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Old November 2nd 06, 10:13 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
Morgans[_2_]
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Default When trailers go bad OR How not to tow your Wright Brothers machine


"wright1902glider" wrote

No dice Jim. The axle is only 4' forward of the back end. Loaded tongue
weight is at the upper limits, usually 200+, but I've tried several
different balance combinations within the 10-20% of gross range without
any improvement. I don't think an anti-sway hitch would do much good
either, since the trailer has a tendancy to just roll over, rather than
sway wildly.


So what is the total weight? 200 pounds does not sound like all that much on
the tongue.

Ok, I'm thinking out of the box, here.

Aerodynamics. How about making it more stable to the side wind. First idea, a
skirt around the bottom, lower to the road, so the wind keeps it sucked down to
the road. Plus, if wind can not get under it from the side, then it is also
less likely to be contributing to blowing it over.

Along those same lines, it occurs to me that this light of a trailer must bounce
a good bit. Does it have leaf springs? If so, how about some light shock
absorbers to keep it from bouncing. Every time it gets up in the air, it gives
wind an extra chance at the bottom of it. If the upwind side is bouncing up,
while the downwind side is headed down, that gives it extra exposed bottom
surface area and increased wind pressure on the bottom, plus making the center
of gravity closer to being unstable.

If the only spring is the air in the tires, a different inflation may make it
bounce less. If possible, mount the axles to a swing arm, and use some air
adjustable shocks and use the air pressure as the spring.

Now, really out of the box. Create an adjustable ballast system. Some type of
water containers, one on each side, and as low as possible. Enough water to
fill one container, plus a small amount for plumbing and an inch or so in the
bottom of the empty one. Plumb an electric reversible pump, or two with check
valves. When the wind is not a factor, keep the tanks balanced. When it starts
blowing like snot, fill up the upwind tank. You could run a few wires to the
cab and control it all.

This idea would work, without a doubt. The only question is if you want to go
to the trouble and expense to make it happen.
--
Jim in NC