| Author |
Message |
Scott Cavanaugh (Tube_Rat) (66.169.172.144)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 1:58 pm: | |
I was wondering if anyone has taken an enclosed utility trailer and converted it to add additional living/work space while fulltiming in thier coach? I was thinking about adding a efficientcy washer and dryer, sink and storagespace in one half and a workbench in the other half of the trailer. I was also contemplating of having separte hook-ups for the coach and the trailer. The trailer wouldn't need power when traveling, or left behind until you return.
I guess really I'm looking for opinions on the idea.
Is it worth it, is there a length issue at RV parks and campsites. Has anyone done this as an extention of thier bus? Are there any pictures available?
I know more newbie questions!
r/
Scott |
Scott Whitney (66.82.9.35)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 03, 2002 - 2:14 pm: | |
At the BCC in Laughlin last year I met a gut who ran a business out of his enclosed trailer. Also held his Jeep. He made promo buttons and magnets etc. and had all his special machines and printers in there.
When my budget allows, I intend to get an enclosed trailer just big enough for a small car and a litle workshop.
I am keeping two extra matching windows that I am using on my bus for eventual installation in a trailer.
Scott |
JackInKC (24.94.180.233)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 04, 2002 - 1:23 pm: | |
I am thinking about doing the same thing. I manage five mobile home parks. I am thinking about fixing up a car carrier to be used as an office when the vehicle is not in there. Adding a washer & dryer is a great idea. An electric demand-type water heater would eliminate the need for a hot water tank in the trailer.
I assume that the office will be in the front. Probably have fold down work benches on the wall next to the vehicle. Trailers are available that stack two vehicles on top of each other using a system of cables to raise the first vehicle that is loaded. You could put your office or work facility on the top floor and lower it when the vehicle was not present. Actually, why not carry a hot tub this way?
Jack In KC |
Ross Carlisle (Ross) (207.88.96.108)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 04, 2002 - 1:46 pm: | |
I have a 24' enclosed car trailer that I'm planning to use in this way. It has a furnace and hot water with a small sink and some bunks. You can easily spend one or two days in it comfortably. The plan is to carry a small car or an airplane and motorcycle.
Ideally, I would like to build a trailer as high as the bus with a winch system so I could winch the airplane up and park a car under it. If I have any money left after the bus is done, I might do it.
Ross |
Scott Cavanaugh (Tube_Rat) (66.169.172.144)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 04, 2002 - 3:25 pm: | |
I priced a 20x8x7 Utility cargo trailer yesterday. They run about $5000 new. I was thinking of doing the hotwater heater with heating and cooling for inclimate weather along with some insulation sprayed or otherwise installed. Anyone have pics of their conversion?? |
FAST FRED (63.215.236.73)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 5:47 am: | |
The problem with all these concepts is unless your going to live boon dockin the rest of your life ,,where you gona PARK?
Most campgrounds have a few pull thrus , a vast field sans trees , that is hardly a fun stop.
Folks have a hard time storing tow dollies and cars in many places, and you want room for almost a second coach!
I think it might be easier to accept the reality that an RV is NOT a house / shop / storage depot/and while its possable to take "IT ALL" with you but ,
Why?
FAST FRED |
Phil (204.89.170.126)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 7:50 am: | |
Ross,
What airplane are you thinking of using? I have had my eye on the Sonex as it will fit on/in a fairly small trailer with my Harley. I can't think of a better way to travel then to have one of each toy with me!!! I need to make up my mind on the plane soon as my current projects are almost done and I don't know what I would do without some kind of airplane project! |
FAST FRED (63.215.228.43)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 8:15 am: | |
The easiest is a Trike , although they need controll inputs "backwards" Push foward to go up , rather than pull back , they fould into a tiny bay sized package .
The wing fits in a tube 14 in by 20 ft (or so depending on mfg)and we pass ours inside where it rides out of the elements.
Have seen plastic house built next to Air Cond carbunkles and it didn't look all that bad.
Setup is under a half hour and it carries 2 with ease. Great short field 50ft take offs , but needs a 150 to land , unless you are really good at picking up the #3 wire.
The new 4 stroke motors take the worry out of ultralight flying , and these buggies will be legal under the sport rules , for 2 place.
The performance is many times better than the solid wing things , IF flying at 50 K with the wind in your face is what you want.
Since there are NO markings ect for ultralights , operating out of parking lots ect is a ball!
FAST FRED Tukan Trike +Pegasus wing. |
Tube_Rat (66.169.172.144)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 8:32 am: | |
Fast Fred,
My question to you is: "why not" ?? If a person is going to fulltime, then an RV is thier home.
No one has pictures??? Guess I'll have to fix that soon! |
Ross Carlisle (Ross) (207.88.96.248)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 9:22 am: | |
I have 2 planes actually that fit well in the trailer. One is a Kolb Twinstar with folding wings. From the trailer to the air in about 15 minutes.
The other is a Hipps Reliant. It is a Piper Cub clone in a single place configuration. It does not have folding wings, so set up and break down is alot slower. It takes about an hour to set it up and a little less to break it down.
