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Rick
Bennett's Trailer
Hauling
a W.W.I airplane on a trailer was something done in an official manner
by
all sides back in W.W.I. So, don't feel guilty about using a trailer,
but
feel proud that you built it yourself and become another
"Trailer-Weenie".
Now, some initial trailer
designs have been copied by replica owners, and they worked pretty
good. But, as time goes on, new
designs appear that are even better. Here is one
example that Rick Bennett created. What is really nice about his,
is the enclosure will keep everything very dry, streamlined the
whole thing for easier towing, and it's light. Rick designed and
built this trailer in 2007, and he wrote an article on it that appeared
in the GWAA's
newsletter, The Great Times,
spring 2008 issue (Volume 12, Issue1).
Here are some pictures:
Now lets get into the neat part of it...the building part! Here are a
few pictures of the bare frame, and a drawing & some important
words from Rick Bennett:
Rick's
words...
It was built in ten days by two guys working part time. It
works well to have one guy cutting with a chop saw and the other
welding. All
welding was done with a 110 volt, 110 amp MIG welder. Anyone attempting
this
project should check to make sure their model of aircraft will fit
properly.
Any of the dimensions could be changed to accommodate another type or
scale.
This trailer weighed in at 650 lbs empty, complete, and ready to
travel. I have
towed it 900 miles one way to Gardner
with my Toyota Rav 4 with a 2 liter motor. A vehicle with a V6 would be
a
better choice. It tracks well on the road even in some pretty high
winds. It
does move around some when you are close to a semi truck, but nothing
dangerous.
Supplies
needed are as follows;
1 ea) Axle
with springs of the width to fit you frame (I had to
cut mine and add 6" in the middle)
3 ea)
Wheels
and tires (Mine are 13" rims with trailer
rated tires, don't forget the spare)
2 ea)
Fenders
1 ea) Hitch
to fit 2" tube
2 ea)
Safety
chains
1 ea) Light
kit
30 Yds)
Aircraft fabric (I used the heavy stuff)
2 ea) Rolls
2" aircraft fabric tape
1 gal)
Water base contact glue (I used 3m Fastbond 30)
1 gal)
Latex house paint
6 ea)
Exterior plywood sheets, 3/8"
4 ea)
Hinges
for the rear door, 4"
4 ea)
Hinges
for the front and top doors, 3"
1 ea) Lift
jack with wheel for the front (So you can move it
around when disconnected from your tow vehicle)
2 qts)
Varnish for the plywood
1 qt) Rusty
red primer
1 qt) Gray
enamel
8 ea) Bolts,
for doors, 3/8" x 1 1/2"
2 ea) Bolts,
grade 8 for safety chains, 3/8" x 1"
10 ea)
Nuts,
for above bolts, 3/8"
8 ea) 1
1/4"
long pieces 3/8" ID steel tube, heavy
wall, for bushings at door bolts
100 ea)
Self
tapping 1/4" x 3/4" countersunk flat
head screws (For the plywood deck)
Steel
channel 3" x 2" x 1/8" for the main
frame (Have this pressed by your local steel fab shop)
2 ea) 12'
4
ea)
66"
3
ea)
36"
Steel tube
2" x 2" x 1/8" for the tongue
1
ea)
54"
Steel tube
1" x 1" x 1/16" for the upper
structure
300'
(You
may need extra for screw ups or if you change the overall dimensions)
I have taken
Rick's plans to the next step in evolution, and rendered his trailer in
CAD (SolidWorks Weldments). The CAD program will give me a "material
cut list" of each member's length to be cut. Also, it can tell me the
weight of the trailer as well as the CG of it. It's all very neat stuff.
Also, I can resize the trailer to fit a larger airplane, and print out
the 2D drawing and it's material cut list as well.
Here is a picture of my CAD rendering, per his original drawing
dimensions:
(Mr. Jan Servaites, Kettering, OH 45420.......7/5/2010)
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