Greetings From Eastern Canada

[LewisCobb]

Hello - I came across this site a few nights ago and have not dared posting anything while at the house because if my wife discovers another project starting with all the unfinished ones I already have, she's gonna blow for sure.... So I am holed up at the office with the door locked as I type this...

I have a quick question that some of you might be able to advise me on - I am interested in these teardrops but in a "combo" sort of way. I would like to be able to use it as an enclosed cargo trailer more than a camper and as a result I don't really need to put in a galley. However, it seems to me that the galley actually provides some structural strength to the thing, so perhaps some bulkheads would be required at a mnimum. Maybe if some of you can steer me towards any postings where people are using them for specialized cargo trailers it would be much appreciated as I come up the learning curve.

I am planning to take a powered paraglider course in the next year (motor and propellor strapped to your back and a parachute over top) and if I get a unit like this, a little custom teardrop cargo trailer would look very slick indeed bobbing behind my little Volkswagen Golf as I arrive at the flying field. These paragliders actaully break down enough to go into the trunk of a car in some cases, but the bigger the space, the more you can leave it assembled during transport. I am hoping that there's some way I can use the back hatch on the teardrop as the load/unload point as I am quite sure it will not fit through the side door. Weight on these paragliders is only about 70 pounds so we're in no way overloading the trailer.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi and flick off this intial question from a newby and hope to learn more as I read through this forum in the secrecy of my office......

Cheers,
Lewis

[BrwBier]

Let me be the first to say Welcome. I don't think you will have any problem building just what you want. Mine was built w/o a bulkhead and is very ridged. It is the egg shape that gives it the strength. Now, the other part of your problem, you might try and get a good start on one of the smaller progects and then sneek this one in. OH, and maybe don't say anything about the paraglider just yet. By the way, it sounds like a very cool idea. Good luck
Brwbier

[mikeschn]

Lewis,

Welcome to the forum...

Have you done FLPHG yet?

Mike...

P.S. Me neither...

[Miriam C.]

Hi Lewis. Hope you enjoy the playground/adult treatment area. Perhaps you can start your search with the following.

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... c&start=15

Keep the bubble oil level.

[LewisCobb]

Gents - thanks very much for the warm greetings. I have started to look through the links that you passed along and am getting keener by the minute. I am sure I will be back with a few questions but will try and sponge up as much info as I can beforehand as I am sure most questions are already answered here.

Brwbier - I used to have a KZ900 - 1976 but you're got the "holy grail" by the looks of it - a 1973 Z1 - man, I can remember when that bike came out and I was going into the local bike shop and milling around the crowd as they looked at the first one to come out of the crate. Brings back many fond memories for me. Is that silver TD on your album something that you built yourself ? I'm really liking the fenders on it.

Just checked the owners manual of the 2007 Rabbit that I have and it says 1650 lbs for the max tow weight and 200lbs for the tongue. Based on some of the numbers I see in the postings, this is well above many of the TD's that people are building and certainly well above the sport hauler with no galley that I am thinking (dreaming) about. I do want shiny aluminum spoked wheels though, and some diamond plate so that will poke up the weight a bit I guess.

Can't believe I am so keen on this in such a short time. I'll be dropping up to a buddy's business later today - he's got some welders on staff there

Cheers,
Lewis

[Ira]

Welcome, Lewis!!!

What's the diameter of that powered thingy that flies you around?

You may be able to have a full galley by simply designing a door/door system that allows you to stow that thingy in the CABIN while towing.

I think they're pretty big, right?

[LewisCobb]

Welcome, Lewis!!!

What's the diameter of that powered thingy that flies you around?

You may be able to have a full galley by simply designing a door/door system that allows you to stow that thingy in the CABIN while towing.

I think they're pretty big, right?

Hi Ira - it's not a "thingy", it's a highly professional and serious flying machine (***insert muffled laughter here***).

They vary, but the size is more the circular cage that goes around the propellor and that can be taken apart very quickly. Fully assembled they are probably 50-60" in diameter and about 48" high - but again, I am assuming some partial disassembly and it will shrink fast. I'll see if I can find a pic and figure out how to load one up here.

Youre door/door idea did cross my mind but it would involve laying the motor and gas tank flat to slide it under the galley (at least in my initial "vision" of the TD construction). I would rather leave the motor and tank in an upright (same as flying) position and that will consume a large portion of the vertical space when the hatch is open - maybe 36" or more. However, the idea of having a little galley is a good one, as I am ennvisioning taking this to places where people are camped out for "fly-ins" etc. in the summertime.

