RivetBangers.com

Hi all...

I'm Dale, and just registered. I'm a regular on the PoA board, and have been luring around VAF for a few weeks but haven't posted there.

I have, however, just made a deal to buy a partially completed RV-7a slider kit. I'll be picking that up after the first of the year, rather than try to figure out how to get it shipped here. It will be about 1100 miles home, all Interstate.

So here's my first question. One wing skeleton is riveted, but no skins are attached yet. The other wing skeleton is clecoed, but not riveted. The fuse and finish kits are still in the crates from Van's. Given that I'll have a pickup and 18-20' flat bed trailer, how would you recommend transporting the wings? I'm thinking one is not riveted yet, so it can be taken apart and boxed. The other I could put on top of the crates with some padding under and over the top, tie it down and cover the whole mess with a tarp. Does that sound reasonable, or would there likely be damage to the wing doing this? I was thinking a couple of thick comforters underneath, or maybe some 2 or 3 inch thick foam. I could also build some sort of rack with 2x4s to hold one or both of the wings, either upright or horizontally.

Everything else is either in crates, or will fit in the truck, or can be tied down (horizontal stab is too long for the bed, probably). What would you recommend for transporting the wings?

Thanks!

Dale

Dale, Welcome!

The wings are surprisingly strong when cleco'ed. You will eventually need a wing storage rack. You could easily cleco on the skins, stick them on the rack and store them upright on the trailer. Plans for the rack are in the preview plans, or see if you can find some other builder's to reuse.

Dale,

Bruce is right. The wings are quite strong and could handle the move simply clecoed together. You are right too in taking them apart to conserve space on the trailer and in the truck. Either way would work well.

Sounds like you are right on track. You will be fine!

Welcome to RB! Hope to see you at OSH someday!

CJ

I would disassemble the cleco'd wing. I probably would not put the skins on the riveted wing. If you bend or ding a rib on the assembled wing it would be an easy and cheap repair. If you burger a skin it is going to cost a bit more. If you cleco the skin and snag a cleco you will likely get some small localized damage. I would support both the main and rear spar well, strap it down and head for NE.

Robert

Im with Dave. Box the one wing, and strap the second wing dan sans skin. It might also make sense to try and brace that riveted skeleton diagonally just to keep it from flexing much.

This should be an easy move for you.

And Welcome to Rivetbangers!!

John

Thanks fro the advice, guys!

I think I'll definitely disassemble the clecoed wing. I've never done clecos, but it doesn't seem like that should take more than an hour or two, I wouldn't think. The other one I'm thinking I could build a couple of supports for using the fuse & finish kit crates as a base... tie it down well, supported in 4 or more places, then tarp it and tie the tarp down well.

Unless I happen to luck into an enclosed trailer, then it gets WAY easier. How long is an assembled wing? I know the two crates are roughly 4 x 8 feet, how long of an enclosed trailer would I need to fit an assembled wing with the spar and all?