Ultralight Teardrop Trailer – For a Bicycle!
Well if you didn’t think I was crazy before… let me introduce you to the teardrop trailer for a bicycle. Don’t get too excited and whip out any credit cards this is just a crazy idea and I’m certain many bicycle enthusiasts will tell me a some very good reasons why this is just plain silly… but it was still fun to draw and day dream about.
The idea is simply to have a tiny habitable trailer that is lightweight and aerodynamic enough to be pulled by a bicycle. I found a few cargo bike trailers on the web but Logan at RowdyKittens pointed me toward a little company in Eugene Oregon called Human Powered Machines that makes some very stout bike trailers that can carry up to 500 pounds. Logan and Tammy at RowdyKittens have been living car-free for quite some time now.
To build such a trailer you’d need to start with a heavy duty custom bike trailer that is about 8-feet long and 3-feet wide. I’d then put down a floor and erect two curved side walls made from thin plywood (or OSB) and bond a sheet of polyisocyanurate foam board to the outside. Then I’d cover the arch with more wood, build the doors and window, and finally cover the exterior with a thin layer of aluminum. Since the length is just under 8-feet and the height is 4-feet, each side wall could be cut from a standard 4′ by 8′ piece of material.
The interior is long enough for a 6-foot person to sleep and their feet would tuck under the kitchen area. There’s a little shelf or cabinet inside for personal items too. Around back the kitchen area would provide a place to store and prepare food. The rear hatch hinges up like most traditional teardrop trailers.
You could add a couple small solar panels on the roof but you’d probably want to spend the extra money and buy lightweight batteries. Lead acid batteries would probably become a real bummer after the first few miles.
Is this totally crazy? Could this work? How can you imagine using such a trailer?
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55 Responses to “Ultralight Teardrop Trailer – For a Bicycle!”
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As an avid cyclo-tourist and commuter, I would say this is not totally crazy but realistically I would imagine an aluminum frame, something shorter maybe 6′ and narrower, no more than 2′ and I wouldn’t use a hardshell outer. Also it has to be more tear-drop shaped in both directions for aerodynamics. More practically, it’s still easier to carry a tent and bags for gear but it might be a welcome shelter on rainy days and to save the pitching and packing the tent every day on long trips.
SteveR I think you’re right, more aerodynamic, smaller and lighter. Thanks!
Cool idea. I ride a Vespa motor scooter and built a small single wheel trailer to hail camping gear, groceries, etc.
I actually might give your idea a shot. I’d love to have a small lightweight camper for my scooter.
If it’s going to be hauled by a bicycle, I might suggest using much lighter materials. What about the main structure constructed like a tent? It would fold down flat while traveling. You’d arrive at your campsite and quickly set it up like an easy to assemble tent. You could retain the shape you’ve drawn, but it would be made of fabric instead of metal. Just an idea.
Thanks Tom… my wife actually mentioned folding to me when I first told her the idea. Good thinking! Thanks.
Michael, Bike trailers to transport two children plus a few groceries are common place. Though only load carrying trailers seem to exist.
http://www.bikesandtrailers.com/
I would have thought that if you took a look at the trailer tents and morphed the two concepts together a workable compromise would emerge.
http://www.camperlands.co.uk/trailer_tents/campmaster/campmaster.html
Great idea Michael!
Thanks Mark. Great links too.
I’ve been googling for it with no luck, but some years back I read an article, complete with photos, about a guy who built such a trailer for his bike and used it to travel the country. I can’t recall the name of the cyclist nor the website where the article originally appeared, but it is out there.
During my search, I did come across these which should be good for a chuckle:
http://bullsheet.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/sleeping-bike-trailer.jpg
http://www.footnote.com/image/26225238/
Martini… great links. I knew it wasn’t a ‘new’ idea. Thanks!
I would like to introduce you to Steve Roberts, whom in the mid 80’s transversed the united states in a bike, while lugging all of his possessions AND a complete solar powered communication and computing center. The original Technomade.
http://microship.com/bike/index.html
As for the teardrop, I don’t know if it would be the best idea. In order to be useful, the trailer would need to have enough space to sleep in, but that is a lot of empty space and extra drag while riding. Perhaps more of a pop up design, with a nylon or other fabric based top. I picture something that folds in thirds, the sleeping platform will in half at the center point, and then a back bookshelf sort of structure would fold on top, becoming a single hard bodied, lockable, aerodynamic trailer.
Great link Grant. That guy was really ahead of his time, eh?
I guess I wanted a fixed hard shell for added security and simplicity. But there are probably more advantages in making it lighter and collapsible. In fact the way you’ve described it might fulfill all those requirements: secure, aerodynamic, simple, lightweight.
