[Guest]

Originally Posted by Sabrejock

Just get a cargo van and be done with it! Tex.

Or get a Minivan as they consume less gas but does carry 8' to 10-1/2' long models in their cabin...

[Ken Currell]

I have both a van and a small car and I can certainly see the benefit of using the car but I have used a small trailer once and it carried a lot of planes. I did tow it vith the van because it was full too.

Even though the trailer was smaller than the van it actually held more planes because it was easier to pack.

Getting back to the posted topic:

The carrier on top only makes sense if it is easy to load. If the plane is too big it could be very awkward. Landing gears are different heights and widths.
To make a single carrier to do that job just doesn't seem too practical to me.

Making one for an individual vehicle shouldn't be too difficult but when you don't need it where are you going to store it?

I think making one that just has a bottom and folding sides and ends might be better. The top could be just a tarp to cover it on the way to and from the field. Remove it from the car and it will store flat.

If you were trying to carry a large size plane how much longer would the top carrier be than the actual length of the roof? Ther are a lot of limitations.

That is certainly a challenge.

Good luck to those who take it up.

[bobreib]

It seems a waste to drive a big van every day just so that I can take a plane to the field on the weekend.
Another snag with the car top carrier is lifting a 25 to 45 pound model into the carrier.
I see an advantage to a trailer in that I could use it to store the plane during the week.
I wonder if something like a motorcycle trailer could be adapted to carrying models ? Something nice and light that an old bugger like me can handle without getting a hernia ?

[moo]

Originally Posted by Ken Currell

If you were trying to carry a large size plane how much longer would the top carrier be than the actual length of the roof?

My kayak is longer than a car roof by far, come to think of it, if you sliced open a kayak and hinged it, it would come close to the required shape.

Oh yeah, my kayak is a beefy 50lbs.

[Vulcan1]

This is what I use and I have worn the tires off of it many tmes. It has 2 trips to Ontario which was 2200 miles one way, 3 trips to Vancouver, and around 10 years on our racing circuit and they are all long trips. I originally had it flat with a pointed front and it could hold 16 racing aircraft and required gear for 4 guy's. I had a large car (Caddy) and 4 of us used to travel together. My maintainance was put a coat of paint and check it over in the Spring and carried a grease gun. The hubs have the Buddy caps and I put a shot of grease in every fillup on the road. Breakdowns over the years where none and it never give me trouble.
Now it is modified to carry my CF100 if I ever get back to it. The back opens and the front top section in front of the slope also opens. The tongue weight is about 25lbs. and I put all the heavy parts at the front when travelling. It looks like H""L but that is the way I wanted it because looking that rough nobody would want to take or break into it. It is an old tent trailer frame stripped down and built with a 5/8" floor and 3/8" sides and top. The joints have 1 x 2's glued and screws in everything. If I patched the bolt holes I could probably go fishing. It could be towed by anything as it is very light and tracks good up to about 120K's.
Thought I would let everybody see what I use.
John