Single Wheel Hybrid Trailer concept

[bennelson]

With all this talk of EV pusher trailers and other ways of having an "instant-hybrid", it got me thinking.

Today, I was talking with the guys about testing out an EV system, so as to have the whole drivetrain and electrics all worked out before installing it in a vehicle quickly, like doing a weekend conversion.

One thing we joked about was to bolt it to the 2" hitch receiver on the back of a pickup truck. You could just put all the batteries in the bed of the truck, and everything else could just be connected as a single unit into the hitch receiver.

If this was integrated as a one-wheel trailer, it could act as a hybrid system.

It would be similar to the Honda Insight 5th Wheel, only just be a bolt-on system.

Add a couple of turn and stop signals to it, and it would qualify as a trailer.

I think this could work pretty decent on a pickup truck. I am not sure exactly how it would need to be setup for steering and tire wear. I would also imagine perhaps a way to raise or lower the fifth wheel, so that it would not over-rev and EV motor while on the freeway.

[SVOboy]

Do it!

[Frank Lee]

The "steering" situation could be problematic.

One wheel trailers "caster" that wheel. Right now, I don't see an easy way to put power through a castering wheel, especially if it sees torque in both directions i.e. regen capability.

The location of the wheel out behind the rear axle by that distance would make steering or castering a necessity I would think. Perhaps a linkage could be affixed to the chassis for steering? It's an extra complexity but surely not insurmountable. The plus side is, it could have some boattailing bodywork.

Or, since trucks are usually so high up, the receiver mount could extend forward instead of backward, positioning the wheel as close to axle centerline as possible. That might minimize scrub to a degree that allows a fixed non-castering/steering mount. I don't know. Tucking all that stuff underneath would probably cause problems too.

Two wheeled trailer starting to look good again. :/

[Christ]

Why not? I'm thinking about making a trailer that follows a tear-drop shape from my van's roof line, so maybe I'll get better mileage towing the trailer than w/o it! LOL.

I say go for it!

[bennelson]

Ah, here's somthing similar to what I was thinking.
E-wheel for any vehicle - MIMA Honda Insight Modified Integrated Motor Assist



Perhaps a chunk of motorcycle might work well?


Tucking under the back of the truck would help with the swivel/steering issue. I'm just tossing some ideas out there.

A while back, I was thinking about converting my S10 to hybrid electric, but there are a lot of little things that can make it problematic.

I like the concept of an EV trailer, but electric is best for in town and slow speeds - times when I would rather NOT be towing a trailer around!

A smaller device that could mount on the truck and still be easily removable when not needed would be a great experiment.

[Frank Lee]

I'd like to see that pusher wheel in action. It just looks.... like it would be clunky, or wear that tire down in no time, or just plain break.

Plus, doesn't it make sense to have the batteries with the wheel unit? When wheel unit is off, so are heavy batteries.

[Christ]

For a truck, a rear swing-arm from a bike w/ either a hub motor or an e-motor chain-attached to drive it...

Use the whole swing-arm, weld in a frame w/ a piece of square stock that will fit your specific class of hitch (class III, to be safe, I'd think, at least for starters). Drill the square stock so that it can be pinned into the hitch, and will still touch the ground, but allow it to be pivoted up and down. (Manually, at first, automatically, once the theory is proven and prototyped.)

The whole setup, given parts and nominal dimensions, would make an S-10 about 3 ft longer. Hardly something to complain about.

[Frank Lee]

Until you want to turn it.

[Christ]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Until you want to turn it.

Given an initial test, turning shouldn't really be an issue. Unless you're just looking for something to be obstinate about...

[Coyote X]

Use a u-joint to let it move up and down and side to side without being able to twist.

Works for single wheel motorcycle trailers