Continuing on with my story......
Fellow out in PA had a brand new Carden 300 built for him by a reputable builder and masterfully finished. This is no guff, I heard the story from a good friend of mine in PA who also builds and flys masterpieces. The owner of the 300 babied the airplane to such degree, that he trailered everything. Had gear legs, put the cute little foam block under the tail of the airplane, only flys it when it is 73F outside and 1 MPH wind from the left. Otherwise, he will get it out, and set it on display.
They got into a discussion about physics and such about transporting airplanes. Joe, like myself, use bungees to restrain the airplane while in transit. Never an issue with a gear block or LG malfunction. I just happen to land really hard at times, unexpectedly.
This guy, we will just call him Rock, as in hard headed. Said that noone knows anything about physics and such. Ok. No problem. Please explain why gear legs are the just the shizzle. "Well, they keep your airplane from moving". Well, true. But what happens when in transit about road vibrations, bounces and shock loads. Where are all of those loads distributed to?? You are eliminating the flex in the LG, itself. Those loads and shocks are so much more harder on the airframe than just a simple landing. This story went on for several minutes, and I'm just gonna hit the high points, aight..... Rock kept on about how awesome they are, and how careful you have to be about transporting your airplanes, etc.... They gotta be secure so no damage happens. About this time, Joe says he is getting a little pissed. But also considering the source of the conversation, he just let it go.
So, it just happened to be a day where it was 73F and 2 MPH winds from the left. So, he decided to fly it. Took off, flew around and greased the landing. And on the roll out, slower than a turtle, CRACK, and flop....... Rock looks around at Joe and says what happened..... Joe just looked at him and said "Physics at work"!
Ok, story over. But ya know, it is everyone's choice in how to restrain airplanes in their trailer, truck, SUV, etc.... I don't use anything but wheel chocks when transporting in my SUV. Use bungees in my trailer, when I had one. Never have/had a gear failure. It allows to airplane to be free, but yet restrained. I wish good luck to those who use gear legs, and other variations of them. I had thought about them, and then decided against it, not because of the story above, thought about what consequences could be if I use them. More work that I don't need to do. I work on these things enough as is, no need to add to the cause.