Project number 2 for this month, Aero Trailer!

[KamperBob]

todayican, your pix look nice. The devil is always in the details. How many wheels and what type of hitch for starters? Two weeks sounds fast to me...

[todayican]

SkyKing, I would welcome any and all ideas on the "tongue articulation System"!

KamperBob, I am thinking a single wheel, 1000lb trailer spindle, hub, wheel. Using a 145/60/15 LRR car tire.

The trailer will have a 2" od section that goes into the receiver and have an automotive U-joint (To allow the trailer to turn on 2 axis, up and down / left and right, but not side to side because of the single rear wheel.)

This 2" section will "sleeve" a 1.5" section square tube so as the trailer "pulls in" toward the tow vehicle the structure will remain sound. I know there is lots to do, but in the internet world where I have spent the last 12 years, fast is good!

I am actually between businesses, sold my share of an internet company and am looking to get something up and testing so I can get to profitability fast.

I am going to try like the dickens to get the first F-150 aero shell AND the basic trailer prototype framed out this weekend :-)

[skyking]

I'd go with a pair of wheels for ease of hook up and engineering. The savings in RR is not significant on a lightly loaded rig. It does present a cost savings, but it is harder to sell something that takes two people to hook up, and falls over without a kickstand. It can be loaded without being hooked up and I would definitely make something that can have utility as well.

[botsapper]

Rinspeed just 'docked' theirs. An aero boat-tailed version would be more our speed...and minus the dubstep musik.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1EKfnfoI9s

[todayican]

Originally Posted by skyking

I'd go with a pair of wheels for ease of hook up and engineering. The savings in RR is not significant on a lightly loaded rig. It does present a cost savings, but it is harder to sell something that takes two people to hook up, and falls over without a kickstand. It can be loaded without being hooked up and I would definitely make something that can have utility as well.

Sky King I hear ya on the 2 wheels, I want to go with one for now for a few reasons:

1) Better aero
2) Better rolling resistance.
3) (big one) I will be experimenting with the trailer "pushing" with a 10hp diesel, an ev drive system, and a combination of the 2, and using a single sprocket is SOO much easier to get right and not as "lossy" as an axle driving 2 wheels.

On the good side, I sat down with my thoughts for a minute and figured out how to make it a simple one person affair. :-)

Just put 2 kickstands (Lets call them "landing gear" form here on out SkyKing) at the same linear point (but outboard) of the single wheel so they would pivot on the same plane.

So the un coupling is kick, kick, lift. Easy Peasy :-)

[skyking]

I did not realize it was for propulsion primarily. My mind goes trailer = cargo as well.
Did you get my PM?

[KamperBob]

Food for thought: a motorcycle might provide useful donor parts for the project. A center stand might be adaptable to help balance it unhitched for example. I salute the project ambition. Lots of challenge factor. I really look forward to seeing your clever solutions.

[Tango Charlie]

I thought I read somewhere that single wheel trailers have a problem going faster than 45 mph with the castering wheel wanting to shimmy. Come to think of it, you couldn't power a castering wheel, so you'll have to articulate the tongue.

[todayican]

Fixed rear wheel and articulating tongue TC :-)

[Tango Charlie]

I like KamperBob's line of thought...