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Old 11-28-2007, 08:49 PM   #1 (permalink)
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How my home-built bicycle trailer lowers my MPG

(Originally written Nov. 06)

Just posted a new page at metrompg about...

How the cargo trailer I made for my beater 10-speed bike is hurting my MPG:



(130+ lbs: moving two Metro/Firefly transmissions by bicycle.)

Of course, total fuel used is the most important consideration, but since I typically get better mileage in sub/urban driving than I do on the highway, every time I use the bicycle for a local trip, my proportion of highway mileage for a given tank increases, so my overall mileage drops.

Other than for avoiding crappy weather, the main reason I use the car for local trips used to be to transport something too heavy/awkward for the beater 10-speed to handle.

But with the cargo trailer, I don't need the car for that any more.

So the MPG suffers. (I was going to calculate a figure, but, nah...)

On the plus side, kids seem to love seeing me hauling stuff behind the bike. It's kind of fun hearing them shout "cool! Where did you get THAT?" when I go by.

http://www.metrompg.com/posts/bike-trailer.htm

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Old 11-28-2007, 08:50 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
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People always ask how it's connected to the bike...

Same thing as my brother's kiddie trailer - a stout spring, the ends held in steel tube. If you click into the article on metrompg.com, there's a zoom in pic that shows the hinge close up.

There are also some ball-joint type hinges you can make out of (apparently) common inexpensive hardware store parts. See this site for examples:

Community Bike Cart Design - A simple, homemade, low-cost bike cart for car independence and community

EDIT:
the cost of my trailer was an afternoon & about $23. Plus I got exactly the size & shape I wanted.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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Old 11-28-2007, 08:51 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
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Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
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A safety note about construction...

If you're going to weld/braze zinc-coated EMT conduit for the frame, best to do it outside with a breeze (or fan)

The fumes of the heated zinc can cause "metal fever".

The thing has turned out to be remarkably useful. I never used to be worried about my beater bike getting stolen, but now that it has half the trailer hinge permanently attached to the rear axle, I sometimes worry about losing it.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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Old 11-28-2007, 08:52 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
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Just to clarify, yes, my MPG is actually worse now.

Because of the trailer, I use less fuel overall, true (and that's the important fact).

But by omitting some local driving (where I can achieve my highest MPG figures), my driving is further biased towards highway use. As a result of the higher proportion of (lower MPG) highway driving, my calculated MPG for a given tank is lower than it would have otherwise been had I just driven the car locally instead of using the bike/trailer.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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Old 11-28-2007, 08:54 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
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Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
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Thanks: 4,058
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These are neat too.

2 downsides I can see, based on my limited experience:

- heavy loads will directly affect the bike's balance, since there's no torsional "give" at the hinge in the "roll" axis;

- related to that - if you lay the bike down, you could spill the trailer contents, since it has to lay down with the bike. So you'd either need a kick stand, or something to lean the bike against when you park

Small points, but there you go.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
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Old 12-14-2007, 12:53 PM   #6 (permalink)
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MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
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Quote:
Originally Posted by igo
I WILL be making one of these. I have some spare 26" wheels They might be tall but will do the job.
Cool! Check that bike cart design website. I think some of the designs use a larger wheel, but they offset the platform so it's not at axle height.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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Old 12-14-2007, 01:36 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Bikes at Work sells just their trailer hitch, but it's $50, and if you can weld you can probably make the same thing for about $12

Anyway they also have a cool bike-trailer calculator that shows you how much you can supposedly carry (in lbs.) on a bike trailer.

And there's even a pic of someone hauling 1000 lbs of cargo on three trailers with one bicycle. I think they used to have a video of the 1000lb haul, but I can't find it anymore.

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Old 12-14-2007, 01:37 PM   #8 (permalink)
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MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

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90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
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Awesome pic.

I'd think if you were doing 1000 lb hauls, you'd want to be pulling with a trike! Either that, or be a pro at trackstanding.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
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Old 12-14-2007, 01:43 PM   #9 (permalink)
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forget trackstands, I think the key would be NEVER coming to a stop.
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Old 11-14-2011, 10:57 AM   #10 (permalink)
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