Matronics Email Lists :: View topic

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Towing The Kolb

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kolb-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

cwolf41(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:44 pm Post subject: Towing The Kolb

One aspect of towing a Kolb around the country, behind an RV, that I really

hadn't thought about before, is the overall length of the package.  With

the folded airplane about 24 feet long, you'd end up with a trailer around

28 feet long (counting the hitch).  Add that to the 28 feet of my RV, and

the total length of the package is 56 feet.  Bigger than the biggest Class

A motorhome.  That seems to be legal in most states, but I guess I'd better

start thinking like the driver of an eighteen wheeler!



Does anybody here regularly tow a Kolb behind an RV?  If so, do you have

any words of wisdom to offer?



Thanks!



Chris Wolf

cwolf41(at)comcast.net

planecrazzzy
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: Towing The Kolb

Hi Wolf,

            I've got a class "A" licence...Your single vehicle max lenght is 45'



 Combination of vehicles is 75'....Some states vary...



 I've seen RV's pulling race trailers....That would be about the same lenght

.

.

.

Gotta Fly...

Mike & "Jaz" in MN

cwolf41(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 2:21 pm Post subject: Towing The Kolb

On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 14:56:00 -0700, you wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



Hi Wolf,

            I've got a class "A" licence...Your single vehicle max lenght is 45'


	


No problem there.  My Class C RV is only 28'.



 	  Quote: 	
		   Combination of vehicles is 75'....Some states vary...


	


Hmm.  That gives me about twenty feet left.  Maybe I could hook up my boat?





 	  Quote: 	
		   I've seen RV's pulling race trailers....That would be about the same lenght

.

.

.

Gotta Fly...

Mike & "Jaz" in MN


	


Just don't try to go through the drive-through at McDonald's.



Chris Wolf

cwolf41(at)comcast.net

Dave Pelletier

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

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:36 pm Post subject: Towing The Kolb

 	  Quote: 	
		   Does anybody here regularly tow a Kolb behind an RV?


	


Yes, I regularly tow my Kolb in an enclosed trailer behind a 34' RV.  Never 

had a problem in either Az or Ca.



If so, do you have

 	  Quote: 	
		   any words of wisdom to offer?


	


Maybe, depends on what you want to know



AzDave



Do Not Archive

 	  Quote:

_________________
AzDave

Steve Boetto

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 364

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject: Towing The Kolb

Chris,

 For years I towed a fishing boat to the Fla Keys from Orlando. We found  that we could drive the RV for about 8 mpg or tow with it for about 8mpg. When  we used a pick up we could get 8mpg or less. The main thing to remember is to  tow with empty holding tanks. Full tanks tend to make most RVs unstable due to  their placement far aft. In many case we would use the RV even if we were not  staying in it. 

  

 steve

  [quote][b]

cwolf41(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:15 pm Post subject: Towing The Kolb

On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 16:37:17 -0700, Dave Pelletier wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  >Chris Wolf wrote:

>

> Does anybody here regularly tow a Kolb behind an RV?

 	  Quote: 	
		  Yes, I regularly tow my Kolb in an enclosed trailer behind a 34' RV.  Never 

had a problem in either Az or Ca.

Hmm.  That's even longer than my 28' RV.

 	  Quote: 	
		  >If so, do you have any words of wisdom to offer?

 	  Quote: 	
		  Maybe, depends on what you want to know

I have two areas of concern.  The first is wind.  Ever have any problems

with wind side gusts?  I suppose an enclosed trailer, long enough to

contain a 24' Kolb, would be heavy enough that the weight of the plane

would be immaterial.

My second concern is finding RV campgrounds able to accommodate such a long

setup.  Seems like it would be doable, since the length is comparable to

towing a car with a big Class A RV.  What do you do when you pull into an

RV campground, towing that long trailer behind you?  Rent two spaces?  Do

you call ahead to make sure they can handle you?

Thanks!

Chris Wolf

cwolf41(at)comcast.net

lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 4:31 pm Post subject: Towing The Kolb

---

cwolf41(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject: Towing The Kolb

On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 19:53:38 EDT, Steve wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  Chris,

For years I towed a fishing boat to the Fla Keys from Orlando. We found  that 

we could drive the RV for about 8 mpg or tow with it for about 8mpg. When  we 

used a pick up we could get 8mpg or less. The main thing to remember is to  

tow with empty holding tanks. Full tanks tend to make most RVs unstable due to  

their placement far aft. In many case we would use the RV even if we were not 

 staying in it. 

 

steve


	


Good advice.  Thanks!



Chris Wolf

cwolf41(at)comcast.net

Do Not Archive

cwolf41(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject: Towing The Kolb

On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 18:31:12 -0600, Larry Cottrell wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  >Chris Wolf wrote:

>

> My second concern is finding RV campgrounds able to accommodate such a 

> long

> setup.  Seems like it would be doable, since the length is comparable to

> towing a car with a big Class A RV.  What do you do when you pull into an

> RV campground, towing that long trailer behind you?  Rent two spaces?  Do

> you call ahead to make sure they can handle you?

 	  Quote: 	
		  Hi,

  I towed my firestar in a 25 foot trailer behind a 36 foot Motor Home to 

Monument Valley in 2004 from Klamath Falls, Ore. I did run into one of the 

camp grounds that was not able to handle my set up. What you do is ask if 

they have a place where you could park your trailer. Trailers are generally 

not that much of a problem in most of the parks since now most of the MH are 

towing a toy trailer of some sort.

