What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

Moving a big Project - RV-10

MElstien

Well Known Member
Hello,

I am building an RV-10 in NJ and will be moving to Florida in a few weeks. I am keeping the home in NJ for a while. The home in Florida has a hanger. I wish to move my project to the new home soon. I am looking for feedback on the best way to move. I have builders insurance that will cover the cost of the parts and kits should something happen during the move, but obviously I hope nothing does happen. I have the following kits/parts in NJ

Epennange kit - completed
QB Wings on rolling stand 97% done Bottom wing skins and some wiring still left
Fusalage QB kit - as purchased
Lots of tools and boxes including compressor, floor band saw and drill press.

My thought is to rent a large U-Haul truck (not a trailer) for the airplane move. Pack the kits in custom built wood crates with just enough strategically placed spray foam packing (with plastic material between the plane and foam) to keep them in place. I can make the drive in 2 days.

Other options are to call a professional moving company, PODs, etc.

I think I would feel better doing it myself and knowing the kit is being handled by me, but paying someone is easier.

I would be interested in opinions and experience.

Regards,

Michael
 
I've moved a -10 kit. Here's what I would do. I'm sure others will chime in too.

Put the tools in the nose of the truck and lash them down very well.

Hang the wings along the sides of the truck using cargo straps and padding to keep the straps from damaging the wings. Use padding between the wings and side of the truck.

Alternately, I'd strap them down to the rolling rack, pad them well, and secure the rolling rack in the vehicle. It might fit side by side with the fuselage.

Place the fuselage in the truck and pack it full of ailerons, elevators, flaps, etc. You can fit a lot of flying surfaces in a fuselage. Obviously, you pad things well as you put them in there. Harbor Freight packing blankets are relatively cheap. Strap the fuselage down carefully. Do you still have the false spars and other hold down hardware from when you received your fuselage? Use that as a starting point to tie down the fuselage.
 
I paid to have a murphy moose moved from Chicago to Florida. I couldn't have come close to the price by the time I paid airfare, rented a truck, paid for gas, etc. Plus I didn't have any of the headache of trying to deal with the move. A VAF'er helped load it and a group of buddies helped unload it. Plus, he had the setup in his trailer and the knowledge to move such projects that really made everything go so smooth. I would recommend looking into it.
 
Moving

I moved a completed airframe from Long Beach, CA to Chicago. First, I had to move it to my hangar at Fullerton airport to store it for a few months and for that, I rented a U-Haul truck. The wings went in their stand alongside the fuse on it's dolly. Flaps and ailerons were attached to the wings and secured with duct tape to fix them in place. The tail feathers were secured on the floor under the fuse. Plenty of room in the truck for it all.

For the cross country move, I hired Partain to move it. They used a car transport trailer (with a car in it as it turned out) to move it. The wings were strapped to the trailer sidewalls and the fuse kept on the dolly. Very happy with their service and would happily use them again.
 
Last edited:
I had Partain transport my empennage completed at Synergy Air in Oregon, along with my QB Wings and QB Fuse kits from Van's in a single shipment to Houston, TX. They did an excellent job, did the loading in Oregon and unloading in Texas, and helped me get it all moved into my shop. I highly recommend them as a specialist in aircraft moves.

I suspect the cost would be higher with Tony Partain than moving it yourself with a U-haul truck, but it would be much easier and probably safer using Tony.
 
I used a rental truck and it worked well.

Landing gear weren?t attached, so it made loaded the fuselage easier. None of the tail feathers were attached either. The wings were in the wing stand cart. Everything was lashed down. Nailing some 2x4 boards into the floor helped to keep the cart from moving.

Make sure you get a truck without wheel wells. It makes loading and packing much easier.
 
I used a rental truck and it worked well.

Landing gear weren’t attached, so it made loaded the fuselage easier. None of the tail feathers were attached either. The wings were in the wing stand cart. Everything was lashed down. Nailing some 2x4 boards into the floor helped to keep the cart from moving.

Make sure you get a truck without wheel wells. It makes loading and packing much easier.

I managed to do it with a truck that had wheel wells. The trade-off is the height you have to lift the parts.

All of the major parts of a QB fit in this size truck, 26ft IIRC -

o7U.jpg


Buy lots of lashing straps, wood screws and 2x4s. No need to drill into the floor but you can make custom sized supports attached to the rolling carts to prevent fore/aft and sideways movement. Two or three good helpers loading and unloading made it go well.

I only had to go 80 miles, I'm not sure I could have taken that uncomfortable truck ride for 2 days...:)


ADDED

I now remember why I couldn't screw into the floor... it was a metal floor...:)
 
Last edited:
Alternately, I'd strap them down to the rolling rack, pad them well, and secure the rolling rack in the vehicle. It might fit side by side with the fuselage.

Place the fuselage in the truck and pack it full of ailerons, elevators, flaps, etc. You can fit a lot of flying surfaces in a fuselage. Obviously, you pad things well as you put them in there. Harbor Freight packing blankets are relatively cheap. Strap the fuselage down carefully. Do you still have the false spars and other hold down hardware from when you received your fuselage? Use that as a starting point to tie down the fuselage.

I bought a complete QB kit,. minus the finishing kit and moved it this way with no problem. Everything fit with a lot of room to spare. The big issue was that it would not fit in a 16' truck with the door closed and that forced me into a 24' truck, which is a lot heavier. The rental was a good bit higher, but the killer was fuel. I couldn't get better than 8 MPG and around here, diesel is more that gas.

Larry
 
Last edited:
I paid to have a murphy moose moved from Chicago to Florida. I couldn't have come close to the price by the time I paid airfare, rented a truck, paid for gas, etc. Plus I didn't have any of the headache of trying to deal with the move. A VAF'er helped load it and a group of buddies helped unload it. Plus, he had the setup in his trailer and the knowledge to move such projects that really made everything go so smooth. I would recommend looking into it.

I was the guy who helped load the Moose and spoke at length with the mover. If you do hire, I strongly recommend Timberwolf's guy. More affordable and very competent.

Larry
 
How did the move go?

Did you make the move? If so, what did you decide to do, and how did it turn out?
 
Back
Top