First, if using a rigger in a crosswind, do everything in your power to have the cradle set and LOCKED at the far upwind side of the axle before rotating the wing to the leading edge down position. Why? Give you the longest arm for overturning moment. Longer axle might help, but not if you are in the middle of it or at the downwind end of it!

I disagree, at least on a MM Wing Rigger. Imagine there is no wind at all. If you lock it on the open side of the wing rigger cradle, then entire weight of the wing now rests just above the wheel and becomes very unstable. (Got that t-shirt.) Now imagine the crosswind again. Yes, you are right, as long as you don't turn the wing so that it is now parallel to the wind, which is going to happen when you put it in the trailer (also parallel to the wind) per discussion above. I agree that it's all about longer moment, but there are different ways to skin that cat. One of them would simply be a longer axle. This WOULD help for sure, even if you lock the in the middle. By locking it in the middle, you mitigate the risk of crosswind toppling it PLUS the risk of toppling it by simply having the wing weight directly over a wheel when you turn it upwind.

I'm curious what Mark of MM recommends on this, i.e. setting the Wing Rigger directly over a wheel.


Second, you have a glider and no way to haul the trailer around yourself? You said you would have to rent or borrow a vehicle to move the trailer. This seems a bit off to me. But, a car is not required to roll a trailer a wing panel length and turn it 90 degrees so it is pointed into the wind. Then move it back into the tiedown spot after you have rigged or de-rigged.. Yes, more work, but minimal risk for damage that way.

Yes, I do. The glider lives in its trailer at the airport. I only have a Honda Civic, so it may seem a bit "off", but it's true. I'm not just making an excuse here. I normally borrow my brother's truck to move it.

Further, all of the gliders are stored in one spot on the airport and they are all lined up quite close to each other so it is impossible to turn mine 90 degrees without first towing it away from the other trailers.

Thus far the best overall solution (in my particular situation) seems to be to get a (a) longer wheel base and (b) keep the cradle locked in the center (so that the wing weight is over the center of the wheel base) and (c) keep the wing horizontal as much as possible. (Here, I'm assuming there is no one around to hold the opposite end of the wing in case it decides to topple.)

I will also try to talk the airport manager into letting me move my glider to a different spot where I can turn the trailer 90 degrees as you say.