Hey Michael,
Have you ever heard of Brian Campbell? He is an eccentric fellow that frequently visits Davis. He runs something called the human powered housing project. Here is the link to the Davis wiki: http://daviswiki.org/Human_Powered_Housing_Project
You may be able to find more info about his designs also online.
Great idea, keep up the creative work! 
Cheers,
Logan.
WOW! Totally cool Logan. Thanks for the link.
EVERYONE… CHECK THIS GUY’S BIKE OUT! http://daviswiki.org/Human_Powered_Housing_Project
- The devil is in the details of the attachment to the bike frame.
- You’d be better off using 3000 Denier Cordura over an aluminum tube frame. Towing an empty 50 lb trailer up a grade is no fun, towing a 300 lb full trailer is even less fun.
- The sides are too high and flat, taper them to shed cross winds.
Burley already makes many similar products, you may want to look at their designs for some inspiration.
Thanks Uncle. I’ll check out Burley http://www.burley.com/
I agree 100% with the height/weight comments.
It is a cool idea. With a lot of potential. Instead of a cabin I would think about some kind of pop-up tent or some combination of solid roof and tent, like this http://offroadschmiede.com/dach_seite.html
I am totally into bike trailers and think since a while about the definitive purpose of such a “travel trailer”… to build one one day. We will see.
It is nice to see that you think outside of the (tiny house) box
Thanks Andreas. It’s sounding like the pop-up is the way to go. Secure when closed and still lightweight. A sleeping bag should also provide enough warmth.
This would be utterly amazing for the homeless! Especially those that don’t own a car to haul a trailer. Bicycles are relatively inexpensive and i’m sure this tiny home would be inexpensive as well! If it’s okay with you Michael, I would love to feature this homeplan on my Project Rolling Freedom site (as a free plan, of course, unless you want commission).
My husband also had an idea for it. He thought it would give more room if the kitchen was near the back tire of the bike and the bedroom had a pop out tent off the back, that way you could maybe have more room for clothing storage or something.
Thanks Lellewyn. Feel free to re-post.
I should probably update my site to mention that all my designs are available for non-commercial use. (Making mental note). Eventually I’ll probably write a book or two on tiny house design but for now everything you see here is really intended to help other people visualize and imagine a better solution than the average house-trap. (LOL)
I was actually thinking homeless solution too but I actually have a better one for that cooking. I’m hoping to post that this Friday. This bike trailer would make an excellent temporary solution though.
Thanks for another thought provoking design Michael.
I agree with the other posters that a folding popup-camper design with fabric walls might be better for a bicycle.
If one was set on a hardshell design, then maybe take a cue from the way surf boards and kayaks are built out of foam covered fiberglass. It’s very strong, lightweight, and waterproof. It could be built like a HexaYurt out of foam panels and reinforced tape to prototype it and then once you get it they way you want it, cover it with fiberglass.
http://www.appropedia.org/Hexayurt_Playa
Tim R… excellent idea! In fact that kind of wall construction coupled with some kind of folding mechanism and even some flexible fabric pieces might make a great solution.
As a follow up to one of your commenters regarding a benefit to the homeless, a project similar in nature to your design Michael has been getting alot of media attention for its implementation in LA county. The project is called “Everybody deserves a roof (EDAR)”. http://www.edar.org
Be sure to click the “news” link and watch some of vids documenting the media coverage.
I have seen the EDAR. Very clever solution.
IMHO… It looks like great temporary solution but I’m not sure how well it secures the occupant from danger. My wife worked with homeless women and children for years and reports that they are often in incredible danger on the street. I think an enclosed locking shelter would work better for protecting the occupant but like everyone has pointed out… would be very heavy and difficult to transport.
I do like this idea, not crazy at all.
[...] I’ve been having fun imagining micro houses lately. This past week I posted a tiny house that could be theoretically towed behind a bicycle. A great discussion then took place in the comments and it has become a very popular post. Take a look at my tiny teardrop trailer at Tiny House Design. [...]
As a bike commuter and big fan of tiny homes, you have combined two of my favorite things. Great idea!
Also… borrowing from the design of a climbing portaledge may be a good idea.
http://www.rockcreek.com/products/listing/item2415.asp?ref=RCO_googlebase
If you wish to keep a hardshell design, why not make the bike and the camper one thereby making a HPV (human powered vehicle)? In other words, give the bike an enclosed aerodynamic design with space to lie down inside.
Good thinking. The only reason I like the detached bike is for transportation while parked.
