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Something New!!!!!!

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NeilsenRM(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:22 pm Post subject: Something New!!!!!!

I have a redrive VW powered MKIIIc that I'm trying to design a trailer for. 

I have been trying to figure a easy/light way that I could build a 

bracket/cart/something that I could clamp the tail boom to then fold the 

wings and set them into this cart. Then with a electric winch just pull the 

plane up and into the trailer. I want it easy to get the plane in and out of 

the trailer.



I have a Toyota Mini Van that I have as a tow vehicle. I have a single axel 

boat trailer that is light and long enough to do the job but the design 

escapes me. Originally I had planned a cart the would run on rollers on a 

tracks on the inside/sides of the trailer with track extensions so that the 

plane could be connected and the wings folded easily before loading.



My latest idea is one track attached to the inside center top of the trailer 

with a extension six to ten feet beyond the back of the trailer with slings 

to hold the tail and wings. I would then winch the plane into the trailer. 

The trailer will be 5' 6" wide at the back to accommodate the prop and 

fuselage. At app. 6 ft from the back it will start to taper to about 2' 6" 

at the front. The enclosure frame will be made from 1.5 to 2 inch steel 

conduit then covered with corrugated steel roofing material.



I have been taking photos and looking at everyone else's ideas but I just 

don't have what I feel is the good design. Any suggestions would be 

appreciated.



Rick Neilsen

Steve Boetto

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 364

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:03 am Post subject: Something New!!!!!!

In a message dated 6/10/2006 12:28:04 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  NeilsenRM(at)comcast.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  I have a    redrive VW powered MKIIIc that I'm trying to design a trailer for. 

I have    been trying to figure a easy/light way that I could build a    

bracket/cart/something that I could clamp the tail boom  	


 

 Rick,

 I would not haul your MKIII backwards. I tried several configurations with  my Firefly on floats. It is easier to load backwards but the plane takes a  beating. I currently have FF#007 in an enclosed trailer (nose first). I have a  $50 electric winch that I got at Harbor Freight. It pulls the airplane in very  easy. 

  

 Steve Boetto

 FF#007 on floats

Dave Pelletier

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 100
Location: Prescott, Arizona

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:32 am Post subject: Something New!!!!!!

Steve,

     I have a MKIII and it loads into my enclosed trailer  backwards.  I don't have any choice since whoever made the trailer designed  it with a long, pointy nose so that's the only way my plane will fit.  But  I don't understand why/how the plane would take a beating just because it is in  the trailer a different way.  Couldja explain please!

  

 AzDave

 Do Not Archive

  	  Quote: 	
		     Rick,

   I would not haul your MKIII backwards. I tried several configurations    with my Firefly on floats. It is easier to load backwards but the plane takes    a beating.

   Steve Boetto

   FF#007 on floats

_________________
AzDave

Steve Boetto

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 364

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:59 am Post subject: Something New!!!!!!

In a message dated 6/10/2006 10:33:47 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  pelletier(at)cableone.net writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		     Steve,

       I have a MKIII and it loads into my enclosed trailer    backwards.  I don't have any choice since whoever made the trailer    designed it with a long, pointy nose so that's the only way my plane will    fit.  But I don't understand why/how the plane would take a beating just    because it is in the trailer a different way.  Couldja explain    please!

    

   AzDave

	


 

 Dave, good point

  I assumed that Rick was talking about an open trailer.

  

 Steve

NeilsenRM(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:37 am Post subject: Something New!!!!!!

Thanks All

  

 Steve: I all ready have a trailer and it will be enclosed.

  

 Will: The photos are great. I particularly liked the kneeling  trailer. 

  

 The attached photo shows my boat trailer that I'm converting to a Kolb  hauler. Note the brackets below the lights. The main gear will sit on the  brackets when loaded and the wheels will be out in the open outside the trailer  enclosure. I will be keeping the plane at a small airport community/county grass  strip in Florida 4-5 months a year. They don't have many hangers and don't allow  any on the airport grounds. I will keep my plane in the trailer while I'm down  there. When parked I will take the wheels off the trailer and the main gear  brackets will sit on the ground.

  

 My problem is the enclosure and a system to get the plane in and out of the  trailer with the least effort.

  

 Rick Neilsen

 Redrive VW powered MKIIIc

 [quote]   ---

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Steven Green

Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 118

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:33 pm Post subject: Something New!!!!!!

Rick,



This is what I use.  If you are interested in more detail I will send you

more photos off list.



Steven Green

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 I have a redrive VW powered MKIIIc that I'm trying to design a trailer

for.
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   I have been trying to figure a easy/light way that I could build a

 bracket/cart/something that I could clamp the tail boom to then fold the

 wings and set them into this cart. Then with a electric winch just pull

the
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   plane up and into the trailer. I want it easy to get the plane in and out

of
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   the trailer.



 I have a Toyota Mini Van that I have as a tow vehicle. I have a single

axel
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   boat trailer that is light and long enough to do the job but the design

 escapes me. Originally I had planned a cart the would run on rollers on a

 tracks on the inside/sides of the trailer with track extensions so that

the
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   plane could be connected and the wings folded easily before loading.



 My latest idea is one track attached to the inside center top of the

trailer
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   with a extension six to ten feet beyond the back of the trailer with

slings
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   to hold the tail and wings. I would then winch the plane into the trailer.

 The trailer will be 5' 6" wide at the back to accommodate the prop and

 fuselage. At app. 6 ft from the back it will start to taper to about 2' 6"

 at the front. The enclosure frame will be made from 1.5 to 2 inch steel

 conduit then covered with corrugated steel roofing material.



