Better self rigging system

[Steve Cameron]

I'm sure someone has come up with a much more user friendly system for self rigging vs. what I'm currently doing. My new to me DG400 is in an older Minden trailer, which is tucked inside a T-hangar behind a Cessna 182(high wing). To get the DG out I first have to pull the 182 out, than roll the Minden out and begin the rigging process with an electric self rigger that came with the glider. I've recently been doing some work on the fuselage and without too much trouble am able to roll the fuse out onto my hangar floor in its cradle. I put the tail dolly on and move it around the hangar, making it convenient to work on without pulling it out of the trailer constantly.
I'm wondering how much trouble it would be to come up with a dolly system(jackable, so I can raise the fuse and get the gear down) that I can use for storing the DG in the hangar, yet roll outside(over rail tracks for hangar doors) and have in position for rigging. I picture the wings already out of the trailer in a bracket on the hangar floor, where I can just raise one end up to place in the self rigger, than roll the wing out and begin rigging to the fuselage.
Seems to me this would expedite the rigging process, however it might require finding another home for the Minden trailer should a better system be put in place.

Thanks guys,
Steve Cameron

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 6:48:50 AM UTC-4, Steve Cameron wrote:
> I'm sure someone has come up with a much more user friendly system for self rigging vs. what I'm currently doing. My new to me DG400 is in an older Minden trailer, which is tucked inside a T-hangar behind a Cessna 182(high wing). To get the DG out I first have to pull the 182 out, than roll the Minden out and begin the rigging process with an electric self rigger that came with the glider. I've recently been doing some work on the fuselage and without too much trouble am able to roll the fuse out onto my hangar floor in its cradle. I put the tail dolly on and move it around the hangar, making it convenient to work on without pulling it out of the trailer constantly.
> I'm wondering how much trouble it would be to come up with a dolly system(jackable, so I can raise the fuse and get the gear down) that I can use for storing the DG in the hangar, yet roll outside(over rail tracks for hangar doors) and have in position for rigging. I picture the wings already out of the trailer in a bracket on the hangar floor, where I can just raise one end up to place in the self rigger, than roll the wing out and begin rigging to the fuselage.
> Seems to me this would expedite the rigging process, however it might require finding another home for the Minden trailer should a better system be put in place.
>
> Thanks guys,
> Steve Cameron

I had one trailer that had a dolly that had 2 screw jacks between the lower frame that the wheels were on and the saddle assembly. It was heavy and awkward as a trailer dolly(lift never used), but the concept would seem to be what you might want for a hangar dolly. I'll bet your buddies Larry and Scott could help you build one.
Good luck
UH

[Steve Cameron]

On Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 8:51:15 AM UTC-4, wrote:
> On Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 6:48:50 AM UTC-4, Steve Cameron wrote:
> > I'm sure someone has come up with a much more user friendly system for self rigging vs. what I'm currently doing. My new to me DG400 is in an older Minden trailer, which is tucked inside a T-hangar behind a Cessna 182(high wing). To get the DG out I first have to pull the 182 out, than roll the Minden out and begin the rigging process with an electric self rigger that came with the glider. I've recently been doing some work on the fuselage and without too much trouble am able to roll the fuse out onto my hangar floor in its cradle. I put the tail dolly on and move it around the hangar, making it convenient to work on without pulling it out of the trailer constantly.
> > I'm wondering how much trouble it would be to come up with a dolly system(jackable, so I can raise the fuse and get the gear down) that I can use for storing the DG in the hangar, yet roll outside(over rail tracks for hangar doors) and have in position for rigging. I picture the wings already out of the trailer in a bracket on the hangar floor, where I can just raise one end up to place in the self rigger, than roll the wing out and begin rigging to the fuselage.
> > Seems to me this would expedite the rigging process, however it might require finding another home for the Minden trailer should a better system be put in place.
> >
> > Thanks guys,
> > Steve Cameron
>
> I had one trailer that had a dolly that had 2 screw jacks between the lower frame that the wheels were on and the saddle assembly. It was heavy and awkward as a trailer dolly(lift never used), but the concept would seem to be what you might want for a hangar dolly. I'll bet your buddies Larry and Scott could help you build one.
> Good luck
> UH

Good idea Hank, I'll get them working on it.

[Emir Sherbi]

Measure the height needed to rig it on a marked spot and make a wooden ramp. Is the easiest and quickest way.

