Trailer #1

Frame

     The trailer was made from ½" square steel with 1/16" wall.  The pivots use plain old 3/8" hex cap screws as the pivots with nylon lock nuts.  For lack of anything else, the bed of the trailer was made out of an old piece of ¼" plywood and stained.  The suspension is made out of a spring from an old salvaged mountain bike that had suspension forks.  A friend cut them open and returned the two springs to me to use in something.  The capacity of the springs is likely around 100 to 150 lbs, but the trailer probably wouldn't take any more than 100 lbs.

     I didn't really have any real design in mind for the swing arm and suspension so I sort of made it up as I went along.  The tailer is pretty closely modelled after the Bob Trailers.  The whole trailer weighs 15 lbs and the cargo area is 30" long, 8" high and 16" long.  It works great for the kids delivering their papers, and I'm going to make a sack/bag that fits in the cargo area to "bag" the load and make it water proof/resistant.

Next time . . .

• make the next one completely foldable, if possible
• next one will have the load slung in a kind of "hammock" between two rails.  Simpler design and lighter.
• make the load's center of gravity lower
• have a simpler connection method to the bike.  Perhaps a long curved pipe that could connect to the rear wheel stays or the seat post.

This trailer has been sold and now lives in Montreal, PQ.  It might end up as an electric pusher trailer from what I gather.  Leaves room in the stable for a new trailer . . . or 6 :)

More bike details when more bikes are built :)