Hi Guys.
I just finished painting the inside of my new trailer and I am ready to mount my 4' sections of vertical E-Track. The mounting holes in the E-Track are just over 1/4". I am wondering what size/type of screw to use. I am screwing into 1/2 plywood that I attached to the inside of the trailer. Also how many screws should I use? I was thinking eight for each 4' section, four per side. I can't find any installation instructions anywhere.
Thanks!!
Dom

Hi Dom,

I have not used this yet so I am not sure my advice would be better than what you think right now...

Was wondering where you got the vertical track sections?

Thanks
Dave

Dom, I used self tapping sheet metal screws, to go into the metal framework of the trailer. Is there steel studs to screw into on the wall? Eric

Here:

http://www.etrailer.com/p-E19146.htm

Thanks Dom!
Dave

Do a little math Cost of the screws vs. cost of a broken plane

Let us know what you come up with

Jerry

Dom, I use #10 x 3\4 self drilling square drive screws. You can get them from mcmasters. The uprites in your trailer should be on 16 inch centers. If your going through the plywood I would go with the 1 inch screws. Heres the part number.Part Number: 94155A137

Don

Thanks Don.
I put up my 1/2" ply over the stock luan that was in the trailer from the factory. I used the self tapping (#8) screws and placed them into the uprights as you said. Mine are also 16" on center. My E-Track will just be screwed to the ply and may or may not happen to line up with the upright. I was thinking #10 or #12 as well. A screw too big will not have many threads in the wood considering we are only going in 1/2". I was asking how many screws to use not to be cheap but to be sure I had enough.
Thanks for the input.
Dom

Hey Dom, If your starting your e-track from the floor ,your screws in the 1/2 plywood will be just fine. The e-track will be supporting all the vertical weight, also with the shelving resting on 2x4's in the brackets it will be almost impossible for it to come loose.I staggered the screws in the track and has worked in my trailer just fine.Scott

Dom, every 4th hole will be fine.

Here's some pix of my 20 footer under construction during the winter of 06-07.
I used 1/2" MDO ply over the vinyl interior panels and secured them with #10 self drilling screws into the steel vertical studs. You can see that I placed an additional screw between the factory screw locations.

The 1/2" ply panel covers two adjacent trailer wall studs so I could bolt down each side of the E-Track.
The E-Track is mounted to the 1/2" MDO ply with 1/4" bolts and 1/4-20 blind nuts counterbored into the back surface of the panel.

I covered the MDO plywood panel with white self adhesive vinyl shelf lining. The overlay on the MDO offers a very smooth surface to apply shelf paper to.

The shelf support structure sit inside the E-Track pockets and are held in place by screws.
By using vertical E-track, I can move the shelves up or down at will fairly easily, and without any help.

The two 8 foot by 8 foot shelves are made of 2" blue styrofoam laminated with 1/8" hardboard top and bottom to make a very strong diaphram that will support anything you want to put on it. Theu are covered with 2" thick foam rubber and furniture pads for the time being. I intend to replace the furniture pads with indoor/outdoor carpeting in the future.

I have already transported two KingCats, a Super Bandit, an Ultra bandit, and a BobCat XL so far, with adequate room.
The Super Bandit was fully assembled.

Everything in this job came from Home Depot, with the exception of the E-Track.

Thanks for the help guys.
Once the shelves are in I need to decide how to put the jets in. My options are:

1. Cover the shelf with 2" foam and lay the jet on it's belly with the gear retracted (this wont work on my Panther with the curved bottom fuse)

2. Secure my PVC Jet cradle directly to the ply shelf and transport the jet in the cradle.

3. with the model on its gear tied doen to the shelf.

4. Make a box that has that has cut outs in it for my fuse and line the bottom and sides with 2" foam. The box would be screwed directly to the shelves in the trailer.

What are you guys doing? How about some pics.

