I want to get a trailer to attach to my 10 speed bike so I can bring home groceries and get some exercise at the same time. I was looking into a pedicab so I can carry the groceries and parade my wife like the princess she is at the same time. Pedicabs are super expensive so I think it would be more cost effective to build my own. I have several ideas and would appreciate any input. Idea #1 make it from 1 to 3 shopping carts. I am trying to teach myself welding for this. I might need more that one to make it big enough. Idea #2 made from PVC piping material. I also saw a trailer made from bamboo. Has to connect to my current bike but I'm not apposed to the idea of getting another bike with a permanent connection to the trailer part. Idea #3 Take a tricycle add a little space plus 2 more wheels on the back and build from there.
pedicab
- Thread starter Joemedic
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I wouldn't put an adult in a trailer. The trailer will be heavy enough to drag the bike about. You'll want a trike for such a task. Carrying a passenger who's not pedalling will involve electric assist unless you live in Norfolk (ie flat).
Florida is flat so that won't be a problem. If I make it electric then it defeats the purpose for exercising. That's why listed my light weight options. If I use a trike then I want to add 2 more tires behind the first 2 so I can build the pedicab on top.
I like your idea. You think if I replace the trike basket with a shopping cart will make it too heavy?
Depends on what trike you are using and what sort of reinforcement is necessary. If you are looking to adapt a std commercially available trike then the chassis will be designed for 1 adult. If you could mock up a picture of what you expect to end up with it will help.
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We're talking Delta's here I guess.
In any case, we have a few IRL examples. TukTuks and Riksja's.
For a delta , rebuilding a commercial Upright (old ladies bike) is not an option. Non I know off have a load capacity over 300lbs.
I would adapt the Timberwolf. But as a recumbent, it will make for a fairly long machine.
In any case, we have a few IRL examples. TukTuks and Riksja's.
For a delta , rebuilding a commercial Upright (old ladies bike) is not an option. Non I know off have a load capacity over 300lbs.
I would adapt the Timberwolf. But as a recumbent, it will make for a fairly long machine.
Lots of different ways to move cargo / people. How ambitious do you want to be?
That white one, I worked on a simular riksja. Put a 750W midmotor on it, and disk brakes.
I like this one. I think I want to redesign a tricycle like this but I need to find one with some length to it.
I'd suggest you don't want to start with a trike at all. Start with a bike and make everything from the seat tube backwards. A std adult trike simply won't take the weight.
Get the loderunner plans and see how Brad builds the rear end then adapt / widen that for your requirements. Keep the rear wheels to 20" as they are stronger than larger wheels.
Get the loderunner plans and see how Brad builds the rear end then adapt / widen that for your requirements. Keep the rear wheels to 20" as they are stronger than larger wheels.
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Recumbent bikes are too low to the ground. In Miami I will most likely get run over. Can I take the front wheel off my 10 speed bike and make it a tricycle in the front and then add a cab from there? If I try to build a bike from scratch it will cost me a fortune. Maybe PVC material. I may just have to resort to a large shopping cart on the back of a tricycle.
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Yes. The front part will need to mount both above and below the head tube. Ie to the fork area and the handlebar area. Those mounts will need to have at least one removable to facilitate access to the bearings. In reality both mounts will be better off removable. The areas where it mounts will be high stress. I doubt pvc pipe would take it and wouldn't consider anything but steel.
I think you may have misunderstood my loderunner suggestion. I was not suggesting a recumbent but merely suggesting you examine how the rear axle is made and mounted to a chassis and then widen that and adapt it to fit the front half of a regular bike. You would then build your carrier over that axle.
Oh sorry I was going by the photo's of the recumbent bikes.
I watched a few videos on that type of cargo bike. My front tire comes off with an attached lever. I hope I can come up with a plan that doesn't require cutting and welding to my bike. I would like to interchange between the cargo with 2 wheels and my one tire that is on the bike now. Again I am no architect and I'm trying to go by the video's I watch.
You could get another fork to butcher about so it can be swapped back to a bike but you have ambitions that are all but guaranteed to involve welding. Get a welder and give it a go. Making something that doesn't involve welding is a much harder way to go. Wood could build something strong enough but making the attachment points in anything but steel is fraught with difficulty. Things like brake mounts without welded steel are difficult and will probably force you to use drum brakes which forces you to build your own wheels. The knock on effects of not welding make everything much harder than learning to weld.
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