Re: 25% C150 in F150 - transporting under tonneau cover
I like your solution, John!
04-17-2016 07:14 AM
grosbeak
Re: 25% C150 in F150 - transporting under tonneau cover
Next, I laid the piece on the ground and put the airplane in place.
This told me how wide to make the crossbar upon which the nose wheel would sit (17-1/4").
Crossbar glued and clamped.
I'm not worried about strain on the frame in use, but I didn't want to risk breaking it in storage or when moving it around... so I added a rear crossbar made of 2x4, and some brackets.
This should work perfectly.
04-17-2016 07:06 AM
twistedge
Re: 25% C150 in F150 - transporting under tonneau cover
For a quick solution... Maybe cut another board, drill a hole in it and screw/glue it to your base board. The hole just needs to be big enough for the wheel to fit through.
The plane will sit at the same height, but the board can't slide away if it's held by the wheel.
(**Ugg.. I guess we were typing at the same time...)
04-17-2016 07:01 AM
grosbeak
Re: 25% C150 in F150 - transporting under tonneau cover
First, I measured the distance from the main wheels to the nose wheel to get an idea of the length of 2x6 I would need; I cut two 24" pieces.
I used a 2" hole saw and a backing block to cut out the main wheel openings.
I used a jigsaw to complete the openings. My Dad bought this B&D in the eighties... made in Canada!
04-17-2016 06:55 AM
grosbeak
25% C150 in F150 - transporting under tonneau cover
Last summer we sold our SUV and bought an F-150, which came with a folding sectioned tonneau cover. So far it's worked fine for my small fleet of tail draggers with a cargo bar, pool noodle, bungee cord and a little protection for the top of the vertical stabilizer. The planes are kept safe, secure and out of sight.
This winter's project was a 25% RC Guys Cessna 150. Measurements told me that the tail wouldn't fit under the tonneau cover when the airplane was sitting level; a piece of 2x6 under the nose wheel solved that problem nicely.
Good thing we bought the long box!
The next question: how to keep the 2x6 in place? My regular drive to the field is about 20 minutes, but I'll be maidening the C150 at an event at a field four and a half hours from home. The answer - a frame. One that the main wheels sit in and the nose wheel rests upon.