Regards

[[email protected]]

On Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 3:48:50 AM UTC-7, Steve Cameron wrote:
> I'm sure someone has come up with a much more user friendly system for self rigging vs. what I'm currently doing. My new to me DG400 is in an older Minden trailer, which is tucked inside a T-hangar behind a Cessna 182(high wing). To get the DG out I first have to pull the 182 out, than roll the Minden out and begin the rigging process with an electric self rigger that came with the glider. I've recently been doing some work on the fuselage and without too much trouble am able to roll the fuse out onto my hangar floor in its cradle. I put the tail dolly on and move it around the hangar, making it convenient to work on without pulling it out of the trailer constantly.
> I'm wondering how much trouble it would be to come up with a dolly system(jackable, so I can raise the fuse and get the gear down) that I can use for storing the DG in the hangar, yet roll outside(over rail tracks for hangar doors) and have in position for rigging. I picture the wings already out of the trailer in a bracket on the hangar floor, where I can just raise one end up to place in the self rigger, than roll the wing out and begin rigging to the fuselage.
> Seems to me this would expedite the rigging process, however it might require finding another home for the Minden trailer should a better system be put in place.
>
> Thanks guys,
> Steve Cameron

My club has a British made AMF trailer for our L23 that included a fuselage dolly with an over center mechanism and lever to raise and lower the fuselage to get the gear down. It works a lot like the over center mechanisms that some people on rec.aviation.soaring have made for their trailer ramps to replace the screw jacks or hydraulic jacks that they came with from the factory.

[2G]

On Sunday, May 13, 2018 at 3:48:50 AM UTC-7, Steve Cameron wrote:
> I'm sure someone has come up with a much more user friendly system for self rigging vs. what I'm currently doing. My new to me DG400 is in an older Minden trailer, which is tucked inside a T-hangar behind a Cessna 182(high wing). To get the DG out I first have to pull the 182 out, than roll the Minden out and begin the rigging process with an electric self rigger that came with the glider. I've recently been doing some work on the fuselage and without too much trouble am able to roll the fuse out onto my hangar floor in its cradle. I put the tail dolly on and move it around the hangar, making it convenient to work on without pulling it out of the trailer constantly.
> I'm wondering how much trouble it would be to come up with a dolly system(jackable, so I can raise the fuse and get the gear down) that I can use for storing the DG in the hangar, yet roll outside(over rail tracks for hangar doors) and have in position for rigging. I picture the wings already out of the trailer in a bracket on the hangar floor, where I can just raise one end up to place in the self rigger, than roll the wing out and begin rigging to the fuselage.
> Seems to me this would expedite the rigging process, however it might require finding another home for the Minden trailer should a better system be put in place.
>
> Thanks guys,
> Steve Cameron

Why not just park the trailer outside of the hangar?

Tom

[krasw]

On Sunday, 13 May 2018 13:48:50 UTC+3, Steve Cameron wrote:
> I'm sure someone has come up with a much more user friendly system for self rigging vs. what I'm currently doing. My new to me DG400 is in an older Minden trailer, which is tucked inside a T-hangar behind a Cessna 182(high wing). To get the DG out I first have to pull the 182 out, than roll the Minden out and begin the rigging process with an electric self rigger that came with the glider. I've recently been doing some work on the fuselage and without too much trouble am able to roll the fuse out onto my hangar floor in its cradle. I put the tail dolly on and move it around the hangar, making it convenient to work on without pulling it out of the trailer constantly.
> I'm wondering how much trouble it would be to come up with a dolly system(jackable, so I can raise the fuse and get the gear down) that I can use for storing the DG in the hangar, yet roll outside(over rail tracks for hangar doors) and have in position for rigging. I picture the wings already out of the trailer in a bracket on the hangar floor, where I can just raise one end up to place in the self rigger, than roll the wing out and begin rigging to the fuselage.
> Seems to me this would expedite the rigging process, however it might require finding another home for the Minden trailer should a better system be put in place.
>
> Thanks guys,
> Steve Cameron

http://www.imi-gliding.com/products/workshop-fuselage-dolly.html

[SF]

SC, have LT copy the dolly for the 103 with better wheels. Its an over center design made from sq tubing actuated by a big lever. SF over complicates everything.

[Brad Alston]

... over complicates everything.

Chuckle...Fly a fixed gear sailplane!?