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The 280lb Pico-Light
Posted:
Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:47 pmby angib
Here at last are the plans for the Pico-Light ultralight that I’ve been promising for the last nine months.
Pico-Light plans
The Pico-Light design aims to be the smallest, lightest trailer that can sleep two people. It is even smaller than a ‘normal’ 8ftx4ft teardrop and doesn’t have a galley or any cupboards. However its size and weight make it suitable for the smallest tow vehicles, including large motorcycles. A detailed weight estimate predicts an empty weight of 280 pounds.
The body is all single-skin and uses 1/8â€
Posted:
Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:58 pmby Ageless
If you have the budget; you could make it lighter
Honeycomb panels
http://www.panelteccorp.com/html/stockpanels.html
Posted:
Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:10 pmby starleen2
Heck how much lighter could it be? Beyond all that exotic stuff - this is well within the relm of the DIY'er
now who's goona be first to build one?
Posted:
Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:31 pmby High Desert
Thanks for the latest Andrew! It seems to me this would also be a very affordable build, which is a nice bonus.
Posted:
Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:48 pmby Juneaudave
I think that is right on target!!! Be nice to see one done well!!!
Posted:
Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:21 pmby Cliffmeister2000
Awesome, Andrew!
At the very minimum, we can use this as an object lesson to help keep us from over building!
Posted:
Wed Jan 20, 2010 3:03 pmby Miriam C.
Wonderful!
btw guys if you get it too light it will be blown off the road or take flight........
Posted:
Wed Jan 20, 2010 11:38 pmby tonyj
I like this design, Andrew. It looks like a great light, simple build (and I know I could easily screw-up those two concepts pretty quickly!).
Posted:
Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:35 pmby mikeschn
Good job on that Pico Light design, Andrew... It wouldn't surprise me if it got an instant following!
Mike....
P.S. Can you email me the solid model, I'd like to render it... step is the preferred format... but SAT would work also.
Posted:
Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:11 pmby High Desert
mikeschn wrote:Good job on that Pico Light design, Andrew... It wouldn't surprise me if it got an instant following!
Mike....
I think so too Mike. I find myself rather fascinated by the design and predicted results.
of course I'm always impressed with the detail of Andrews plans. Pro all the way
Posted:
Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:22 pmby mikeschn
Thanks Andrew,
Here's a rough draft. I'll play with it some more this weekend... I'm out of time tonight...
Mike...
Posted:
Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:49 pmby Conestoga
Does anyone here have experience building with these or similar?
Posted:
Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:31 pmby Ageless
Used quite a bit in 36 years at Boeing. To get contour, you have to remove the skin on one side. This material was developed back in the 60s for aircraft floors; women's spiked heels would dent or pierce aluminum sheet.
Posted:
Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:00 pmby Conestoga
Ageless, I've had a good look at that site, and some others. I would have no idea what to choose. Which type would be appropriate for a lightweight build... possibly with the interior done simply with reflectix|textile liner "soft panels".
Posted:
Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:13 pmby Ageless
I was looking at another site today with foam core panels, both aluminum and plastic skins. This would be easier for the hobbyist to work with and provide more insulation. For attach points, you would have to epoxy threaded inserts into the panels. As far as attaching edges; you seal the cut edges with resin then epoxy the panels to join
If anyone wants to try this; I can give detailed directions