Tow Bar & Introduction

[AW1985]

Hello!

Two reasons for post, one to introduce myself, and two to seek some advice and expertise.

I am a military pilot stationed up north, and have been in and around aviation since I was a boy. My grandfather and father in law are both owners/builders and by exposure, have pushed me to purchase my first aircraft!

I am a helicopter pilot by trade, but have an extensive background in fixed wing as well. A couple of years ago, after a long deployment, and after flying had become a "job" to me, my father in law pushed me to take his newly purchased Kitfox around the patch. I was hesitant at first, as there was no dual instruction (single seat) and we pulled the damn thing to the local field with his hatch back. The rest is history. I was in love. It really brought something back into the flying equation that had been missing after a couple thousand hours of military aviation.

Which brings me to my next subject. I am currently looking to purchase an S7, and have a couple of transportation/dimension questions. I didn't realize it back then, but part of the charm the Kitfox brings to the table is the portability.

I live three miles from the local grass strip. It's all paved, low traffic, and the local police allow any manner of vehicle on the road (from ATVs to farm machinery). I would like to tow the Kitfox to the field (daylight only) and by pulling it with my truck. I want to fabricate something along the line of the pictured tow apparatus, but obviously customize it to my application.

So....I know there is a ton of wisdom, and experience on this board (I've been lurking for a year) and would like to hear your thoughts.

1) Daylight only
2) Low traffic
3) 45 and below
4) Local police are excellent and do not care
5) Summer only solution while I customize an enclosed, long distance trailer for my next change of station.

6) Could someone measure from the front of the main landing gear tire to the rear with wings folded this weekend or when the chance presents itself?

Okay....Please let the comments flow.

Thanks for your time, and I look forward to meeting/talking to you guys in the coming months.

-Alex

[rv9ralph]

Your idea as pictured wouldn't work on a Kitfox... however, on the earlier model Kitfoxes and I believe it is still a part of the design, there are two through tubes in the lower rear fuselage that can be used to connect a tow bar that will extend 5 to 7 feet beyond the tail. The reason it needs to go beyond the tail is, when folded, the wings extend a few feet past the rudder. The earlier models came with the tow bar, mine is leaning against the wall of my hangar.

Ralph

[Norm]

This video shows the early KitFox in tow. The tow is at the 6min 10sec or so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IOSUaz2uFI
My Model IV has the holes in the side.
Great story how the flying became a job but the Kitfox made it fun again. There are a couple of airline pilots in our club that refound the love of flying with a KitFox. One said "Why didn't I do this years ago". Welcome

[neville]

look at the sticky on the top of the general discussion page titled Loading and unloading Kitfox SS7 on a trailer. My son made the video. I have moved the A/C to and from the local airport (2 miles one way) for three years and have had no issues. Some of the old style tow bars used the two lower feed through tubes. However, after trailering many times I think towing with the A/C wheels on the ground for any distance on public roads is fraught with danger. It is very easy to put excessive stress on the rear portion of the fuselage.

[southwind32]

I'm not a Kitfox owner..........yet..........but getting close. I've seen several pics of small boat trailers being converted to Kitfox trailers.
If the set up in the above picture won't work, why not fashion a small tow dolly that the tail wheel will sit on and you can extend a tonue from it as long as needed, shouldn't be hard to do, just a thought. Good Luck
Brian

[AW1985]

Guys- Thanks for the quick responses! I am going down this weekend to take a look at it.

Norm- Excellent video. EXACTLY what I am looking to do. I think if I extend the tongue far enough, the wing clearance shouldn't be an issue for 1-2 mile trips to the airport.

This winter though, I plan to fashion an enclosed trailer to fit my needs.

I can't wait!!

-Alex

[Geowitz]

I did it all the time with my Model 4 when I lived about 2 miles from a grass strip. Kept it in my garage and saved a ton. Could still do it today if I needed.

The attached drawing is designed for the model 4, but you get the idea.

