Greetings from Wisconsin

[TheOtherStyle]

Hi all, I'm planning a camper trailer to pull behind my bicycle, and Google searching ended up bringing me here. Thought I'd say hi, and hopefully I find all the info I need!

[tearhead]

Hi, from another Wisconsinite and relative newbie. It sounds like a challenge to pull a teardrop trailer behind a bicycle, even light as they are. The small ones can be towed behind a motorcycle or small car. Our 5 by 8 does okay behind our Subaru Forester. But a bike? You must have thighs of steel! I'm going to have to read the "bicycles" thread. I had assumed it had to do with mounting them on a tear, but maybe it has to do with towing! Is it to camp in or is it a little tiny cargo trailer?

Welcome to the board.

[TheOtherStyle]

Southeast Wisconsin..you look kind of familiar lol. I'm in Walworth county.

The plan is to start with the overall dimensions of 3wx3hx6l, but the height and length is subject to change. I am planning a motorized bicycle build, so I won't be peddling all the time. I currently haul scrap in on a 3x3x2h trailer and haul in as much as 150lbs at a time, so I'm already getting a decent workout.

I want to do a tour around the Midwest come summer, starting in Wi, going to MN, NE, WY, MS, OH, MI, and back home. The plan is to visit friends, see some sights, and in general promote hobbies. For that trip, I'll need something to sleep on/in, and since I'm severely arachnaphobic, sleeping on the ground is a no go, and I'm not fond of tents either, as something always seems to get in.

I've been sketching it out on paper, and browsing around online to get an idea of how I want to build it. I've been thinking about a basic 3w, 3h, 6l box with a curved front end with moped/scooter wheels bracketed underneath, and I've considered a 7ft long, 3ft wide teardrop with torsion axles and a drop down side, with the front wall lifting for an ~1ft deep cabinet section, separated from the sleeping cabin with a wall of course.

Regardless of what shape it is in, there will be a 12v sealed battery underneath between the wheels, and a small generator mounted somewhere as well (Harbor Freight sells a 900w max 2-stroke generator for 130 bucks, heard lots of good things about it). Inside will be lit by led lighting, and will have a futon mattress modified to fit the width. Beyond that, I am completely open to design and features.

I want to build it as light as possible, since it is after all going to be towed behind a bicycle. I am not sure yet how to build the frame, but I have been looking at materials and am currently thinking about sandwiching hard foam insulation between thin sheets of plastic. I'm trying to avoid wood for the sides and roof, due to weight, but will obviously need to use a sheet for the floor of the inside since it needs to support me when sleeping.

I just found this forum earlier, and am already looking through different parts of the forum for ideas. Hopefully I find everything I need!

[Wild Bill]

Sounds like you need a covered cot with wheels. Alum Frame, Canvas Sides, Room for water to drink and food. Long and slender, angled front for the wind stream, galley under front, Feet under galley.
Good Luck with your project. Bill

[bobhenry]

ya might wanta stretch this unit.

http://atomiczombie.com/product-cyclebully.htm

maybe put this idea to use ???

http://www.cruiserlift.com/wackyshack.html

[bobhenry]

I forgot I had tucked this in my album................




There are also several 1 wheel ultra light trailers in the album if you wanta peek in!

For a real info overload look in here in the scooter trailer section ....

http://www.singlewheel.com/

[TheOtherStyle]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was looking through the bicycle section on here and am toying with some ideas.

[bobhenry]

This one has been around before.....



so has this one and it telescopes out....

[TheOtherStyle]

That picture is what originally gave me the idea of building a camper trailer. Call it the original inspiration if you will. As I sit here awake at 3:30 in the morning listening to sleet fall of tree branches onto my roof, I wonder if that picture has ever inspired anyone else...

[hiker chick]

This will be an interesting project to watch unfold. Good luck!

I have a Burley Nomad cargo bike trailer and it weighs only 14.5 pounds but has a carrying capacity of 100 pounds. Also have a Croozer dog trailer that weighs 31 pounds and is rated to carry 100. Both have aluminum frames. Croozer also has a couple of cargo trailers.

Perhaps these could provide some design ideas. The Croozer has 20" wheels. The Burley has 16."

They have different hitch mechanisms.

[doris s.]

I love the idea of a teardrop for a bicycle. A solid roof and tent sides might work. I also like the cot tents that cabalas sells...if only you could add wheels.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/commo ... me=Cabelas Deluxe Tent Cot&tProdID=0034805516987a

Good luck and post pics!

Doris

[tearhead]

Those pictures look a bit like rolling coffins...which isn't really a bad idea, actually. One might arrive at the pearly gates a bit faster with wheels.

In another thread we were talking about made-ahead coffins that can double as coffeetables until you're ready to use them for ...uh...something else. The teardrop idea could be similar--the ultimate in recycling.

I did not realize there were two bicycle forums in here. Did you find the one about building bicycle travel trailers?

OtherStyle, maybe I AM familiar--I also live in Walworth County. I live near a bike shop.