Trailer access calculation?

[John McLaughlin]

I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.

So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet - I
can't find anything?

I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
stuck.

[Martin Gregorie[_6_]]

On Wed, 25 Mar 2020 09:40:18 +0000, John McLaughlin wrote:

> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
>
> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet -
> I can't find anything?
>
> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
> stuck.

You could always model it:

1) use a 25m tape measure +_ compass to draw an accurate map of the track
on a decent sized sheep of paper, say A3 and use a sensible scale, say
1:25 or 1:50 Draw in the track to its correct width and don't forget
obstacles, (hedges, poles, gateways, buildings etc.

Seeing that there's a steep slope involved, use some scrap foam plastic
to make a scale 3D surface and glue the map to it I'd use a hiking GPS or
Google Earth to measure the height difference unless you already know
that.

OR (in order of decreasing accuracy)

Walk the track centre line with a GPS

OR

Take measurements off Google Earth

2) measure length + width of trailer + towbar and towing vehicle. Make
cardboard cutouts of the plan view of trailer and car. Add a scale towbar
to the trailer (lollypop stick would be fine) and add something to the
trailer where the wheels should be. Rubber toy wheels would be best, but
small blocks of wood or foam should also work. Connect car and trailer
with a drawing pin or similar, placed where the tow ball is in the car.

3) now you can move car+trailer models along the track and see how close
the trailer comes to hitting anything.

At least, thats how I'd do it and, even if it takes time to do properly,
its something else to do while in COVID lockdown. Making the measurements
can reasonably be described as 'your daily walk'.

HTH


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

[John McLaughlin]

Thanks Martin. I think that after maybe another week or two of
lockdown, I'm going to be bored enough to make something around
my aluminium ladders using a couple of spare wheelbarrow wheels
and some scraps of timber. If I can get the ground clearance right,
as well as the total length, width, and wheel position, that should do
it. And it'll keep the neighbours amused.















At 11:35 25 March 2020, Martin Gregorie wrote:
>On Wed, 25 Mar 2020 09:40:18 +0000, John McLaughlin wrote:
>
>> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while
we're all
>> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the
road. I
>> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a
short,
>> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
>>
>> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate
whether
>> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the
internet -
>> I can't find anything?
>>
>> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting
it
>> stuck.
>
>You could always model it:
>
>1) use a 25m tape measure +_ compass to draw an accurate map
of the track
>on a decent sized sheep of paper, say A3 and use a sensible scale,
say
>1:25 or 1:50 Draw in the track to its correct width and don't forget
>obstacles, (hedges, poles, gateways, buildings etc.
>
>Seeing that there's a steep slope involved, use some scrap foam
plastic
>to make a scale 3D surface and glue the map to it I'd use a hiking
GPS or
>Google Earth to measure the height difference unless you already
know
>that.
>
>OR (in order of decreasing accuracy)
>
>Walk the track centre line with a GPS
>
>OR
>
>Take measurements off Google Earth
>
>2) measure length + width of trailer + towbar and towing vehicle.
Make
>cardboard cutouts of the plan view of trailer and car. Add a scale
towbar
>to the trailer (lollypop stick would be fine) and add something to
the
>trailer where the wheels should be. Rubber toy wheels would be
best, but
>small blocks of wood or foam should also work. Connect car and
trailer
>with a drawing pin or similar, placed where the tow ball is in the
car.
>
>3) now you can move car+trailer models along the track and see
how close
>the trailer comes to hitting anything.
>
>At least, thats how I'd do it and, even if it takes time to do
properly,
>its something else to do while in COVID lockdown. Making the
measurements
>can reasonably be described as 'your daily walk'.
>
>HTH
>
>
>--
>Martin | martin at
>Gregorie | gregorie dot org
>
>

[[email protected]]

Rolling sideways is good sometimes...

https://www.harborfreight.com/material-handling/hand-trucks-carts-dollies/5200-lb-max-vehicle-weight-ultra-mobile-self-loading-dolly-64601.html

[Martin Gregorie[_6_]]

On Wed, 25 Mar 2020 12:35:00 +0000, John McLaughlin wrote:

> Thanks Martin. I think that after maybe another week or two of lockdown,
> I'm going to be bored enough to make something around my aluminium
> ladders using a couple of spare wheelbarrow wheels and some scraps of
> timber. If I can get the ground clearance right, as well as the total
> length, width, and wheel position, that should do it. And it'll keep the
> neighbours amused.
>
In that case I'll look forward to reading your account of the project!

Best of luck with it.


--
Martin | martin at
Gregorie | gregorie dot org

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

John McLaughlin wrote on 3/25/2020 2:40 AM:
> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
>
> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet - I
> can't find anything?
>
> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
> stuck.

First, take the glider out of the trailer.

Get someone with a 4WD/AWD short wheel base towing vehicle to tow it down there.
Lower the tow vehicle hitch so the trailer rear end is up in the air an extra 6"+.


Put it on a flat bed truck and carry it down there. The flat bed has to just long
enough for the trailer wheels to be on it - the tail can stick out back.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications/download-the-guide-1

[Dan Marotta]

I have a similar steep angle from the road to my driveway, but no sharp
turn in the driveway as you describe.Â* I've dragged the tail of my
trailer slowly (skids on the aft end of the trailer), slowly, with no
damage other than noise.Â* I also have an opening in the trees that's
large enough to back the trailer into.Â* Maybe you have something
similar.Â* I wouldn't want to squat down over a cactus to work, however...

Or you could work on your trailer at the airport.

Or, have the wife or one of the kids hold one end of a rope of which
length is equal to the length from the axle of the trailer to the back
end.Â* Maybe add a foot or two for good measure.Â* Have the holder stand
where the wheel on the inside of the turn would be and then walk the arc
of the end of the rope and see if you have clearance.Â* That should give
you an idea of whether it will work.

Good luck!

On 3/25/2020 3:40 AM, John McLaughlin wrote:
> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
>
> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet - I
> can't find anything?
>
> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
> stuck.
>

--
Dan, 5J

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

Eric Greenwell wrote on 3/25/2020 9:43 AM:
> John McLaughlin wrote on 3/25/2020 2:40 AM:
>> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
>> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
>> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
>> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
>>
>> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
>> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet - I
>> can't find anything?
>>
>> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
>> stuck.
>
> First, take the glider out of the trailer.
>
> Get someone with a 4WD/AWD short wheel base towing vehicle to tow it down there.
> Lower the tow vehicle hitch so the trailer rear end is up in the air an extra 6"+.
>
>
> Put it on a flat bed truck and carry it down there. The flat bed has to just long
> enough for the trailer wheels to be on it - the tail can stick out back.

Here's another: get golf cart (or ATV) to tow it around the bend and down the
hill. Great maneuverability and you can set the hitch really low on the cart

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications/download-the-guide-1

[John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net]

I would print off a satellite (Google) image of the drive in question. Then cut two scraps of correctly sized pieces of paper representing the car and trailer. Use those to play "drive the trailer home".

About hitting the tail of the trailer, we all do that. That's why glider trailers have skids in that back. To minimize this get an extra long/low tow ball adapter. This will raise the tail.

[Matt Herron Jr.]

On Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 2:45:04 AM UTC-7, John McLaughlin wrote:
> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
>
> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet - I
> can't find anything?
>
> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
> stuck.

I like the rope idea Dan. Fast, simple and effective. You could also measure rope to ground at the point of wheel base to see if trailer would scrape.

[Matt Herron Jr.]

On Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 5:45:05 AM UTC-7, John McLaughlin wrote:
> Thanks Martin. I think that after maybe another week or two of
> lockdown, I'm going to be bored enough to make something around
> my aluminium ladders using a couple of spare wheelbarrow wheels
> and some scraps of timber. If I can get the ground clearance right,
> as well as the total length, width, and wheel position, that should do
> it. And it'll keep the neighbours amused.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 11:35 25 March 2020, Martin Gregorie wrote:
> >On Wed, 25 Mar 2020 09:40:18 +0000, John McLaughlin wrote:
> >
> >> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while
> we're all
> >> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the
> road. I
> >> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a
> short,
> >> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
> >>
> >> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate
> whether
> >> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the
> internet -
> >> I can't find anything?
> >>
> >> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting
> it
> >> stuck.
> >
> >You could always model it:
> >
> >1) use a 25m tape measure +_ compass to draw an accurate map
> of the track
> >on a decent sized sheep of paper, say A3 and use a sensible scale,
> say
> >1:25 or 1:50 Draw in the track to its correct width and don't forget
> >obstacles, (hedges, poles, gateways, buildings etc.
> >
> >Seeing that there's a steep slope involved, use some scrap foam
> plastic
> >to make a scale 3D surface and glue the map to it I'd use a hiking
> GPS or
> >Google Earth to measure the height difference unless you already
> know
> >that.
> >
> >OR (in order of decreasing accuracy)
> >
> >Walk the track centre line with a GPS
> >
> >OR
> >
> >Take measurements off Google Earth
> >
> >2) measure length + width of trailer + towbar and towing vehicle.
> Make
> >cardboard cutouts of the plan view of trailer and car. Add a scale
> towbar
> >to the trailer (lollypop stick would be fine) and add something to
> the
> >trailer where the wheels should be. Rubber toy wheels would be
> best, but
> >small blocks of wood or foam should also work. Connect car and
> trailer
> >with a drawing pin or similar, placed where the tow ball is in the
> car.
> >
> >3) now you can move car+trailer models along the track and see
> how close
> >the trailer comes to hitting anything.
> >
> >At least, thats how I'd do it and, even if it takes time to do
> properly,
> >its something else to do while in COVID lockdown. Making the
> measurements
> >can reasonably be described as 'your daily walk'.
> >
> >HTH
> >
> >
> >--
> >Martin | martin at
> >Gregorie | gregorie dot org
> >
> >

take videos for us! We are bored.

[[email protected]]

On Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 2:45:04 AM UTC-7, John McLaughlin wrote:
> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
>
> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet - I
> can't find anything?
>
> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
> stuck.

Does this help? https://www.memecenter.com/fun/5919021/this-pleases-me

[[email protected]]

On Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 2:45:04 AM UTC-7, John McLaughlin wrote:
> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
>
> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet - I
> can't find anything?
>
> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
> stuck.

https://www.memecenter.com/fun/5919021/this-pleases-me

[2G]

On Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 2:45:04 AM UTC-7, John McLaughlin wrote:
> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
>
> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet - I
> can't find anything?
>
> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
> stuck.

The rear-end of the trailer will definitely bottom out (that doesn't take much - I do it on my driveway which has just a slight slope). I added casters to the tail of the trailer just for this reason. The skids that Cobra provides don't work worth a damn. I actually damaged a stabilizer because of this. I made a plate out of 0.25 inch Al that holds the casters and bolts on to existed attachment points for my new ASH 31 Cobra trailer (no drilling thru the bottom like I did for my previous Cobra trailer). These casters have to be VERY robust; I went thru a succession of smaller casters until settling on 5 inch industrial-strength casters. As a stopgap you might consider getting a furniture dolly.

Another worry is if the slope is steep enough the wheels will be suspended as well, passing the load to the tongue and the trailer rear-end. Your vehicle had better be able to support this unusual weight if this happens.

I would also consider finding another location to do the work.

Tom

[john firth]

On Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 5:45:04 AM UTC-4, John McLaughlin wrote:
> I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
> grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
> have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
> steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
>
> So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
> access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet - I
> can't find anything?
>
> I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
> stuck.

Assuming you are pulling with a car, unhitch the trailer and strap the hitch
to a furniture dolly;that should get you a foot of rear end clearance. pull the combination using the safety chain.
JMF

[2G]

On Friday, April 3, 2020 at 11:53:00 AM UTC-7, john firth wrote:
> On Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 5:45:04 AM UTC-4, John McLaughlin wrote:
> > I want to bring my trailer home to do some maintenance while we're all
> > grounded, but I'm not sure if I can access my house from the road. I
> > have a 90deg bend to get around and then the second issue is a short,
> > steep slope, which may ground the back of the trailer.
> >
> > So my question is, if I measure things up, how can I calculate whether
> > access is theoretically possible? Is there any advice on the internet - I
> > can't find anything?
> >
> > I don't want to just try the trailer for size because I fear getting it
> > stuck.
>
> Assuming you are pulling with a car, unhitch the trailer and strap the hitch
> to a furniture dolly;that should get you a foot of rear end clearance. pull the combination using the safety chain.
> JMF

WHOA! The guy may not have a parking brake on the trailer.

[[email protected]]

> WHOA! The guy may not have a parking brake on the trailer.

Well, he will discover that pretty quickly.