Everything considered, I prefer taking the Reliant. It flies better, performs better, has an enclosed cockpit and handles rough fields better. In fact...A new prop arrived today for it. I'm hoping to get 1500FPM out of it.
The Kolb is the worse flying plane I've ever flown. If I don't sell it, I'll probably strip it for parts and take a chain saw to the airframe.
Trikes are OK if thats what you're into, but setup actually takes longer than a fixed wing with folding wings. We go through this every time we trailer to a fly-in. I can always beat the trike guys into the air with my Kolb by about 15 minutes.
The benefit to a trike is that you can trailer the trike in a v ery small trailer and strap the wing to the roof of the bus. There are even single place flolding trikes small enough to fit in a bay.
In almost 3000 hours of flying, the only planes that have ever hurt me are trikes and hang gliders. For that reason, I would not fly another weight shift machine even if one was given to me.
Ross |
Ross Carlisle (Ross) (207.88.96.248)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 9:37 am: | |
"No one has pictures??? Guess I'll have to fix that soon! "
My trailer is gutted to the walls. When I bought the new plane, I had to "Remodel" to make it fit. The two items left are the furnace and the water heater.
Ross |
JackInKC (65.28.19.120)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 9:56 am: | |
Geeez Fast Fred – if these guys get to take along airplanes, it seems like I should get to take my hot tub. – Jack In KC |
Ross Carlisle (Ross) (207.88.96.155)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 05, 2002 - 12:09 pm: | |
Phil....In your search for a trailerable plane, keep in mind Rans and Kolb (if you like the way pushers fly). If you've never flown a pusher, fly before you buy. I didn't and now I have 10K Kolb collecting dust in the garage because I can't stand the way it flys.
Hipps Superbirds is now making a folding wing kit for thier planes. I may try to retrofit it to my older Hipps Reliant.
Phantom is also making a folding wing kit now. If you like speed and sports car like handling, the Phantom is a great ultralight. I did sportsman class aerobatics in one last year. They are rated at +9,-6G.
In the experimental catagory, there is Kitfox which offers a folding wing. Thats another fly before you buy plane. I personally don't like the way they fly. Too touchy on the controls. You have to fly it all the time.
Avid also makes folding wings and you had mentioned Sonex. Avid planes fly about like a Kitfox. I thought the Avid I flew last year was better than the Kitfox, but it was on floats and heavier which made it more stable. I've never flown a Sonex, but my alltime favorite light experimental is the Sonerai, which was designed by John Monnet who also designed the Sonex.
The Sonerai can also be built with folding wings.
The thing you need to be aware of is tail width. So far every plane I've had was 3-4" wider on the tail than the trailer inside width. If I had done my homework, I would have bought a 102" wide trailer instead of 96". As it is, I have to disassemble the tail of my Reliant to get in the trailer.
Some planes, like the kolb, have a folding tail and tail width is not an issue. It's too bad the Kolb is not a better flying plane. It really does trailer nicely.
Ross |
FAST FRED (63.208.85.119)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 06, 2002 - 5:39 am: | |
Whats the problem? ,
there ARE inflatable hot tubs marketed for RV use.
Unfortunatly there about $2000 , but if the Shower is in use ,
and the Jaccuzi is in use,
you could blow it up & party!
FAST FRED |
Phil (204.89.170.126)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 06, 2002 - 8:14 am: | |
Ross,
I am very familier with the Rans line. I built a Rans S7 Courier on Full Lotus floats. Nice plane! I currently have a Murphy Elite on amphibs with a Lyc 0-320 and a Searey amphib with a Rotax 914. Both are about 80% done and should be completed by spring. I currently am flying a C150 (bought for the other half to finish her license in). I also fly a Romanian IAR 823, a 4 seat (why they made it four seats is the mystery!!!)gunnery trainer with a 290 HP IO-540, and occasionaly a Skylane, T-Craft L bird, Cub and a few others. Never have had the opportunity to fly a Kolb but would like to as the performance is impressive. I am looking at the Sonex due to its speed, size, easily removeable wings (seems to use the same method as the old Monex), 4 stroke engine (120 HP Jabiru) and short field capabilities. It will also fit on a trailer with the Harley (I have all my teeth, no tatoos and my current ride is a 1999 FLHTCUI Electraglide Ultra has 35,000 miles, stock mufflers and no breakdowns).I have spoken to John Monnet a number of times and am impressed with the thought process that went into the design. Happy flying!! |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess) (63.27.88.162)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 06, 2002 - 7:45 pm: | |
Speaking of Bus height trailers, I met a Lincoln senior welding instructor at Sun n Fun Fly in last year who had a 4106 convrsion and a spare 4106 that he planned to use eventually to make a trailer for the bus. I'd like to see that.
Fred is right for normal RVing, the extra trailer would be make most RV parks tight to impossible. But some folks like the welding instructor are able to park where they work at exhibits, meets and fairs. A different life style. |