RV-12's stored on trailers?

[Blw2]

Just curious, any idea how many of the RV-12 regularly get de-winged for trailering or whatever reason? I'm wondering if it's a measurable percentage or if it's approaching zero....

Does anyone regularly or seasonally keep them in or on a trailer like sail plane pilots sometimes do?

[DBRuth]

I'm one that regularly trailers my RV-12. Been flying since August of 2015, currently at 430 hours, always trailered. The plane/trailer are stored in my shop at home. It works nicely for me, but it's not for everyone. Sure is nice not to pay for hangar rent, but I need help assembling everytime I fly. That's my biggest downside to the keep at home routine.

[bobnoffs]

just curious dbruth, is your help always prearranged or do you wing it?

[Brantel]

Originally Posted by DBRuth

I'm one that regularly trailers my RV-12. Been flying since August of 2015, currently at 430 hours, always trailered. The plane/trailer are stored in my shop at home. It works nicely for me, but it's not for everyone. Sure is nice not to pay for hangar rent, but I need help assembling everytime I fly. That's my biggest downside to the keep at home routine.

Any pics of your setup?

[Stuart Grant]

I am very interested in keeping my RV-12 in an enclosed trailer. Now working on the Finish Kit and want to get a trailer even before I finish, to store the wings in. I have done a fair amount of research but would appreciate seeing what others have done. I am hoping to do something like what David Kroner did as shown in a Kitplanes March 2014 article. I have assembled gliders hundreds of times on my own with longer, heavier wings than the RV-12 using a "one man rigger," but I haven't put the wings on my 12 yet (almost ready to start flight controls) so I will have to see how tough it really is.

Stuart Grant
1953 Cessna 180 - sold
2013 RV-12 Kit - underway
N412SG - reserved.

[DBRuth]

I always have prearranged assembly help, whoever my copilot for the day is, or my bride helps (she's the wingwalker). Brantel, if you PM me, I'll email you some pictures. My trailer is open and very light, less than 2000# all up. My truck is a raggedy old '95 GMC 1500 Z71, pulls and stops fine.

[Amadeus]

Originally Posted by bobnoffs

.....or do you wing it?

I see what you did there.

[Piper J3]

This thread got me thinking.... There is a local car show near me with hotrods and vintage cars that is a large informal gathering at the local shopping center. Most Saturdays during the summer draws hundreds of cars. What would be really neat is to take wings off my RV-12 and trailer it to the car show for reassemble and display. The people would go wild… Connect up some ground power and light up the flat panel displays. Even outdated D-180 would wow the crowd. Could remove top cowling, like the guys who raise car hoods, and show them 1352cc / 100 HP with 130 MPH cruising speed @ 5 GPH.
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[ravenstar]

It's my intention to store and transport my RV-12 in an enclosed trailer as well. Hangar space is non-existent anywhere within an hour of where I live. I'm in the northeast and an open trailer would really limit the flying season since I don't want to expose the airframe to road salt transporting it to the airport. The challenge I see is to find a trailer with a rear opening that can accommodate the 8' horizontal stabilizer. I've corresponded with some other forum members who have done this, but the trailers they used aren't made any more. It's looking like this will be a custom job. I'd really like to hear what others are able to do.

[Amadeus]

Originally Posted by ravenstar

The challenge I see is to find a trailer with a rear opening that can accommodate the 8' horizontal stabilizer.

Build up the floor under ONE of the main gear tires. There are many engineer types on this forum whom could advise you on how high (1.5"? 2"?) this would need to be to reduce the width of the stabilazer enough to fit in your trailer.