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View Full Version : Looking for Info on Enclosed Trailer for Kitfox 7



enyaw
07-24-2009, 10:27 PM
Has anyone out there gotten an enclosed trailer for a KitFox 7? I've run into issues w/the 8 foot (96") width (wings folded) and the Max legal width (outside) of 102".

Thanks.

Wayne

chipper2128
07-25-2009, 08:22 AM
Wayne,

Take a look at a thread I started with a similar question on 5/27/09 on this forum. Your concern is exactly what I ran into. I saw a Kitfox 5 and a custom built trailer for it in Utah and the trailer was over 9 feet wide and had only an inch or two clearance from the wings on both sides. I don't know how you could make it much smaller. It would require an Oversize Load Permit for every trip.

Mike
(970) 361-6659

SkyPirate
07-26-2009, 08:00 AM
I plan on building my own custom trailer,..I'll use 1 inch square tubing for the side walls with some formed 16 guage wall sections for stiffeners and put 3 on each side plus the square tubing.
Make the exterior dimension 102" the interior will end up 99.875" (99.7/8") or 8'3.875" just shy of 8'4",..this is with .0625 (1/16") thick skin on each side of the exterior,..probably fiberglass sheet or aluminum sheet,..


formered wall siffeners below

Wiley
07-26-2009, 08:23 AM
Is 8' width an accurate measure for a Series 7 with the wings folded, or is it a little more or less?

enyaw
07-26-2009, 09:16 AM
From KitFox Site

Wings Folded Length 22’-7”
Wings Folded Width 8’-0”
Height 5’8” Tail Wheel
Height 8’-0” Tri-Gear

Wiley
07-26-2009, 02:43 PM
Thanks, but I've read the published specs, I was wondering about what actual aircraft measurements were. Appreciate the response though.

SkyPirate
08-11-2009, 11:37 AM
I just priced up materials for an enclosed trailer ,.. 24 foot main deck with 7 foot gooseneck deck...$3910.00 for all materials except lights,..so for less then $4000.00 I'll have a 102" wide trailer with a 99" inside wall to wall and 99" drop ramp door on the back,..1 passenger side 3 foot door 2 roof vents all aluminum covered steel framed trailer.
I priced a trailer like this thru a local trailer dealer for $10,000.00 and the rear door was only 96 inches wide .
I think I'm going to build it myself and be done with it.

Chase

SkyPirate
08-11-2009, 12:08 PM
I will build something like this to put on the plane for loading/unloading and transporting,..it should keep the plane free of any trailer /road rash

SkyPirate
08-11-2009, 02:29 PM
a rough sketch of the completed trailer :)

DesertFox4
08-11-2009, 04:17 PM
Chase, great looking "mobile hangar". Maybe keep track of your labor just in case someone else wants one.;)

SkyPirate
08-11-2009, 04:51 PM
Thanks Steve,

I'll post photo's of the build and give build time ..I'm guestimating it will take 5 to 6 days to build. I have chop saw, wirefeed welder, tubing bender, and a square :) I use to build perimeter traliers for Chris Craft boats,..and built a few race car and equipment trailers ,..also did work for Raven trailer company,.. when they were behind ,..they would call me, I could build a complete 40 foot all aluminum T&T dump trailer and roll it out of the shop ready for the road in 5 days.

Chase

SkyPirate
08-11-2009, 06:07 PM
102" is the legal width for a trailer in all states,..SS 7 folded width is 96" that leaves 6 " for structural integrity of the trailer wall plus clearance for the trailer wall and the wing. a 1 inch thick wall built correctly ..like a cantelevered truss,..it will more then support the weight of the roof of the trailer providing you build it of like materials and don't park your truck on top of it :)

Chase

jdmcbean
08-12-2009, 08:13 AM
We are working with a local trailer manufacture currently. Hopefully we'll have some answers pretty soon.

SkyPirate
08-12-2009, 09:10 AM
Good deal John ..

Have you thought of building one for the purpose first and then having the manufacturer replicate it?


Chase

jsimmo97
08-13-2009, 08:25 AM
Hey All... I am looking to do the same thing. At one point I found a picture of someone's enclosed trailer they they built. It simply had aluminum spares and they covered it with that car transport fabric/canvas/heavy plastic stuff that you see tractor trailers have running down the highway.

Has anyone seen these pics... I cannot find them again. :-(.

The trailer was ideal in that it didn't need a ton of structural support and the weight that goes with it. The Kitfox weighs sub-700 lbs so I cannot justify purchasing or pulling a double axle trailer for such little weight.

