LT-40

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Hi,
I recently got a new truck and I would like to transport my planes in it. The only problem is that it is open bed, and has no place to secure planes. Dose anyone have a good way or suggestion of how they take their planes in an open truck? I want a device that will keep my planes secure so that they don't fly out or get beatup, but I don't want it to be too permanent. If anyone has pics that would be awesome!

Thanks,

LT-40

meaden

Check out this thread. There are a couple of others if you search too.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_55...tm.htm#5552084

iron eagel

One of the guys in our club uses a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood, he has eye hooks screwed into it, he use rubber bands loop through these to hold the planes down.
Perhaps something like this would work for you.

LT-40

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks for the link meaden, I liked some of the ideas that I saw. I like the idea of something made of pvc. Clean and strong.
Iron Eagle, I have thought of your suggestion myself, but since the truck is parked outside I was worried that the wood would rot in the rain. I may end up doing this anyways though just because it is so simple.

LT-40

nedyob

My Feedback: (67)

I have a roll up bed cover on my Ford F-150, and use a 4 foot plastic out door hunting table with adjustable cradle that I carry my 1/4 scale & gian scale plane on. The table slides out and the legs can be folded down and used as a work table.
NEDYOB

saramos

PVC pipe works well. Here's mine.

Scott

LT-40

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Thanks for the responses guys, you all have lots of good ideas. I really like that pvc rack saramos. I think I will build something similatr to that. Hopefully I can get mine built this weekend.

LT-40

rwright142

I use adjustable straps in mine but I have tie-downs. I didn't know they made trucks without tie-downs. Are you sure you have a truck? Just kidding...
I like the PVC setups I have seen - light and inexpensive. Make it adjustable so it will accommodate different planes.


Scott,
You did a great job on yours. I have toyed around with some designs but I just have not had the need for one, since I have tie-downs... Did I mention I have tie-downs?

Deadeye

Here's what I do. Very similar to saramos, just a bit smaller. May I also add that I use self tapping sheet metal screws instead of glueing the PVC. That way, as your hangar changes, you can cheaply adjust the rack to accomodate other planes. My rack is 5 years old, and carries everything from my Somethin Extra, clear up to my TF Cessna 182. Sorry I have no pics of it in the back of my pickup, but I can if you need them.

carrellh

Here's my PVC rig. It's the same length as the bed floor so it doesn't slide forward or back. I have a rubber bed mat in the floor and that keeps it from sliding sideways. I now have a fiberglass bed lid to protect everything from the elements (and for security) but it rode fine at highway speed in the open bed.

Jigley3

Hi....
You could make a simple wooden frame from 2x4s; half lap the corners so it will lay flat on the truck bed. Then take and fasten some plastic chain link fencing to that. You can now use bungee cords to tie planes and anything else down... because you have a endless supply of tie down points

JohnMcGowan

My Feedback: (15)

I saw this thread and I just have to reply Last Sunday I had just got onto the freeway( about 3/4 miles from my house) with a plane and two sets of wings inside the cab of my Ford sportrac. I also had a goldberg cub fuse strapped into the bed of the sportrac and was on the freeway all of about 15 seconds when I saw a flash of yellow in my rearview mirror. Yep, you guessed it right, that sucker blew out the bed of my truck at 70 mph. Needless to say, a cub wont fly very good with it pointing tail first into the wind and without its wing attached, LOL. You should have seen the oncoming cars trying to dodge an airplane fuse in between the righthand and center lane. I got off the freeway onto the right shoulder, backed up and braved I-65 and ran out REAL QUICK and grabbed up the pieces. As you can guess, the fuse was totalled. Anybody need a cub wing,LOL?
I had done as I always had a hundred times before and strapped the plane into the bed. It was just one of those things I guess.
Bottom line- take it from me, secure those planes
Thanks,
John

Gringo Flyer

My Feedback: (18)

I was wondering about damage to the planes in all that turbulent air in the back of a truck. I would think it would be tough on control surfaces and such.

BigSkyRCFlyer

My Feedback: (36)

I have been thinking of making something like this for my truck as well. Randy (Deadeye), how fast have you gone with your planes in the back? I remember seeing your stand when I flew out there, nice. I really didn't want to buy a hard topper, so I was wondering about , oh lets say the trip from Power to Conrad at Interstate speeds and our sweet wind. Randy shoot me an e-mail, I'd like to come down there some night; have a beer, check out your hangar and pay my dues.

