Tailwheel main gear sideways dolly: anyone build one?

[YooperMooney]

I’m looking to build one and I’d like to know what size tube was used. I found some 8” pneumatic caster wheels at Menards for $13/ea. I like how I can store my Mooney and high-wing LSA in the same hangar with the LSA squeezed in sideways. Do you think 1” square would hold up 600lbs if I assemble it like the photo? I see he installed a Center wheel too.

 

[James331]

The top photo design I bet would work for a LSA

 

[CharlieD3]

I'm pretty certain it would work with either hot or cold rolled.

 

[AKBill]

I think I would use 2" thin wall square stock

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Do you think 1” square would hold up 600lbs if I assemble it like the photo?

If the casters are reasonably close to the main wheels, yea. You ain't talking that much weight.
Or, https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...ty-vehicle-positioning-wheel-dolly-61917.html

 

[Dan Thomas]

One inch .063" wall is a little small. I'd use 1-1/4" .063". That first photo looks like 1-1/4". Better a little overbuilt that have to rebuild. It ain't going flying. One inch might work, until someone borrows it to move his 185.

Some folks would use 1/8" wall tubing, but it's more expensive and heavier and in 1" it wouldn't be all that stiff.

 

[YooperMooney]

I decided to get 1.5" 11 gauge (1/8") square stock as my local supplier has it in stock. Of course I jawjacked for two hours at the FBO and wasn't able to get to the supplier before they closed. I did buy five 8" pneumatic casters from Menards for $13. They are rated for 220 lbs each.

 

[Stewartb]

Zendex Tool makes GoJacks. The 6013 lifts 35” tundra tires. Smaller models easily lift the small tires most of you use. Bro in law has the Harbor Freight ones for his 206. They work well.

 

[Dan Thomas]

I decided to get 1.5" 11 gauge (1/8") square stock as my local supplier has it in stock.

It'll weigh as much as the airplane. Sometimes it's better and cheaper to order the right stuff.

 

[455 Bravo Uniform]

Are those “drive on” where you don’t have to jack the plane up?

 

[YooperMooney]

The HF style go jacks are too big for the tires on this. Yes I’ll be able to pull the plane onto it.

 

[YooperMooney]

It'll weigh as much as the airplane. Sometimes it's better and cheaper to order the right stuff.

Hardly. 2.25lb per foot. Probably 60lb all in.

 

[Sac Arrow]

The structural in me cringes at the photo. Bracing, mang, bracing or it will be very heavy if it is to carry the load.

 

[YooperMooney]

I'm not dragging this thing across the field, through the woods, across the Gobi, and halfway across Africa. We're talking like 20 ft? Here is a video:

 

[YooperMooney]

Well I reverse engineered Jonas Marcinko’s design. I took my new Klutch branded CHICOM MIG welder out of the box, hooked it up to the gas, and started burning away. My local weld shop had these fancy weld-on hinges for a few bucks so I just had to use some. It’s heavy but not that heavy. I’d guess it’s 80lbs at the most. I need to engineer a handle for it.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

For the wings: Panel (drywall) lift...
I'd link a video, but then I would be a bad person for promoting my own videos.
Well, I will link the video as long as you agree to not watch it.
Don't watch this.

 

[wilkersk]

What about a pair of these? They're designed for up to 5,200lbs (max vehicle weight @ 4 wheels). I'd think they'd cost about the same as cost of materials. And, save a huge amount of time....

 

[Greg Bockelman]

Cantering wheels might make things interesting.

 

[YooperMooney]

What about a pair of these? They're designed for up to 5,200lbs (max vehicle weight @ 4 wheels). I'd think they'd cost about the same as cost of materials. And, save a huge amount of time....

Nope won’t work with my small wheels for many planes.

 

[YooperMooney]

Cantering wheels might make things interesting.

Yes this is true; see the other design photo i found in my very first post (red one). That’s why I need to design a handle system. The plane only weighs 630lbs so it’s not too bad.

 

[Greg Bockelman]

Nope won’t work with my small wheels for many planes.

Looks to me like the spacing is adjustable.

 

[Salty]

Looks to me like the spacing is adjustable.

They don’t go small enough for 600-6 tires. Not even close.

 

[YooperMooney]

I determined that the quick-jack dolly's would NOT work by reading the specs from Harbor Fright's web site. I'm surprised they fit small car tires.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

I determined that the quick-jack dolly's would NOT work by reading the specs from Harbor Fright's web site. I'm surprised they fit small car tires.

The obvious solution is some alaska bushwheels.

 

[YooperMooney]

Hell I gotta learn how to fly it first...

 

[Dan Thomas]

Looks to me like the spacing is adjustable.

That's how it lifts the tire. Lengthen it until the assembly will roll in, straddling the tire, then work the handle to bring the rollers together to squeeze the tire and raise it. A version for an airplane would need to sit lower and come closer together, that's all.

 

[YooperMooney]

I bet I could modify a pair. They sell tire jacks at half the price of their “premium” Daytona line. I might pick some up later and see what I can do.