Boat tail project based on a single wheel trailer...

[aerohead]

Bam,you're entering some prime real estate now! This is where the fruit is especially tasty.I think your economic/ecological taste buds are going to like the results.

[American Viking]

Originally Posted by aerohead

The up-leg looks encouraging if I'm remembering the mpgs from last trip.
When Rutan and Yeager took off on their around the world Voyager flight I think they scraped the end of one wing on takeoff.So you're in grand company!

Actually voyager ground both wing tips badly enough on takeoff, that the winglets failed and tore off in flight. But then Rutan was known for his over-engineering.

[American Viking]

Bam, Just a question.
You still intend to use this trailer as a cargo hauler right?

I've been looking at a few single wheel trailers to construct a two motorcycle hauler from, and naturally have been having thoughts about reducing the drag.
The first issue I keep running across, is how high the trailer deck is. That might not be an issue for you with your truck, but that seems to be going the wrong direction for someone working with a normal car.
Have you (or anyone else here) thought about building a lowboy frame version, where the center of the trailer is nothing but a backbone frame, suspension and the cargo space is split and hung to either side?

[freebeard]

Have you (or anyone else here) thought about building a lowboy frame version, where the center of the trailer is nothing but a backbone frame, suspension and the cargo space is split and hung to either side?

Made me think of this:

[American Viking]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Made me think of this:

I ran across a couple of those designs at the single wheel trailer website that Bam posted at the top of this thread.
And I might build one as a range extender for an Electric SuperSporttouring motorcycle design I'm working on.
But what I was asking about was a car trailer single wheel setup to carry two motorcycles behind say my Jetta or another small sedan.

[freebeard]

I understood, it just made me think...

It could probably be done. It would be a pretty big wheel, and castering might be problematic. Those little 10" wheels are good for maybe 200-250lb.

One picture I didn't get at Bonneville last year was of a Model A roadster with a fold-out bracket for a motorcycle front wheel. The rear wheel trailed like it was on a car dolly, except it wasn't. I've seen other examples.

Not good enough? I'd understand. But if you doubled up, it would be a no-wheel trailer.

[American Viking]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I understood, it just made me think...
It could probably be done. It would be a pretty big wheel, and castering might be problematic. Those little 10" wheels are good for maybe 200-250lb.
One picture I didn't get at Bonneville last year was of a Model A roadster with a fold-out bracket for a motorcycle front wheel. The rear wheel trailed like it was on a car dolly, except it wasn't. I've seen other examples.
Not good enough? I'd understand. But if you doubled up, it would be a no-wheel trailer.

I looked into one of those no trailer tag along setups, until a friend pointed out a few things.
1. Since I often have to replace three rear tires for every two front tires, so dragging the bike along behind the car will head tire wear to three rears for every front. I'm already running a "mileage" sport touring tire on the back to try to get 10,000 miles between changes
2. Whether the bike uses shaft, chain or belt, If it isn't a Harley or other bike with a separate gearbox (a rarity these days). If your towing it that way more than 500 miles, you are supposed to disconnect the drive system to prevent wear on the transmission. Even in neutral, half the gear cluster in the transmission will be spinning in bearings that are supposed to be fed pressurized oil from the engine oil pump.
So that kind of killed it for me. I don't want to have to refit the chain every time I take the bike on a tour, plus change the rear tire 2 more times a year.

As for a tire to support the trailer, I was thinking of the rear tire off a Harley bagger or gold wing. Or even just a wheel from a small car. Any of those three will carry two bikes weight. The castor angle can't be huge or the wheel house will have to be huge.
Even with two full size bikes on either side and a car tire sized castor rig in the center would still be narrower than a car.
Well now I'm going to be burning the midnight CAD time sketching up a frame to get a descent start on the trailer.
Oh man, I just got an idea, now I'm not going to be able to sleep..

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by American Viking

Actually voyager ground both wing tips badly enough on takeoff, that the winglets failed and tore off in flight. But then Rutan was known for his over-engineering.

But it cost them in drag and fuel.

This is actually a case of under-engineering - rare for Rutan - and an older design of his could have prevented it .
(Fishtail winglets Vari-Viggen style, with the lower part using a teflon skid pad)

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by American Viking

Bam, Just a question.
You still intend to use this trailer as a cargo hauler right?

I've been looking at a few single wheel trailers to construct a two motorcycle hauler from, and naturally have been having thoughts about reducing the drag.
The first issue I keep running across, is how high the trailer deck is. That might not be an issue for you with your truck, but that seems to be going the wrong direction for someone working with a normal car.
Have you (or anyone else here) thought about building a lowboy frame version, where the center of the trailer is nothing but a backbone frame, suspension and the cargo space is split and hung to either side?

American Viking,if you'll search for: Phil Knox aerodynamics photo albums,under 'Other vehicles 1,page-2,top row,3rd from left,is an image of a MC-based 1-wheeler with central frame,and 'saddlebag' storage compartments.
The floor follows the diffuser angle of the car,but other than that,cargo is as low as clearances will allow.
With two breached vacuum lines,over three states,I averaged 48-mpg,driving as high as 80-mph,and up to 10,600-ft mountain passes.
Here's a link:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-ae...st-foiled.html

[American Viking]

Originally Posted by aerohead

Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - aerohead's Album: Other vehicles 1 - Picture

That looks slick Phil, but I'm not talking about a trailer based on motorcycle parts, I'm talking about a trailer to carry 2 motorcycles behind a car.
I have a big flatdeck single axle trailer that sticks out from behind my car.
The rear ramp probably adds more drag than you boat tail trailer.
That's what I'm trying to replace.