Touring - bike tourer's caravan?

just saw this clip on an australian show called "the new inventors" and thought i'd chuck it up here - it's a bike trailer with a convertible sleeping vestibule on top. looks interesting if you're really that reluctant to pitch a tent. the base of it remain available for storage.

funnily enough when i went to post this thread the first thread i saw was "bike touring: a rich man's pursuit" or some such - this thing is looking like being about AUD $1200 (and with conversion rates these days i'm sorry seppos - we're close to 1:1).

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/img/midget_sol_m1495878.jpg

there's video of the piece at this page:

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s2094544.htm

he estimates a market of something like 5000 in the states with about the same in europe - any takers?

This is not exactly a "new" idea (then again, what is). Check out www.tonystrailers.com (the Nomad trailer).

--J

looks like a little more work to erect - this aussie bloke's thing is obviously for supremely lazy, bone-idle individuals, typically common character traits amongst cycle tourists i'm sure you'll agree.

Yep, that's a fair description of all cycle tourists :rolleyes: :D.

--J

32 pounds? I usually wind up lugging, on average, 100 lbs. about twice a month when we do the grocery shopping. ;)

I think the point of it is it's a shiny new gadget and you know how some folks get about shiny new gadgets.

just saw this clip on an australian show called "the new inventors" and thought i'd chuck it up here - it's a bike trailer with a convertible sleeping vestibule on top. looks interesting if you're really that reluctant to pitch a tent. the base of it remain available for storage.

funnily enough when i went to post this thread the first thread i saw was "bike touring: a rich man's pursuit" or some such - this thing is looking like being about AUD $1200 (and with conversion rates these days i'm sorry seppos - we're close to 1:1).

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/img/midget_sol_m1495878.jpg

there's video of the piece at this page:

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s2094544.htm

he estimates a market of something like 5000 in the states with about the same in europe - any takers?

Ugh. Here are the problems from my limited touring experience.

1)Weight!! The weight is between 40 to 44 lbs, for a trailer and tent, and nothing else. Add a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothes, and assorted other camping gear, and that trailer will run over 60lbs, easy, and probably more like 70. My Bob, plus tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, cooking gear, clothes, etc, might have been as much as 45 to 50 lbs total, and I wasn't exactly packing light.

2)rolling resistance--Why four wheels, and why a suspension, and why such dinky wheels? Between the extra rolling resistance of an extra pair of wheels, the extra weight of an (unnecessary, imho) suspension, and the extra weight of second axle, any long touring is going to be a chore pulling this thing.

3)cold weather. Having a raised floor with no insulation is going to make just lovely camping in the fall/spring, or even summer in the northern rockies, canada, and maine.

4)Price $1200 to save, at worst, about 5 minutes of time to pitch a tent is ridiculous in the extreme.

Right, I'm sure he had the rockies in mind... I like the whole bike trailer thing, but I have yet to see a practical version. For 44 pounds I want a permanent real trailer. I want something I can lie down in a Wal-mart lot on. Keep in mind the Oz snake situation: an elevated tent might be just the thing. There is a youtube guy with a similar one, more home made.

There's this one that was posted on another thread here some time ago.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/filasafer/lrg_bed_trailer.jpg

Right, I'm sure he had the rockies in mind... I like the whole bike trailer thing, but I have yet to see a practical version. For 44 pounds I want a permanent real trailer. I want something I can lie down in a Wal-mart lot on. Keep in mind the Oz snake situation: an elevated tent might be just the thing. There is a youtube guy with a similar one, more home made.

but here's the thing - in the article on it he seems to acknowledge that his greatest market for it won't be down here because the distances mean that bike touring is not so popular. as such anything that you're calling it's benefits for the australian market are kinda redundant.

the thing seems to be in conflict with itself because it is geared up enough to be able to handle going offroad more ably than, say, a bob trailer might but at the same time anybody who wants to get that offroad is probably not that fussed about having to pitch a tent.

Marrock, that's the dream! That whole bent skin, top and ends can be done in home depot ply for about 3 pounds, in aircraft ply, it can be done for a lot less. The bottom would be foam composite and the sides could be fabric.I think it can be done for the weight of racks and paniers, assuming the more bomb proof variety.

Clipper, you may be right, I didn't see the whole thing.

I like the Koga-Miyata trailer a lot. While it does not have the sleeping arrangement, it certainly raises my eyebrows.

Built-in solar panel, airport roller wheels, comfortable seat... and presumably the telescopic pole can be used as a shelter support. They have a movie on the Koga US website (http://www.koga.com/downloads/video/Koga_Chela_2007.mov).

http://i.treehugger.com/files/koga_chela_unpacked.jpg
http://www.koga.com/thumbnail.asp?source=collections/9986689.jpg&width=347

Oh, by the way.... it costs 850 euros!

Marrock, that's the dream! That whole bent skin, top and ends can be done in home depot ply for about 3 pounds, in aircraft ply, it can be done for a lot less. The bottom would be foam composite and the sides could be fabric.I think it can be done for the weight of racks and paniers, assuming the more bomb proof variety.

Clipper, you may be right, I didn't see the whole thing.

I was thinking more like coroplast backed by dense foam and aluminum angle.

Right, I'm sure he had the rockies in mind...

Well, if he didn't, he should have. I haven't ridden the rockies, just the little steep stuff we have here in NW CT, and having pulled a bob up these hills with mtb gearing, I'm not exactly willing to pay a 20 lb penalty just to have an elevated tent. It reminds me of the Surly LHT I saw on ebay with a compact double that was selling out of texas. It looks like a good touring bike--until you start to think of riding the berkshires with a full set of panniers on a compact double. Then the bike doesn't look so hot.

Yeah I saw this show...
the tent on top can be bought [i own one] for $79 Aus
a Flat bed can be got for $400
I make that $479 and this guy is wanting $1200 for his rig
MMmm.... I think not

As to why someone would want one...
I use it as I can't bend down and this stops me useing a normal tent
And yes it is a sh.. to have to pull the extra waight
But I still get to go

Isn't that just a Kamp-Rite cot?

Nice post of the old popular science/mechanics. I have that issue. It wouldnt be a bad way to go, with something like that. Proably nice and aero, no paniers or anything. It would be like a bicycle tear drop trailer.