RV-12 Trailer Size

[climbingduo]

We are looking for a trailer to haul the RV-12 we are building. Does anyone have the exact dimensions for the landing gear, with the wheel pants? We are making sure we get something with enough distance between the wheel wells. Thanks for any assistance

[Jackkclark]

Without wheel pants, width of landing gear is 6' 10".

[climbingduo]

Does anyone know how hard it would be to remove the wheel pants if we needed to? Not sure since we're not that far into the build yet . . .

[engineerofsorts]

Originally Posted by climbingduo

Does anyone know how hard it would be to remove the wheel pants if we needed to? Not sure since we're not that far into the build yet . . .

The wheel pants can be removed my removing a number of 8-32 screws However, it will not narrow the width of the gear unless the extensions that are about 3 1/2 inch long, bolted onto the outside axles are removed (two long bolts each, which are, I believe, normally locktited in place) Without those extensions, my gear width is quite close to 7 feet wide--which was uncomfortably just-barely-too-wide to move with a car carrier trailer--couldn't quite fit the gears between the wheel wells. With the wheel pants, I suspect the width will be in excess of 7 1/2 feet.

[Bill_H]

They fit between trailer wheel wells 7'0" apart with a little squeeze, no wheel pants. See pics on the trailer in this album - towards the end. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...1&l=a2b29e894a.

[Azemon]

RV-12 trailer.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugu6qPAcxmo

Hope it helps.

Andy

[E. D. Eliot]

Gary , I too want to 'trailer' my RV-12 and since I am a long way from needing it, I haven't done a lot of research. Sadly, most all of the experienced RVers have advised me to give up the idea and try to find someone who will let me store my 12 inside of their hanger on my trailer.

I will try to check with the 'Dawn Patrol' people who trailer their semi-replica WWW-1 fighters regularly. These are the only people that I am aware of who regularly 'trailer' aircraft of similar size and weight to our 12.

It seems that there are many obstacles to trailering safety;
1. Horizontal stab too big.
2. Vertical stab too tall.
3. Likelihood that the tail cone/ forward fuselage connection may not stand up to the beating that it will take as the trailer bounces around. Some have suggested that some sort of device be installed under the rear of the fuselage in order to try to solve that problem - I am not sure that would work well.
4. The beating that the avionics might from bouncing around might beat them up.
5. Problems securing the aircraft to the trailer.

I think that the trailer must be built to handle a load of about 800 pounds. That likely means two wheels, I think. And the trailer needs to be about 24' long, I think. Most if not all trailer manufacturers will want to install four wheels on a trailer that long, I think. A ramp must be used or the trailer must 'squat' in order to get the aircraft into the trailer, I think. A good set of shock absorbers must be installed for sure and they must be matched to the weight of the trailer and load. Maybe air bag shocks would solve a few of these problems.

Since I didn't sleep an any hotel/motel that makes me smarter, a lot of the above might be wrong - wherever I used the term 'I think', I am guessing, so my words are probably worth exactly what it cost you.

Hope that you find a way to pioneer a great trailer - I really need to 'trailer' my 12 - hanger fees here in Taxyafornia are unbelievable. Please advise us/me of your progress - I think that it is likely that you and I may well be the only two in the RV-12 fleet who regularly trailer their 12s.

[climbingduo]

Thanks for the advice . . . we will keep you posted on our search. We don't plan to trailer regularly, but would like to keep that option open in order to save on hangar fees during the winter months here. Most of the year, we plan to hangar at the local airport.

Are most likely going to get a flatbed/snowmobile trailer and modify it to hold wings. Looking at those with better suspension; would only be trailering short distances.

[scsmith]

Most of Mr Eliot's concerns here are not too much to worry about. There are thousands of high-performance sailplanes that are routinely moved around in long trailers. My old Schweizer 1-26 glider traveled on its trailer with the horizontal tail installed, with just about the same span as the RV-12 tail. No problems ever.

The fact that the RV-12 is tricycle, so the fin sticks up higher, is going to demand care in where you drive under anything low. Our sailplanes have normal 'steam gage' instruments, as well as very expensive flight computers that are similar to an EFIS and they seem to hold up just fine.

A key is to have the trailer suspension springs sized properly for the weight. I would not recommend using a flat-bed vehicle-carrier trailer that is designed to carry a 4000 lb car -- it is going to be sprung too stiff.

I would probably be wise to talk to Van about concerns for airframe components subjected to trailering loads.

Originally Posted by E. D. Eliot

Gary , I too want to 'trailer' my RV-12 and since I am a long way from needing it, I haven't done a lot of research. Sadly, most all of the experienced RVers have advised me to give up the idea and try to find someone who will let me store my 12 inside of their hanger on my trailer.

I will try to check with the 'Dawn Patrol' people who trailer their semi-replica WWW-1 fighters regularly. These are the only people that I am aware of who regularly 'trailer' aircraft of similar size and weight to our 12.

It seems that there are many obstacles to trailering safety;
1. Horizontal stab too big.
2. Vertical stab too tall.
3. Likelihood that the tail cone/ forward fuselage connection may not stand up to the beating that it will take as the trailer bounces around. Some have suggested that some sort of device be installed under the rear of the fuselage in order to try to solve that problem - I am not sure that would work well.
4. The beating that the avionics might from bouncing around might beat them up.
5. Problems securing the aircraft to the trailer.

I think that the trailer must be built to handle a load of about 800 pounds. That likely means two wheels, I think. And the trailer needs to be about 24' long, I think. Most if not all trailer manufacturers will want to install four wheels on a trailer that long, I think. A ramp must be used or the trailer must 'squat' in order to get the aircraft into the trailer, I think. A good set of shock absorbers must be installed for sure and they must be matched to the weight of the trailer and load. Maybe air bag shocks would solve a few of these problems.

Since I didn't sleep an any hotel/motel that makes me smarter, a lot of the above might be wrong - wherever I used the term 'I think', I am guessing, so my words are probably worth exactly what it cost you.

Hope that you find a way to pioneer a great trailer - I really need to 'trailer' my 12 - hanger fees here in Taxyafornia are unbelievable. Please advise us/me of your progress - I think that it is likely that you and I may well be the only two in the RV-12 fleet who regularly trailer their 12s.

[hjd3021]

This trailer built by United Trailer has been mentioned in other posts and looks very good for someone that wants to make the investment.

http://www.aerotrek.aero/trailers.htm

I'm a number of years away so I have not done too much research but originally thought that the trailer route would be a good way to go based on availability and cost of hanger space. Was also going to investigate if the trailer could be left at a tie-down spot which rents similar to a parking spot at a storage facility but would still provide the weather protection. Not sure if this can be done or not. I currently spend about $60/month to keep my 27ft 5th wheel trailer at a storage facility.