Stainless Steel Micro-Airstream behind motorcycle

[CarlLaFong]

There are builds and then there are BUILDS.
At one side of the bell curve is the guy using scavenged materials from the landfill, a hammer with a loose handle and the skill set of a chimp. You are way over on the right side of that bell curve.
Just an outstanding build. Not everyone wants a M/C trailer, but there are plenty of ideas and inspirations for anyone wanting to build their own trailer

[KCStudly]

Well said Carl. I second the notion that it is a true treat to see real craftsmen at work. This build has it all; a well considered and detailed plan; first class materials; and exceptional workmanship.

Every post reveals just a little more about how well the design has been considered in advance.

[ST1100]

To hear that compliments from a carpenter and a mechanical engineer makes me smile - thank you so much.

Not every detail was so clear in the beginning, as you see in my first postings in this thread.

Most develops during the build and some mistakes have to be corrected before I continue.
Some holes should have been better drilled before assembly and some had better never been drilled.

But nearly every evening I go to bed with the good feeling to come my dream a little bit closer.

Thanks for your support here - Tom

[harleykamper]

Tom,

It's coming along very nicely. My compliments also....coming from an X-aircraft builder! All that and without a fabrication shop. Keep up the great work. I'm glad you have plenty of time before your trip.
I can't wait to see it completed though!

[ST1100]

Thanks Paul for the compliments

Okay - after using the good weather working in the garden and for my first longer ride I continued with my table.

First hat to round the upper ends of the legs so the can turn inside the table frame corners and then screwed it with stainless screws tight in.



Cut four stainless angles to strengthen the corners !





Riveted the angles with 5 mm rivets in so the legs can lean against the angles.



If I sit at the left side upon the baggage door, I can put my feet into the box below the table.



Here the view from the rear end.



Tom

[ST1100]

Saturday and rainy and windy outside.
The right day to continue with my basecamp.

First reinforced the baggage door and the tabletop each with two additional bars under the deck.
My weight will be too much for only 1.5 mm aluminum.



Then riveted the support bars left and right into my frame where the tabletop will rest upon, when I'm sleeping.

[ST1100]

Now the sleeping deck is finished and I could continue with my step-in-bay as I know how much space is between floor and tabletop.

First marked the outline of the hole in the floor.



Then cut it with the jigsaw and tested my box inside.



Then glueed on the floor with polyurethane and set all the rivets.

[ST1100]

Now the PU sealing has time to harden some days, but here two pics of the sleeping and sitting setup.







On the right side of the table is enough space for a second person to sit.

Tom

[S. Heisley]

Your trailer is looking very, very good.

[AlgoDan]

A beautiful build, very detailed and precise. Your are doing an awesome job

[jss06]

Absolutely beautiful. You do excellent work.

[harleykamper]

Look'n good, Tom. I love the table And how the mattress becomes the chair. We gotta save space and weight in these light weight motorcycle trailers!
Any Idea of the current weight? What projected weight are you shooting for? Is all that aluminium expensive? Keep up the good work.

[ST1100]

Hallo Paul,

the aim for the weight is about 130 kg.
Current the deck has 23.5 kg on my bathroom scales !
I think it's about 65 kg together with axle, wheels and tongue.

Until now I bought that aluminum:
Two solid frame bars 24 mm x 48 mm x 250 cm for 25 Euro
Two high bars 100 mm x 18 mm x 200 cm for 18 Euro
Two 1.5 mm treadplates 40 cm x 200 cm for the deck and two 60 cm x 100 cm for table and door together 113 Euro
One sheet 143 cm x 60 cm x 1 mm for the bottom of my box for 42 Euro
18 meters rectangular tube 20 x 20 x 2 mm for 38 Euro
6 meters angle 20 x 20 x 2 mm for 7 Euro
One kg Rivets for 20 Euro
360 cm piano hinge for 15 Euro
4 stainless angles for the tabletop 10 Euro

Makes 288 Euro together without any stainless steel skin til now.

Every stainless sheet 100 x 200 cm x 0.6 mm will cost 45 Euros.
I think I need four of them (38 kg), makes 180 Euro.
... and for the bodies frame 18 more meters rectangular tube 20 x 20 x 2 mm (7 kg) for 38 Euro.

Sorry for not converting all the metric stuff.
One Euro is about 1.3 Dollar

Tom

[harleykamper]

WOW...under 200 pounds. That light! Mine's is currently at 375 pounds (170kg). The aluminum skin will add 12.7 kg more. Then there's other aluminum trim. And a few more dodads. Well yours is looking great, keep up the good work!

[KCStudly]

In a motorcycle application light weight is paramount to performance.

Lighter = better.

Better acceleration, better braking, better handling.

Both of you are doing good work.