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Trailering

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helicop

Joined: 22 Jan 2007
Posts: 6
Location: Charleston, SC

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:01 pm Post subject: Trailering

I know this has been somewhat discussed before, and from what I have read, I still have questions.  Does anyone have any experience trailering their Kitfox for longer distances especially on interstates, and frequently.  In the next year or so, I am going to be traveling alot, and I want to take the Kitfox that I buy along with me.  I have seen several of the open modified boat trailers that have been in use, but I am going to be hauling longer than just to the airport and home.  I have thought that I really want an enclosed trailer to better protect the airplane, especially from vandalism, and the elements.  I am planning on buying a Series 5, and I understand that it is a very tight fit in a 8ft 6in wide trailer, along with the heigth.  I would really appreciate it if any of you with the vast wealth of knowledge that I have seen, can give me some input.  



Thank you and remember to pull back to make the people look smaller, and push forward to make them look bigger. 



Gary



Helicop

Guy Buchanan

Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 1204
Location: Ramona, CA

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:23 pm Post subject: Trailering

At 07:01 PM 2/14/2007, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  I am planning on buying a Series 5, and I understand that it is a 

very tight fit in a 8ft 6in wide trailer, along with the heigth.  I 

would really appreciate it if any of you with the vast wealth of 

knowledge that I have seen, can give me some input.


	


I have a IV I store in a toy box. It's the widest one I could find 

here in SoCal it my K-IV fits with 1/4" to spare each side. (The 

wings are the pacing item.)



We get this question a lot. I'm going to try to put together a Wiki 

on Kitfox trailering.

Guy Buchanan

K-IV 1200 / 582-C / Warp / 100% done, thanks mostly to Bob Ducar.

_________________
Guy Buchanan
Deceased K-IV 1200
A glider pilot too.

rkstevens(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:23 am Post subject: Trailering

Gary,



I have a custom made Kitfox trailer that I'm planning on selling.  (I have a hangar now!)  The trailer was custom made for a Kitfox IV and has trailered a Kitfox across country (Interstates, etc.).  The trailer comes complete with electric brakes and a built-in gas tank with hose (for fueling the Fox).  The trailer is Very Heavy Duty.  You could carry cars with this thing.  Evidently, the guy that originally made it owned one of those equipment rental companies - you know, the companies that rent Bobcat tractors and such.  He built it so you could carry anything.  Much stronger than a boat trailer.  However, it's an open trailer.  It's a good one, but an open design.



If you want to talk about it, send me an email & I'll forward my contact info to you.



Ron

Kitfox 6, Christen Eagle II



 	  Quote: 	
		  From: helicop <garymail(at)bellsouth.net>

Date: 2007/02/14 Wed PM 09:01:49 CST

To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Trailering


	


 	  Quote: 	
		  



I know this has been somewhat discussed before, and from what I have read, I still have questions.  Does anyone have any experience trailering their Kitfox for longer distances especially on interstates, and frequently.  In the next year or so, I am going to be traveling alot, and I want to take the Kitfox that I buy along with me.  I have seen several of the open modified boat trailers that have been in use, but I am going to be hauling longer than just to the airport and home.  I have thought that I really want an enclosed trailer to better protect the airplane, especially from vandalism, and the elements.  I am planning on buying a Series 5, and I understand that it is a very tight fit in a 8ft 6in wide trailer, along with the heigth.  I would really appreciate it if any of you with the vast wealth of knowledge that I have seen, can give me some input.  



Thank you and remember to pull back to make the people look smaller, and push forward to make them look bigger. 



Gary



Helicop





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=95160#95160

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:26 am Post subject: Trailering

I would think the narrowest trailer possible would be best.  Allow a couple

of inches on each side for padding at the wing level.  Make sure the plane

is well tied down inside the trailer.  A small electric ATV winch mounted in

the front of the trailer will make loading a lot easier and provide a tie

down for the tail wheel.  Try to arrange it so the main gear is just aft of

the wheels for balance and tongue weight.  Make sure you always have one

blade of your three blade prop, if installed, is pointing down for loading.

A "Y" shaped towbar that attaches to the main gear may help unloading.

There are some custom made trailers for snowmobiles that will carry as many

as six machines and have a boat point front to them that could be perfect

for the long haul with a Kitfox.



Noel



[quote] --

_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

kirkhull(at)kc.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:41 am Post subject: Trailering

Attached is a pic( I think I got the size down) of my classic 4 on its

trailer.  It is not fully enclosed but it has a full bottom to protect it

from road hazards. It seems to work well.  As for vandals,  everybody stops

to look as yet nobody has touched it.  The trailer is a heavally modified

pop up camper.  If you would like more pics or info I would be happy to send

them to you off line.



--

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Description:

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Tom Jones

Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 752
Location: Ellensburg, WA

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Trailering

Kirk,

Nice looking trailer.  Looks like it is easy to load and unload.  I am in the process of modifying my trailer now and want to shorten the tongue.  What is the distance from the tail wheel to the trailer hitch when the wings are folded?



Tom Jones

kirkhull(at)kc.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:05 am Post subject: Trailering

I don't remember but I will check the next time im out to the airport.  The

weatherman says 45 deg on Sunday so I will try to fly then.

--

rexinator(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:00 pm Post subject: Trailering

Maybe I'm guilty of stating the obvious, but I haven't noticed yet this 

time around that anyone mentioned the risk of G loads from the 

suspension on a heavy duty trailer. A lightly loaded heavy duty 

suspension will give a rough ride for your airplane. A trailer that is 

truly custom designed to carry a relatively light weight but large bulky 

load such as our Kitfoxes should have the axle suspension rated for the 

weight of the load plus some small percent, say 10%. You should factor 

in other things you may regularly carry with the aircraft. Fuel tanks 

plus fuel and tools for instance. I would think of trailering like 

flying at gross weight into potentially very rough weather.

