[darkfinger]

Hey everyone,

I had a crazy idea.
I want to build a rickshaw this summer so I can bring my dog out with me more often. I`m more or less car free except when it comes to hauling my pooch. He`s a Saint Bernard so conventional bikes are kinda out of the question and I think building/riding a rickshaw would be a lot of fun.

My buddy is a welder with access to all the equipment, and I want to do it out of recycled parts.

Here`s my question; should I build it in a classic rickshaw style or should I try to go recumbent?
I`ve never ridden or built a recumbent but from what I understand they are really good when it comes to power transfer.

once I figure that out and start making some plans, I`m sure I`ll be asking about gearing, tire size, and pretty much any and everything else but for right now I need to figure that first bit out.

[The BikeForums Team]

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[BlazingPedals]

Lots of choices. Upright, recumbent, trailer, sidecar, one-piece. The strong point of a recumbent is the comfort, not the power transfer. I can't help you make a choice; that's your job.

[Elkhound]

Try going to http://www.catoregon.org/hpm and take a look at their Tri Hauler.

http://www.catoregon.org/images/hpmtrihaulerbig.jpg

[2manybikes]

The side car rig on the market already is very wide and the cargo area is narrow. There needs to be room for the crank and your foot. With a big dog I think it might have to be pretty wide. You might have problems in narrow places.
Then you need to shield the crank area from the dog, so he won't stick his foot or nose in there.

There are many ways that will work just fine. One advantage of an upright trike/rickshaw style is It can be short for turning around, you can turn the front wheel 90 degrees and spin the trike around in it's own length.
You can also hike out to help cornering. With a trailer you don't have as much feel for what's too fast for a corner. Also a trike will stay upright stopped when loading or unloading the dog. But almost anything will work.

Lots of people just use kid trailers. You could probably build something the same width or narrower and not much longer than this to get the larger dog into. This will fit through most doors.

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1720/hpim8643vl7.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/812/hpim8660fc0.jpg

[StephenH]

Also check out Organic Engines which does recumbent stuff-haulers and pedicabs.

[BlazingPedals]

The side car rig on the market already is very wide and the cargo area is narrow. There needs to be room for the crank and your foot.

You'd have to make your own, but having the side car clear the pedals/feet would not be an issue for a recumbent with a side car.

[2manybikes]

You'd have to make your own, but having the side car clear the pedals/feet would not be an issue for a recumbent with a side car.

Good point! Now you have me rethinking some ideas ! Thanks.