Comment

Comment by Mack P. Kreizenbeck on August 22, 2011 at 10:25pm

I like the truck idea, but worry about the wings swinging as you rounded corners, curves, etc...

How about raising the wings running the straps through the upper & lower wall rails and around the wing for stability?

Something you might consider, I just spent $175.00 for fuel driving a 26 foot van from U-Haul just over 300 miles at 55 MPH.

Mack

 

Comment by Gary Ray on August 22, 2011 at 11:59am

Michael

Why are the original plans and builder log books not part of the package?  This alone is a warning bell on this transaction.  Is this a completed, registered aircraft that has flown?

Comment by Ronald Steele on August 19, 2011 at 11:26am

I moved a not quite complete 601XL from Knoxville to Northern Virginia last spring.  After looking at the cost of a truck rental, hotels, gas, insurance etc. I decided it was cheaper to have it shipped.  The guy you want is Tony Partain.  He specializes in moving planes.  Primarily RV's but he'll move anything that fits into his custom built trailers.  He'll schedule your move to fit into his truck as it goes across the country, so you don't end up paying for dead head etc.  He'll give you a quote immediately.  Schedule may take a few days as he picks up jobs.  I just can't recommend him highly enough.  Partain Trucking: 800 774 0828

 

Let us know how it goes!

 

Ron

Comment by David Gallagher on August 19, 2011 at 10:56am

Michael,

 

First, if you are buying the 601 from the builder, assuming it is amatuer built, make sure to get his builder drawings to help you see how to get it apart and back together again.  If not, it will be well worth your money to buy a set from Zenith.  The 601 comes apart fairly easy for transport as I helped one of our unfortunate fellow builder-pilots get a bent-up 601 out of a cattle field a few years back.  Each wing is held on with 7 bolts.  Drain the fuel tanks first.  You will also have control cables, electrical wires, fuel lines and pitot/static lines to disconnect.  Have two saw horses ready, with some padding, for the top to help hold the wing during detachment.  If necessary, the rudder and horizontal stabilizer come off pretty easy also.

 

Now for transporting.  I still had the wing caddy I built for my project and we transported the wings in the back of my pick-uptruck.  The 601XL gear is too wide to put on the typical lawn care business type trailer.  For our short trip back to the airport, we still were able to use this type of trailer by screwing 2x4's onto the wooden trailer bed and temporarily extending the width of the trailer.  I do not recommend this for anything but a very short trip.

This is ugly, but it worked for the 5 miles we had to go.

 

I highly recommend using an enclosed Ryder type truck that has an 8" bed the full length.  U-Hauls have to go up and over the wheel well and I do not recommend them.  Pictures below are from a 601XL transported from Tennessee to Texas after a jabiru FWF seminar.  We had 5 people who lifted the stripped down airframe w/ engine straight up and into the bed, although a ramp and winch would be certainly be easier.

 

Straps used to hold airfoils to side walls of the trailer.

If it has wheel pants, they probably have to come off first.

 

Hope this helps.  Good luck!

 

Dave Gallagher

Comment by Jesse Hartman on August 18, 2011 at 7:19pm

Hi Michael. I would look for local builders in that area of Ohio,and ask / pay for help from somone who knows the plane inside and out and my already have a set of wing holders made. Thats my 2 cents. Good luck. Jesse