for those who actually own a sirius observatory

[h0ughy]

how big was it on the pallet when it as delivered. I am planning to use my trailer to pick up Phil's observatory in Rockhampton and i was wondering what this really packs down to? can anyone help? Also what packaging or supports will i need?

Note spam will be deleted!

trailer inner dimensions 119cm by 177cm

[JohnG]

Hi David

From memory when mine was delivered, it was on a pallet slightly bigger than half a dome size, 2.3/4 meters and the height of the dome from the base ring, the sides were packed onto the pallet within the half dome.

When I dismantled mine for my move from Bermagui to Cootamundra, the whole unit fitted onto a Hilux ute trayback with a slight overhang, when I moved it from my dark sky site to the townhouse I was living in.

When you do pack it, you will need plenty of removal blankets to stop the rubbing together, I actually managed to get mine in the rear of the removal van for transport to Coota.

All the side units should fit on top of each other with the side units with bins at the top, if there is more than one bin, they will fit over each other with removal blankets between.

A standard 6 x 4 trailer won't do.

Cheers

[h0ughy]

no John that was not the news I wanted to know
!!!:scared: what if i construced a "pallet" on top of the trailer and tied everything down on that?

[JohnG]

Well, I dunno, the 2 largest pieces are the 2 dome halves, they are 2.3 meters wide, you can put one on top of the other with packing so that will be your size to work with, height won't be a problem.

The walls will fit between the dome halves but will stick out a bit so at a minimum I would say you would be looking at something about 2.4 meters long by about 1.8/2m wide, I don't think I would like to have it on top of a small box trailer, I would be a bit concerned about security of the load.

Unless all the original packing and the pallet is available you may be pushing it a bit, on the original pallet the whole thing was screwed down and tightly bound in real heavy duty plastic.

Sorry, but I think it might be a little bigger than you realise.

Cheers

[h0ughy]

yes i think i am quickly learning that! do you have any photos of your first delivery of the observatory?

[JohnG]

This is on the original pallet......

[h0ughy]

i think i could do that - either hunt up a pallet or make one up to suit? so 2m by 2.4, some foam, a heap of tie down straps. Possible? maybe bolt the pallet to the trailer top, then tie it of to the original trailer tie down locations? I might experiment with this tomorrow?, get some marine ply and a few bracing timbers?

[JohnG]

You may need to base your loading on those photo's, the inner dome rings (3 of them), the shutters (upper and lower) and the inner wall join covers may be able to be stored in the bottom of the trailer, if the manual is available, make sure you get it, you will need to follow it carefully when you put the upper shutter on again, there will also be a few odds and ends that will need to be packed as well as all the nuts, bolts and flat washers etc.

Have fun :).

Cheers

[h0ughy]

John this help has been crucial to me - i would have got up there and not been prepared enough, then stuffed around and waste precious time trying to make things work?

[JohnG]

Only other thing I would add is that the standard sized pallets won't do, I think they classify the one used as a double pallet so you may have to custom make one to suit, if you can get hold of removalist blankets, get plenty of them overwise you will certainly scratch and mark the fibreglass.

Can't think of anything else offhand, PM me if you need anymore info.

Cheers

[h0ughy]

no i haven't got a manual? there would be no one available at sirius to reply (at least there weren't just before Christmas) to send me one

[JohnG]

Ask the original owner for his, one came with the pallet, any spare parts you might need can be ordered direct from Sirius, on my move I had to replace the guide wheels on the upper shutter, you may also want to replace the weather sealing strips as well, I just got replacement stripping from Bunnings.

Cheers

[jase]

Manual attached.

Bold move... John could give you an estimated tear down and set up time. Its not a "walk in the park" 1 hour job. The manual will hint at this. Make sure you keep all the nuts and bolts. Label as much as possible as you go with stickers. If its motorised certainly label the dome rotation tracks if you remove them as you'll need to match them back up again. Certainly a 6x4 trailer isn't going to cut it.

[h0ughy]

originally I estimating about 8 hours to deconstruct and pack - i hope it wont be longer than that:shrug: thanks for the manual jase

[KenGee]

hOughy here is a pic of it on a 2.3m trailer.
I bought my back from Brizzy to Whyalla 2500km's on a trailer so you shouldn't have a problem. Just be sure to take it easy and rope it down well.

[h0ughy]

wow now that really puts things into perspective. thank you Ken for that. i am now wondering if i should hire a larger trailer?

[JohnG]

That should be plenty of time, I am asuming that you will have help.

