I am looking for a set of plans to build something that will hold my Sig LT-40 in place in the back of my Chevy S-10 pickup. I have been borrowing the wives mini-van but would like to just take my truck and go when ever I want to. You know (not have to schedual with her for her car).

Anyway if anyone has any plans they came up with or something that will halp me make something to hold down my plane while in transit it would be a huge help.

Feel free to e-mail me if you would like at [email protected]

Hi, Steve. I don't know of any plans available for building a crate to hold the planes. However, there is a guy at our flying field that just used PVC piping from Wal-Mart to kinda set up a crate for him. It works slick. But I think you're going to be out of luck, because there's really no way to crate up the wings for transport.

I have a Dodge Sport Dakota. I use those 10 foot tie down things that you flip the handle to make snug. Forget what they're called, but I wrap that around the landing gear and I lay my wing under the fuselage and then I use another tie down around my flight box to keep that from sliding all over the place.

If you have a simple Extang tough tonno 3, that'll work. It keeps the wind from blowing in there and stuff. You can go to www.truckaddons.com and buy one there for like $200.00. Regular price they're over $400! I bought mine there. It takes about 2 weeks to arrive, but I never had any problems with mine. Brand new in the box! Great packaging and awesome customer service!
Clint

I transport my planes like this. 3/4 PVC Bungee it down to the open bed of my pickup. At the field the racks come apart and I have a short stand for each plane.

Get some 1/2 schedule 40 PVC pipe, elbows, tees and get creative. PVC is dirt cheap, and very easy to work with (remember tinker toys?) I spent two hours drawing up plans to make a crate for my Avistar, which I never got around to building. When I did build a cradle for the SS 40, I eyeballed it together in about 1/2 hour. Granted, I have a chop saw which makes cutting the pipe a breeze, but the longest time was figuring out how tall it could be and still fit in the trunk of my car.....

Andy

This is what I use. I screw the fittings to the pipe, so they are reusable if I need to make a different setup.

Pics are worth lotsa words> The PVC rack would have been my reccomendation. But just look at the pics and let your imagination roam.

Mark Shuman

Hi, this is 15mm PVC . Fits in back of truck and doubles as a wall rack.
Have built to carry any two of my planes at once
Will take my trainer , 40 corsair , 60 extra in any combination of two!!
Sorry no pic in truck but you can see it sitting on floor as it does in truck.
My major design problem was keeping it below about 480mm so my cover would fit.
Worked out great,hope this helps
cheers torp

Hi Torp, I do like your ideas with the PVC and I think I will be using yours as my base frame with a couple mods here and there that I am thinking of.

My question is do you put it on the wood while in your truck so that it does not move around or was the wood just there when you took the photo? If you do use the wood how do you fasten the PVC to it?

I have to say I think I like the PVC method best.

Another question for you Torp... did you glue yours all together or is it so that you can take it apart when ever you need. I wonder this because I would not want it falling apart while hanging on the wall if not glued.

Hey deadeye.....how bout some more pics of that calendar in the background!!!!!

Hi, Steve CT .
It is all glued .When on wall just slips over a couple of brackets.If you look close you will see these.
Trainer moves up a notch when on wall to give more clearance to bench.
Plan well to suit future planes you have in mind.I have a TF60 corsair to
fit in here later.Will fit nice
When in truck it is screwed to the deck with 3, 10x11/2 self tappers.
Only takes a minute with battery drill.Sticks to deck good with the pipe insulation on the rack too.
Screws are good for roll overs !!!!!
No wood base used .Thats one of my plan boards.
My original prob was getting two birds to the field.This solved that.The wall storage was a bonus,just tryed it and it worked !!!!!!
Glad to help, torp.