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An Eco-Friendly, Bicycle-Hauled Travel Trailer

By John Farrier in Science & Tech, Travel & Places on Aug 26, 2009 at 3:36 pm


Paul Elkins built this lightweight travel trailer for his trip to the Burning Man festival. It has a roof-mounted wind turbine for electical power, as well as a solar cooker and water heater. It weighs only 100 pounds dry, so he can haul it around with his bicycle:

The skin is 1/4″ flutted plastic like whats used for election signs. This was riveted and screwed onto 3/4″ square aluminum tubing salvaged from an old satellite dish. The base was made of 2×2 fir. The 30″ square door frame, made of 1×2’s was skrewed to the side panel, cut on the sides and bottom. The upper part was left uncut to act as a hinge. The bed hinges in a lounge attitude. On the outside resides an herb flower box, a urinal funnel (sanicans were a ways off) and 13″ wheel barrel wheels on a 1/2″ axle mounted with 1/2″ square tubing made up the running gear. I used 3/4″ steel for the tow bar, A recycled card table for the corner camper supports, and misc this and that. It’s whatever I had kicking around at the time, and that’s how anyone would have to do it if worst came to worst.

There are many pictures at the link.

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COMMENT
  1. Wes
    Aug 26th, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    I bring it up only because it's the second time I've seen it today: Why on earth do people think "worst comes to worst" makes any sense at all?

  2. Rich
    Aug 26th, 2009 at 5:47 pm

    Think "A Boy and his Dog" I guess...

  3. ~April
    Aug 26th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    It would have to get pretty "worst" for me to resort to that.

  4. imasayer
    Aug 26th, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    My tent weighs six pounds. Just saying.

  5. Lauren
    Aug 26th, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    *sigh* It is perfect. Just perfect.

  6. Foreigner1
    Aug 27th, 2009 at 3:54 am

    Qute contraption- Makes only any sence in the energy-winnig department with the solar water cooker and the wind-turbine. But with 100 pounds dry weight- Wouldn't it be more sensible to take the lightweight tent of imasaver and then put the bicycle-energy you otherwise need to use for hauling all the weight of that trailer, into powering a foot-cranked dynamo ot make electricity...?

  7. paul elkins
    Aug 27th, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    I built this thing. It was intended for 'Burningman'conditions with winds up to 50+ mph. It had to be somewhat heavy. I have another plan for bicycle touring where the 3 ft long trailer lid opens up with an acordian tent instantly folding out. The padded bed is ready to climb into. The box underneath houses all possesions. I had a hoot for the 2 weeks I lived in this camper. Something similar to my camper, like a push around version, would be more suited for a city homeless person.

  8. Tempscire
    Aug 27th, 2009 at 11:36 pm

    I love that the detail that draws my eye the most is the "Scoop Away" kitty litter bucket. Ahh...

  9. Gordy
    Sep 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 am

    It make a lot more sense than a lot of the ridiculously large/heavy/gas-guzzling RVs I've seen on the roads.

  10. bikerbill
    Sep 3rd, 2009 at 9:14 am

    He built it mostly for fun, not to save the planet. You critics should try to have some fun, it's good for the soul.

  11. Don in Rochester
    Sep 5th, 2009 at 8:11 am

    I'd tow that -- behind my motorcycle ;^)(My old muscles aren't up to 100 pounds of extra weight behind my bicycle.)

    Nice job though, Paul!

  12. officermcbride
    Sep 16th, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    I took a look at this here on line. I was impressed. The time and thought put in to it. I too am working on my own camper. Nothing like his though. I wold love for this to be made available to the public as their are a lot of people who enjoy this sort of thing. I would only sugest that the shell be mad of light fiberglass. I sure would love to have one of these! I wish him luck with his project. One more thing, GET IT PATENTED!

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