Getting 1200lbs out of a 1050

[pileofgeorge]

When I bought my fox, I made a few, well, compromises with myself on my requirements for the "perfect plane" as I also needed it to fit my budget. One of the compromises was the gross weight. I bought a kitfox with a 1050 gross weight. I'm now finding out that I will need to carry 2 people's worth of weight (I'm going to assume an average of 200lbs each) and a decent load of fuel. My KF weighs a mere 590lbs with it's rotax 582. The 582 should be able to handle it, albeit slowly. I'd be overweight if I were using the 1050 gross weight so I need to figure out the easiest, cheapest, most efficient way to boost the gross weight of the kitfox. I saw some guy on barnstormers who "upgraded the spars" to increase the gross weight but I don't know if that can deliver. So, I guess my question is, can the kitfox 1050 handle 1200lbs on a regular basis, or should I upgrade? If so, what's the best route to take?

[Av8r_Sed]

I have not done this myself, so... beware free internet advice.

I don't believe spar strength is an issue. I have heard others have increased the size of the wing strut carry through tubes, Added a strengthening reinforcement to the lift strut carry through and increased the diameter of the lift struts.

[pileofgeorge]

I have not done this myself, so... beware free internet advice.

I don't believe spar strength is an issue. I have heard others have increased the size of the wing strut carry through tubes, Added a strengthening reinforcement to the lift strut carry through and increased the diameter of the lift struts.

This isn't exactly a response to you, but anyone who works for (or owns) kitfox:
Are the struts they sell from the company all 1200 struts? I'm thinking that the carry through tubes themselves won't be susceptible to failing with 1200lbs gross weight but I don't trust the spars. My aircraft hasn't gone through phase 1 testing yet so I'll use it as a time to test to see how the struts work with the original tubes.

[Esser]

I know you aren't going to like hearing this but the best route to take is probably buying a Model IV 1200. There is a reason there is a premium price for those models.

The spar carry through tubes do need to be stronger as do the struts and I'm pretty sure the thickness of the spar if it the same as the Model 5 1400#GW to the 1550. If it were just as easy as changing the struts everyone would be doing it.

[avidflyer]

I'm pretty sure the spars used .065" wall thickness aluminum tubes on all the early Kitfoxes. I believe the latest 1500 gross weight Kitfoxes use .065" wall as well. Different spar stiffeners though maybe. JImChuk

[PapuaPilot]

If you want to get the correct answer call the Kitfox factory. John or Debbie will let you know if it can be done, what needs to be done and the cost do do it.

[snowpaw]

Does anyone have the instruction and pictures (both rod through carry through tube and strap between strut attach points) of the modification from 1050-1200 for float operation?
The reason for asking is that I intend to operate the plane on floats and would like to make it as rigid as possible, not to exceed the gross weight limit.