Question:
Can I haul ski's in my RV?
Compiled Answers
Greg Ratcliff wrote:
>What about those huge lightening holes we put
>in the main ribs? I've always looked at them
>thinking a pair of skis could slide in.
This has been discussed before. Most bindings would be too big
to fit
thru the holes. But more importantly, You have a length limit
at the
aileron bellcrank rib, which is around 48" in. Maybe you could
fit
your kids skiis in there, but that's about it.
Randall Henderson
RV-6
On Sat, 16 Dec 1995, aol.com!PFPA@matronics.com wrote:
>I've also been considering ways to haul my skiis in my RV-6A.
My first
>thought was to build racks in the tail cone of the fuselage
and slide them
>back. However after speaking with someone at Van's (I forget
who) I was
>advised that between the weight of the skiis and the amount
of other gear
>that would need to go behind the seats, I would probably be
causing an aft cg
>problem. Van's suggested instead building a belly pod that can
be easily
>installed or removed when needed. Such a pod would sit right
on the cg point
>and could therefore be stuffed with gear with little impact
on performance.
>(at least non-aerobatic performance) It would also offer the
benefit of easy
>loading and would prevent all that snow and mud from dripping
into your
>fuselage after a day on the slopes.
>
>Van's said to get a fat piece of PVC piping and attach a standard
spinner to
>each end. I think we can do better. I have made a rough sketch
of a
>symetrical belly pod that would open up on each end or like
a clam shell for
>easy loading. It would be easy to attach when needed with a
clevis type
>arrangement. (the female end would be permanently attached to
the airframe.
>The pod would then hang with a couple AN-5 bolts) Anyway a local
fiberglass
>place said they could build these things for about $300-400
each which is
>real cheap, except I would also have to build a form +/-$2000
and also a mold
>for another $2000. If enough of us were interested, perhaps
we could split
>the cost of the form and mold and get these things made at reasonable
price.
>
>By the way, Just cause I'm going to fill this thing with skiis,
doesn't mean
>you can't put whatever else you'd like in it instead. (golf
clubs, camping
> gear, duffle bags, food, flag poles, whatever)
>
>If anyone is interested, or can think of a better solution please
e-mail back
>
>Andy Gold
>RV-6A (finishing kit)
>
>
I'm interested. My wife and I do not weigh much and would like
to be able to
carry more stuff occassionally. Just getting started with project,
though, so
keep us posted. I think a removable belly pod would have market
potential.
Gordon Pratt
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