Tear that can carry a tandem bicycle inside

[DANL]

Toypusher has a good idea there. You really would want a width of five feet so there would be a reasonable amount of cabinet space left and right after you allow for the pass-through. You could put the cooler there when the bike isn't in the trailer.

Be sure to prepare a mockup of the profile of the tear and the bike to test for fit. Putting the bike in with the rear wheel to the front means that the highest part of the bike--the handlebars--is trying to fit the lowest part of the tear profile--the hatch area. Remember, the bike-tites will raise the height at the fork mounting point by about three inches and you need a few inches of space beyond that for lifting the fork out of the clamping mechanism. You might need a profile more like the "simple" or the "rimple" (search the site for info on these designs).

I can't stress enough the importance of good planning. It's worth the extra time required to make a mockup out of stick lumber and cardboard when you are working on a concept that involves fitting large items into your trailer.

Another idea is to position the bike to one side (driver side) rather than in the center. This would provide more space easily accessible from the curb side door and you would not have to run from side to side to pack and unpack.

You're on the right track. Just keep thinking.
:thumbsup:

[MikeDrz]

I was thinking about profiles too...



This would allow for a galley with taller base cabs then normal. No upper cabs, the forward part of the hatch would be open to the cabin.

However, I still like the Benroy, but might end up with a Rimple, as you suggested.

I just took some measurements - I would need an 18’’ wide pass through for the pedals area and 30" for the handlebars, which would clear the counter. Both those measurements allow for wiggling, my bars are actually 25", pedal span about 15”so I am thinking fixed cabinets on either side with an 18” gaps. And a flip up "backsplash" to let the bars pass through that would flip to the inside of the cabin; I could rig an eyelet to hold it up. I could still have a pair of small cubbies cabinets for the backsplash to rest against when down.

As for loading, I was thinking about a 1 x 8 with the bike tight at the front, which would slide in a 1x8.1 groove in the floor so I could just slide the whole thing in... I might not need to get that fancy however.


As for width, I would like 5 feet as well, but want this light, and track nicely behind my PT... I would hate to catch the trailer on something if it stuck out too much. That said, I was thinking about a 4 1/2 foot wide on a 4 foot trailer, therefore getting a full size mattress, with minimal wheel well intrusion

[Gerdo]

Why not build a standard Teardrop and cary your bikes on the roof of your car.

[MikeDrz]

because this would also serve as storage for the tandem.

the whole point would be to have everything in a trailer ready to go.

right now i am tripping over all this stuff in the garage, where it does not get used, as we have no way to transport it.

so by building this , i get my garage back, at least part of it, and we actually would use the tandem more often, since we could easily whisk it away to a riding place.

Why not build a standard Teardrop and cary your bikes on the roof of your car.

[Gerdo]

I understand the garage thing. I have ten singles and a tandem hanging from the ceiling (watch your head), A Triumph TR6, 6 bags of hockey gear, Climbing gear, sometimes the Teardrop and my wife still wants her car in, out of the snow.

[SpeedWagon]

Hello
If you are looking for a way to transport the bike, with your teardrop trailer, howabout a rack that will hold the bike along side of the trailer.
Some thing like how many lader racks are on the our side of carpenters trailers.
If you have a strong wall to mount it to. build a few supports on the side of the trailer to hold the bike over the fender. This will keep the inside of the trailer open for regular camping stuff.

[MikeDrz]

nice idea, but one of the goals here is to provide storage for the tandem out of the elements.. thank you

Hello
If you are looking for a way to transport the bike, with your teardrop trailer, howabout a rack that will hold the bike along side of the trailer.
Some thing like how many lader racks are on the our side of carpenters trailers.
If you have a strong wall to mount it to. build a few supports on the side of the trailer to hold the bike over the fender. This will keep the inside of the trailer open for regular camping stuff.

[George Kraus]

Mike, I know where you are coming from, tandems are not cheap and putting it in the teardrop would offer more security at a minimum by keeping it out of sight while your making a stop and away from the vehicle. My wife and I are serious bikers and have a yakima floor rack in our Xterra so when we haul them they are secure and out of the weather, rain going down the road at 65 mph has a habit of getting into places you don't want it too. If you do tours like we do, when your on a 65 mile tour the last thing you want is a stem bearing or pedal bearing tying up on you or just falling apart. A great buch of ideas are being offered, and I'm sure you'll find the one that's fits your needs. Keep the ideas coming gentlemen.

George

[joestrom]

I've specifically decided on the Glen-L Sequoia design because it'll be able to handle our tandem. The galley is "side-mounted" I guess you'd put it, with a swing open hatch to accomodate outside cooking. No fancy removable galley, just roll the bike in through the back door and go. Ive sacrificed the teardrop profile in order to do this, but itll also have a pipe berth for junior too, and a dinette. Function beat out form in my case..now where's that tax refund check??!!!

[MikeDrz]

Thanks... I did check that out might be too big for my pt to handle.

I found these in the Hall of Fame... I would like a more rounded look, but you cant beat boxy for space.

I've specifically decided on the Glen-L Sequoia design because it'll be able to handle our tandem. The galley is "side-mounted" I guess you'd put it, with a swing open hatch to accomodate outside cooking. No fancy removable galley, just roll the bike in through the back door and go. Ive sacrificed the teardrop profile in order to do this, but itll also have a pipe berth for junior too, and a dinette. Function beat out form in my case..now where's that tax refund check??!!!

[larryl]

Michael:

Why not place your kitchen cabinets in the front of the trailer, more for storage than cooking. Make the cooler,stove, etc. removable to allow for cooking outside.

You can still create a rear hatch to load and unload your bikes. No kitchen to interfere with the loading process. Once bikes are removed,add your mattress for sleeping.

You can use the Benroy shape.
Larry

[MikeDrz]

I have been mulling that over too. there is a front kitchen design in the design library...



something like that with a benroy back end might work.

my concerns would be rain water / road grime working its way in there, and my shins hitting the tongue... i suppose I could rig a table off the tougue...

Michael:

Why not place your kitchen cabinets in the front of the trailer, more for storage than cooking. Make the cooler,stove, etc. removable to allow for cooking outside.

You can still create a rear hatch to load and unload your bikes. No kitchen to interfere with the loading process. Once bikes are removed,add your mattress for sleeping.

You can use the Benroy shape.
Larry

[mikeschn]

How about having a single member tongue, and get rid of the drop down leaf. Make it part of the hatch instead... The would get rid of all that shin busting stuff, and let you work nice and close...

Mike...

[MikeDrz]

How about this.... front kitchen , squared back. certainly addresses the tandem issue.. straight in the back door. this layout might lend itself to a dinette as well. any thoughts on sealing the front? maybe a "bra" for travelling?

How about having a single member tongue, and get rid of the drop down leaf. Make it part of the hatch instead... The would get rid of all that shin busting stuff, and let you work nice and close...

Mike...

[madjack]

Mike, make a removable tongue and a single hatch and ya got it all. Why a single hatch, well with a single hatch you only have 4 sealing edges/surfaces to worry about instead of 10
madjack