 I have an open car carrier rated to 6,000 lbs, but I am careful to 

travel over smooth roads and go very slow where there are rough 

surfaces. I also reduced air pressure in the trailer and gear tires. My 

ratcheting cargo straps were many with just a little slack to allow the 

gear to absorb shock loads as well.

 Since you should want an enclosed trailer you will also want to secure 

the airplane so that it can not jostle around inside and bang against 

the enclosure. Thus a properly rated suspension is more essential for 

the long trips. I think I read somewhere that a pothole can easily 

transmit over 12 G's through your suspension which of course WILL cause 

damage if it gets to the airframe. I would imagine an adjustable air 

suspension would work best. Tandem axles on a trailer gives a much 

smoother ride. The point is to consider the suspension when deciding on 

a trailer.



Rex

Colorado

dafox(at)ckt.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 8:08 pm Post subject: Trailering

Rexinator,

  

         I'm glad you  replied. I was strongly inclined to do so.  some time

 ago on the foxlist, can't remember who it was, but  someone moved and

 hauled his Kitfox in a  uhall truck to there  new home.  when they arrived 

 he opened the truck, and his kitfox was the same as  demolished.  

         Before  loading the kitfox, he swung the wings back, fasten them to 

 the stand-offs rolled it up in the truck and away  he went. All that bouncing

 for a long hall, and all that leverage on the wings  took it toll, along with

 other over torqued stress on the rest of the  airplane.  A boat trailer

 would have been the safest.

         i moved my  Kitfox from the lake of the ozarks at Osage beach, Mo.

 to pleasanto, Ks,    150 mile  away.  I hauled my fusealage on a Bob cat

 trailer mounted on blocks of styrofoam, and had my  wings laying on

 ropes streched tight just below  the ceiling of a uhall truck. When I arrived,

 everything was OK.  

         Becareful  when tranporting your airplane, you can do more damage

 than you realize.

  

                                                             David , Kitfox IV  1200 ,  Rotax, 912  UL

  

  	  Quote: 	
		     From:    Rexinator (rexinator(at)gmail.com)    

   To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com (kitfox-list(at)matronics.com) 

   Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 7:00    PM

   Subject: Re: Kitfox-List:  Trailering

   



--> Kitfox-List message posted by: Rexinator <rexinator(at)gmail.com (rexinator(at)gmail.com)>



Maybe I'm    guilty of stating the obvious, but I haven't noticed yet this 

time around    that anyone mentioned the risk of G loads from the 

suspension on a heavy    duty trailer. A lightly loaded heavy duty 

suspension will give a rough    ride for your airplane. A trailer that is 

truly custom designed to carry a    relatively light weight but large bulky 

load such as our Kitfoxes should    have the axle suspension rated for the 

weight of the load plus some small    percent, say 10%. You should factor 

in other things you may regularly    carry with the aircraft. Fuel tanks 

plus fuel and tools for instance. I    would think of trailering like 

flying at gross weight into potentially    very rough weather.

 I have an open car carrier rated to 6,000 lbs,    but I am careful to 

travel over smooth roads and go very slow where there    are rough 

surfaces. I also reduced air pressure in the trailer and gear    tires. My 

ratcheting cargo straps were many with just a little slack to    allow the 

gear to absorb shock loads as well.

 Since you should    want an enclosed trailer you will also want to secure 

the airplane so that    it can not jostle around inside and bang against 

the enclosure. Thus a    properly rated suspension is more essential for 

the long trips. I think I    read somewhere that a pothole can easily 

transmit over 12 G's through your    suspension which of course WILL cause 

damage if it gets to the airframe. I    would imagine an adjustable air 

suspension would work best. Tandem axles    on a trailer gives a much 

smoother ride. The point is to consider the    suspension when deciding on 

a    ========================http://www.matron=======================

bsp;   available via    href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com

_-===================================



	
    [quote][b]

kitfox69(at)earthlink.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:04 am Post subject: Trailering

One of the  most important things to do when trailering your KitFox is to take the weight off the tailwheel. I don't know if this has been suggested recently, but the bouncing of the trailer places many more "G's" on the fusalage than a hard landing.

 I built my own trailer and installed two steel straps back where the tubes go thru to either side. I made them long enough to take the strain off the tailwheel and run a long 1/4inch bolt thru with a wingnut to secure it. It is simple and does the job well.

 If anyone is interested, I'll provide some pictures. I can also provide photos of the trailer with some details should anyone care to build their own. It is open, but capable of trailering my plane, a MOD IV 1200, on wheels, skis, and floats.

 Regards,  Floyd

  

 



  

 [quote] ---

Tom Jones

Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 752
Location: Ellensburg, WA

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:41 am Post subject: Re: Trailering

Floyd, I would like to see the pictures of your trailer.  I am pondering how to build the tail support now so that would be of special interest to me.

thanks, Tom Jones

do not archive.

kirkhull(at)kc.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 1:13 pm Post subject: Trailering

I set up the tail support to be a stand for the tail to sit in.  this way

the tail spring helps cushion out some of the bumps.



--

kmamjones(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2007 9:02 am Post subject: Trailering

Floyd, I am also interested in seeing those pictures.   Looks like you have several interested parties.

  

 Ken Jones

 [quote]   ---

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