Here's a few pics - I decided to toss them up on a photobucket account - You have to admit, one of these tucked into a little custom "sporty TD" is an awesome combination....

[LewisCobb]

Lewis,

Welcome to the forum...

Have you done FLPHG yet?

Mike...

P.S. Me neither...

Hey Mike - I have done one flight with a powered paraglider connected to a trike - that was about 2 years ago. I then decided to get married to a wonderful woman I met on the other side of the planet so that consumed my time for a couple of years (beating on the Canadian imigration people). Now that things are settled once again (sort of - haha) I am thinking about getting back at it and going through the course and getting a license (need one here in Canada as they are classed as ultralight aircraft).

About 25 years ago I used to fly ultralight aircraft - the weight shift ones - like a powered hang glider, but the problem was you needed a field to store the plane and it was not easily disassembled. The fact that you can jam one of these paragliders into a car trunk or small trailer is the big "breakthrough" - for me anyway. I just can't see going to the "same old field" all the time - and worse - finding that someone has vandalized your toy.

Thanks for the welcome - I'm already overloaded with information here on this site!

Cheers,
Lewis

[BrwBier]

Brwbier - I used to have a KZ900 - 1976 but you're got the "holy grail" by the looks of it - a 1973 Z1 - man, I can remember when that bike came out and I was going into the local bike shop and milling around the crowd as they looked at the first one to come out of the crate. Brings back many fond memories for me. Is that silver TD on your album something that you built yourself ? I'm really liking the fenders on it.

You are pretty close, it is a 1975 Z1B, 903 cc of raw power, and I believe the best looking of the Z1 series.
The teardrop in my album with the fenders is a "Camp-Inn". Made in Wisconsin. We rented that one and it was the first teardrop we ever saw. I believe they sell those fenders, you will run into them here on the forum from time to time.
Good luck on your progect.
Brwbier

[LewisCobb]

Brwbier - I used to have a KZ900 - 1976 but you're got the "holy grail" by the looks of it - a 1973 Z1 - man, I can remember when that bike came out and I was going into the local bike shop and milling around the crowd as they looked at the first one to come out of the crate. Brings back many fond memories for me. Is that silver TD on your album something that you built yourself ? I'm really liking the fenders on it.

You are pretty close, it is a 1975 Z1B, 903 cc of raw power, and I believe the best looking of the Z1 series.
The teardrop in my album with the fenders is a "Camp-Inn". Made in Wisconsin. We rented that one and it was the first teardrop we ever saw. I believe they sell those fenders, you will run into them here on the forum from time to time.
Good luck on your progect.
Brwbier

Thanks! I'm sure I'll be posting questions and badgering people here in the not too distant future. I have been reading posts and scouring the hall of fame this evening for a few hours.

Cheers,
Lewis

[mikeschn]

Will you come here and teach me FLPHG? All the beer you can drink!!!

Mike...

I am thinking about getting back at it and going through the course and getting a license (need one here in Canada as they are classed as ultralight aircraft).
Cheers,
Lewis

[LewisCobb]

Will you come here and teach me FLPHG? All the beer you can drink!!!

Mike...

Sounds like we might have a "barter situation" developing here - I'll train you on the FLPHG and you'll train me on building teardrops !

I am thinking about getting back at it and going through the course and getting a license (need one here in Canada as they are classed as ultralight aircraft).
Cheers,
Lewis

[Ira]

Lewis, check out this galley design:



If you go with 5' high walls, it might work for you.

And what's with that last photo? Is that Venezuela, or Iraq?

[LewisCobb]

Lewis, check out this galley design:



If you go with 5' high walls, it might work for you.

Hi Ira -

Now that's a configuration I had not thought about. It looks like this trailer is dedicated for hauling only - but perhaps sleeps one - maybe sleeps one on top of the other - haha. Certainly food for thought as far as a general design though. I like how you can sit on the bike and watch tv if you want! I have to remember to include a small LCD tv in my design as well - when the wind is blowing too hard, I can hang in the trailer and watch flying videos.......

I'm starting to like the "Jim Dandy" design as far as a shape goes - but with the galley in the back - not the front like the design section shows. I have not seen many people that have built a shape like this yet. I also have decided I "HAVE" to have aluminum spoked wheels and torsion axles (even though 24 hours ago I didn't know what that even was.....)

Thanks for the pic and more food for thought,

Lewis

PS - has anyone built a trailer with a hatch at the front AND the back? just wondering....

[Ira]

What about that last photo?