~Jason

SkyPirate
08-13-2009, 01:32 PM
that's how I feel about it too ..the lighter the trailer the better because of it's minimal load ,..but I'm going to build with tandem axles for stability,. 4 tires on the ground for side loads is better then 2.I'm looking for a end result of a 2000 lb to 2500 lb trailer,..I want it to have some weight because of road turbulance,..if it's too light with 24 foot or greater of side area by 7 foot or 8 foot tall ..thats allot of surface that will be pushed around by passing trucks and cross winds on the road,..unless your intent is to haul it once to the airport and park it for a mobile hangar,..or you have a short distance to go from home to the airport ..I plan on going to fly-ins all over the country and not be limited by weather,..day or night,..etc. to get there.
If you want the lightest manufacturered trailer on the market ..look into a 6 place snow mobile trailer and put a Tarp cover on it,..the trailer will be 24' long x 102"wide with tandem axles and 12 inch tires,..,..6 times minimum of 600 lbs a sled up to 800 lbs is 3600 lbs to 4800 lbs so it will still be built heavier then needed for the kitfox.
A perimeter framed trailer keeps the deck low,..and your using the truss style walls of the trailer to keep the deck flat ,..so lighter materials can be used, instead of the conventional twin 6 inch I beams and the deck mounted on top of it,..which raises the deck hieght and adds allot of weight.
look down the inside of the tail of a kitfox ..it's basically very light materials in a truss form making it very strong ,..same with the wing ..it also has a truss design..very strong ..very light.
Trailers handle like airplanes in a sense too ..the lighter the plane ..the more you get bounced around in turbulance /wind ..the lighter the trailer ..the more it gets pushed around by turbulance /wind .
take a light trailer for a 10 mile run with single axle 24' long 7 foot high sides,..stay between 45 mph and 55 mph .. stop at the end of the 10 mile trip,.. walk back and put your hand on that single tire,..garauntee it's going to be hot ..not totally because of it's weighted load .but also...because of it's side load pushing the tires sideways ..same as doing a donut in a car ..those tires get hot :)
Now take the same size trailer for a 10 mile run but this time with tandems,.. same weight ,..same speeds ...garauntee the tires are cooler.

Not trying to push anything on anyone concerning a trailer ..but take into consideration all factors with a trailer of this size we are talking about before committing to a build,..
ask someone who has pulled a single axle camper trailer compared to a tandem axle camper trailer,.. at speed on the road,..
I know from hauling mobile homes all over the north east ..to get the house to trail straight behind me I had to be going at least 45 mph ..any less then that it dogged to the curb making the trailer travel sideways ..and they had up to 6 axles on them.,..granted it's also more weight and allot longer at 80 ' then the 24' we are talking about. the longer the "arm" (trailer) the more the forces effect it. the smaller the tow vehicle (smaller/lighter..)the more the trailer will effect it's handling when it's pushed around on the road.

this is why I'm doing a goose neck,..the hitch is right above the axle and forward by 6 inches,..if the trailer gets pushed around by passing trucks etc..its not going to be pushing 4 foot behind the axle of the towing truck at the bumper hitch ..but rather 6 inches ahead of the axle of the towing truck at the goose neck hitch..so all four tires on the truck inherantly add stability to the trailer, and the trailer doesn't take any stability away from the towing truck if it is subject to side loads from passing trucks etc.

OK I've typed enough ha ha got a short book started here on the characteritics of towing a trailer bumper hitch /versus goose neck..sheesh

Chase

SkyPirate
08-14-2009, 01:49 PM
I just got off the phone with feather lite ..they have an industrail approach to their trailer designs so it's built heavier/stronger then the purpose we are looking for,.. an all aluminum feather lite trailer which scales out at 4800 lbs empty would cost a buyer ..wait ..are you sitting down?? $28,000.00 no bells or whistles,..bare bones trailer .. holy *&^%

just some trailer info from trailer builders .. they will not build a single axle trailer over 10 foot long that has a box container

So I'm still committed to building my own tandem gooseneck.

enyaw
08-14-2009, 04:39 PM
Custom Trailerwerks, Inc. (http://www.customtrailerwerks.com/) here locally quoted about the same for a 1 off. They said we might be able to save a few thousand if we got an existing 24 ft trailer and "reworked" the rear door and frame. Theirs did have a tool box on the tongue.

SkyPirate
08-15-2009, 10:26 AM
I looked into re working the back door on a used trailer,..it has possibilities,..it would depend on the wall structure,..most I've looked at rely on the 3" x 1 1/2" 1/4" wall tubing frame of the rear door for integrity of the "box"
since the kitfox isn't "square" ..there is room to modify the trailer's back opening and put gussets both top and bottom to keep the integrity,..then add some 14 gauge box tubing on each side of the ramp door to fill the gap,..it would probably be the quickest and most cost effective route to fill the need.
I've seen used enclosed trailers on the marklet from $2500 to $4500
the things to look for on a used trailer are if any springs are broke ,..the spring hangars for wallowed out connection points ,..tire wear ..if it's got a bent axle the tires will wear funny,...look to see if the axle has slide forward or back ..sometimes uneven tire wear can be the result of a broken center bolt, take a unmounted trailer ball with you the size of the reciever,..put it in and lock the hitch onto the ball try to move it around,..if it's got allot of slop ..there is some adjustment to tighten it ..
take the time and adjust it ..if it tightens up good ..then your ok,.if it doesn't, the ball clamp could be bent,.. check safety chain connect points,..the battery and break away switch,..to check this hook up to the trailer ..do not connect any wire connections ..first pull ahead to see how much drag the trailer puts on the tow vehicle,..then pull the break away switch .. try to pull the trailer ..the brakes should come on with the break away switch engaged and skid when you try to pull it,,it if doesn't ..either the battery is dead ..or there is a broken wire to the brakes or the brakes themselves aren't in proper working order or worn out ,..now hook up the connections for the lights and brakes ..try them again if you have a brake actuator on board the tow vehicle.