 I have been taking photos and looking at everyone else's ideas but I just

 don't have what I feel is the good design. Any suggestions would be

 appreciated.



 Rick Neilsen

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_________________
Steven Green

Bob Dresden

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 11
Location: Oak Creek, Colorado

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:10 am Post subject: Something New!!!!!!

Steve, Think of that trailer as a beam with one end secure and a spring 

in the middle, not unlike a diving board.  The secure end, the ball, 

moves very little, the springs have a fixed travel, so you can see 

where this is all going.  The rear travels quite a bit.  A G meter 

would tell the ultimate story.  In your case a good set of shocks is 

about the best solution.  I am still in the process of designing my 

trailer with a forward loading and some semblance of streamlining.



Bob Dresden  Lurker

Back in the closet

Do Not Archive

Steve Boetto

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 364

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:24 am Post subject: Something New!!!!!!

In a message dated 6/13/06 2:09:52 PM Central Daylight Time, bdres(at)zirkel.us writes:

 

  	  Quote: 	
		  Steve, Think of that trailer as a beam with one end secure and a spring 

 in the middle, not unlike a diving board.  The secure end, the ball, 

 moves very little, the springs have a fixed travel, so you can see 

 where this is all going.  The rear travels quite a bit.  A G meter 

 would tell the ultimate story.  In your case a good set of shocks is 

 about the best solution.  I am still in the process of designing my 

 trailer with a forward loading and some semblance of streamlining.

 

 Bob Dresden  Lurker

 Back in the closet

 Do Not Archive

 	


 

 Thanks Bob,

 But that was not the problem.  The I beam aluminum trailer was quite stiff and the axe placement was far aft. The stock 3500 lb torsion axle was replace with a special 1500 lb torsion axle.  The trailer hauled as smooth as silk.  The problem was on an open trailer the wind moving across a backwards Kolb beats up the tail feathers. I guess it is the reason that seagulls always stand Beak to the wind.

 

 Steve

slyck(at)frontiernet.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:42 am Post subject: Something New!!!!!!

My, what a well mannered lurker!  We need more like you.



One thing that will help smooth a ride on any vehicle is to design it

in a near full-loaded condition.  Shocks will help prevent bottoming

out impact damage but when you get that airplane in there, stick in

and tie down enough extra weight to get close to a full load.



It took a long time to do it but auto designers finally realized that a

light car could be designed to ride as well as a luxury car as long as

the load was proper.  -problem was the variable between solo and

four fat guys on board.

-BB  do not archive

On 13, Jun 2006, at 12:07 PM, Bob Dresden wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Steve, Think of that trailer as a beam with one end secure and a 

 spring in the middle, not unlike a diving board.  The secure end, the 

 ball, moves very little, the springs have a fixed travel, so you can 

 see where this is all going.  The rear travels quite a bit.  A G meter 

 would tell the ultimate story.  In your case a good set of shocks is 

 about the best solution.  I am still in the process of designing my 

 trailer with a forward loading and some semblance of streamlining.



 Bob Dresden  Lurker

 Back in the closet

 Do Not Archive





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Richard Swiderski

Joined: 30 May 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Ocala FL

Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Something New!!!!!! -Evolution Of a Kolb Trailer

Hello Rick, 



I was out of the country for a month touring Poland (Hey Big Lar, I've got over 1200 pictures for you next time you pay me a visit!) so I am late posting. I have thought long and hard on how to best build a Kolb trailer pulled by a light 6 cylinder vehicle with 150 lbs max tongue wt.   I have photographed & studied many smart people's designs and I believe I have combined the best ideas into an almost ideal trailer.  The heart of the design is the basic concept of Dennis Souder's open air trailer I was thrilled to look at.  He used a boat trailer with a rail down the center to guide & hold tailwheel & tail feathers up front. The brillance of the design was he had a dropped floor for the plane's wheels immediately behind the trailer's axle & only a few inches off the ground.  It did not hit/drag on the ground because it was so close to the axle.  That low height, meant you only had to lift the plane a few inches off the ground (translates easy to load!) When you use that concept in an enclosed trailer, it also eliminates the problem of scraping the leading eadge of wings on trailer floor.  This concept forces the tongue weight up unexceptable high when using an enclosure as the axle is so far aft.  I solved this issue by using 2 axles far apart (can't use leaf springs here) this also cushioned ride because when one wheel went into a hole, the other one still holds the trailer side up. The 2 axles apart was not enough to keep the tongue wt below 150 lbs. The secret was incorporating a truss just in front of the front axle, then using this truss to winch up the tail boom at the H-section behind the engine. This took all the weight that the trailer saw on the tail wheel & put it back on the front axle. My trialer now has the same tongue weight with my plane loaded or unloaded. There are many other things that help to make thing better/easier/more comfortable that I could share with you if you care to give me call, 352-307-9009 (just south of Ocala FL), but the dropped floor for plane's wheels; the 2 spread axles; & the truss to hold off the tail's weight off from the front, are the keys to the puzzle. I went overboard in details on mine & could have made it lighter than it's 2000 lbs by quit a bit, but it pulls perfectly straight with no wagging & this last Sun & Fun, I actually used my 4 cyl Ford Escort to pull it at 60mph! It is very streamlined aerodynamically, front & back, plus low to ground. I'll try to attach a picture. 



richard swiderski 

slingshot 003 waiting for my TIG welder to come in ( I cut out her backbone so I could drop my 175 lb, 110hp, turbocharged, intecooled, distributorless, port injected, dual computered, 2.32 : 1 SPG-2 gear redive, 3 cyl Suzuki engine)

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