portability of scopes

[timewarp]

Pardon my ignorance but as a beginner how do the owners of the larger scopes move their equipment from site to site. I was thinking particularly of the larger (10" and greater) Dobs which do not disassemble. Do you think it would be possible to transport one of these in a trailer, if properly packed and secured?

thanks

Michael :shrug:

[Zuts]

Hi,

I had a GSO 12 inch DOB. It's a telescope and not a carton of eggs. Basically i used to throw it in the back of my Hyundai Excel with the base on one side and the tube carefully resting on an old pillow.

If it fits in your car then no problems, if it does'nt then I guess you may need a trailer.

Paul

[peter_4059]

Michael,

The 10" GSO dob can easily be split into two pieces. The tube fits across the back seat of my car but the base is quite large however it fits in the back of a wagon. Im sure you could transport the base in a trailer without any issues.

Peter

[GrahamL]

welcome Michael :)

yes no problems ..I kept some of the styro packageing from my 10 " gso
and built a simple pine frame around it to make a cradle which would fit easily into atrailer /ute etc.

A 10" scope will fit across the back seat (just) of quite a few cars
Its actually the base i find more of a pain ,my boot isn't small but still won't fit an assembled base in it ..meaning to take someone with me I've got to pull the sucker to pieces..a trailer would be the go

[jjjnettie]

The OTA of my 10" Dob fits across the back seat of the wagon, padded with doonas and a doona over the top. I secure it in place by looping the seatbelt around it.
The base fits in the back of the wagon.
But it would fit on the front seat so long as you are travelling alone.

[erick]

Have just started transporting my 12" GSO in a trailer. I just put the tube unit into two styrofoam supports that were probably part of the original packing. They sat on a piece of carpet I have always had directly on the trailer floor. Threw a blanket over it, a plastic sheet and tied it down, together with the base, my gas lift chair, a few other plastic chairs and some half bricks(!!) with cargo net and rope. Tyre pressures 28psi. Bounced along, last night, at 90-100 kph for an hour and fifteen to my observing site, including some very sharp speed humps at the end. Set it up and checked the collimation - just needed a tweak. I expected the secondary to have worked loose, but no.

However, I think I'll add a middle support to the tube and a little more "cushioning" under the styrofoam. Next is to make a rigid, weatherproof and, hopefully, secure lid for the trailer. It has an original lid, but even the OTA is too big, let along the base which does not fit anywhere in my car.