I wanted to share my latest side-project...
I?m building a custom trailer for my RV-12. Overall dimensions are 24? long, 8?6? wide, and 9? tall. This is a tandem-axel and fully enclosed trailer. The enclosed portion of the trailer is 20? long, and is made from a one-piece custom fiberglass mold. The shell is white gelcoat (similar to a boat). The rear door of the trailer is hinged and drops down to become the loading ramp.
I?m using aluminum channel as wheel guides for all three wheels on the ramp and floor, with an electric winch to pull the airplane in (via custom towbar attachment). Trailer walls will be padded with wing hangers and straps on both sides, two overhead dome lights, and in-floor tie-down points. There is also 50-gallon fuel tank in the front of the trailer with filler hose and electric pump.
I wanted this trailer to be my RV hanger, and to be something nice enough (worthy enough) to be the RV?s home. I don?t yet know what the final cost will be (I suspect it will be around 15% of the finished plane cost), but when you look at the price of an RV and associated hanger storage fees, I feel its worth quite a bit, and will ensure a safe and long lifespan for my new baby.
My rationale for doing this is protecting my investment, making my life easy, and saving money on total cost of ownership over the lifespan of the airplane. Conversely, not doing something like this, in my opinion, would be the equivalent of buying a $5,000 guitar, but then deciding not to buy the $800 case for it.
I will have pictures coming in the near future as the parts begin to come together?
I?m building a custom trailer for my RV-12. Overall dimensions are 24? long, 8?6? wide, and 9? tall. This is a tandem-axel and fully enclosed trailer. The enclosed portion of the trailer is 20? long, and is made from a one-piece custom fiberglass mold. The shell is white gelcoat (similar to a boat). The rear door of the trailer is hinged and drops down to become the loading ramp.
I?m using aluminum channel as wheel guides for all three wheels on the ramp and floor, with an electric winch to pull the airplane in (via custom towbar attachment). Trailer walls will be padded with wing hangers and straps on both sides, two overhead dome lights, and in-floor tie-down points. There is also 50-gallon fuel tank in the front of the trailer with filler hose and electric pump.
I wanted this trailer to be my RV hanger, and to be something nice enough (worthy enough) to be the RV?s home. I don?t yet know what the final cost will be (I suspect it will be around 15% of the finished plane cost), but when you look at the price of an RV and associated hanger storage fees, I feel its worth quite a bit, and will ensure a safe and long lifespan for my new baby.
My rationale for doing this is protecting my investment, making my life easy, and saving money on total cost of ownership over the lifespan of the airplane. Conversely, not doing something like this, in my opinion, would be the equivalent of buying a $5,000 guitar, but then deciding not to buy the $800 case for it.
I will have pictures coming in the near future as the parts begin to come together?