Dom

Dom, the foam on the shelf method worked really well for me. For the Panther you could use some foam blocks to support the wings. I got my foam cut to size from http://www.efoamstore.com/. I used velcro straps or bungees to hold the plane in place. I was not a fan of traveling with my planes on the gear. If your trailer is sprung wrong the models will take a heck of a beating on the gear. My new trailer is on air ride, no damage to anything now except my wallet.
Don

Dom

never do this...

3. with the model on its gear tied doen to the shelf.

you will have more stress cracks, and issues than you can imagine.

I would do something between no 2 and no 4. a removeable cradle lined with foam. if you find pics of dan avilla's trailer he has an awsome setup..

Dom,
If you look at the pictures of mine with a KingCat inside, you will notice the 2" foam, and the velcro straps holding it in position. I have used this method in two trailers so far as it works! A friend has used the same method in his 24" trailer for several years and has experienced no problems whatever.

If you install a PVC cradle on the shelf you will lose some of the utility a shelf offers. You can move things around on the shelf to suit a change in contents as long as nothing is hard mounted.

The PVC cradle would have to be very well padded....the 2" foam pad is far superior to a piece of pipe insulation slid over a piece of PVC tubing.

Some people will swear by using the landing gear in transit, some don't.

I use the foam pad, and have had no damage at all. I protect the finish by placing a furniture pad over the airplane or installing the wing bags before stapping it down with the velcro
.
I bought the foam at the local JoAnne yardage store...they keep it in stock, and you can cut it very easily with a long sharp box knife and a straight edge. It comes in 4 x 8 foot sheets. A strip of double sided cloth tape on each end holds the foam in position.

The 20 foot car hauler cost around $6,000.00 new, which is less than any of the jets it contains. At that price, I think that the tandem axle trailer is a good bargain, because of the brakes, and the ride quality of the torsion axles.

Good luck on your installation........

Thanks for the input guys!!
Dom

Ok.
I have the E-Track installed and now I am building the shelves. I am going to lay the jets on their belly directly on the shelf. I will also install 2" foam on the shelf. Now how exactly are you tying down the jets? Are you using bungees? I heard some of you say velcro straps. Any pictures?
Thanks for the help. This is my first trailer so I am new at this.
Dom

Dom, I use bungees, and (on most of them) I run them inside a piece of foam pipe insulation (for added padding). Bob

Look at the pix I submitted.
You will notice a pair of black straps extending over the airplane from the shelf. They are 2" wide polypropylene strapping material with 2" wide Velcro sewn to each end. One strap from the front, andf the mating strap from the rear. One for each side of the airplane.
Install a brass grommet in the strap, and screw it down.
It only takes about a foot of Velcro on each end of the strap.

Dom, take a look at this site. Bought my velcro from them. http://www.industrialwebbing.com/Industrial_hook.html

My straps are 2" wide.

One foot of standard Vecro 2" wide on the free end of the strap is more than adequate.
I would steer clear of molded plastic Velcro style fasteners, and use regular cloth backed non-adhesive Velcro, because you can sew it onto the straps with a standard sewing machine.
That's how mine are made.

Here's how I did mine:
As I mentioned earlier, my shelves are 8' x 8'.
The strap only needs to reach across the airplane from one end. The opposite end only needs to be long enough to hook onto the other end.
My rear straps are about 8 feet long, and the forward straps are about two feet long.
From the rear end of the trailer, pass the strap over the airplane, and slip a foam pad under the strap
Do this for each side of the airplane.
From the front of the shelf, draw the strap tight, and press the Velcro covered strap ends together. Do not overtighten......the weight of the airplane compressing the 2" foam rubber will help keep it from moving.

On my last trip, I carried five jets. I had two of the airplanes strapped down, and the other three were just sitting there.
None of them moved at all.

I live in an HOA, and their ridiculous rules force me to move my trailer to a storage facility during the winter months. I'm bringing it home Wedensday afternoon, and will photograph the straps for you later.