wing up under the trailer roof will probably require a couple
padded "trapezes", for a total of 4 cords. Permanently attached to the
ceiling would be couple pads, shaped like the airfoil. Once up, I would
probably want to lock the wing into position with something more rigid than
cords.
Regarding Mark's trailer: the aluminum tubing cross-bracing made it very
light, but still strong enough to carry the wing. At Arlington this year,
walking the wing up and down the rear ramp, with arms over our heads,
required several able bodies, and was still a bit scary. And of course
everything is out in the open. I have attached a photo of the trailer, when
Mark and Mike dropped off my D-cell.
Martin
-
bruce.markle
Re: trailer
I have helped Mark put a 28’ wing on his trailer twice. Not terrible to do, but takes two for sure (3 guys, and tall ones, are preferred) but a special trailer would be real handy.
The one side of the trailer actually doesn’t have to be open except when loading. You could have rigid side doors along that entire side that are hinged at the bottom and they simply fold down. The roof only has to be designed to stay up with one side gone only when loading, not for any dynamic loads. The door in the middle can be reinforced to be the ramp. Once the side doors are up they enclose the side and support the roof.
So open all the side doors on the right side, plus a larger side door on the left for the nose (big enough for the pivot to come later). Winch up the center right side door ramp until plane is inside. Close all the right side doors to the front of the trailer to help carry wing loads and lift wing off using roof mechanism. Rotate fuselage on your turntable, lock in place, and close remaining doors.
Regards
Bruce
The one side of the trailer actually doesn’t have to be open except when loading. You could have rigid side doors along that entire side that are hinged at the bottom and they simply fold down. The roof only has to be designed to stay up with one side gone only when loading, not for any dynamic loads. The door in the middle can be reinforced to be the ramp. Once the side doors are up they enclose the side and support the roof.
So open all the side doors on the right side, plus a larger side door on the left for the nose (big enough for the pivot to come later). Winch up the center right side door ramp until plane is inside. Close all the right side doors to the front of the trailer to help carry wing loads and lift wing off using roof mechanism. Rotate fuselage on your turntable, lock in place, and close remaining doors.
Regards
Bruce
-
mkoxxy
Re: trailer
Thanks, Bruce. Yes, the left side does not have to be "open". The forward
portion of the left side could actually have a half-wall, even braced
inside, which would make the hinged top half much easier to handle. And
when closed, it will probably already be able to carry the dynamic loads of
the roof. On the rear end, the wall has to open completely, so that the
tail can be swung through.
One objective is to also provide - stationary - shelter for the plane in
near-flying condition. For that, it would be nice to have top-hinged doors
on both sides to keep rain off the windshield and the motor / controller /
prop. I'll have to see if that can be done without taking the prop off.
I'll refine my CAD model next time I have a little time on my computer at
work.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Martin
portion of the left side could actually have a half-wall, even braced
inside, which would make the hinged top half much easier to handle. And
when closed, it will probably already be able to carry the dynamic loads of
the roof. On the rear end, the wall has to open completely, so that the
tail can be swung through.
One objective is to also provide - stationary - shelter for the plane in
near-flying condition. For that, it would be nice to have top-hinged doors
on both sides to keep rain off the windshield and the motor / controller /
prop. I'll have to see if that can be done without taking the prop off.
I'll refine my CAD model next time I have a little time on my computer at
work.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Martin
-
rahulchoudhary73
Re: trailer
4 cords would harder to hang the wing from properly, kinda like how 2 bearings are right for a shaft where a 3rd bearing is a complete no no design wise. maybe two cords at the mid point of each side of the wing.
Ought to be easier as open air in trailering mode; light plastic or waterproof cotton shutters in long term parking mode.
Ramp now looks it slides back in directly underneath trailer bed with at least one fold. or it hinges up to become a part of the side wall.
That seems to be Mark's trailer in delivery mode. i thought the trailer for the flight ready gull was even lighter, going by the three four photos in the beginning in the video of the eGull with the Zero powertrain, by the sea on a gray day with a French song in the background
Cheers,
Rahul
Ought to be easier as open air in trailering mode; light plastic or waterproof cotton shutters in long term parking mode.
Ramp now looks it slides back in directly underneath trailer bed with at least one fold. or it hinges up to become a part of the side wall.
That seems to be Mark's trailer in delivery mode. i thought the trailer for the flight ready gull was even lighter, going by the three four photos in the beginning in the video of the eGull with the Zero powertrain, by the sea on a gray day with a French song in the background
Cheers,
Rahul
-
rahulchoudhary73
Re: trailer
4 cords would harder to hang the wing from properly, kinda like how 2 bearings are right for a shaft where a 3rd bearing is a complete no no design wise. maybe two cords at the mid point of each side of the wing.
Ought to be easier as open air in trailering mode; light plastic or waterproof cotton shutters in long term parking mode.
Ramp now looks it slides back in directly underneath trailer bed with at least one fold. or it hinges up to become a part of the side wall.
That seems to be Mark's trailer in delivery mode. i thought the trailer for the flight ready gull was even lighter, going by the three four photos in the beginning in the video of the eGull with the Zero powertrain, by the sea on a gray day with a French song in the background
Cheers,
Rahul
Ought to be easier as open air in trailering mode; light plastic or waterproof cotton shutters in long term parking mode.
Ramp now looks it slides back in directly underneath trailer bed with at least one fold. or it hinges up to become a part of the side wall.
That seems to be Mark's trailer in delivery mode. i thought the trailer for the flight ready gull was even lighter, going by the three four photos in the beginning in the video of the eGull with the Zero powertrain, by the sea on a gray day with a French song in the background
Cheers,
Rahul