Weird flight box question

OK, I do have a spot to fly at a local school. It's an out of the way field that is little used by the school. Part of it is due to the layout of the school. This field is at the top of a hill and sort of tucked behind a power transfer station (no powerlines near the field) and it's next to the freeway. Pretty far from houses and such too. The school uses it occasionally for baseball practice and some of the more dangerous track and field events (javalin anyone?)

Anyway, up until recently, I just drove up the hill and parked at the site to fly. Usually no one there evenings and weekends. But the school maintenence guys discovered that the chain across the road at the bottome of the hill was down and promptly fixed it. Hey, it was like that when I discovered the field. Really. Needless to say, I don't have a key to the shinny new lock. So now I have to park at the bottom and carry my stuff in to fly. It's only about 50 yards, but I generally have to make 2 trips up and down the hill.

So I was at a local home improvement store and found this rolling plastic tool box thing. It comes apart in a couple of pieces, but when put together has a handle and wheels. There were a couple of sizes. I bought the smallest, but it turned out to be too small to carry the starting box, fuel and the stooge at the same time, so I'll probably get the next one up.

Anybody else use one of these rolling box jobs? I just wanted to make sure I could transport my stuff from car to site and back in one trip. Made me nervous to leave either the flight stuff or the plane just sitting there unattended while I hauled.

Randy

LAST EDITED ON Mar-11-04 AT 11:35 PM (CDT)
 
>Anybody else use one of these rolling box jobs? I just
>wanted to make sure I could transport my stuff from car to
>site and back in one trip. Made me nervous to leave either
>the flight stuff or the plane just sitting there unattended
>while I hauled.
>
Get the bigger one, with the large bottom capacity for larger stuff, like gallons of fuel, not necessarily the tallest kind, which seem to be designed around smaller items, and some long bungee cords. I have one, made by Stanley, I think. I strap a folding chair and some other stuff like that on the outside and make just one trip sometimes. When I need my pop-up shade canopy, that's too big to strap on, and my Igloo has its own wheels (haven't worked out a way to pull it behind the first one, though- neither one has four wheels).

Several of the stunt pilots in the Houston area like the tall ones - some of which come apart after you get where you want to set up.

P.S. The best thing about the rolling boxes (that I prefer) shaped like a 70 quart igloo chest, is that they let you sit down in the middle of your pits when your knees start getting sore. I don't know about the majority of the SSW-F readers, but when I am kneeling to service a model, or squatting on my heels, my knee joints only accept the strain for a little while any more.

I saw several combat pilots using the Rubbermaid brand "Stepstool Hand Box" units as combination seats and tool boxes, with a 12 V battery inside, and a power panel fitted into a side skirt. That product came & went, and I missed getting one {my son would still like to have one, if we ever find the same version with the kind of skirt that works for inserting the panels (Office Depot had one you couldn't use at all because the skirts were too thoroughly braced against the inner box with eggcrate-like reinforcements. Big Lots had one that was pretty close to being like the Rubbermaid, but the skirts on that one were "mini-skirts" in which only a mini-panel might have fit).}

Considering my knees, the rolling boxes I've suggested are taller than the stepstool boxes, and mine works better as a seat when I need one, although I usually have a folding lawn chair in the trunk when I go flying, also. But if I bring it out. I set it up somewhat outside of the pit area . .

.

Kiwi

Kiwi,

Yea, the tall one is the one I got. I suppose I can make a new starting box that fits into the top part. I can get the fuel and stooge into the bottom. I checked. Still leave other stuff. I keep think I should just build one, but I thought if I could just get one that works, that would be fine. Guess we'll see. Need to do some rethinking about it.