We think alike.
http://www.highmileagetrikes.blogspot.com
Hank Raines did a small teardrop for his dogs who travel with him.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/forum/board/message/?o=3Tzut&message_id=43961&v=1A&term=teardrop&context=all
A lot of your design will depend one how claustrophobic you are. Some of the simpler designs I’ve seen are basically a coffin on wheels. If you can stand it, it makes a great shelter.
If you designed the front end of your teardrop to pop-up with a screen attached you could have a much more airy inerior.
However, it’s going to be difficult to make something that is simpler than a Kamp-Rite Tent-Cot strapped to a Burley with bungie cords:
http://www.kamprite.com/pages/home
This is a really cool application of the tent-cot:
http://www.midgetcampers.com.au/
Great links Mo Bike’s Shop! I knew someone had to have been building stuff like this somewhere in the world.
Thanks!
I was looking into this idea as well. The approach I was considering was more Japanese in style. Utilizing foam-based walls and a collapsing roof I was opting for a wider and longer solution. (6′8″ x 4′)
Also including Shoghi-style screens and even a stove and shower. I call it the “wearable house” but have shelved the ideas for a bit.
While the width may be seen as a no go for some, I used to work with a fellow, Bart Orlando, who regularly commutes 16 miles a day on a electric assisted bike with trailer that is about that wide. He does this across a bridge on Hwy 101 with no shoulder.
There are pictures here: http://www.humboldt.edu/~ccat/pedalpower/inventions/frames_final_htm..htm
Check out the section titled ‘Bart’s Bike’
I would love to chat about this type of concept if anyone is interested.
email hidden; JavaScript is required
Brian… thanks for the link… totally cool bike!
After a camping trip (in a trailer tent) I began thinking along these lines.
As most have state a full/high sided trailer would be hard to pull in windy conditions.
My idea was to have a plywood box shape trailer with a removable lid. 4 tent poles would then be set into each corner of the trailer, then the lid/roof would be replaced. Some kind of tarpaulin/tent material would then be unfurled from inside the roof down the sides of the trailer. An additional canopy-tented attached area would house my bike at night and also serve as a cooking area. The end result would look similar to a 4 poster bed?
Having reserched this for months! there aint many trailers out there that I haven’t seen.
Here are a few trailer concepts…
One from ye olden days
Scooter caravan,Lambretta:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxUpDrtBCO4
A biketrailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWnsu4dfNGs&feature=related
fietscaravan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAvHDaffU7s&feature=related
I may end up building some thing like this…
Fietscaravan:
[img]http://www.24oranges.nl/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/bicycle_trailer.jpg[/img]
http://www.24oranges.nl/2008/07/21/bike-your-house-around/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDmXunG1RVc&NR=1
The possibilities are end less, just let your imagination run free
Regards
Tom
Great stuff Tom. If you build it I’d love to see and blog about it here.
Thanks for all the links too. Great stuff.
[...] ultimate in eco-friendly mobile living, this ingenious residential bike trailer idea from Tiny House Design is perhaps not as far fetched as it might first appear. After all, [...]
[...] through the photos for inspiration. I’ve been wanting to do another version of the conceptual Ultralight Teardrop Trailer for a Bicycle and the link Roy sent has me got me firing my imagination and Google SketchUp again. Most of the [...]
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My version is more like a flat-bottom boat — with the intent that it can also be used as a boat — perhaps even with a lazy-susan affair which would permit something to be draped over the bike to use as a moveable sail. Something long enough for sleeping (I’m 6′4″) with an angled back wall for comfortable sitting and reading.
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The only critical dimension would be the 24″ sq. opening above my head for one of those large RV-style crank-up skylight/vent covers which double as an emergency exit. The rest would be sized to fit using stitch-and-glue and 1/4″ plywood. The wheels would have plastic food-grade bearings so getting them wet is no problem.
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Roll my bed down to the water, crawl in and float away — safe enough and many more options for places to BE at zero cost.
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sail4free
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Jim… that sounds totally cool. Thanks for sharing that out-of-the-box idea.
Your idea is not as crazy as you might think. In 2007-2009, I built a very similar house trailer for my MTB. It is 8′long by 5′7″ wide and stands 5′ tall. Weight empty is around 300 lbs and loaded I can comfortably carry another 200 lbs of the necessities with me. I do not have my site up yet but I was published in the Marysville, Ohio Journal Tribune, during my maiden voyage on August 13th 2009. It was also published in process by the Columbus Dispatch and the monthly paper Alive sometime in 2008. The articles can be searched using my name.
Thanks Michael! I’ll definitely look it up. If you spot any info online or have photos of it I’d love to write about it and help tell the story.