Very interesting.  That makes sense, since, as you say, most of the RVs are

towing toy trailers. I wondered how they were being handled.  I recently

saw a picture of a double decker toy trailer designed to haul both a car

AND a boat!

 	  Quote: 	
		  The older parks were not made to even 

handle the size of MH now being commonly used.

Yeah, I've noticed when I take my 28' footer to National Forest Service

campgrounds, it's sometimes a tight fit.

 	  Quote: 	
		  One difficulty that I had was 

that my MH has an air suspension and the length of both of the rigs set up a 

rocking effect. Dual axles would help that in your trailer, and you will 

want something to stop the trailer from rocking side to side like a "sway 

tamer". Other than that I had no problem with the trip or any others that I 

had.

Larry, Oregon

Excellent information, Larry.  Thanks very much!

Chris Wolf

cwolf41(at)comcast.net

biglar

Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Posts: 457

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject: Towing The Kolb

I'm sure you were only kidding about the boat, but just in case - I wanted 

to do the same thing - seriously - and in many states you can get away with 

it, tho' I think you need a commercial driver's license, and must conform to 

the max length rules.   Trouble is, with you in the Northwest, Oregon flat 

out does not permit it, and will force you to park it and leave one trailer 

sit.  To the north, British Columbia is the same way.                  Lar.

Larry Bourne

Palm Springs, CA

Building Kolb Mk III

Vamoose

www.gogittum.com

---

_________________
Larry Bourne
Palm Springs, CA
Building Kolb Mk IIIC
"Vamoose"

Dave Pelletier

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

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:16 am Post subject: Towing The Kolb

 	  Quote: 	
		   I have two areas of concern.  The first is wind.  Ever have any problems

 with wind side gusts?  I suppose an enclosed trailer, long enough to

 contain a 24' Kolb, would be heavy enough that the weight of the plane

 would be immaterial.


	


My trailer is very light.  Been in all kinds of wind gusts and it's never 

been a problem with my RV.  Now there are times I've pulled it with my 

Cherokee or Ranger and I've felt the gusts - sort of a tail wagging the dog 

situation.  Don't know that I've ever been in any real bad ones with the 

vehicles and it's never been much of a problem, just gotta stay on top of 

it.  Been in really serious dust storms and gusts with the RV/trailer combo 

but the RV is heavy enough to handle the trailer with no problem at all.

 	  Quote: 	
		   My second concern is finding RV campgrounds able to accommodate such a 

 long

 setup.


	


Can't help you on that one.  I rarely stay in campgrounds and can't remember 

staying in one with the trailer.  I usually get to where I'm going in one 

day and stay at the fields, dry lakes, etc., where I'm flying.  On a couple 

of occasions when I had the trailer I found gas stations/convenience stores 

that let me stay in the back.



AzDave



Do Not Archive

 	  Quote: 	
		   Thanks!




	


 	  Quote:

_________________
AzDave

cwolf41(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:23 am Post subject: Towing The Kolb

On Sun, 15 Oct 2006 19:29:27 -0700, Larry Bourne wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



I'm sure you were only kidding about the boat, but just in case - I wanted 

to do the same thing - seriously - and in many states you can get away with 

it, tho' I think you need a commercial driver's license, and must conform to 

the max length rules.   Trouble is, with you in the Northwest, Oregon flat 

out does not permit it, and will force you to park it and leave one trailer 

sit.  To the north, British Columbia is the same way.                  Lar.


	


Guess the only way out is through Idaho.  



I was just kidding about the boat.  That last twenty feet has to be

reserved for my portable barbecue.



Chris Wolf

cwolf41(at)comcast.net

Do Not Archive

cwolf41(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 10:29 am Post subject: Towing The Kolb

On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 07:16:41 -0700, Dave Pelletier wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

> I have two areas of concern.  The first is wind.  Ever have any problems

> with wind side gusts?  I suppose an enclosed trailer, long enough to

> contain a 24' Kolb, would be heavy enough that the weight of the plane

> would be immaterial.

 	  Quote: 	
		  My trailer is very light.  Been in all kinds of wind gusts and it's never 

been a problem with my RV.  Now there are times I've pulled it with my 

Cherokee or Ranger and I've felt the gusts - sort of a tail wagging the dog 

situation.  Don't know that I've ever been in any real bad ones with the 

vehicles and it's never been much of a problem, just gotta stay on top of 

it.  Been in really serious dust storms and gusts with the RV/trailer combo 

but the RV is heavy enough to handle the trailer with no problem at all.

Glad to hear that.

 	  Quote: 	
		  > My second concern is finding RV campgrounds able to accommodate such a 

> long setup.

 	  Quote: 	
		  Can't help you on that one.  I rarely stay in campgrounds and can't remember 

staying in one with the trailer.  I usually get to where I'm going in one 

day and stay at the fields, dry lakes, etc., where I'm flying.

That's pretty much how I'd planned it.  But I figured I'd occasionally need

to stay in an RV campground.  But it sounds like that's not much of a

problem either, with a lot of big rigs hauling toy trailers.

 	  Quote: 	
		  On a couple 

of occasions when I had the trailer I found gas stations/convenience stores 

that let me stay in the back.

Actually that's very helpful information.  Thanks!

Chris Wolf

cwolf41(at)comcast.net

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Kolb-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum