Get Permanent Trailer

[dsigma]

With a trailer rental approach, a single launch requires that we load or unload all equipment 6 times.

• Unload from storage,
• Load into trailer
• Unload from trailer on site
• Load back into trailer on site
• Unload in Portland
• Re-store in Portland

For a gear-heavy group, this is A LOT of work. If we had a permanent trailer, we would only ever unload the gear in the field, and re-load the gear. Then we'd park the trailer until the next launch. This removes 66% of the physical labor involved in a launch, and avoids trailer rental logistics.

PSU supposedly has space to store such a trailer, in the basement of one of the buildings. If this is actually true, and we could get permission/approval it would make this feasible, as well as make it easier for students to access tower parts.

Possible Features and/or Requirements:

• Should be tow able by common vehicle, such as a Jeep Cherokee or an F150
• Trailer should be single axel. We don't need the extra weight or carrying capacity of a double axel.
• Electric trailer brake, will simplify towing with lighter weight vehicles.
• Add metal tool box to the front of it with larger tools necessary for launch operations.
• Label the floor of the trailer so that anyone can re-pack it without prior knowledge of the packing arrangement.
• Build in shelves suitable for holding the various plastic tubs. Have a quick method of securing them so they don't fall off shelves, such as netting or rope.
• Rail mounted to the top of the trailer. Rail is 13 feet long.Get a long piece of 3" or 4" ABS piping to store the rail in so that the weather doesn't damage it. This also trivialized putting it on (in) the top of the trailer, as we just un-screw a plastic cap and slide it out. We can also foam-pad at the front and back of the pipe so it doesn't fly through the front pipe cap if we hit the breaks.
• Tower section is exactly 120" long
• Door(s) welded on (not bolted, as bolts tend to come loose)
• A spare tire
• A ramp door in the back
• A pivoting jack on the front tongue.
• Pony and/or Unicorn to pull trailer.

[dsigma]

Towing Capacity Charts

• Ford: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/towing-capacity-chart9.htm
• Jeep: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/towing-capacity-chart17.htm
• Toyota: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/towing-capacity-chart36.htm
• Dodge: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/towing-capacity-chart8.htm
• Chevrolet: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/towing-capacity-chart6.htm

Trailers:

• A 6x12 single axle trailer is 1000lbs to 1500lbs, and can carry about 3000lbs of gear
• A 6x12 double axle trailer is 1700lbs to 2500lbs, and can carry about 7000lbs of gear
• We have perhaps 1000lbs of gear.

The tower is the longest length item that would need to go in the trailer. It is 10ft long, and barely fits into a 10ft trailer. If the tower is rebuilt with a lite weight tower, we can use 8ft or 5ft sections, thus a 10ft long trailer would easily handle the tower sections.

[dsigma]

6x10 Trailers $3900, http://www.99westtrailers.com/wells-cargo-rf-6x12-668/ $4200, http://www.99westtrailers.com/wells-cargo-rf-6x12-668/ $3100, http://www.trailersplus.com/Oregon/Milwaukie/6-Wide-Cargo-Trailers/trailer/4RACS1213FN093656/ $3339, http://www.trailersplus.com/Oregon/Milwaukie/6-Wide-Cargo-Trailers/trailer/4RACS121XFN091936/ $3359, http://www.trailersplus.com/Oregon/Milwaukie/6-Wide-Tandem-Cargo-Trailers/trailer/4YMCL1223EN004141/ $3509, http://www.trailersplus.com/Oregon/Milwaukie/6-Wide-Cargo-Trailers/trailer/4RACS1218FN094138/ $4529, http://www.trailersplus.com/Oregon/Milwaukie/6-Wide-Cargo-Trailers/trailer/4RACS1218FN094091/ $2974, http://showroom.auction123.com/trailer_city_portland_enclosed/inventory/9397/2014/624165.html $2895, http://www.diamondksales.com/2015-carry-on-residential-commercial-6x12cgr-new-cargo-trailer-or-i951628 $2850, http://www.diamondksales.com/2015-carry-on-residential-commercial-6x12cg-new-cargo-trailer-or-i951631 $3395, http://www.diamondksales.com/2015-pace-american-outback-ob6x12si2-new-cargo-trailer-or-i1303913 $3260, http://www.diamondksales.com/2015-pace-american-outback-ob6x12si2-new-cargo-trailer-or-i1364900 $3995, http://www.diamondksales.com/2014-look-vrlc6x12-3k-new-cargo-trailer-or-i954538

[dsigma]

6x12 Trailers $2400, http://www.equipmenttraderonline.com/listing/2015-HAULMARK-6x12-PASSPORT-SINGLE-AXLE-W--RAMP-DOOR-99381529

[dsigma]

Purchasing a trailer is now plan B. Plan A is to use the VMS trailer. Closing this issue. It can be re-opened if we change our minds later.