Motorcycle Teardrops

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Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby gl1800mike » Tue Feb 19, 2013 5:00 am

Anyone currently have or building a motorcycle teardrop. Although mine isn't a teardrop shape. You all are the closest to a group for my design. I'm building a towable bed so I can pull over sleep and get back on the road quickly, tired of wet tents, and equipment. The camper is 37" wide same as my bike. 74 inches long (I'm only 5'10"). my avatar shows it 1 week into build, I've actually completed all but the doors at 3 weeks. I hope to be fiberglassing in 2 weeks. I insulated with a mold resistant polystyrene board from Lowes and it's lighted with a LED light future running off a small gel cel battery I had. the battery hadn't been charged in a year and the light still ran 72+ hours before draining the fixture. While on the road the gel cell will be recharged of my tail light circuit (lol, at least initially)
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby nhstt » Tue Feb 19, 2013 8:21 am

Welcome Mike, Are you building on a 40x48 harbor frame? How much do you think it will weigh when you done? I'm not pulling behind a cycle but very interested in designing small and light. good luck on your build hope to see more pics!
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby Keystone » Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:52 am

Mike,

Bet yours end up coming at less weight than the manufactured MC campers do. Some of them are pretty heavy. Only thing that I would wonder about would be a side wind. Wonder if you could come up with some sort of anti sway hitch for it? I pulled an Aluma behind my Softail and Ultra. Never knew it was there except while breaking. But they are real low profile and fully loaded I was under 400 lbs.
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby bobhenry » Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:16 am

If you build on the 40 x 48 lengthen the tongue at least 30" to 48". You need the length to dampen the reaction of dropping only one wheel in a pot hole or it will slap you all over the road.

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Here is my little 3 x5 with the stock tongue behind my work truck.
Last edited by bobhenry on Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby bobhenry » Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:29 am

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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby gl1800mike » Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:01 am

camper today01.jpg
taken today
camper today01.jpg (25.86 KiB) Viewed 2414 times
camper today01.jpg
taken today
camper today01.jpg (25.86 KiB) Viewed 2414 times
Well it's basically complete minus, door and fiberglass, its about 325 right now so the total weight should be about 400 loaded. I do wonder about wind but I can tell you I had a pod on the frame before and never knew it was around even when loaded to close to 400 for a trip with camping gear and such. So braking and towing I'm ok, but I am wondering on wind. I do want to add roof mount fishing rod holder but 2 rods should be very little more weight. Oh and that 325 is with the mattress in it. Went with 4 " memory foam! The frame was a commercial pod trailer frame from the early 80's I salvaged the tongue and axle and used 1 inch angle iron to rebuild the framework and the tongue will rotate 360 degrees so no locking up when I go in corners. when in the pod configuration I was dragging foot-pegs on PCH and never knew the trailer was there. Mike
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby Keystone » Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:25 am

Looking real nice Mike.
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out,
shouting "...&*(^ %$#@ ...what a ride!"

- George Carlin


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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby droid_ca » Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:48 am

There was a thread started a while back where the person had a replacement axle for mounting your trailer too....not sure what the link is as I have been trying to find it as well, but maybe someone on here might know...it had lots of good ideas.
hope this helps....Your build looks awesome :thumbsup: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby gl1800mike » Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:31 am

Thanks everyone, I've built my doors, haven't gotten them mounted, maybe tomorrow! I am working on filling the screwholes and seams with putty. I'd like to start fiberglassing this coming weekend. I'll keep showing new pics as I progress.
Mike
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby Rhino Ray » Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:36 am

Lookin good! :thumbsup: Enjoy the build and the trip. :beer:
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby nhstt » Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:57 am

How thick are your sides? and did you use the Lowe's sub flooring ply/ can't wait to see the fiberglass work. Hope you post lots of pictures.
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby gl1800mike » Thu Mar 28, 2013 1:59 am

well they are just barely over 1" thick, I used a 3 layer plywood panel as an inside and outside skin over 1x4 frame with voids filled with styrofoam insulation. I
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IMG_0044.JPG
sidewall built and ready for install
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IMG_0038.JPG
frame with a side wall plywood panel and base storage above the frame
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IMG_0036.jpg
the extended frame
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby gl1800mike » Thu Mar 28, 2013 2:03 am

more pics of construction

As you can see there are 3 storage areas, a center on with the spare and a gel cell battery inside these are accessed from under the bed since they won't need constant access, the front and back compartments will be seen in some other pics about to be shown, they are accessed through small doors from the outside.
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IMG_0051.jpg
this is a sidewall so you can see it's basic construction with inside panel about to be installed
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IMG_0046.jpg
both sides and supports in place
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IMG_0045.JPG
sidewall installed with window temp installed
IMG_0045.JPG (88.5 KiB) Viewed 2167 times
Mike Rand
GL1800 (Gold Wing)
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby gl1800mike » Thu Mar 28, 2013 2:10 am

more pics
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IMG_0057.JPG
door is now built and temp installed
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IMG_0055.jpg
sheathing in place, roof vent in place still need to trim back excess on sheathing
IMG_0055.jpg (80.18 KiB) Viewed 2165 times
IMG_0053.JPG
starting to take shape, here I have the doors for the storage areas cut out
IMG_0053.JPG (93.72 KiB) Viewed 2165 times
Mike Rand
GL1800 (Gold Wing)
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current avatar was at end of 1 week of build
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Re: Motorcycle Teardrops

Postby gl1800mike » Thu Mar 28, 2013 2:21 am

last of the pics
Fiberglass is done, and everything reinstalled this is before the first test.
Then I pulled it that night to the local bike night. second pic

I have one problem I am still working on. I didn't bias the weight enough to the front and I have a weeble wobble at about 50 mph. But today I added a cooler to the tongue and that weight pushed the mph up to 65, I'm going to add an addition steel plate under the front and I believe that will be my final fix. If I find it is fixed I will pull it 1100 miles north in May. if not I'll try and keep you advised. I'm already planning to rebuild but I have the trip in May so not until after. if it comes to it I can always go back to the pod and tent for this trip and begin the rebuild as soon as I get back. I learned alot I only have about $650 in the completed trailer and I can salvage a lot so the rebuild will be a lot cheaper. Even if I have good luck on the trip I plan to rebuild when I return to make the bias correct and I now know I way overbuilt the thing so I will lighten it probably more than 100 lbs with the second one.
Mike
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IMG_0064.JPG
all ready to tow but still in garage
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IMG_0065.JPG
bike night, first test tow
IMG_0065.JPG (123.58 KiB) Viewed 2164 times
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