Comments on: Ultralight Teardrop Trailer – For a Bicycle!

By: Savs

Savs — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 22:08:34 +0000

Oh, almost forgot to add to my last comment/thoughts. I would make the shape a higher raised contour profile like the nose of the space shuttle. With a large pipe insert section attached along the length and lined with a secondary pipe insert reinforced and insulated (cold & ventilation control vents) by a ribbed skeleton. Essentially three pipes and the one sandwiched in the middle is made of equally spaced slices creating a compressed skeleton. Materials to think about should be aluminum tear drop sheets of an appropriate gauge or shaped PVC. Windows can be installed made of acrylic, silicates and lined with a break proof security film which is bullet proof. These are all light weight materials and I’m sure that there are many more types to be sourced. Folding solar panel kits can be draped over the to of the shell to recharge batteries for the evening or snow or desert conditions. Parts and the frame should be: 26″ heavy duty boxed rims, 48 hole cargo hubs with puncture proof tubes and 2.3 to 2.5 triple kevlar tires are suggested or solid rubber tires used on street vending carts should be looked at. Solid heavy duty cargo bike axes and parts are best with a two wheel limit for pivoting and turning agility. The housing/shelter is bolted and cradled into half round brackets supported by thick tubed welded chromoly carriage. Paint it in bright colors for hunters and car lights. The less parts you have the less you have to fix, that’s the touring road rule. I’m not married to the shape I suggested I’m sure there’s a better solution with someone much smarter then me on this issue. Think about the various crazy probabilities of conditions and make it into a game. Good Luck

By: Savs

Savs — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 21:18:28 +0000

The design is more like a small Airstream Bullet miniature RV then practical bike trailer, but all ideas and efforts are encouraging. I design things for a living and build bikes as a hobby for my friends. There is folding technology that should be used for this solution and geometrical patterns which will make the enclosure bear proof. Yes I said bear proof. If your traveling country side you have to be in a shell if your out like a light and not minding your surroundings. I would design a trailer using folding technology and test it with some bears buy placing tasty food and watch how the bears shuking it open like an oyster shell and reengineer those sections and bate it again and again till they can’t get into it. Seriously.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:51:20 +0000

Here’s another small camper, this one is in production though a bit pricey at £5500
Qtvan mobility scooter caravan.
The Qtvan is designed to be towed by mobility scooters but it can also be towed by a bicycle. It is rather small and looks to be a bit topply when towed by the bike in the video.

Mobility Scooter.
http://www.eta.co.uk/2011/04/17/mobility-scooter-caravan-built-beat-royal-wedding-queues
Bicycle.
http://www.eta.co.uk/2011/06/23/caravan-designed-be-towed-behind-bicycle

Regards
Tom

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:58:59 +0000

We have a winner, almost.
While browsing around I came across this bicycle camper trailer made by Dethleffs. Sadly it was a prototype, a one off and wont be put into production.
As you can see from the photos its hooked up to a tandam and an electric bike, which you’d probably need to haul such a big – full fronted camper.

http://partneryahoo.photobucket.com/albums/ad291/Giraut/Dethleffs%20Biker%20bicycle%20camper%20trailer/

Now all we need is someone to make a popup version of this like the Lambretta Scooter caravan. I still like the scooter camper idea for its solid wall construction, no flappy tent billowining the wind…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxUpDrtBCO4

Regards
Tom

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:25:30 +0000

To true, but you can keep it there until it gets thirsty

By: ian

ian — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:46:58 +0000

i know its not a tear drop but this is a cool cycle trailer camper http://store.kamprite.com/catalog/Bicycle-Trailers-orderby_0-p-1-c-250.html

By: Mitsubishi WD-82838

Mitsubishi WD-82838 — Sat, 28 May 2011 01:30:15 +0000

John Heywood~ A man may well bring a horse to the water but he cannot make him drink.

By: Ian St.Clair

Ian St.Clair — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:44:14 +0000

This has actually been done and it looks like some of the other commenters have already posted the links. I don’t think the idea is crazy at all. I hope you have as much fun building and using it as you did dreaming and drawing it. I also hope you post pictures when you actualize it.

By: ian

ian — Wed, 18 May 2011 21:57:10 +0000

i would love this, ive always liked the idea of a tow sleep trailer for cycle camping.

By: dzent1

dzent1 — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:17:44 +0000

In theatre sets we use a lot of a thin plywood called luan, which is generally stocked at Home Depot and runs in the neighborhood of 10 bucks for a 1/8th” x 4′x8′ sheet. It also comes in 1/4″ thickness as well. It’s pretty darn sturdy stuff, bends decently on reasonable curves, takes paint, glue, varnish etc nicely and may be a good lightweight option for the shell of such a trailer. Cool concept!