On 8/11/2014 6:58 PM, wrote:
On Monday, August 11, 2014 2:46:26 PM UTC-4, shkdriver wrote:
Does anyone have any opinions about the relative benefits of an
"alligator" style opening trailer vs a full opening top?

The Luebke plans trailer I am building will be 31 feet long and 53
inches wide with a 17.5 inch tall lower sides. the top would be 37
inches taller in the front half and taper down in the back half. Steel
square tubing frame with aluminum skin. if I build the front half fixed
and open only the back 16 feet, I could dramatically reduce the weight
of the opening portion, with a small penalty of limited access.

The problem of the top weather seal is more difficult, but not
impossible.

Also the ability to control the opening top "shake" while on the road is
much easier.

I think the full opening top might easily get to 300 lbs, while the
partial top could be as low as 120 lbs.

Last year I saw a online article of a Lak with a partial opening top and
it seemed to be a good solution.


Thanks,

Scott


Getting a good sealing of the center joint is a meaningful complication.
It also means that the roots get close to the top of the trailer as the wings go forward which is a problem the full clam shell type does not have. They are easier on the back of the tip carrying person,
UH


"What UH said," wrt the center joint seal. That noted, nearly 3 decades-worth
of ownership/use of a George Applebay designed/fabricated "alligator style"
trailer never bothered me leak-wise. The Applebay joint did/does allow a small
amount of (western U.S.) dust to enter along with a minor/slow drip leak
top-dead-center. Perhaps a perfectionist's problem...

And "True," for the smaller root clearance, but gravity is your friend.
Clearance is clearance; never an issue for the aft-end-tapered Applebay trailer.

FWIW, the Applebay "jaw" - aluminum-covered square-steel framework - was
designed to be spring counterbalanced. It definitely helped, but wasn't an
operation-killer when the original cables needed replacement...at least not
for a reasonably functional lower back. Maybe 50-60 pounds at the lift gate? YMMV.

Bob W.