jim miller
Well Known Member
I have designed a trailer that I would build for the RV-12. It is three trailers in one to allow a one man operation and to provide easy and safe transport for the wings. Here is a brief discription.
1. A central two axle lightweight trailer slightly wider that the 78 inch main gear width with metal sides about 12" above trailer floor. On these sides I will weld hindges (two per side) made from short pieces of 1/2 inch ID pipe with a 1/2 hindge pin made from steel bar or use long concrete J bolts.
2. Two very light weight accessory trailers hinged to the side of the central trailer with the above described hinges with easily removed hindge pins. These
"wing trailers" will be made from thin-walled 1" sq tubing and lined with 1/4 inch plywood and 3" blue foam like used to insulate basements. Imagine a box just big enough to hold a wing with no top and one end missing and about 3 to 4 feet shorter than the wing with the wing spar stub sticking out. They will have three wheels each attached with a sq tube within a sq tube to be adjustable in height. Two wheels will be attached on the open end of the box where the wing spar sticks out and on the other wing tip end one center wheel. With the wing laying in these 3" foam lined three wheeled boxes
straps will be pulled over the open top to hold wing in place and folded up and held for transport by two cross bars tying the two "wing trailers" together.
To load plane which is setting on tarmac with wings on you fold down the wing boxes, drive out hindge pins and remove from central trailer. Wheel one around and under the wing and adjust the three wheels for proper height and pull wing off plane and it drops into the box. Strap wing in place and wheel around to central trailer and connect it to central trailer with the two hindge pins. Do same for second wing, then roll fuseledge onto trailer fold up wing boxes/trailer and secure with the two cross bars.
The only thing I have to work out is final dimensions. Any other better ideas out there?
Jim Miller
1. A central two axle lightweight trailer slightly wider that the 78 inch main gear width with metal sides about 12" above trailer floor. On these sides I will weld hindges (two per side) made from short pieces of 1/2 inch ID pipe with a 1/2 hindge pin made from steel bar or use long concrete J bolts.
2. Two very light weight accessory trailers hinged to the side of the central trailer with the above described hinges with easily removed hindge pins. These
"wing trailers" will be made from thin-walled 1" sq tubing and lined with 1/4 inch plywood and 3" blue foam like used to insulate basements. Imagine a box just big enough to hold a wing with no top and one end missing and about 3 to 4 feet shorter than the wing with the wing spar stub sticking out. They will have three wheels each attached with a sq tube within a sq tube to be adjustable in height. Two wheels will be attached on the open end of the box where the wing spar sticks out and on the other wing tip end one center wheel. With the wing laying in these 3" foam lined three wheeled boxes
straps will be pulled over the open top to hold wing in place and folded up and held for transport by two cross bars tying the two "wing trailers" together.
To load plane which is setting on tarmac with wings on you fold down the wing boxes, drive out hindge pins and remove from central trailer. Wheel one around and under the wing and adjust the three wheels for proper height and pull wing off plane and it drops into the box. Strap wing in place and wheel around to central trailer and connect it to central trailer with the two hindge pins. Do same for second wing, then roll fuseledge onto trailer fold up wing boxes/trailer and secure with the two cross bars.
The only thing I have to work out is final dimensions. Any other better ideas out there?
Jim Miller