LAST EDITED ON Mar-11-04 AT 11:57 PM (CDT)
 
>
>Anybody else use one of these rolling box jobs? I just
>wanted to make sure I could transport my stuff from car to
>site and back in one trip. Made me nervous to leave either
>the flight stuff or the plane just sitting there unattended
>while I hauled.
>
>Randy
>
>

Randy Powell

Hi Randy

two friends, two different solutions

friend 1
this fellow has the box you discribed only the larger one, works great for him

friend 2
this guy went out and bought one of those small fold away hand trucks,
this is the one you can carry a piece or two of luggage and he strapped his box,
fuel can and anything else he needed that could be held on with a bungie cord
he would then be able to carry his plane in his other hand,
seemed to work great for him and he never changed to anything else.

something like this

http://www.dynadirect.com/ha-mc.html?AID=10273987&PID=606239&SID=gt2%3A370-HA-MC

LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-04 AT 11:35 AM (CDT)
 
Randy, did you speak with the maintenance guy? Perhaps he will leave it open for you if he knows someone is using the field.

George,

The old guy that used to work there was pretty cool. The new guy that runs stuff now spent too long at butthead school. I asked him about it and was told I'd have to get written permission from the district office. Yea, that's going to happen. I have a rather longish history with the local school district. I've spent a lot of time making them actually pay attention to trivial things like federal and state laws. They don't like that, or me, very much. Me and the district superintendent are not exactly buddies. Probably due to him being threatened by a federal judge with significant jail time for ignoring federal law. Somehow I just don't think my request would receive due consideration except as a projectile for the No. 13 file.

At least the principal of the school and I get along tolerably well. She looks the other way when I use the field. Sort of a don't ask, don't tell thing.

LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-04 AT 02:06 PM (CDT)
 
I had the same problem for a different reason , two By Passes. I would be wore out after two trips to my car. I use a Black & Decker tool box for taking all my junk to the flying site in one trip. Here is some pictures of my modified flight box. The little upside down white plastic basket covers my battery.
Willis:)

Randy,

As Homer Smith says, "Growing old ain't for sissies."

While I have tried to keep quiet about it, a couple years ago I finally broke down and bought one of those Monster Tool Boxes, got mine at Sears. Big-butt lower compartment, two trays, wheels and retractable handle. I can sit on it while working in the pits, although no pit tootsie has danced on it. Yet.

Can't ya just hear PTG laughing...?

I know how skilled you are at woodworking, but don't even try making your own equivalent device. Plastic has its applications.

These things are amazing. Gives one lots and lots of room to pack stuff which is never, ever needed at the field. But you read that column already.

LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-04 AT 05:38 PM (CDT)
 
Here is my new box.

Sure beats my cardboard box!

LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-04 AT 08:43 PM (CDT)
 
Michael,

Yea, but does it have wheels?

LAST EDITED ON Mar-13-04 AT 02:00 AM (CDT)
 
I think Dirt is amused with my two piece system. I found a folding milk box thing with wheels and a retracting handle at Hi-Strength Bolt. $30, I think. I have fuel, lines/handles, props, paper towels and a spray can of Scrubbin' Bubbles in that. The other is one of the Rubbermaid toolbox/stool things. I put it on top the other, strap it on, plus a folding chair, grab the airplane and take off down the trail through the blackberries at Riverwalk Park. Hmmmm...mowing tomorrow. Hey, here's a picture of my backside, leaning against the telescopic handle of the rolling milk box. Dave Pellerin's cute son. Steve

Steve,

Tell me more about the rolling milk crate. YOu got it at Hi-Strength Bolt? In Tacoma?

Thanks,

No, But it is light enough that I can carry it and a plane in one trip. It also contains all I need.

Michael,

I'm a weenie. My stooge has a 50lb chunk of steel in it. With the other stuff, my arm would be a foot longer by the time I got to my flying site. I do like the box, though.

by any act, error, or omission, I have, intentionally or
unintentionally, displayed any breedist, disciplinist, sexist, racist,
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political correctness, known or unknown, I am not sorry and I encourage you
to get over it.

Shades of RC flite boxes. Some of these things are getting so large and appropriately heavy that no wonder you need wheels to haul them. I've been trying to lighten my box with each new incarnation that I conjure up.
For example I only have 1/2 gallon fuel containers that are available from Great Planes,a modified plastic tool service tray carrying most of what I need. To be fair though I do keep a lot in the trunk of the car and don't have to go on a hike for anything but, at just under 60 I'm still willing to walk for anything that I need.
Dennis