Tail wheel dolly?

[HILBILI]

I just bought a Speedster. I am keeping at the local airport until I'm proficient enough to land next to my barn.

The local FBO has enough hangar space for me if I keep the wings folded. Problem is, with gas in the tanks and the wings folded back, fuel leaks out of the filler caps.

I thought I could solve the problem if I had a device that would lift the tail wheel up so the longitudinal axis is parallel with the ground before folding the wings. Then I could wheel the airplane into the hangar by the same device.

Does such a contraption exist?

[Jerrytex]

You can make one. I used a mover's dolly and built on it. Works like a charm.

[HILBILI]

Thanks, Jerrytex. Looks practical and easy to build.

I was thinking more of a lever design that could be slipped under/around the tail wheel with a long arm/handle. Once around the wheel, the handle could be pushed down, lifting the tail with ease while simultaneously rocking onto wheels or casters to move around.

I may end up with your design to get going for now. Thanks again.

[Peteohms]

Harbor Freight has motorcycle jacks.

[Av8r3400]

A friend built one for his Avid that attaches to the towing tongue mounts with a large (10"?) pneumatic caster wheel - of course from HF.

Works good for him. I keep forgetting to photograph it…

[kitfox5v]

Skypirate has a sketch of one one in his photo album.

[ersatzavian]

You can make one. I used a mover's dolly and built on it. Works like a charm.

Very nice! What's the deck height you're using, from the ground to where the tail rests on the stand?

[Jerrytex]

I'll have to measure when I get a chance, But I think it's 28ish inches tall.

[neville]

The Issue with moving a nose wheel aircraft around with a tail dolly is designing the dolly so that the nose wheel is not in contact with the surface. The fact that the folded wings transfer weight to the tail greatly simplifies the design. As seen in the photo the dolly attaches to the plane
using pins in the through tubes of lower tail. The dolly has a square main vertical member with another square tube sliding inside which carries
the frame that attaches to the aircraft. It has to be capable of sliding up and down as when the wings are unfolded the weight shift puts the nose wheel on the trailer deck and the tail rises. The tubes have a locking pin
for transport. The frame work is free to swivel in order that the dolly can be rotated to steer and maneuver the aircraft. It also has a locking pin. The winch is a power in/power out with a remote wireless control. The on and off sequence is straight forward and very easily done by one person. My son is in the process of editing a video which will be posted on u-tube
at a later date. Note; the winch shown was a temporary manual type.

[SkySteve]

Neville, when you transport do you keep the nose wheel in the air or is it on the trailer deck?