The 280lb Pico-Light

[Cliffmeister2000]

I have a Mazda3 Sport. Just turned 100k miles. Had to put tires and brakes on her today. (3rd set of tires, 1st time I've had to touch the brakes).

Now that she's out of warranty, I'm seriously thinking about putting a hitch on her.

 

[Classic Finn]

I have a Mazda3 Sport. Just turned 100k miles. Had to put tires and brakes on her today. (3rd set of tires, 1st time I've had to touch the brakes).

Now that she's out of warranty, I'm seriously thinking about putting a hitch on her.

We have a Mazda 3 1.6 litre Hatchback and we are allowed to tow with it. Hmm.

With brakes - 1200kg - 2 645.54715 pounds
Without brakes - 550 kg.- 1 212.54244 pounds

 

[Cliffmeister2000]

Oh, I'm sure it's a liability issue, not a capability issue.

 

[Classic Finn]

Oh, I'm sure it's a liability issue, not a capability issue.

Im sure that what its about.

 

[High Desert-TNT]

Thanks for the great renderings Mike!
That really does give a good perspective on the size of the Pico. Even the 8" wheels look big. I know it would add a light weight but I wonder how 12" wheels would work on this? For more extended cruising at higher speeds is why I ask.

 

[mikeschn]

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

Andrew,

Steal away!!!

Now if you have a solid model of a car that you'd rather see in front of the Pico Light, email it to me, along with the height in mm, and I'll do some more renders for you.

Are you thinking something along the lines of a Trabant?

Mike...

 

[PaulC]

Geez!! Thanks Andrew Now you've got me thinking...............again

Cheers
Paul

 

[mikeschn]

Just for fun, I brought in the Generic Benroy, since many people are familar with the size; (5x.

As you can see the Pico Light really is that small...

Mike...

 

[PaulC]

Now if you have a solid model of a car that you'd rather see in front of the Pico Light, email it to me, along with the height in mm, and I'll do some more renders for you.



Mike...

Mike works in metric



Cheers
Paul

 

[mikeschn]

Now if you have a solid model of a car that you'd rather see in front of the Pico Light, email it to me, along with the height in mm, and I'll do some more renders for you.



Mike...

Mike works in metric



Cheers
Paul

Yea! Now if only the homeland would pay me in Euros!!!

Mike...

 

[angib]

Mike, those comparison shots are really useful - I'll definitely put one of those on my web site to illustrate the difference.

I was thinking that in the US, the (1240mm) Miata might be one car that would suit the Pico-Light's size - it probably has the power to pull a 'full size' teardrop, but might be nicer with something smaller.

Andrew

 

[synaps3]

Mike -- you're measurements are on the wrong side of the pond! What are these mm's you speak of?

The pico design is awesome, but I question the functionality without a galley. Then again, I think that's the point of the design.

 

[mikeschn]

I tried to get inside the Pico Light, to show you what the inside looks like. That's not an easy shot to do, especially since I end up having to use a really wide angle lens to capture any reasonable amount of detail.

So here is what I came up with...

Mike...

P.S. Yes, Dave, that was the point of the design.

 

[Miriam C.]

Very nice. I made a sticky outtta it. Maybe this is what folks who drive the 1.6 Sentra or similar need.

 

[Classic Finn]

I tried to get inside the Pico Light, to show you what the inside looks like. That's not an easy shot to do, especially since I end up having to use a really wide angle lens to capture any reasonable amount of detail.

So here is what I came up with...

Mike...

P.S. Yes, Dave, that was the point of the design.

Gee Mike thats some fancy computer work you do. That looks very nice.

 

[aggie79-HILO]

Mike -- you're measurements are on the wrong side of the pond! What are these mm's you speak of?

These are the only kind I know anything about:

 

[mikeschn]

Gee Mike thats some fancy computer work you do. That looks very nice.

Thanks Finn,

But I can't take credit for that. It's Andrew's model. I just applied a few materials and rendered it.

Mike...

P.S. Aggie, I like those MnM's... reminds me of an MnM Trailer design I worked on once upon a time...

 

[Prem-TNT]

Auntie M rightly noted:

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

It's too light already to tow without ballast. Going 55MPH+ down the Interstate highways with side drafts from big rigs, or strong winds, you probably need a spoiler to keep it pressed down to the road. (And there goes some fuel savings.) Best to pack the floor in the front with ballast of canned food, water jugs and cast iron when traveling at highway speeds.

 

[dwgriff1]

When I ask pilot friends about a light weight trailer lifting off the ground they suggest that it might, at about 140 mph.

By the time you put minimal camp gear inside and travel 55 or 65 it will work fine.

I remember the same arguments when I talked about building a 500 pound trailer.

dave

 

[Prem-TNT]

Yeah. It's not going to lift off both tires and fly. It's just going to blow over in really nasty conditions if too light. I've seen an (empty?) trailer behind a big rig lift it's tires off the road on one side near Lompoc, California on Hwy 101 in a strong wind. Scary to be behind. Then my son's surfboard got blown off our roof taking part of the rack with it.