[rainbird]

Yesterday I was measuring my ss7 to start planning for a trailer to go the 3 miles to my airport. I was at first planning to do the tow bar but realized that a trailer would give me long range capability also for the same amount of work. My plane is stock except for 8.50x6 21" main gear tyres. These are random measurements you get to sort them out
Main wheel axel to wing tip folded 213.5"
Allow 3-4 feet extra tongue length for turning the trailer
Wheels. Outside to outside 85.5"
Center to center. 75.75"
Inside to inside. 67.5.
These measurements are allowing for the tilt of the tyres with the plane complete without fuel.
I figured the wheel platforms to be hanging down from the trailer frame down to 6" from the ground. 18x36"long with a hinged ramp also 18x36" on the back of the platform. When hinged up an secured it will lock the tyre in place while maintaining the cushiness of the tyre.
My old trailer frame is 50" wide so there is plenty of clearance with the gear legs. The 50" width doesn't contact the gear legs till 22" off the floor.
The back of the trailer needs to extend at lest 60" behind the gear axel to get the prop inside the trailer. That's with a 912 uls.
The plane has its tail toward the tow vehicle.
The main wheel should be as low as possible and the tail wheel elevated to close to flying height to reduce the weight on the tail wheel. It's possible to bend the tail portion of the fuse from road bumps.
This leaves a nice space between the rudder and under the wing tips where a smal motorcycle might fit, crosswise.
A extra fuel tank could go on top of the axel with a channel track for the tail wheel going over the fuel tank.
Use a boat trailer winch to pull the plane up onto the trailer. Attach the strap to the tail springs. A u strap behind the tail wheel would keep it from swiveling.

For me that was real wordy. Sorry. If you need other measurements ASK. These are my thoughts and they may not all work for you. Roble ( Rainbird)

[ken nougaret]

Here's my setup. 15 minutes to taxi.

[David47]

That's a very nice looking rig Ken. Looks to be zinc coated. Do you get any road stones, gravel etc thrown up ?.

[AW1985]

Rainbird/Ken,

Thanks for the feedback. I have a 12 foot flat bed, but use if for my ATVs. I had thought about pulling it up on it tail first and have the tail hang over the tongue, extend the tongue, and have the engine hang over the back.

This seems plausible, but like I said, I use the trailer for other things, and would rather invest the time and effort into an enclosed trailer this winter.

The boat trailer conversion does look appealing and I think I will keep my eye open for one. I'm sure I could find one for minimal cash if the timing is good.

I really like the tow on main gear idea. Seems too simple to screw up, and would work excellent in the interim until enclosed unit is complete. I put in a call to Kitfox and left a message, thought I might hear it from the horse's mouth...left a voice mail. Sure they're on the road at shows and what not.

I will keep you guys posted. In the end, if I go tow bar on the mains, I will draw up the plans in a CAD program and post if they work well. Geowitz really gave me a great start. I have the 26" main/BBW tail wheel bush setup though, so I will have to account for that.

-Alex

[Bud Davidson]

Ken,
I recall your trailer setup from the day we visited at your place. Looking at your picture shows a similar loading as I have with a flatbed on a boat trailer, including a tilting bed. When tilted my aircraft tires run just outside the bed and immediately behind the trailer wheels. When I lower the front of the trailer the bed raises under the axles lifting the wheels well off the ground.
But, I am rear loaded. The trailer has no weight on the hitch. I don't like that. Do you get adequate hitch weight???

Bud
IV-1200
912 UL

[efwd]

Ken, That looks like just the thing I need to have custom made. Problem is, the vertical stab appears to exceed 7 feet tall. My garage door is 7 feet tall. Any reason I could not drop the tail off of that track that you have and keep the tailwheel on the deck of the trailer? Have you done that to keep the airframe more level while trailering?
Eddie

[ken nougaret]

Hi Bud. I dont have any trouble with too little tongue weight. Plenty of weight from the wings being folded back.
Eddy i attached a photo of my solution to the home garage height. I installed scissor jack like rv's use for lateral stabilization. Only takes a minute to raise and lower the tail. I wanted to travel with wings level.

[Bud Davidson]

Ken
Thanks for the response. I have yet to finish the wings... Did not think of that. Will wait to do mods on the trailer until after the wings are attached.
Bud
IV-1200
912UL