Model Airplane Trailer

With larger models, you constantly face the same challenges. Anything that can be disassembled has to come off to make room in a car (station wagon, SUV). That’s what happened to me with a Decathlon from Pilot RC with a wingspan of 3810 mm. I had to remove the tailplane, rudder, and tail wheel. In a VW Touran, I also had to fold down the sun visor so the vertical stabilizer would fit in the recess. That was the only way I could take the model—and only that one model—with me. There have also been times when I forgot something, and then there was simply no flying that day! On top of that, I could never give anyone a ride, and then there was the smell of fuel in the car… All things that bothered me. Not to mention the damage the models sustained during transport. Because of their light weight,

I can move it myself in the field—even compared to a heavy trailer (possibly even a tandem-axle one)—and the two side-hinged doors that span the full length of the trailer, allowing for easy access from both sides. The low center of gravity (the solar system’s battery), the LED lighting, and the loading—and thus “working”—height! Also very important is the insulation, which prevents temperatures from getting too high inside the trailer—and thus for the models—even in hot weather! Very important: The two side doors provide shade, and if it starts to rain, you stay dry underneath them—or can load the trailer while staying dry! The best feature is the front hood, which presses the trailer against the ground while driving and stabilizes it. This certainly also saves a tremendous amount of fuel compared to trailers with a flat

Front! For the back, I decided on a lightweight shelving system for utensils, which I had a carpenter custom-build and install in a lightweight yet sturdy manner. In February 2020, I ordered the hanger, paid the deposit, and chose the following features.

• Standard trailer in white
• Folding and crank supports at the rear (prevents tipping if not attached to a car and people sit in the back in the shade)
• Cylinder locks and box locks
• An interior layout, for which I opted for four vertical posts

• Enough material and struts for horizontal installation, such as for the panels
• The Solar Set 90—with a 90-amp-hour battery mounted on the axle (for center of gravity).
• Spare parts or parts for various models with wheel mounts.

I would choose the exact same setup again today. At first glance, one might assume that all these accessories were actually made only for glider models—far from it—Schambeck has the ideal mounting hardware for all types of models.

Since then, damage during transport has been a thing of the past. The towing machine now sets up in just over 5 minutes (instead of nearly 30 minutes before). That means I can head to the field “quickly” and do a few towing runs. I also bring other models along. No time wasted loading up. I don’t forget anything at home, and that alone—making the most of my free time—makes the investment worth it. I get home, hook it up, and I’m ready to fly in minutes! Not to mention the long distance between the trailer hitch and the axle of the

Trailer. Since it’s also a bit narrower than the car, you can see the trailer clearly when maneuvering. It’s also incredibly easy to maneuver in reverse—you can park it exactly where you want! What’s truly amazing is the handling. Reaching 100 km/h is absolutely no problem, unless there’s a very strong crosswind. You simply don’t “notice” the trailer! Even when changing lanes, the trailer follows the tow vehicle smoothly. Of course, the front—which

“presses” the trailer to the ground, plays a major role in this. Schambeck has really gotten the most out of this design.

Loaded with two models (Waco and Decathlon), all my tools, two gas cans, my (full) Engel cooler, a suitcase with chargers, chairs, and model stands—simply everything—I weighed in at 570 kg at the TÜV. I had no trouble getting the 100 km/h approval!