Art bike trailer

[we0ne]

I'm looking ideas/ suggestions of how to attach an 8 x 4 foot platform that will be on 2, 3 or 4 wheels to a regular bycyle that can pull this trailer. Ideally it could be pulled with one or 2 bikes. Usually will be pulled with one.

I'm concerned about the turning radius and "give" it would need so it wouldn't tip (it will be about 1.5 - 2 feet from the ground) and won't make it impossible for the bike to pull it and manuever.

The trailer platform will be holding anywhere from 40 - 100 lbs.

All ideas welcome.

Thanks

[nollij]

I'm looking ideas/ suggestions of how to attach an 8 x 4 foot platform that will be on 2, 3 or 4 wheels to a regular bycyle that can pull this trailer. Ideally it could be pulled with one or 2 bikes. Usually will be pulled with one.

I'm concerned about the turning radius and "give" it would need so it wouldn't tip (it will be about 1.5 - 2 feet from the ground) and won't make it impossible for the bike to pull it and manuever.

The trailer platform will be holding anywhere from 40 - 100 lbs.

All ideas welcome.

Thanks

Although there are commercial trailers that can handle this kind of load and more (see here, there are lots of ways of making trailers. Perhaps this might work? Or maybe this homemade one?

[Zhust]

I'm looking ideas/ suggestions of how to attach an 8 x 4 foot platform that will be on 2, 3 or 4 wheels to a regular bycyle that can pull this trailer. Ideally it could be pulled with one or 2 bikes. Usually will be pulled with one.

I'd recommend 4-wheels using those industrial casters like you can get at Harbor Freight (about 9" diameter would be good.) The rearmost two wheels should roll straight forward and the forntmost should independently caster. By allowing them to caster independently, you can get as tight a turning radius as possible (joined steering would both be unnecessary and would limit the radius.) Setting the wheels to the corners of the cart would almost entirely prevent it from tipping. Also, this will help if someone tries to step onto the rear corner of the trailer: if the wheels are further in than the edges, it's possible for a person to tip the trailer by just stepping on the edge.

I used a custom trailer hitch as I described in my post in another thread. It has proven adequate to haul almost 300 pounds. There are two tricks to it: the hitch must be low to the ground or the side-to-side motion of the bike will make the trailer swerve, and you need a bent pole/pipe/wood construction to go around the wheel when it takes a corner. Mine is mounted to the left side of the axle so I can attain tight left turns but tight right turns cause the rear wheel to hit the hitch.

The trailer platform will be holding anywhere from 40 - 100 lbs.

A 4x8 sheet of plywood, some 2x4 understructure, and the casters would come up to almost 100 pounds on its own. Since it's such a large platform, I'd recommend thinking to make it strong enough to hold 2 people at least -- about 400 pounds -- since people aren't so prone to following instructions. Making a 2x4 "subfloor" should make it strong enough. Bike trailer companies note that a single bicycle can haul 600-1,000 pounds without too much trouble -- starting and stopping are much slower than normal, though.

[LeChatNoir]

I robbed from a freebie junk BMX bike for the wheels on my trailer. Try yard sales... and the bigger the wheels, the easier it will roll for you.

Though as jaycerochester points out, the front two will have to swivel or be able to have some sort of turning ability.

Wait!!! What if you cut up the frame of a couple of old 20" bikes and then mounted the entire front end (front forks and headset minus the handle bars) to the front of your trailer?... one on each front corner. that would give you large wheels that would also be abel to swivel 360 degrees.

Hmmm...

[LeChatNoir]

Then the back halves could be mounted and be your two fixed rear wheels!!!