Have you ever seen the “Human Powered Housing Project”? A guy Brian has been living in his tiny bicycle for probably ten years in Davis, CA. Yes, I said *in* his bike. He’s an amazing guy.
http://daviswiki.org/Human_Powered_Housing_Project
Thanks Jack… I did run across that fellow a while back but it looks like there’s a lot more info on him online now. Thanks for the info!
Nice one Mike, Took me a while to find a photo (could only find the one).
http://www.marysvillejt.com/web/index.php?sid=50&id=5723
I’d like to see more of this bicycle home.
Regards
Tom
[...] Something that is easy to take with them by hand or bike; something light and fairly small like Michael’s teardrop bike trailer or Brian’s bike [...]
great stuff!
I am dreaming of something similar.
How about a pvc base?
http://www.instructables.com/id/PVC-Bike-trailer_1/
Thanks David.
And I noticed you also found the PVC bike trailer post: http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/2009/07/21/pvc-teardrop-bike-trailer/
I’d love to see more folks give this a try. If you decide to build one I’d love to post the story and photos here.
Not treardrops but a couple of neat looking camping trailers built by a couple of german guys.
Trailer 1:
http://www.guelo46.de/00004.html
Trailer 2:
http://www.w44.de/
This site shows construction of the folding top trailer.
Regards
Tom
Thanks Tom… great links! Love those bike trailers.
If the teardrop is chopped into four “slices”, you could imagine nesting the four slices and having the teardrop fold out, similar to an unfolding cycle tent trailer but with a more solid structure.
An open frame “box” on the deck the unfolds provides it with stable support, and then the wheels support the original deck. and the frame can hold gear as well as the interior of the trailer.
Unhitch the bike first and unfold *toward* what was the hitch, and then the “sharp” end of the slice is pointing into the direction of travel.
Quarters rather than anything finer since: (1) a round window will be in a single slice, (2) each slice is the width of the side panel narrower than the one its nested within, (3) there’s gasketing required to make the nest seams weatherproof, and quarters keeps that down to three gaskets, (4) access/egress – simplest, therefore the fewest things to go wrong on the road, is most of the end panel of the “outside” wedge (the one that swings around) swings up – the more slices, the smaller the panel, (5) with quarters, you can still have a modified version of the classic teardrop design in the back, with the back panel from that bottom slice swinging up and latching to support a food preparation shelf – sun / drizzle protection might be from some form of roll out awning.
Of course, this type of structure might need the plywood/foam/aluminum sandwich to be flipped around to plywood / foam / paneling, or perhaps plywood / foam / canvas.
i have been working on mine for 2 months , it is 12′ x 4′ long and rolls on 4 wheels i have been working on learning how to weld and all the new (to me) things about gearing and how to build this thing. hope ya’ll like it . i hope to have it finished for spring
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2048885&id=1424613382&l=6e658efa5b
WOW Monte looks like you are making great progress! Looking forward to seeing it come together more!
I love your blog, especially the bike trailer concept.
Keep building up and testing the ideas on this one. This is a natural extension of finding the extreme bare minimums (even deeper than the 9 square foot project). It has a distinct advantage that this can be parked and used in almost any outdoor location. This could provide a reasonable shelter and toilet for plein air artists, birders, fishermen, hunters and more.
1) Light weight is going to be crucial. Having some parts that provide structure and points for fastening things (acting like studs in housing), other parts that provide weather resistance (like aluminum sheeting, fabric, or corrogated plastic), and light weight insulation (to reduce cooling and heating demands, fuel and mechanisms). Light weight glass is available from racing supplies and various plastics and screening can also fill the role of ventilation and view in a much lighter way.
2) The bike itself will need beefed up brakes like those used on ATV’s and motorbikes. Gearing may have to be set up to help with the extra load of the trailer.
3) The trailer may need two configurations – (a) one when being pulled and (b) perhaps a more vertical or upright configuration when parked and being used for eating, sleeping, bathroom, etc.
4) The trailer shape may also need to be further optimized to be even more aerodynamic. Although slow speed pulling will be the greatest burden to the rider (where lower weight is most important), once up to a reasonable speed, the wind resistance presented by the trailer shape will add a huge amount to the effort to move the trailer. The Sunrayce cars have taught us that shape can be optimized and even help to push the vehicle and drastically cut drag from wind resistance. The trailer will need brake lights, slow vehicle warning lights, and turn signals.
Thanks Mike… excellent ideas and comments. I really like #3… definitely out of the box thinking
Here is something very interesting as well http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/Midget-Bushtrekka-p-16143.html