bicycle trailor?

im not sure if this is in the right forum, but instead of walking around the us im getting a bicycle. but i already have most of my gear for walking and i was thinking of making a trailor for a bike. the only problem though is that im tight on money and i got some scrap stuff i could probably use. So i was wondering if anyone knew how to make a decent and sturdy trailor that can fit a miltary MOLE II backpack and and dog?

 

check www.instructables.com for ideas and ways to make and convert bike trailers. I would recommend craigs list or finding a used one. That's where I bought mine for $25. If you have time to be choosey it's worth it because they can be quite spendy new.


I was/am in sort of the same situation, all my gear for walking, then I discovered jogging strollers, easy conversion to hold a rubber maid tote and it's awesome! So much better than wearing a back pack 8 -10 or more hours a day. Especially as I get older. aha

Then I bought a yard sale bike for $10 and a trailer of craigs list for $25. now I'm set to go pretty much anywhere with options even.
good luck

 

juat happened to look today and here is trailer/stroller in the Dayton Ohio area for $50 ...

http://dayton.craigslist.org/bik/2989508963.html

 

fursure thanks again skooky

 

your very welcome. I tried converting my cart into a trailer but didn't have the parts or tools to make it. Ended up being easier (lucky to) that I found a cheap one on craigs list.

Where all you headed to and when ? where you leaving from ? whats the plan ?

aha I could only imagine a bicycle convoy !!

~peace

 

im thinking of going north to oregon from tennessee for the summer then down to mexico for the winter, relaxing along the way

 

Sounds pretty sweet. what route, are you heading north first ? If you ever get in Ohio let me know, should be able to provide a yard to camp in, a meal and shower. (if I am still here. aha!) Indeed it does sound like an adventure.

my one room mate is pretty paranoid about strangers (its his house and his rules tho, and I respect that) and don't have the same outlook as I do about such things.

 

Saddle bags, panniers, a basket and a cargo rack will be better than a trailer. A trailer adds a lot of drag and loss of speed on a bike. Plus it invites you to try and carry too much pointless weight which is a big mistake when backpacking or bike tripping.

 

were in ohio are you skooky i got some family around cleveland.

so i figured out how im going to make my trailor. I was thinking along the lines of those ancient japaneese turtle boats, except on the inside it would be more like a canoe ribbing built out in a shell like frame. i'd have one floor were i could put all my stuff + food, etc. on top build a floor with door on it so i could get to the storage below. then i'd wrap the outside in a big tarp and tie it taut just like an indian canoe, of course it would be long enough for for me to sleep in, but then i'd set up like 3 poles in the sleeping floor to hold the roof up and just tie down another tarp.

im not sure i think i have the design down, and if i works i'd also be able to convert it into a shallow-water canoe thing.
what do you think

 

I'm currently a little north of Dayton, Ohio.

that sounds like a sweet idea but I would worry about the weight of it. A friend of mine once talked about building a bike trailer/tent to take to a burn.

off the top of my head idea. using a cot frame of some kind to use for a trailer frame, add wheels. it'd still be relatively light weight and would fold out to make a cot to sleep on. use a tarp over the top of it with 3 half hoops over the top of it. kind of prairie wagon style.

definetly keep weight in mind. all depends on how much food and gear you'll be taking along.

 

ya i thought of the weight but with it only being a wooden slat frame i was figuring it would be a little lighter. im only gona bring what i was planing on bringing on my back, ill probably only stock up on food and water. idk ill build it if i doesn't work then ill just work out the design flaws, but i do like the idea of a prairie wagon style trailor, hopefully ill be able to take some pictures to upload while the build is going on.

seems like you've been on the road for a while any tips for a noob?

 

kind of like this !

here is another cool one: Bike Wagon

I haven't traveled by foot as far as I would like to. But I do tramp around. I haven't traveled very far by bike yet as I just bought one a month ago.

Weight is very very critical. Is why I chose a cart over wearing a back pack. As I get older it gets rougher. aha. I'd really consider taking a dog along, it limits the places you can go into, the extra weight for extra food and water for it etc. It could really be a big liability. I tried to take mine along once and it just didn't work out, he's kind of big and old and he just couldn't keep up, it was very rough for him and being a dog, can't let his hurts be known. Luckily I have friends who will take care of him when I'm out on the road wandering.

My best advice tho ... be happy about what you are doing and smile. talk to people, be polite, honest about what you are doing and why. I have a sign on my cart and it draws attention and interest, I wear a bright hunter orange vest for safety reasons (so I can be seen walking down the road) again, it draws attention and interest. People will be interested about you. They'll ask questions and often help you out with a place to sleep at night, a meal, a sandwich, water and other such niceties. I would often get discounted or free meals at restaurants. I never asked for anything tho (directions once in awhile) or, (Do you know a good place I could camp tonight, a yard, field, etc.), I wasn't out on the road to be begging for handouts. You're doing something completely alien to them and they will be intrigued and impressed.( Or, think you totally bonkers, but impressed nonetheless!!). aha! This has been my experience but I avoid large places and cities. country roads smaller towns etc.

my cart:

I do highly suggest a travel partner, I occasionally have had one and it makes days so much better having someone to talk to. Good friends, good times.

~peace

 

Thinking of making some of these panniers. saw some of these made out of those kitty litter buckets once.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFqb-YQPTnA"]home made panniers on youtube


not sure if the video will show up. not sure how to insert them in posts.

 

ya i saw that picture on google thats what actually gave me the idea of doing something like that. ya i got a dog but he's only a puppy i figured i'd just have him ride in the trailor. ya i been hoping that i can find someone who would want to go but the only people i have found are pretty much already by oregon/west coast.
The sign idea is a pretty good idea i think i'll make one.

 

I've made a bike trailer for a friend's trip out of an old off-road style stroller, and I've had great experiences with mine I made out of a a welding cart. The main thing is it needs good, big wheels and need to be able to pivot in all directions so you can lean into your turns.
For mine I just bent a loop into an aluminum rod and slid it onto the seat post. The loop went around twice, so it supported itself and kept the front of the trailer up in the air and off the wheel.
At first I had tried two supports, one coming off either side of the wheel braces, but the whole thing was too rigid and I couldn't counter-steer.
Good luck with your trailer and your trip, bud! I've been wanting to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway eventually. So far I've never made a trip over 300 miles.

 

well if you ever want a ridin buddy hit me up. but thanks for the idea i think i can probably work that into my design.

 

There was a board I have used for finding riding partners on long trips. Wish I could remember what it was... I think it was on a site that sold bicycle route maps for cross-country trips...

 

Hey Warpeace how's that bike trailer coming along ?

 

I have a little trailer built to haul kids around in. It's kind of like an enclosed playpen. I was thinking of setting it up for travel.

 

sorry i haven't been on for a minute, was in the process of moving stuff around. but so far since im doing it with a metal and a wood hand saw i so far have the wheel wells cut out on the metal trailor that im going to drop in as a storage container, and have the 2x4 shaved down and droped into the metal rail coming from the wheels. im just waiting on picking up some more 2x4's so i can finish the frame for the metal trailor and from there it should be a breeze. i hope to get some pics up soome of the progress. im just building it when the mood strikes lol so it may take a couple more weeks. but i cant wait. : )