Contest Ready!!

[James Holford]

Made a trip to Lowes and dumped a wad on materials to make a plane rack for my little Ford Ranger.  3 contests upcoming in the next 3 months and 2 being out of state.

  I could have done this several different ways but wanted something light but sturdy for the 5ft Long 3ft Wide space I had to work with.

  May still modify to assure tail clearance between the 2 planes. So its not 100% finish but will work for now. Just need to get a few more lengths of pipe Insulation and the rack itself will be done.

 If I could do it over I would make the 2 niddle support runs atleast 12" wide to allow Gear clearance. Wing mounted gear will be no issue.  But I do have to turn the plane bout 45 or so degrees for profile gear to fit between the runs and rotate it back parallel.

  But fits a Twister and Cardinal on top no problem. Can fit a Ringmaster or smaller .25 size plane under if needed. Plus I can still storey 10x10 canopy under the rack for contests.

It isnt perfectly square and whatnot. Plus the 45 degree supports are adjustable!!!

   Almost ready for the Tulsa Contest next month!!



 

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[wwwarbird]

 That's a lot of work for hauling just two planes. You might consider going vertical, this was all packed in the back of my old Honda Element with room to spare...

[James Holford]

That's a lot of work for hauling just two planes. You might consider going vertical...

Oh I did. But given the amount of limited room. Went this route. Altho I still could go vertical and mount along the side... but will only be able to fit 2 on the rack and then no more room for much of anything.

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[wwwarbird]

... but will only be able to fit 2 on the rack and then no more room for much of anything.

 Not sure how you're coming to that conclusion, there's a lot more available space in the back of a Ranger with a topper than there is in the back of an Element. Oh well.

[James Holford]

Not sure how you're coming to that conclusion, there's a lot more available space in the back of a Ranger with a topper than there is in the back of an Element. Oh well.

32" between floor and ceiling. Plus wingspan of cardinal wont fit below bed railing which isnt a big issue as it could be mounted higher. But the fender wells only leave 36" of space.

  So sure it was alot of work but not really. Radio loud, under canopy, cold beer

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[Randy Cuberly]

Oh I did. But given the amount of limited room. Went this route. Altho I still could go vertical and mount along the side... but will only be able to fit 2 on the rack and then no more room for much of anything.

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Actually James, I think what you've done is pretty good.  The advantages are obvious to anyone who's had a mis hap and had to stop in a panic when some "old lady", or young lady for that matter suddenly pulls out in front of you and you have to slam on the brakes or worse yet have a fender bender.  In that vase heavy stuff like pit boxes and fuel jugs can do a lot of damage to and airplane.  Yes it happened to me and cost me an airplane.  Yes the box was tied down (actually clamped down but it broke loose in the impact.

Your design allows all the heavy stuff to be stowed below the airplanes and even if the are left free to slide will likely cause no damage.

I do believe in a pinch you could probably easily fit another airplane of the same size in by simply taping some foam rubber under the rear of the fuselages and lifting them high enough to allow another one to fit partially over one of the others.

Not bad!

Attached is a picture of the Rack I was using when my mishap occurred.  The pit box in the foreground broke loose and broke the KA10 (Red Airplane) in half.

At that time the KA10 was on the bottom of the rack and the Shoestring was on the top, it survived unscathed!

Randy Cuberly

[GERALD WIMMER]

Hi Jamie
Nice set up you made there. As Randy said you can keep the heavy stuff on the bottom level which I do in our Holden Commodore station wagons (like an Impala or Caprice).
By careful layering we got all these models and all our gear for the Nats into our wagon.
Regards Gerald

[Perry Rose]

Where's the first contest? I'm heading to Florida mid Sept.

[James Holford]

Where's the first contest? I'm heading to Florida mid Sept.

Tulsa last weekend of Sept. Then our contest in October, then El Dorado in Nov.

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[dale gleason]

Jamie,

It's important to check your rig out in all driving conditions. Texas highways and byways offer a variety of situations to test your airplane rack, so be sure to head to Dallas, Texas, September 1 and 2 for the Charles Ash-Greater Southwestern Championships!

Also, you will be able to check out the load-bearing ability with all the raffle surprises and hardware you will be taking back home.

Check us out in the "Event's" section. (I know, I know, the apostrophe, not my idea, but, it's there).

Dale Gleason CD 940-637-2169

[James Holford]

Jamie,

It's important to check your rig out in all driving conditions. Texas highways and byways offer a variety of situations to test your airplane rack, so be sure to head to Dallas, Texas, September 1 and 2 for the Charles Ash-Greater Southwestern Championships!

Also, you will be able to check out the load-bearing ability with all the raffle surprises and hardware you will be taking back home.

Check us out in the "Event's" section. (I know, I know, the apostrophe, not my idea, but, it's there).

Dale Gleason CD 940-637-2169

Oh i know. Had planned to go but its my lil girls 1st birthday that weekend so it ended that trip.  May still get in the raffle tho

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