Choosing an RV "tender"

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Something I'd love to play with as a proof of concept considering the low cost to implement, if you already have an RV, EV, and associated tow equipment, which I have none.

Quoting myself in the Cybertruck thread:

Were I a contractor, my job shack would be a 1960s Airstream Bambi with Tesla drivetrain retrofit and an inverted-U wing on the back.

I do have some parts, an electric Lexus axle and some tail lights*.

How about an electric motorcycle in a front wheel cradle? Or two?


edit:

.....he got the RV for $1k and a bit of work.

No-one has asked what he got for US$1K.

*I've remembered I got this 35ft R-license park model trailer for less than that (going on 17 years ago).

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Quoting myself in the Cybertruck thread:

I do have some parts, an electric Lexus axle and some tail lights.

How about an electric motorcycle in a front wheel cradle? Or two?

I'll certainly suggest the motorcycle. He wore out a Bonneville from new, before discovering Japanese bikes. More recently, he's been using a modified golf cart to haul selected firewood logs, and would probably be OK for using a bike with a narrow trailer. It would need trail gearing, and some tongue weight, but would have the power for road use too.

[freebeard]

Calling attention to the edit: What did he get for his $1K?

edit:

Originally Posted by redpoint5

There's the Acrimoto trike that would fit the bill as a minimalist EV.

No acrimony intended, but.... I don't see a $20K Evergreen behind a $1K trailer.

It would be nice if the combination gains streamlining by smoothly extending the RV tail.

....would probably be OK for using a bike with a narrow trailer.

Haven't seen it yet, but maybe there's an opportunity to fabricobble some taper in plan?

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Calling attention to the edit: What did he get for his $1K?

33' of sheer luxury from maybe 1980, massing about 4 tons, with a 454 ci GM V8 on gas. 2 AC units, a built-in vacuum system, and a generator that used to power whole campgrounds. The generator is currently out to save weight. A wood stove has now replaced the breakfast nook, and the AC is gone for a canoe rack. I'll recommend lots of solar panels up top, possibly folding or semi-tracking.
An ill-advised attempt at towing it by the front anti-roll bar had bent it out of place, and inspired high quotes from mechanics, but an old farmer can wrestle things back with cable winches, etc. It has no water damage, and even the tires are new.
He'd admired it for years because it lacks the modern swooshes, being more of a blank canvas, and finally made queries on just the right day, when the property was being sold. It was a drive-away, just a bit hard to herd.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

No acrimony intended, but.... I don't see a $20K Evergreen behind a $1K trailer.

For some reason that was the way I read the name the first time, and so I spell it incorrectly. Archimoto, right?

Anyhow, I had fun test driving it, and feel like it would be a fine runabout.

[freebeard]

Archimoto, right?

Good one.

Last time I visited Joe Morgan (their #2 guy?) he had me hop on a red one. Up 2nd St. [in the dark] I shook the handlebars to gauge the transient dynamics, and back down I 'floored' it and estimate how late I could do full regen braking.

When I got off I said "That was hair-raising" and he laughed.

Bicycle Bob — A month or three back I saw the motorhome I used to own, the Clark Cortez. I even got to step inside. It had supposed sold or not, for $3500, coincidentally what I'd paid originally in the 1990s. When I go by on the bus, I can see it's still there behind a fence.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

Thanks, guys. He had only priced a Tesla, without going into sticker shock, but he got the RV for $1k and a bit of work. I doubt that there are plug-ins where he is going. He considers it a portable house, not a vacation device. I'm mostly wondering about the 2-seat urban runabouts, hoping to keep the weight down. There won't be anyone available to drive the car, but I could imagine a regenerative brake being set, and possibly some remote instruments.

The only commercially built 2-seat EV I'm aware of is the Smart EV. They are miserable cars from my experience. (My work has 6 as pool cars)

[freebeard]

The only commercially built [side-by-side] 2-seat EV I'm aware of is the Smart EV.

Jack Rikard showed the difference in ingress/egress between the Smart EV and his Tesla. The Smart EV door is 2/3rds the length of the vehicle.

[ldjessee00]

Nissan Leaf with a Chademo would be able to provide power out, but getting that to work...

If golf cart is ok, then maybe an electric side-by-side?
https://ranger.polaris.com/en-us/ranger-ev/

But if you want something street legal, I would go with the Leaf.

[thingstodo]

Originally Posted by ldjessee00

If golf cart is ok, then maybe an electric side-by-side?
https://ranger.polaris.com/en-us/ranger-ev/

But if you want something street legal, I would go with the Leaf.

The Polaris Ranger EV has a street-legal kit. Signal stalk, signal lights, emergency flashers, rear view mirrors ... I think that's about it.

But if you don't want to get WET, muddy, or wind burnt ... the doors, windshield, rear window, roof .. those are all extra too!

Top end on the Polaris EV is not that fast. 25 mph? Something like that. Yup - google agrees!