Flatbed truck transport of glider in trailer?

On Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 5:30:26 AM UTC-5, wrote:
When I visited Williams Soaring.. Two gliders were delivered in a container. They were in a trailer secured in a container.

I don't know why you think the suspension of the trailer would be compromised. They should tie down/chain down the TRAILER, not the box. Many rigs now have 'air ride' and are pretty smooth. You don't need a open sided flatbed, the trailer would fit right in a standard box I believe.

I helped unload the gliders from the containers while they were still up on the carriers. It involved a few helpers, and a forklift to get the trailers out, and DOWN safely. I'd recommend contacting Rex out there and having a 5 minute conversation about the do's and don'ts of how to get a trailer out and down. I think a standard loading ramp would be too steep of an angle to go down, with nothing able to hitch to the trailer to hold it as you rolled the glider out. If you found a very flat loading ramp for the trailer to back to, you could maybe use a block and tackle to help pay the trailer out.

Good Luck.
JP

If you chain the trailer really well the trailer suspension will not work as designed. The front of the trailer resting on the little wheel will transfer all forces directly to the trailer.The back will have some movement in the downward direction.

The suspension of the flatbed is designed to carry high loads. Little glider weight on such trailer will not have good amortization. Having a trailer in the container is a better story. The container will provide additional weight.