Restocking the team's trailer

[amesmich]

Just a question as a rookie team mentor. How many team bring a trailer? How common is it? Do 50% of the teams bring one? I have a 6X9 enclosed trailer, is that similar to what most teams bring? I assume you keep parts and common tools/ machines in there for on the site repair? I am just trying to get a handle on how prepared to be.

[Alan Anderson]

The TechnoKats trailer carries everything that will be brought into the pit area. That includes workbench(es), battery cart with batteries and chargers, toolbox(es), spare parts, more spare parts, raw materials, buttons or other giveaways, scouting paraphernalia, spirit gear, mascot costume, power cords, lights, vacuum cleaner, wastebasket, safety glasses, electrical supplies, whiteboard(s) and markers, signs, pit displays and structure, tools, more tools, shelves, peer awards, extra spare parts, anything from the Kit of Parts that we didn't use but other teams might find useful, shop rags, grease, rivets, a heat gun, zip ties galore, extra t-shirts, hardware, computers, video monitors, yet more spare parts, and a robot cart. Plus a bagged robot. Sometimes another team's toolbox and bagged robot too. (After we broke a joystick in an unplanned tumble, the Driver Station typically gets a place of honor in the tow vehicle rather than in the trailer.)

I'm not counting the trailer's spare tire or the mass of tie-down straps we use to keep things in place.

Twice we've planned ahead and made sure there would be plenty of room to bring back the used carpet for our practice field. Many years ago there was also a propane-fired heater and a stock of paper goods for when the teachers provided lunch to the team in the parking lot.

[ehfeinberg]

Originally Posted by amesmich

Just a question as a rookie team mentor. How many team bring a trailer? How common is it? Do 50% of the teams bring one? I have a 6X9 enclosed trailer, is that similar to what most teams bring? I assume you keep parts and common tools/ machines in there for on the site repair? I am just trying to get a handle on how prepared to be.

I'd say that 30-40% of teams have at least some sort of trailer/transport to move their robot/tools/pit to competition. Unless you are traveling a long distance away (ie nationals) you really don't need to pack up your entire shop in the trailer. Most teams bring excess metal/mounting parts/or what ever they need to finish their robot at competition. Very few teams bring power tools to competition, IRCC there was one or two teams at Chesapeake last year who had a Drill Press or a Band Saw.

At all competitions there is a portable NASA machine shop with more machines then most teams have in their shops. And if you need a part, you either bring it in your pit or ask one of the 50 other teams at competition to loan you the part.

[Phyrxes]

We might be one of the teams you are thinking of from Chesapeake last year as our pit features a battery powered bandsaw, I did remember some bench top drill presses but I can't think of which teams had them.

You can find the saw and its accessories at the link below:
http://www.stouttool.com/

Ours gets a lot of use so I certainly recommend a second battery.