Mountain Mike
I frequent the IBA Motel
I have been tossing around the idea of making a cargo trailer for my bike that is long enough to slip into and sleep if needed. Who knows if I ever decide it to be feasible to build, but the planning sure is fun.
The Problem: Its been a rainy year, and that has caused problems for camping because setting up tents in the rain stinks. And packing up sandy-wet tents is no fun either. Sometimes you just want to jump in a bed and sleep, and not spend a ton of time getting ready to go the next day. A hotel room can solve all this, but that can get pricey when its just you, and all you need is just a place to lay your head.
Also there have been times I have been riding and despite getting plenty of sleep, got really tired. Something I could jump into for a catnap at a Walmart or rest stop would be handy when I eventually go coast to coast sometime soon.
I got my itch when I saw this image.
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/05/17/cyclist-takes-bed-along-in-homemade-trailer/
Seems bicycle trailers got a lot of press back when times were tough.
It looked like just about what I needed. It would solve the majority of my tent complaints except there is no place to slip off wet suits before hopping into a dry sleeping bag.
My original thought was make it a little modern by getting a cheap trailer and mounting Thule's largest cargo box onto it, it would be a low ceiling but i would fit with room to roll over.
If I were to do this, I would need an active air exchange, and there would be minimal weight, but minimal room for customization as well.
I could add a rain-fly like the slipstream to the Thule.
But If I am going to make a camper, I want solid walls like a regular DRY camper.
There is a guy who built a ultralight bicycle camper for burningman using 1/4" fluted plastic like whats used for election signs. I like the design a lot but would have to do it quite a bit differently to allow it to withstand highway speeds and be water tight.
I really admire all the little cool things he did inside, and it gave me a lot of ideas.
If I were to build a slipstream shaped (or teardrop) cabin a little wider and taller than a Thule cargo box, I would have the space I need to slip out of wet stuff inside without soaking the bed. Or I could just possibly find a light plastic cargo box already out there somewhere that meets my needs for interior space without much modding.
I will probably add as I try to narrow down what it is I really want, and is it worth the expense of additional weight, money, and mpg. Feel free to chime in on my brainstorming.
The Problem: Its been a rainy year, and that has caused problems for camping because setting up tents in the rain stinks. And packing up sandy-wet tents is no fun either. Sometimes you just want to jump in a bed and sleep, and not spend a ton of time getting ready to go the next day. A hotel room can solve all this, but that can get pricey when its just you, and all you need is just a place to lay your head.
Also there have been times I have been riding and despite getting plenty of sleep, got really tired. Something I could jump into for a catnap at a Walmart or rest stop would be handy when I eventually go coast to coast sometime soon.
I got my itch when I saw this image.
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/05/17/cyclist-takes-bed-along-in-homemade-trailer/
Seems bicycle trailers got a lot of press back when times were tough.
It looked like just about what I needed. It would solve the majority of my tent complaints except there is no place to slip off wet suits before hopping into a dry sleeping bag.
My original thought was make it a little modern by getting a cheap trailer and mounting Thule's largest cargo box onto it, it would be a low ceiling but i would fit with room to roll over.
If I were to do this, I would need an active air exchange, and there would be minimal weight, but minimal room for customization as well.
I could add a rain-fly like the slipstream to the Thule.
But If I am going to make a camper, I want solid walls like a regular DRY camper.
There is a guy who built a ultralight bicycle camper for burningman using 1/4" fluted plastic like whats used for election signs. I like the design a lot but would have to do it quite a bit differently to allow it to withstand highway speeds and be water tight.
If I were to build a slipstream shaped (or teardrop) cabin a little wider and taller than a Thule cargo box, I would have the space I need to slip out of wet stuff inside without soaking the bed. Or I could just possibly find a light plastic cargo box already out there somewhere that meets my needs for interior space without much modding.
I will probably add as I try to narrow down what it is I really want, and is it worth the expense of additional weight, money, and mpg. Feel free to chime in on my brainstorming.
![IMG_1409+[640x480].JPG.jpg](/forums/data/attachments/16/16329-d59b8659f56134ed9ea62aa099ad0b76.jpg)
