5×10 Trailer Setup

Well, I didn’t think it would happen, but I outgrew my current 5×8 trailer. So, I ordered a new one, and decided that I would document how I finished up the interior. You can see how the older 5×8 trailer was setup, and compare it against the modifications I made to the new 5×10 on this web page.  After using the 5×8 for a couple years, I had a list of things that worked well, some that didn’t, and some things I just wanted to change.

One of the main reasons I sold the current trailer, was to increase the length to house my newest planes. While the 5×8 trailer worked very well for my planes up to 35%, as soon as I purchased a 40% airplane some things got harder to deal with. I really needed some extra length. Further, I just purchased a set of plans, and a short kit, for a 50% Decathlon. This will barely fit in the 5×10, let alone the 5×8. I also wanted a front side door, to make access to the front part of the interior more accessible. Once I installed the second level in my last 5×8, I had no reasonable access to all the space in the forward part of the trailer. And there is a lot of room up there that could be put to good use.

I wanted to make the second level in this trailer adjustable in height. This would accommodate the varying height of various planes, rather than the static height I had setup in the previous 5×8 trailer. I also wanted this shelf to be easily removed in case I ever needed to haul around my lawn tractor, snow blower, or wanted to transport large items.

Last and foremost, it had to fit inside my garage. I fly often enough, that I want to be able to back the trailer into the garage, hook up power, and have my planes charged and ready to go the next day without unloading anything. Basically, the planes never leave the trailer expect to be flown, swapped out for another plane, or when moved into the shop for maintenance. Its their hangar on wheels.

On the 5×8, I had a couple of Hobbico multi-port chargers mounted on the inside walls. On this one, I am going to mount an Alpha 4 charger, rather than two multi-port chargers. Since the Alpha 4 can run on both AC and DC, it will allow charging the planes while in the garage, at the flying field, or while en-route to an event.

So, I had my major needs worked out, and I went shopping. I found a suitable dealer that sold Haulmark trailers. They were the only one in my area that sold trailers with torsion suspension, 15″ wheels, and had reasonable construction and quality. In order to fit into my garage, I needed to keep the height to under 81″. They only offered the 5xX models in an 81″ height, and the max length for those was 8′. The 6×10 trailers were slightly taller by just enough to preclude fitting in my garage. So, I ended up custom ordering a 5′ trailer stretched to 10′. And since the length dictated a custom order, why not order it with both a left and right side front door as well. Having a front side door on both sides would  make everything up front accessible, and put the forward space to good use. So, I ended up with a 5×10 trailer, with both a left and right front side door, interior lights with switch, flow thru ventilation, torsion suspension, and 15″ wheels.

Ok, ok, there was a problem. When I brought the trailer home, between the factory measurements, and mine, there was a discrepancy of about an inch. It wouldn’t fit in my garage! I figured out that the trailer was about a 1/2 inch taller than the specs said, and my driveway is at a slight slop from the garage floor. This slope increased the height at the rear of the trailer by about another 1/2″ or so. I managed to get it in the garage by disconnecting the trailer from the van, lifting the hitch to lower the rear of the trailer, I managed to get the trailer in the garage. However, its not a workable solution for the long haul. Pulling the trailer out by hand will be more of an issue, as the trailer will want to roll down the slope.. Holding back a thousand pounds or so that wants to roll via gravity isn’t fun.

I though about the issue overnight, and decided that a swap to 14″ tires would gain me 1-1/2″ in clearance. I called the dealer, and they decided to swap out the tires for me. Issue resolved.

~ by sfaust on May 6, 2006.