John,
In your consideration of building a trailer for your plane, here is some
info that may be useful for you.
I bought an old 32' construction site trailer (28' body length) with an
overhead door. I gutted the interior and beautified it inside and out.
I mounted a Works winch to pull the Kolb up the ramps and built 2X4
tracks inside to guide the plane to the stops in front. Since I have a
FF, I still have about 6' in the nose, accessible by the side door,
which is carpeted and suitable for a bedroll and my dog's bed. I'll
attach some pics. If they don't make it to the list, email me and I'll
shoot them to you direct.
BTW, the most critical thing with the FF was clearing the engine under
the header and then clearing the folded wings over the floor. I went to
a scrap yard and got two traffic sign posts (cross section kind of like
a U that the tailwheel fits into), connected them with a hinge and built
an A frame that supports the tailwheel track and adjusts the height and
angle of the plane as the engine and wings pass through the opening,
which is just 70" high. The 1 X's you see on the floor lift the plane
so the wings clear the floor as they enter the trailer, then the mains
return to the floor in front after the wings are clearing everything and
the plane is level. If worse came to worst, I was prepared to remove
the header and overhead door and install barn doors, but with some
figuring that wasn't necessary.
The shots with the FF inside were when I had it rigged for the ride to
the airstrip where I'm keeping it. The tail boom is in a removable
cradle and the wings are supported while attached to the FF with
pulleys, ropes and carpet and foam protected boards which cradle the
wings. The plane is held in place by nylon straps over the tail boom
and forward and aft straps to O rings both sides from the pin that holds
the struts on both sides. I could have rolled the trailer over and it
wouldn't have moved. Worked out well, even if I didn't roll the trailer
over.
My rent for my own "hanger" at the airstrip is $30/mo., whereas it's
$135/mo for his enclosed hanger. Worth the money and work, IMO. The
owner, Butch, has a totally rebuilt '43 Stearman bipe in the hanger.
Gorgeous!!!!!!!!
If you or anyone would like any specific questions answered about my
setup, feel free to email me.
Dave Kulp
Bethlehem, PA
FireFly 098