So most of you guys just make sure the stand is secure in the bed, and then strap/secure the fuse and wings in snug for highway/interstate runs to the field? Does anyone travel over 45-55 mph on their journey to the field? I might have to buy a topper for 75mph plus the high winds we get either blowing across the bed or head on.

Deadeye

Mark, my little carrier is only good for 60 MPH or so. It works great for my little 2 mile jaunt to our field. At interstate speeds, I think a guy would want to keep the planes below the level of the box on the pickup. A tonnue (sp?) cover would work real well, or a hard top like you metioned. Beer's in the fridge waiting for ya.

LT-40

My Feedback: (2)

Hey guys, sorry that it has been so long. But I finally have my pvc plane rack built! It easily stores two 40 or 60 size planes, and if I were really creative, I think I could get three planes on there. All of the plane harneses slide from side to side, and when they are adusted right, you just tighten them with a screw driver. I had to drill out the pvc tees to do this, and I cut a slit in the bottom of each one so that the metal clamps could tighten them down. Another good thing is that the whole thing comes out of the truck with the pull of 2 pins.
The only problem I have is that I'm not too crazy about the way I have the wings stored. I'm still not quite sure how I'm going to secure them so that they don't slide forewards or backwards. So if anyone has any ideas, then feel free to chime in.
The pics don't show this, but I will be using bungee chords accross all of the harnesses to keep the planes from coming out the top.

Hey thanks again guys for all of the input and advice.

LT-40

LT-40

My Feedback: (2)

a few more with a couple of planes loaded.

binky99

Is that a Ranger p/u........if so,can you shoot me the dimensions of what you built?

LT-40

My Feedback: (2)

This is a 1986 Ford Ranger XL. I will post a pic of my plans for the rack. When you build yours, you may have to custom fit it a little to fit your exact truck. I also forgot to add the clamps on the parts list.

Insanemoondoggie

You could use a cargo fishnet to cover the pickup box. I have a 2000 S-10 Extended cab and picked up a topper for 75 dollars. I can put 4 planes in the back and my GP Cub .20 behind the seat. Starting to kick around the idea of a trailer. lol Where does it stop.
Thanks for the pics, they gave me sme ideas for my setup,
By the way, nice planes. I have both I built from kits. What engine do you have on your 4*?

LT-40

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks, its a .46 AX. That Four Star really gets arroung with that engine!

rcuman

LT-40
My PVC rack is similar to yours. One thing I did with my PVC rack is to leave the center of the fuse holders open so that the middle plane sits below the two other planes. This gives you more space to put your third fuse in and the STABs do not touch each other. I have a Toyota Taco and I can only carry the fuses in the back and the wings in the cab that is until I bought a 5x8 trailer.

daveopam

My Feedback: (9)

You guys should think hard about a cover. I used a rack for years. Once I got the cover I won't go back. It is a little bit of an investment. I paid $350. for this one from Summit Racing. That was 9 years ago. It is still in good shape. This is the second truck I have had it on with no problems. It is made by SportMasters.

David

proffcharlie

Well if you haven't commited yourself to a rack system yet here is what I use. At Harbor Freight and I'm sure any truck acces. shop you can find Cargo Bars. Harbor Freight units were about $5 a piece. They telescope in and out for initial fit across the bed and have rubber pads on adjustable "jack screws" on each end. I bought 3 of them. One goes near the tailgate and another goes near the back of the cab. Both are covered with Foam Pipe Wrap to prevent damage to the plane. I place them low enough in the bed so that the fuse landing gear is bungie corded to the bar and the wing is laid on top of the bars and retianed by bungie cords insulated with more Pipe Wrap. You telescope the bars out between the side walls of the bed and then turn the bar to extend the rubber pads. If you were to get carried away and really crank down on the bars you can actually separate the side walls so much you can not get the tailgate to latch. Put the fuse in the bed with the tail towards the cab. That way there is less turbulance on the surfaces. Have you ever seen an empty drink can get sucked up near the cab at high way speed? I have used this system to carry my 46 size U CAN DO 3D at speeds of 75 mph over a 150 mile trip with out any problems. Just recently sprang for a tounue (SP?) cover to protect everything if it rains. Here in SW Louisiana that happens without warning about every 2 hours .

chashint

I use the same cargo bars from Harbor Freight, they work real good.
I also have a fiberglass tonneau cover and it works good too.
Lots of times I never even unload the planes, then if it is a pretty morning I can stop and get a couple of quick flights in on the way to work :-)
As much as I like the tonneau sometimes I really think I would have been better served with a cab high topper. There are a lot of things that just won't fit under the tonneau. Big screen TV, lawn mower, gas grill come immediately to mind.