piperpuppy

At my club it is quite a hike from parking lot to flightline. The club does have carts available to haul your gear to the flightline, but often times there are not enough carts for the weekends when there are lots of flyers. So after you transport and unload, you have to hike it back for someone else to use. Then of course repeat the process in reverse when it comes time to leave. I have grown quite tired of playing Jenga with my fieldbox, fuel, snacks and airplanes on one of the field carts, so I have taken a hint from one club member that purchased his own lawn cart and outfitted it with tackle boxes full of spare parts and tools, it will haul and tow airplanes nicely, and better yet, it fits just behind the front seats of his minivan,he's even got some cool ramps to put it there as well. Talk about hard core! Well I too got a lawn cart, but I'm taking a slightly different approach. Im custom building the box that sits atop the cart. I have been doodling and drawing for a few weeks now and I have come up with a design that works for me. I'm posting some of the pictures as I complete the build.
The fieldbox part of the cart is 4foot long, 2foot wide and little over 14inches tall (add the wagon and the overall height of the deck is 26inches. Starting at the handle, this will be the rear of the box while in flight mode. The only thing that is planed for this side is the Solar Battery charger will be mounted here. Moving to the right side, I will have three fairly large drawers, one for my transmitter, and the others for.... well you know, stuff... Beside the drawers, access for the battery and fuel compartments will be here as well. There is plenty of room for small to large batteries, and about 3 gallons of fuel/smoke oil. All ventilated and secure. Moving on to the Front of the cart, (while in flight mode) here I have a nifty flip out console that will have my power panel and switches for fueling, charging and other electrical goodies. Under that will be where the fueling lines will emerge. Still have yet to work out hte details on this system. Moving on to the left side, here will house a clever little fold out table, just big enough for a starter, glow drivers, sunglasses, ect. Just above that will be the stereo/cd player. Yep, Tunes too. Speakers will be built in, with hookups for ipods and external speakers. Moving back, behind two sliding doors I will have ten 14inch parts trays. (tackle box type) Here will be the plethora of nuts, bolts, props, wires, washers, first aid, again you name it it could be here.
Well thats all for now, hopefully tomorrow I can get a bit more done on it in time for the flying season here in Pa. I'll keep posting pics of the progress, and please feel free to chime in with your sugesstions.
Enjoy!

outdoorhunting

Awsome!!!!!!!! What an idea !! Make sure you put some wild paint on it. And make sure you keep us posted about the progress.

beepee

Pretty neat, but where is the bathroom?

Seriously, great idea. Set it up in the right place at the field, chock the tires, and you could make it a great starting stand!

Thanks for sharing,

Bedford

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

We have guys that complain if they have to walk more than 15' from their vehicle to the tables ! They would never survive there !
Nice job but it looks like it's going to be heavy. May have to put a big brushless motor on each rear wheel !

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I'd have a heart attack lifting it into the car!

piperpuppy

Little more work today. All that is left of the cabinet work is to install the drawer slides. (drawers are already made) and install the removeable uprights for the airplane restraint. It will be ready for paint in no time. I already have a nice spot for it in my trailer. I need to fabricate some ramps for it yet. So far the whole outfit without the gear is about 25lbs. It hauls nice and easy. It is a little wobbly with the pneumatic tires. I will most likely change these out for some flatter heavy duty tires.

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

Careful, you might find your dog (or some other dog) in the space on the right side !

Strat2003

My Feedback: (1)

That's neat.
Many years ago my dad and I flew from a runway maybe 500 feet down a hill from the parking area. He built a wagon something like that and it was heavy to pull uphill. He fixed that by building a two-sided handle so we both could pull.

tommygun32

Next step, give each wheel its own brushless motor, put a steering servo in it and a receiver and make it RC...oh ya....paint job...flames!!

Nice work there piperpuppy.

parrot pilot

NICE! I do have one suggestion, headlights! For those nights when you stay too long. Looking forward to seeing more!

piperpuppy

Almost there! Ready for Paint! First I will show the photos of it in transport mode.
One thing I need to figure out is how to retain the tackle box trays in their slots. For the panels and drawers I used rare earth magnets closing aginst flat head screws. (magnet to magnet on the drawers.

piperpuppy

Now for Field (or Fun) mode.
I couldn't find 12" full extension drawer slides. So I used some old drawer slides I had sitting around. I would really like full extension though.

Front panel opens to reveal main power shutoff / charger / wagon battery meter / power panel / fuel plugs will be setup to the left of the meter.

