John,
You invited comments, so made it a net reply.....
I have a standard Europa open trailer, but am contemplating an
enclosed one eventually (4005). It occurred to me that with various mods
being suggested, that the enclosed trailer might incorporate a "saddle"
which rotates/swivels and captures each wingtip in turn. This facility might
permit singlehanded 'winging' and 'de-winging', being integral rather than
an extra device. Details foggy in future mists, but it's an
idea..............
ferg
A064
----- Original Message -----
From: <TELEDYNMCS@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Trailers
>
> In a message dated 2/19/2003 4:30:26 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> Randerson@skewstacks.freeserve.co.uk writes:
>
> > The supplied rubber wing support slings mark the paintwork and crack
with
> > age. I have replaced these with polypropylene straps of a similar width,
> > covered leatherette cuffs (soft side out). These are better than the
rubber
> > straps but I would welcome suggestions for a better solution.
>
>
> While I'm a long way from needing a trailer, I have been giving it some
> thought. My plan is to use a commercially available covered trailer. (For
> those on this side of the pond think Wells Cargo, Haulmark, Pace, etc.)
> Drawing from sailplane trailer technology, I'm planning to fabricate two
> "dollies" that will run in tracks along the outer side walls from the
front
> to the rear of the trailer. These dollies will be made out of 1" square
steel
> and will use roller blade wheels set in aluminum "C" channel mounted to
the
> floor. The spar tangs of the wings will pin into the the dolly, LE down,
and
> support one end of the wing. When de-rigged, the wings will easily roll
into
> the trailer and the opposite end of the wing will fit into a padded saddle
> secured to the side wall and floor. Once the wings are in, the fuselage
will
> roll in between the wings and will secure to the floor with straps.
Rigging
> would be the opposite, rolling out the fuselage first, then each wing in
> turn.
>
> This sort of arrangement has been used on sailplane trailers for decades
and
> works very well. Sailplane guys who have trailers rigged like this
generally
> don't take more than 10 minutes to rig/de-rig. A tri-pod wing stand is
used
> to support the airplane when one wing is removed. The beauty of this type
> trailer is they're commercially available, equipped with ramp type doors
> hinged at the bottom, offer security from vandals and the weather and
plenty
> of storage for other goodies you might need (gas, oil, tools, etc). Only
> minor modifications will be needed to make it work.
>
> Comments?
>
> John Lawton
> Dunlap, TN
> A-245
>
>
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