Chase

SkyPirate
08-15-2009, 01:37 PM
no problem Mike :D be glad to help you out ..cover my air fair?? ha ha

Chase

michael@ae491.org
11-26-2010, 03:23 PM
Talk to Chris at 913-706-3631 or ccruise@ae491.org

$5,500 for a 24' tailer custom door works good and looks good. A bit heavy but I wont complain for the money.... They did us real good.

Lion8
01-25-2014, 02:37 PM
Hi Chase.
I just bought a '4 place' Triton Jet Ski trailer. It is plenty long enough to haul my Model IV, and is low enough to the ground so as not to be so high. Has dual torsion axles. Frame rails are 78" centerline so with the new bush gear I just installed, it will fit perfectly on the rails. There is an elevated center rail that will help support the tail wheel. This thing is light enough to move around by hand. The total length is 26ft. It tows really nice. Now if I can sell my old holesclaw trailer, I can work on getting this one built for the Kitfox. -Tom , N.J.

ken nougaret
01-25-2014, 03:12 PM
Sorry my pictures keep getting turned.

SkyPirate
01-25-2014, 03:31 PM
Depending on your state law as to the max width , at 1 time it was 8' the greyhound bus got it bumped to 102", i dont know if wider is legal in all states, wider the 102" that is

ken nougaret
01-25-2014, 03:37 PM
i believe that legally 102" Is the widest allowed. but I've been told it's not difficult to get a waiver, or take your chances. I haven't looked into it yet. but I think that extra 6" is necessary for a model 7.

Danzer1
01-25-2014, 04:03 PM
102" is the max. Oversize load waivers are sometimes not that easy to get, depending on the state. Some also limit which roads you can travel on and some even require escort vehicles. There are also costs involved with permits and they are usually only good for one trip. Take your chances in CA and I know it costs big time if you are caught - they love it! Best bet would be to check with your state for specifics - they are all different.

SkyPirate
01-25-2014, 04:51 PM
Its been a while since i've hauled any wide loads, but i believe your right Danzer,
I built this truck for hauling wide/oversized loads

tommg13780
01-25-2014, 05:22 PM
I posted this last fall upon completion. It came in at 1980# empty. Pulls quite well with my V6 5 speed 1500 Silverado. The chassis is a single axle boat trailer. this is designed around a model4 speedster but could handle the full length wing with a little modification at the nose. Width is 101.5" outside and 99" inside. The trough for tailwheel allows for the roof to taper in the front giving it that wedge shape. It's been to 2 flyins so far and exceeded my expectations.

SkyPirate
01-25-2014, 08:28 PM
Someday,,this would be cool,..a lift inside similar to a nascar trailer to lift a vehicle in the cargo bay so you can transport 2,, with a camper in the front section,..on one side an over sized awning that could serve as an attached hangar to keep the plane out of the sun when not flying..

SkyPirate
01-25-2014, 09:22 PM
just looking back thru previous posts and see one I drew up awhile ago,..that was before back surgery,..I'm lucky if I can walk down stairs without falling let alone build anything now a days :)

ken nougaret
01-26-2014, 06:31 AM
I have to say I like tom's home made trailer the best. and the 1980 lb empty weight is impressive.
tom, do you have any pics of trailer under construction and a list of materials used.
thanks, ken

Lion8
01-26-2014, 07:48 AM
Chase, I like your forward thinking in the two level trailer. Why not?
You are one of those that says "What If?", instead of "yea but". Something I fought with my two kids in their teen years. The "What If" change has made my two kids professional successes, so kudos to you sir. -Tom M, N.J.

tommg13780
01-26-2014, 08:22 AM
Ken,
Here's some pics taken before the sheet metal skin went on. My cost of materials was approximately equal to the factory trailer that you posted.
Tom

Lion8
01-26-2014, 08:45 AM
Good Looking Trailer Tom. Going to try to do the same to my Triton 4 place Jet Ski trailer. I am going to try to make it out of aluminum tube and coil stock. -Tom M.

SkyPirate
01-26-2014, 09:02 AM
Thanks Tom, I've never been one to put limits on any concepts, if it can be thought, it can be built.
And nice job Tom on your trailer, your design is functional in many ways, the wedge roof line adds stability with down pressure at speed on the road

kitfox2009
04-09-2014, 10:12 PM
Hello All
Slightly off topic, but I have begun building an enclosed trailer and wonder if anyone has weighed the tail on a model 5 or Vixen 912 when the wings are folded??
My trailer has adjustable wheel placements and would like to get it balanced properly.
Of course,I could just fold er up and weigh it but thought someone else may have already done that. Just a rough number is all!
Cheers
Don

kitfox2009
04-10-2014, 07:58 AM
Hello Again
That weight question is for a "nose dragger" configuration. I will be hauling a Vixen.
Thanks
Don