trailering enclosed trailer

[t j]

The plastic cutting boards under the tires and the small trailer under the tail wheel are great tips.

There is a storage unit place across the road from my airport. I have thought about looking into renting one of those but loading the plane to move it over there was still a deal breaker. I will have to investigate the small trailer idea. Towing the plane just a couple 100 yards I wouldn't think the wing spar braces would be needed either.

[Slyfox]

Bj,
I have to admit, I have thought of doing this. what do you do for fuel left in the tanks? do you have a problem with full tanks? do you fly with only half tanks?

Is there any way of taking some pictures? would love to see what you have.

[teamkitfox7788]

Slyfox

The picture of your plane next to your message looks like mine, I had a "How did he get my picture?" moment.

I fly with partial tanks as a rule, capacity 12 gallons per side, we rarely want that much fuel on board.

If I anticipate towing over rough roads or long distances, after I land and put the tail on the small flatbed trailer, one wing gets folded, I drop a siphon into that wing tank, walk around to fold and install the retaining brace on the other wing. By then the first wing is drained and I siphon the remaining wing tank.

The enclosed aircraft trailer has a built in 45 gallon fuel tank, pump, hose and nozzle.

Since I use ethanol free auto gas, I find purgas.com useful. It lists ethanol free gas stations by state, allowing me to fill the 45 gallon tank while touring between flying destinations.

Several red 5 gallon cans are strapped inside the trailer in case I may want to get extra gas. My wing tanks are the old fiberglass tanks that deteriorate with ethanol.

I will present one or more Power Point forums at Air Venture on touring with a folding wing plane behind a motorhome and may set up a display of the plane, enclosed trailer and conversion van motorhome in a non-vendor location. Lots of pictures of set-up, how to do it plus great flying destination photos too. All under discussion with Air Venture planners now.

BJ

[Slyfox]

really want to see. last year I flew to osh, but not this year. so I guess I'm out. still want to see. you going to any of the aopa flyins. there is one here at felts in august and I'm planning on the one in California in September. I take it from your statement of low and slow that you prefer white. that's my rule. I have the short wing with 912uls. a real goer.

My airplane is short wing, 912uls, Ivo medium inflight. I generally fly around with half tanks also. I have the newer tanks so I can put anything in them. 12 on both sides. I also have the electric trim in the elevator, very nice addition. last night on landing I switched off the motor just before landing, makes for a nice landing. start back up as soon as I land. that stuff is way fun.

[teamkitfox7788]

Slyfox,

My old IV has the short vertical stabilizer and rudder, old narrow gear, make believe landing lights and spends much of its time at a location where winds seem never to lay down, so power off night landings are beyond my comfort level. I guess I forgot to mention high pilot chicken level in that mix but that was probably obvious anyway.

I have been thinking of maybe doing a How To Tour by RV with Kitfox Power Point at one or more of the AOPA flyins but have not committed yet. Probably do the light sport fall (September?) event in Mass on way to Maine then head to southwest for rest of fall until November and return to the Fl Keys for off shore superboat races in Key West

(I do love being retired, and on my own spur of the moment schedule)

BJ

[Paul Z]

The plastic cutting boards under the tires and the small trailer under the tail wheel are great tips.

There is a storage unit place across the road from my airport. I have thought about looking into renting one of those but loading the plane to move it over there was still a deal breaker. I will have to investigate the small trailer idea. Towing the plane just a couple 100 yards I wouldn't think the wing spar braces would be needed either.

What are the plastic cutting boards under the tires for?

[bbs428]

Heya BJ,

Interesting subject on trailering. Thanks for posting. Some great info kicked around. Having your "hanger" with you at events would be very handy indeed.
I see a decent 28-30 ft enclosed trailer in my future. To justify it, it must be a multi-tasker, serving as a classic car hauler, pilot/driver lounge and possible
sleeping quarters. We also participate in several car events a year. At the moment, we only go to events that are close by that we can drive to.

I am concerned about "hanger rash" and unintended damage hauling the plane around. Agreed that with care, those problems can be minimized or eliminated.
Any thoughts on supplemental insurance coverage on a trailered plane?

Having a hard time visualizing the harbor freight trailer in use. Any pictures? Do you use this only at home, or is this the one that folds up so you can take it with you?

Hope to catch your brief sometime in the next few years. All the best,

Brett

[Paul Z]

Brett, & Chuck,
Go look at the Photo Bucket, in the quote just below Brett's. When you first go to the Photo Bucket you'll get nothing. Look on the Left side you'll see a folder for Albums, under that see Kitfo Trailer select that. There is a photo at the second row from the bottom, that shows how it is used.

Also, there is a folder called Kitfox Tail Wheel, it showing the actual trailer set up and how it works. There is also a photo showing Aluminum Angles used to guide the plane in while whenching the plane into the trailer.

Also, I have one of the Flyers from the Business that build the trailer. I have an email with the PDF of his brochure I could email you today.

Having a hard time visualizing the harbor freight trailer in use. Any pictures? Do you use this only at home, or is this the one that folds up so you can take it with you?
Brett

SkySteve and Paul Z

I posted a couple of batches of pictures on Photo bucket some time ago.

to get to them copy and paste the following into your browser. http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/N1...20N154K%202013

There are several sets of photos,click on one, if it opens, click on a photo to expand it and see notes for the photo, then click on an arrow next to the photo to go to the next photo

I am not good at this stuff and a couple of the files did not load photos so you will not get anything if you try to open those, sorry

BJ Kitfox IV 1050, Rotax 912, Roadtrek 190 motor home
bjones@dmv.com

[teamkitfox7788]

Guys,

The small tail wheel trailer is used both to tow the plane from house to local airport AND when loading the plane into the enclosed trailer. The plane stays on the tail wheel trailer when I strap it down and go across the country touring.

As mentioned it takes less than 8 minutes to unstrap the plane, pull it out of the enclosed trailer, swing the wings and be ready to fly. I will mention two things that make this so quick and easy. One is a nine foot wide enclosed trailer. Two is torsion axles giving a low floor and SHALLOW rear ramp door. These two things make loading and unloading the plane incredibly quicker and easier than with my old 8'6" wide trailer.

There are a bunch more little tricks that make loading, strapping and unloading quick and easy. Maybe another post. (Don't obsess about the nine foot wide trailer being "illegal". Your trailering skills are far more of an issue. Minor trailer width overage is a minor solvable concern.)

BJ Kitfox IV Rotax 912/80

[Paul Z]

Guys,
I will mention two things that make this so quick and easy. One is a nine foot wide enclosed trailer. Two is torsion axles giving a low floor and SHALLOW rear ramp door. These two things make loading and unloading the plane incredibly quicker and easier than with my old 8'6" wide trailer.

There are a bunch more little tricks that make loading, strapping and unloading quick and easy. Maybe another post. (Don't obsess about the nine foot wide trailer being "illegal". Your trailering skills are far more of an issue. Minor trailer width overage is a minor solvable concern.)

BJ Kitfox IV Rotax 912/80

BJ,
I like the idea of the 9 foot trailer, but Looking at the State Regulations how do you "solve" the Minor Trailer width overage?

http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/trailer-dimensions/