RV-12 Trailer Info
Glad to get the link on the Aerotrek Trailer!
Just finished Section 31 "Fuselage Wiring Harness" and celebrating after spending many, many hours trying to attach the over rudder wireway.
I have tried to attach a photo that David Kroner (Ohio RV-12) was kind enough to share with me several years ago.
The trailer I really like is a custom Featherlite all-aluminum, including an extruded floor. I have had some back and forth with their engineering department and adjusted the tandem torsion axles to match the unusually light weight of the intended airplane cargo. I am trying to get something as compact and light weight as possible. I want as easy to tow and fuel-efficient as possible for several 8,000 mile road trips over 3 or 4 years. Along with the airplane I will only carry a couple of hundred pounds of tools, spares and maybe 30 gallons of fuel in the trailer. Not looking for a workshop or lounge plus airplane. Based on trailer dimensions the RV-12 will fit in a 22-foot-long trailer with a modest v-nose (plus tongue) and still have a little bit of room inside. Total weight I am shooting for is around 4,000 pounds which can be towed by a half-ton pickup or my 3/4 ton Silverado with a pop-up camper shell on the back.
I talked with Mark Sorenson a little at Sun-N-Fun 2023 about Arising Trailers and he has done many one-off aircraft trailers of required width. I visited the Alcom Trailer Factory in DeLand, Florida in April and the guy that runs their production line there built a bunch of RV-6 airplanes at Massey Air Ranch back in the day so he was interested. Alcom makes a nice trailer with adequate interior width but the ramp door and door frame would have to be reworked by the customer after delivery to get 98-inch width clear.
I believe that if a couple of us can agree on a "Standard RV-12 Trailer" we can find a factory to build it at some savings. Even if it is steel-framed with a plywood floor and no extras I am sure that it will be more than $20K. Interior fit-out to secure the airplane (by purchaser) is also sure to cost a couple of thousand dollars more.
Shaking the airplane to pieces is a real concern as is the potential for accidents. According to Dr. Bob Jones, who has traveled the country with his Kitfox in a trailer behind his camper van and given many talks at fly-ins, it can be done in ways to minimize risk. The benefits are very appealing to me. Here is an AOPA article about him:
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2019/march/pilot/some-assembly-required