Blocking your own trailer

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by JHSmentor

Okay - I am trying to find the actual location where we (both my wife and I) read this - but I cannot find it!!!!!

I am so sorry if this is not the case. I was not intentionally trying to mess everyone up. We actually were thinking of rotating our robot so the front was wide but after reading this "rule" decided that was not an option.

we have a printed version of the rules that we printed out on the first day - could this have changed on the web site since? I would think that any change would have to be sent out as a notification to all teams.

Well here is the complete section about trailer location on the robot:

<R18>
To attach the TRAILER to the ROBOT, TEAMS must use a Trailer Hitch constructed from materials provided in the 2009 Kit Of Parts. Details on the construction of the Trailer Hitch are provided in Drawing “GE-09040.”
A.
The Trailer Hitch is composed of the “Trailer Spacer” (Part 2 in the referenced drawing) and the “Trailer Mount Bar” (Part 3 in the referenced drawing). The Trailer Spacer is a 7-inch length of square steel tubing provided in the Kit Of Parts. The Trailer Mount Bar is a 7-inch length of robot chassis material (C-channel) to be cut from the provided KOP chassis material.
B.
The Trailer Hitch must be rigidly attached to a fixed location on the ROBOT, with the long dimension of the Trailer Hitch horizontal and the opening of the C-channel facing away from the ROBOT. The horizontal center line of the Trailer Hitch must be 2-13/16 inches above the floor.
C.
The Trailer Hitch must be positioned so that the TRAILER may be locked in place with a standard 1/4– inch diameter hitch pin (McMaster-Carr part number 98416A009). During a competition MATCH, this hitch pin will be provided with the TRAILER as part of the ARENA equipment. See Figure 8-5.
D.
The Trailer Hitch must be located on an outer edge of the ROBOT structure such that it may easily connect with the tongue of the TRAILER (attached to the TRAILER).
E.
The Trailer Hitch must be placed such that, as the TRAILER swings from side to side, the first contact between the TRAILER and ROBOT is BUMPER-to-BUMPER and not TRAILER-tongue-to-BUMPER (to prevent placing excessive stress upon, and possibly damaging, the TRAILER tongue). See Figure 8-6.
F.
The color of the TRAILER (red or blue) will be used to indicate the ALLIANCE of the ROBOT.

No where does it state that you can't place it on the long side of the robot, so it seams it's ok!

[2560DawgDM]

if anyone can help me, i really need to knwo trailer dimensions. my team is trying to make one to recruit payload specialists.

[no.1manenti]

Does anybody know what the weight of the trailer should be?

[Hanna2325]

Considering that ur trailer can not go within the frame of the robot and that arms can go outside the frame....this seems near impossible any way, but I don't think there are any rules specifically forbidding it.