Stainless Steel Micro-Airstream behind motorcycle

[ST1100]

Hello again,

This winter I attached a hitch to my Honda ST 1100 motorbike and now I want to build a 3.3 x 6.6 foot Micro-Airstream to pull it behind my bike.
The german technical commission (TÜV) allows me to tow 190 kg (418 lb) behind my Honda and I hope to meet 300 lb with my tiny Airstream.



I like the polished look of the Airstreams, but I don't want to polish my can twice a year.
So stainless steel will be the best for me, but 7.3 square meters will cost about 440 Euros in 0.6 mm thickness.

The ground frame will be 40 x 40 x 2 mm rectangular aluminum tubes, which will be welded together by a company for me.
The body should be removable and fixed at only four points to the ground frame. So its only cargo and not a vehicle.
We have strong regulations in Germany for additional lighting and plexiglass windows used in vehicles.
But if the can is only transported as a box on a platform trailer, I'm free in design, material and lighting.

The floor will be one big sheet of 2 m x 1 m x 1.5 mm aluminum treadplate.
The wall frame I will build from 20 x 20 x 1.5 mm rectangular aluminum tubing.
And the curved roof and corner frames will be from 15 x 15 x 1 mm rectangular aluminum tubes, wich I can bend by myself over a pattern.

The stainless skin I will fix with 4mm waterproof rivets to the frame. The biggest problem I fear are the four 3-D roof corners with one foot radius.
I have to test it with a sheet of paper, then aluminum to find a cutting pattern that will work at the end for the stainless steel too.

But first of all I will get axle, tongue and wheels next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Today my supplier confirmed the delivery date off the factory next monday !

Tom from Bavaria

[ST1100]

I ordered a torsion axle 890 mm wide with dampers, the tongue 1250 mm long.

Including the small 4 x 8 '' wheels the trailer will be 990 mm wide. 1.00 m ist the german limit for trailers behind bikes.

[RandyG]

That stainless steel will be much heavier than aluminum, and I don't think there wouldn't be much more buffing using alum.
And those rounded corners, the best bet would be using an English wheel. I used one making a Captain America shield for my son. That's the only way to put those types of curves in metal; Unless you cut, bend, then weld it back.

[KCStudly]

You can get clear anodized polished aluminum that will weather much better and stay nice.

Another method for forming the corner caps is a shot bag and mallet, then planishing hammer, then english wheel to smooth it. Very time consumming and takes great skill/practice... not cheap tools to buy, either.

Have you seen the Foamie section here on the forum? Lots of light weight build ideas there.

Welcome and good luck!

[droid_ca]

Welcome You got a realy cool idea there I hope you take lots of pictures I like this idea I can see it behind a vespa or a small off road bike as well
it would make for a very nomadic lifestyle.. maybe in a few years I could consider doing that

or there is the goldbond trailer ...I can't seem to find the link to it but it is red and pops up ...maybe someone else will know what one I'm talking about

[mezmo]

Droid,

The Goldbrand link is in one of my posts in Tom's Newbie Intro thread:

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=54299

Plus, there is other info on his build there too, so with the link to it here,
it is now included here in his build thread.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[ST1100]

Hi mezmo,

the swedish Goldbrand is too big for me.
http://www.goldbrand.info/

And if you got a windy day, it will be very dangerous for the towing motorcycle !

I do not need the space to stand inside, I only want a little bit more comfort than in my 20-dollar 3 x 7 ft tent.
Sitting and clothing without touching the roof.



And on a journey with a tent, staying overnite every day 500 km from the last site I loose to much time
with folding the wet tent and the sleeping mat and the sleeping bag and packing all things in my saddle bags
and in the evening I do the same again in reverse direction.

I hope, the micro-airstream will give me a little more comfort and it is for me a fine unique boy toy, too.

Tom

[ST1100]

Here my plan for the 40 x 40 mm aluminum frame in blue, all dimensions in millimeters.



The exact plan follows, when the axle will arrive here next week.

Tom from Bavaria
(where just now at the moment the "Elefantentreffen 2013" in Solla takes place)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78OMnJkeJ5U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmkwErav1bs

[angib]

Tom, can you say who is supplying the axle/chassis for your trailer? It looks very interesting, particularly with proper dampers incorporated.

I like the 'separate box' idea - we in Britain will also have problems with using approved windows when we have to pass our own test.

[ST1100]

This is my towing vehicle for my Micro-Airstream, a 1994 Honda ST 1100 Pan European, the most reliable bike in the world.
Till now it's run 135,000 kilometers without any problem.



98 hp, 317 kg empty, 517 kg max. weight, antilock braking and traction control system and 190 kg max. trailer weight and 25 kg tongue weight limit.

Tom

[ST1100]

Tom, can you say who is supplying the axle/chassis for your trailer? It looks very interesting, particularly with proper dampers incorporated.

I like the 'separate box' idea - we in Britain will also have problems with using approved windows when we have to pass our own test.

Hi Angib,

that's an axle prototype with 300 kg weight limit made for me by a big german manufacturer.
It's special equipped with dampers, waterproof wheel bearings like used in boat trailers and complete 4 x 8 inch wheels.
I've got offers from the company for 10 or 20 pieces, if there is a interest to get some more.
I will post pictures, when the box has arrived.

The 'separate box idea' allows to get out of the wideness limit. our traffic law allows the cargo could be wider than the vehicle.
I don't want to travel with a 140 cm wide box behind my Honda, but for example a Hobie Sailing Catamaran is wider than the transport trailer and that's legal.



Tom

[ST1100]

Okay, here you can see the first sideview plan (all dimensions in millimeters)



The blue framed panel in the middle of the picture will be a 140 cm wide door opening up and maybe later replaced by a slideout.
The door to get inside is at the backside.

The height of the body and the side door is not yet defined, because I have to know first, how much space remains above the wheels.
To get the single bed as wide as possible, the plywood panel will be set directly above the wheel houses.

[KCStudly]

Good drawing.

What is the plan for where the tongue and front lower corner of the box conflict?

[ST1100]

What is the plan for where the tongue and front lower corner of the box conflict?

MS Paint in Windows 7 has become a fine drawing tool !

The conflict Is in the front baggage compartment under my bed and will be cut out of the bottom and front of the body box.
A small piece of Aluminum bend with 10 mm distance from the 60 x 60 mm rectangunglar tongue tube and riveted in will close the body here.

Tom

[ST1100]

The view from the rear:



The slideout at the right side is an option for later. First there will be a 140 cm wide door opening up like an awning.
The left wall is closed and will get a fixed window, possibly a windscreen or rear window of a Citroen 2CV or plexiglass.

The door to enter the box at the backside will get a small window like the front end.

Tom