Hello from germany

[tom_germany]

hello everybody!
my name is thomas from germany.
i´m 29years of age and i plan to build a teardrop trailer i put behind my
piaggio ape 50


the only problem will be, that i´m only allowed to pull a maximum of 200kgs
which is 440,92 pounds lbs.

my ape is 120cm wide-47,24inch-so the trailor shouldn´t be wider than that.
its a just for fun car, nothing serious but great fun!
max. speed is 40-50km/h
it has 105ccm

do you gys think that it would be possible to build a teardrop with a max. of 440,92pounds? 200kgs?

here in germany we dont know your teardrops, and since i first saw them in the www. i´m a great fan and for me this is an absloute musthave.

with this community, i hope someone could help me out. maybe some of you folks could help me out with plans?

all the best and greets from germanys south!
tom

[mikeschn]

Hallo Tom,

Herzliches Willkommen!!!

Do you have a real car that you could tow your caravan with? Perhaps a Jetta Diesel, or even a VW Polo? That would open up lots of opportunities for you.

It is possible to build light, just look in the design library (up there in the menu) for the Superleggera for example!

Have fun!

Tschüss

Mike...

[tom_germany]

hello mike,
sure i have a real car a mercedes benz b class.
but i want to tow the trailer with the car shown above
so that makes things difficult i think.

[Classic Finn]

hello everybody!
my name is thomas from germany.
i´m 29years of age and i plan to build a teardrop trailer i put behind my
piaggio ape 50


the only problem will be, that i´m only allowed to pull a maximum of 200kgs
which is 440,92 pounds lbs.

my ape is 120cm wide-47,24inch-so the trailor shouldn´t be wider than that.
its a just for fun car, nothing serious but great fun!
max. speed is 40-50km/h
it has 105ccm

do you gys think that it would be possible to build a teardrop with a max. of 440,92pounds? 200kgs?

here in germany we dont know your teardrops, and since i first saw them in the www. i´m a great fan and for me this is an absloute musthave.

with this community, i hope someone could help me out. maybe some of you folks could help me out with plans?

all the best and greets from germanys south!
tom

Hello Tom and Greetings. Welcome to the forum.

An answer to your questions as the weight is a concern. Yes it could possibly be done. First, One question I have is, what is your vehicle registered as? (its considered as a light motor vehicle). However is it registered as an automobile, Motorcycle, or Scooter or Moped or what?

That will determine what you can do and cant do, with the strict laws of Germany also. Then after that is determined then check the size, weight, and such that your able to pull. As the Laws for motorcycle trailers are less beauracratic to the EU Laws and that of your own Laws in Germany.

Im thinking a tent trailer might be the one thing to consider. However your mercedes is another topic.

Here in Finland as well as elsewhere they build trailers for the motorcycles.
However the laws for motorcycle trailers are totally different than what the laws are for automobiles.

So that is why I ask as to what it is registered as. Also with your rig. Isnt it a bit too slow for the autobahns there in Germany? As there are laws pertaining to the minimum speed allowed on motorways.

Again greetings from Finland, Ill try to help you as much as possible so ask questions, you,ll receive ideas and replies however the Laws are much different than in the USA or Canada. Maybe Andrew will reply to you also as he is a real pro with issues pertaining to tears and such.

Also one good place to start is ask the German Motor Vehicle Officials as to what your allowed.

Classic Finn

[tom_germany]

hello to finnland!
max speed is 50km/h.
i checked with the gov. earlier this week and they told me, because the little piaggio ape is a threewheeler
(i just have to pay insurance-no big license plate necassary) i dont even have to pay anything for the trailor.
only thing is maximum of 200kgs.
so i´m allowed to build a teardrop.

whatever. i started a thread in another german forum:
check:

http://www.forum.piaggioape.de/index.ph ... #post90950

this is what my teardrop shall look like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Ve ... 240%3A1318

greets!!!

[Classic Finn]

hello to finnland!
max speed is 50km/h.
i checked with the gov. earlier this week and they told me, because the little piaggio ape is a threewheeler
(i just have to pay insurance-no big license plate necassary) i dont even have to pay anything for the trailor.
only thing is maximum of 200kgs.
so i´m allowed to build a teardrop.

whatever. i started a thread in another german forum:
check:

http://www.forum.piaggioape.de/index.ph ... #post90950

this is what my teardrop shall look like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Ve ... 240%3A1318

greets!!!

Hello Tom

Now that is good news then. Interesting forum with lots of great photos.
Thats a nice profile of the tear you have planned.

So now you have to have it so you dont exceed the weight limit.

Light frame needed - Hmm Tom take a look at this frame here for ultralight tears.

Wonder if this frame setup would help with the weight.

http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/t ... tear57.htm

Classic Finn

[tom_germany]

hi there!
the trailer i have already, tomorrow i will post some photos because tomorrow i will do the floor!
thank you so much!!

[Classic Finn]

hi there!
the trailer i have already, tomorrow i will post some photos because tomorrow i will do the floor!
thank you so much!!

Ok It will be real nice to see photographs

Classic Finn

[angib]

Tom, if you want to build light, one thing you should expect is that you can't have an aluminium skin on the outside - it weighs too much.

I am currently working on a very light teardrop for low-powered vehicles, so send me your email and I'll include you in the discussion.

Andrew

[Classic Finn]

Tom, if you want to build light, one thing you should expect is that you can't have an aluminium skin on the outside - it weighs too much.

I am currently working on a very light teardrop for low-powered vehicles, so send me your email and I'll include you in the discussion.

Andrew

I knew Andrew would chime in Tom. Now you,ll have some real good advice and ideas.

Andrew how light weight are we talking about? Id love to learn about it as well.

Classic Finn

[mikeschn]

Andrew is working on a couple really nice designs. They would be very reasonable for towing behind that "Thing". You definitely want to get included in the discussion!

Mike...

[Mini Renegade]

Hi Tom, welcome to the Forum. Where in Germany are you? I lived near Hanover for 5 years.

[angib]

Andrew how light weight are we talking about? Id love to learn about it as well.

Up to now, all I've done is the 'unusual' Piccolo replica, to be towed behind an Isetta - but then that is a 'monster' 250cc engine compared to the Ape's 'little' 50cc engine"!



This one is unusual as the entry is by the rear hatch and it is small, even for a teardrop - 78" (2000mm) long, 46" (1180mm) high and 44" (1100mm) wide. Tom might like it as the Piccolo was a German trailer. The weight estimate for the Piccolo replica is 263 pounds (119 kg) just painted or 305 pounds (138 kg) with an aluminium skin.

The design that I expect to be more popular is what I'm calling the Pico-Light, which has conventional doors but no galley hatch and is 80" (2030mm) long, 44" (1120mm) high and 48" (1220mm) high.



As I reckon the Piccolo replica won't be very popular, I've only sent drawings to those interested. The Pico-Light I reckon more people will be interested in and that will be put on my web site when I find the time to get the design finished.

Andrew

[Classic Finn]

That sure is cute as a button Andrew. What material do you have in mind as it seems that there isnt much to work with before it exceeds the weight limit.

Id say the ply has to be very thin. Layered Sandwich style core maybe? Or Honey Comb sheeting which is very light as well as has good strength to it. Not much for an R value though.

Classic Finn

[graham17457]

Hello Tom,
I live next 'door' to you in the Netherlands and am also planning an ultra-lightweight teardrop for behind a three wheeler. My car is a Reliant Rialto, which weighs 400 kg (880 lb) so I can tow maximum of 250 kg with an unbraked axle (50% of the towing vehicle plus 50 kg). I'll be watching your progress with interest! Good luck.