I bought a small Port-A-Port “T-Hanger” with out the plan. I thought I could just call Port-A-Port and buy a new set, but they will not even sell me a copy of the build plans. They will only provide plane with new hangers, now selling for $22,000 for the small one. I am hoping someone may have or knows someone with plans for the Port-A-Port hanger. The most important part I need is the information for the footings to anchor the hanger.

If anyone has something please let me know.

Rick

Sorry can't help you with plans. I built my own hangar, it looks exactly like a a port-a-port (because that was all they would allow at the time). I didn't have plans, I just kept looking at existing port-a-ports and copied what I saw. Are there any near by that you could take a look at and get some measurements for the footings? My hangar is built directly on the asphalt tie down area. For footings I used 3 foot landscaper's spikes through a welded steel plate in each corner for a total of 10 (back corners, both corners of the tee, and either side of the swing up door.) It may be Okie but it's still standing after 15 years.

No plans.
But, most Port A Ports are just rolled onto a concrete slab or asphalt apron and bolted down thru the little tabs around the base structure. No footings required. The bottom rails or tubes makes it more box like than a regular steel building.

flyfish

Thanks for the help guys but the county wants an engineered set of planes for a permit. I can’t cut corners on this one.

Rick

I have a T hangar but it is not the Port a Port. The main frame is from a calf shelter company in Nebraska who built it taller on my request and installed a steel header to eliminate center support posts and left the rear center section of 12' open for me to build on the last leg of the T. (Should have been wider.) I had to anchor this steel frame hangar myself as they built the calf shelter on tubular steel skids to move around to fresh ground each year. To anchor it, I took the measurements of the frame and using a 12" post auger bit on a skid loader, drilled out the four corners and put a couple more holes between the corners on the long runs. Drilled two more for the rear leg of the T. Dropped in some steel scrap iron for reinforcement and filled the 12" holes four feet deep with concrete and leveled the top off to grade. Set your building on that and lag in some concrete anchors from your building frame into the concrete, it won't go anywhere.

You could fly over to Rio Linda and measure one. They have a bunch. Like was said before, you Don't need a footing or foundation. They were actually designed to be portable hence the name "Port-A-Port".

They were designed to be free standing units. Bolting them down would actually be overkill. I have some info here because at one time I wanted to build something like that in the building I lost. I have a bunch of old Port-A-Port brochures and possibly plans. You can get on a Patent site and get a copy of the original drawings and actual patent for them. I might have that too. There is nothing there about a foundation either, only tires and wheels. They were designed to be towed into place and then folded out. The company that makes them now removed the wheels and sells them as a kit to be assembled on site.

I have one patent of one from the 40's that is an actual house trailer that converts to a hangar. Don't know why anyone would want to do that but it is pretty cool.

Rio Linda, second picture shows the trailer hitch still attached:

pacerpilot wrote:Thanks for the help guys but the county wants an engineered set of planes for a permit. I can’t cut corners on this one.

Rick

It doesn't add up. Port a Port is cutting off their nose. The county has a plans check department. If they make the request I'm pretty sure that the manufacturer will not start a pissing match. If you can engage one of the engineers in conversation, they might even have a set on file. I've worked building departments. In my day, we were there to help. Good luck. I find the attitude of the manufacturer rather bizarre actually. If you can't get any satisfaction from them, tell them word will get around. It already has. I'm never buying one now.

You can certainly hire a local architect and ME to draw a site plan and show a set of calcs. Or things have changed drastically in the last 40 years.......wait a minute........maybe they have.

That poor little ol' Luscombe needs a new daddy..

I think the new manufacturer won't give you a set of plans because if you have one you sure wouldn't pay $20,000 for one of their hangars! You could build one in a weekend if you had all the materials on site. They use a big 2' structural beam that extends out the front. The roof in front is actually held up by the back portion. Cool little hangars, I want to find one someday with the wheels still on.

I can draw you a foundation plan if you want but it won't be certified. Best bet is to move the hell out of California where no one cares what you do. You all ready have a portable hangar, what else do you need?

By the way, if you still have the wheels on yours just set it up. It isn't a structure, It's a trailer.

I recall when they had license plates in California.
I saw one with a black plate justs a few years ago:
Franklin Field, Flabob, Rio Linda, Oakland?

I suggest getting in licensed: "special construction", PT plate, 5 years $20 in Cal.
If there is a serial number, all the better.
Borrow axles, wheels, $10 lights from Harbor Freight
Bolt-in some diagonal rods to move.


I suspect they will not pass modern building code requirements. does not mean they are unsafe.
That maybe why the new builder wants to stay away from it.
Flint will not acknowledge or support my gravity Flint Tanks either.

I engineered a lot of metal building footings for manufactured buildings; the buildings are engineered at the factory to a different code (MBMA).

Anchors are easy, screw-in augers good. An easy calc, if needed
HTH
--Bill

In Siskiyou County they have a wind load (90 mph) and snow load (40 pound) requirment. There were 4 of them at Weed airport where they get 50 mph + winds. A friend bought one with the intension of mooving it and the county building dept said no way. A few years later the county apt director wanted the area where the porta hangers were to be vacated. Guess what, now it was ok to move the hangers.

There is probably no engineer that would put his stamp on the plans if they are the old porta hanger.

If you cannot put it up, I may be interested in it cus I think I can get a permit in my county cus if they can do it, so can I. Or better yet, I would just put it up on my ranch next to the hobby shop, no permit. You could use it when flying north.

Tim

pacerpilot wrote:I bought a small Port-A-Port “T-Hanger” with out the plan. I thought I could just call Port-A-Port and buy a new set, but they will not even sell me a copy of the build plans. They will only provide plane with new hangers, now selling for $22,000 for the small one. I am hoping someone may have or knows someone with plans for the Port-A-Port hanger. The most important part I need is the information for the footings to anchor the hanger.

If anyone has something please let me know.

Rick

Rick>
Just got off phone with Carl Gerker (VNY MIDO)retired . Did you get the Port a hanger from Bill Sufranics ,Bohunk International airstrip over near WJF ? I have a friend who will draw up the approved plans for 600 bucks.