Cheers

[Phil]

Hi houghy i will start taking some of the bolts out before you get hear if you want. Save some time.
Phil

[h0ughy]

yes is certaily will, Phil and Alan Meehan who volunteered to come with me. I just looked into getting a removalist truck from Europecar - going to cost me about $1500 just to get it there - without fuels costs. Now looking at building a tray top for my trailer. if i make the top a standard 2400 long how wide will it need to be?

[h0ughy]

phil that would be great, do you have the original instructions and the assembly DVD?

LOL from google maps i see the address is on a corner. I bought myself a GPS unit so hopefully i wont get lost.

how wide to make the table top on the trailer?

[JohnG]

Way to go Phil :thumbsup:, it's the fiddly bits that take the time.

David, at a guess, no less than 2 meters wide, what would it cost you to hire a longer and wider trailer :shrug:, would make the job a whole lot easier and safer.

Cheers

[h0ughy]

scrambling to find one now - this time of year is not good for my prospects I think?

[h0ughy]

would i be better with an enclosed trailer or an open one?

[JohnG]

I am asuming that you are refering to one of those enclosed removal type trailers. I just measured the dome height, it is close to 1400mm so you should have plenty of height in one of those, the only requirement would be that it is at least 2.5 meters long. You would possibly be able to tie some of the walls to the trailer sides for security. Hope that helps.

Cheers

[h0ughy]

http://www.kennards.com.au/index.php?fuseaction=product.view&productid=328&ctu=1&type=Trailers&lvl=1 looking at this one:shrug:

[JohnG]

That would do the job, you would be able to tie off the walls securely in that, once again, take plenty of removalist blankets or packing, it will stop any scratches and marks, it appears a damm site safer than using a small box trailer....

Cheers

[allan gould]

David, stop buggering around and drop it off at my place. You just beat me to it

[thunderchildobs]

From a email I got from Sirius a few days ago.

"It will come on a pallet 2.3m L x 1.8m W x 1.6m H and weighs approx. 250Kg."


Looking at the pictures, it seems like the half dome on the pallet could act as a big wind catcher. Could be fun if you get a strong cross wind.

[h0ughy]

ok i have just been to Kennards hire - got he trailer shown in the pictures, allows for internal area of 1800 by 2400 long, and hired 10 packing blankets for the week, pick it up tuesday

[JohnG]

That will do the job, plenty of spots to tie off on, you would be able to tie off a heavy tarp as well to ease the wind resistance. :thumbsup:

Cheers

[h0ughy]

yep thats rght - tarps not a problem for me have heaps and plan to do that to stop bugs birds and others peeking and be extra padding between the sides of the trailer

[JohnG]

Have a safe trip :thumbsup:.

Cheers

[Phil Hart]

How good are old threads on Ice In Space?!

Thanks to houghy and the other contributors to this thread. Helped me a lot with planning the collection of a 2.3m Sirius dome I picked up on eBay.

For the record, I did it with a 10*6 tandem trailer from U-Haul (one of few it seems that allow inter-state trailer hire). If you were prepared to get creative with the layout, perhaps standing the wall panels upright you might be able to manage with a narrower trailer, but 10*6 certainly makes life easier on the packing front. Tandem trailer tows great too but you need a hefty vehicle.

Now I have my project for later in the year lined up :D

Phil

[h0ughy]

well OMG for resurrecting the thread but i am glad it was of help:thumbsup:. To be honest the help of others:thanx: on this thread got me through my trip, so many years ago;)

[strongmanmike]

Houghy saaaaaaves the daaaaaaaaaaaaay :cool: (again)

Congratulations Phil, welcome to the Sirius 2.3m Dome club, hope you post progress pickies when the time comes :thumbsup:

Mike

[netwolf]

Sorry to revive an old thread but am now I the process of going and picking up an Observatory myself, ist not a long trip for me abou 40km max each way.

I have booked this ute from Bunnings Toyota 1 tone. Been told the tray size is 2.5m x 1.8m got some conflicting info on the width being maybe 1.5m

http://www.handyrentals.com.au/utes/

https://www.bunnings.com.au/our-services/in-store/get-it-home


I am hoping this is enough , any tips appreciated. Will I need to have more space for the maxDome? My friends and I (Losmandy tiro) will be taking my friends 4wd also to carry the lx200 12" pier and anything else that does not go into the ute securely. Unfortunately none of us have a tow bar else we would have take a trailer like David used.

Appreciate any tips advise help.

Thanks and Regards
Fahim

[TraKtorman]

Attached is a pic of how mine was packed on the pallet. It was too big a footprint for a 7'x4' trailer. So I hired a car trailer. Hope that helps.