The 280lb Pico-Light

[angib]

Here at last are the plans for the Pico-Light ultralight that I’ve been promising for the last nine months.

Pico-Light plans

The Pico-Light design aims to be the smallest, lightest trailer that can sleep two people. It is even smaller than a ‘normal’ 8ftx4ft teardrop and doesn’t have a galley or any cupboards. However its size and weight make it suitable for the smallest tow vehicles, including large motorcycles. A detailed weight estimate predicts an empty weight of 280 pounds.

The body is all single-skin and uses 1/8â€

 

[Ageless-TNT]

If you have the budget; you could make it lighter


Honeycomb panels

http://www.panelteccorp.com/html/stockpanels.html

 

[starleen2]

Heck how much lighter could it be? Beyond all that exotic stuff - this is well within the relm of the DIY'er now who's goona be first to build one?

 

[High Desert-TNT]

Thanks for the latest Andrew! It seems to me this would also be a very affordable build, which is a nice bonus.

 

[Juneaudave]

I think that is right on target!!! Be nice to see one done well!!!

 

[Cliffmeister2000]

Awesome, Andrew!

At the very minimum, we can use this as an object lesson to help keep us from over building!

 

[Miriam C.]

Wonderful!

btw guys if you get it too light it will be blown off the road or take flight........

 

[tonyj-TNT]

I like this design, Andrew. It looks like a great light, simple build (and I know I could easily screw-up those two concepts pretty quickly!).

 

[mikeschn]

Good job on that Pico Light design, Andrew... It wouldn't surprise me if it got an instant following!

Mike....

P.S. Can you email me the solid model, I'd like to render it... step is the preferred format... but SAT would work also.

 

[High Desert-TNT]

Good job on that Pico Light design, Andrew... It wouldn't surprise me if it got an instant following!

Mike....

I think so too Mike. I find myself rather fascinated by the design and predicted results.

of course I'm always impressed with the detail of Andrews plans. Pro all the way

 

[mikeschn]

Thanks Andrew,

Here's a rough draft. I'll play with it some more this weekend... I'm out of time tonight...

Mike...

 

[humbird-SKO]

If you have the budget; you could make it lighter


Honeycomb panels

http://www.panelteccorp.com/html/stockpanels.html

Does anyone here have experience building with these or similar?

 

[Ageless-TNT]

Used quite a bit in 36 years at Boeing. To get contour, you have to remove the skin on one side. This material was developed back in the 60s for aircraft floors; women's spiked heels would dent or pierce aluminum sheet.

 

[humbird-SKO]

Ageless, I've had a good look at that site, and some others. I would have no idea what to choose. Which type would be appropriate for a lightweight build... possibly with the interior done simply with reflectix|textile liner "soft panels".

 

[Ageless-TNT]

I was looking at another site today with foam core panels, both aluminum and plastic skins. This would be easier for the hobbyist to work with and provide more insulation. For attach points, you would have to epoxy threaded inserts into the panels. As far as attaching edges; you seal the cut edges with resin then epoxy the panels to join

If anyone wants to try this; I can give detailed directions

 

[mikeschn]

Here's a few pics of the Pico Light...

I put it behind a Mazda 6 to give you a feel for the size of it. It's really small!

Mike...

 

[Cliffmeister2000]

Here's a few pics of the Pico Light...

I put it behind a Mazda 6 to give you a feel for the size of it. It's really small!

Mike...

Too bad Mazda says "NO" to towing.

 

[Classic Finn]

Here's a few pics of the Pico Light...

I put it behind a Mazda 6 to give you a feel for the size of it. It's really small!

Mike...

Too bad Mazda says "NO" to towing.

Cliff Mazda says no to towing? Why is that?

 

[Cliffmeister2000]

I don't know why. This is from the Frequently Asked Questions section of the MazdaUSA website:

Can I tow something behind my vehicle?

Mazda does not recommend towing anything behind the vehicle unless the vehicle is specifically designed for towing. The only vehicles designed for towing are those vehicles that come equipped with a factory-installed Towing Package. Please refer to your owner's manual for more details.

By "designed for towing" they mean the pickups and SUVs.

 

[angib]

Excellent renders, Mike - I'll steal a couple for my web page, if I may.

I would regard the Mazda 6 as too big a car to need a teardrop as small/light as the Pico-Light. Here in Yurp that counts as a mid-size sedan and it gets a tow rating of 3300lb (3500lb for the diesel-engined models) with a braked trailer or 1200lb unbraked - though I am not suggesting those ratings are suitable for Merkan towing habits.

Andrew