The side tray flips up to reveal the field charger. Again I need to come up with a way of securing the trays in their respective slots. One slot will be outfitted with the car stereo. Speakers will be installed after the paint job.

The rear of the wagon has a slideout that will help accomadate long taildraggers. It is recessed hopefully keeping the tailwheel from sliding off the sides. Also note that the deck has a groove routed around the edge. I hope this will help stop runaway screws and small parts.

Closer veiw of the flip up tray. A convenient cover for the field charger when in transport.

The airframe restraints have the 3/4" flanges mounted to the underside of the deck. The 19" sections of Alum tube thread easily in place. Later I will place foam around the tubing.

Drawers for plenty of storage, and the "dogbox" for fuel and battery location. I decided to keep the shape of a traditional field box here for the hatch.

Closeup of the flip out power panel, you can see the magnet on the flipout and the respective flat head screw on the wagon. This works really well keeping the panel shut.

outdoorhunting

Hey,  piper, you might find the "full slide" drawer slides at Home Depot or Lowes. Can't wait to see the finished flight buggie.

piperpuppy

Parrot - headlights would not be. Bad idea. I'm often the last to leave the field. A few of us have begun night flying wit our LED Ladin airplanes.

Outdoor- home depot has full extension slides starting at 14" my drawers are 13". I will give my used ones a chance. If I think I need them, I'll sto at our local rockler store or order them online.

MetallicaJunkie

coool idea, i like it... too much for me though.... i have a p/u and my hardcore tool box stays on the bed of my truck... and i just unload my planes gas can(s) and starter if i take glow planes..... at the end of a long hot day in deep south texas, i'd have a heart attack lifting a big heavy coffin like that or a stroke unloading it when i get back home

flyntruk

My Feedback: (5)

   I hope the trailer you have is a horse trailer . cause you're gonna need a small clydesdale to haul that . I got my cart from home depot . It hauls 3 planes a 2000 honda generator , folding chairs  support stuff and snacks too .  Cost was cheap , it was a floor demo , $60.oo out the door .   Nice trailer by the way .

outdoorhunting

Yeah, but when you had your heart attack, They'd have something to haul you out on !!Haha!! May be have a defibulator mounted somewhere.

davidgeorge212

You could put a trailer hitch and some heavy duty wheels on it. That way you could just tow it behind your truck like a regular trailer.

MetallicaJunkie

you guys are funny

piperpuppy

Very! This cart is not for the faint of heart or weaklings. Paint today....

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

You will have to get there a few hours before you plan to fly so you can schlep this up to the field and then take a nap !

vicarh

My Feedback: (1)

What ever happened to this project? Pictures please!

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

Seriously , I hope it worked out OK. That contraption looked like a big lump to haul around before it was loaded up with gear!

bogbeagle

[link]http://shop.traplet.com/product.aspx?c=1203[/link]


My mate built this 1/4 scale Landrover, some years back. Self-propelled, it carried all his field gear.

He had a set of ramps, and the model could be driven into the back of his estate car ... just as well, since it would have been impossible to lift.

Once on the ground, he would hook up the tailwheel of his 1/4-scale model and tow it to the flight-line.



I dunno, some people just need to complicate things.

DESERT RATT

My Feedback: (7)

[size=3]One heck of a Craftsman, you're pride shows in your work! I'd clear coat that Gorgeous bench.[/size]


Now for Field (or Fun) mode.
I couldn't find 12" full extension drawer slides. So I used some old drawer slides I had sitting around. I would really like full extension though.

Front panel opens to reveal main power shutoff / charger / wagon battery meter / power panel / fuel plugs will be setup to the left of the meter.

The side tray flips up to reveal the field charger. Again I need to come up with a way of securing the trays in their respective slots. One slot will be outfitted with the car stereo. Speakers will be installed after the paint job.

The rear of the wagon has a slideout that will help accomadate long taildraggers. It is recessed hopefully keeping the tailwheel from sliding off the sides. Also note that the deck has a groove routed around the edge. I hope this will help stop runaway screws and small parts.

Closer veiw of the flip up tray. A convenient cover for the field charger when in transport.

The airframe restraints have the 3/4" flanges mounted to the underside of the deck. The 19" sections of Alum tube thread easily in place. Later I will place foam around the tubing.

Drawers for plenty of storage, and the "dogbox" for fuel and battery location. I decided to keep the shape of a traditional field box here for the hatch.

Closeup of the flip out power panel, you can see the magnet on the flipout and the respective flat head screw on the wagon. This works really well keeping the panel shut.