I need help or ideas for a Storage rack to safely transport my planes to the field (bumpy roads) in the back of my 1500 4X4 Dodge with a camper shell.

It should be able to carry different sizes of planes from a 40 size trainer to 1/3 Pitts, 1/4 Cub, Pattern plane, 1/3 Fokker Triplane etc...

I want it to centered around a plywood bottom that can be extended out the back of the truck (on wheels) with folding legs to hold one end with the other end on the tailgate. I've thought about PVC pipe but I can't seem to get any ideas from there.
If anyone has some proven designs with pictures that would be great.

This is what I came up with. Holds my 38% Christen Eagle as well as two more .60-sized birds as well as support equipment for all! Hope it helps! If you have any questions, let em fly!!
BTW, it is 3/4" press-fit PVC. the horizontal crossmembers have lengths of 3/4" all-threaded rod inside for structural support. Cost was less than $20.00!!!

Regards,

Astrohog

Thanks for the Idea, It will work a lot better than what I'm doing now.

I count 4 cross bars, 12 of the short upright post, 16 T joints, 6 short bars that join the 4 main cross bars using 4 cross joints, along with this you have the insulation and the Threaded rod inside the PVC. Is this correct?

What do you have to do if you need to remove it?
Do you just have the PVC pushed into the T's and Crosses?
Did you Glue them?

yup! that sounds about right! I just went to town/ didn't have a good plan when I started, just started cutting PVC 'till it looked right! I still haven't added PVC glue and do not think I will ever have to (we'll see!) the uprights on the left of the picture (with the Eagles wings in it) are mounted in the first and last horiz. pieces. The uprights on the righ side are mounted on the first and THIRD horizontal, so I can put shorter (60") wings. Also, there is room in the middle for one .60-size fuse ( I have a .60 CAP 21 that fits), and I can fit one more .60-sizer next to the Eagle fuse on the bed. One of the guys at my club cut a piece of 3/4" ply to fit the bottom of his truck bed and screws threaded inserts into it so he can screw in small (1/4-20) eyebolts for tiedown points to keep the fuses from rolling around. GREAT IDEA!!! Good luck w/ your racks, there are lots of ways to configure them to suit your individual needs. Have fun with it!!! I have been wanting to do this for years now, but thought it would cost too much, take too much time, etc. but it was a cheap and fun project that I finished in a couple of hours. Boy am I glad I finally did this!!!!!

Regards,

Jeff

This is what I use to transport planes to the field. I take it there in an open bed pickup, with great results. You can modify it to your needs, but it may give you some new ideas.

-Brian

Here is the rack that a friend uses, you can modify the PVC to better suit your needs. It slides into the bed with a simple push and the legs fold up. I'm working on mine now.
See Gallery for larger pictures