Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Mike, those comparison shots are really useful - I'll definitely put one of those on my web site to illustrate the difference.

I was thinking that in the US, the (1240mm) Miata might be one car that would suit the Pico-Light's size - it probably has the power to pull a 'full size' teardrop, but might be nicer with something smaller.

Andrew

Mike -- you're measurements are on the wrong side of the pond! What are these mm's you speak of?

The pico design is awesome, but I question the functionality without a galley. Then again, I think that's the point of the design.

I tried to get inside the Pico Light, to show you what the inside looks like. That's not an easy shot to do, especially since I end up having to use a really wide angle lens to capture any reasonable amount of detail.

So here is what I came up with...



Mike...

P.S. Yes, Dave, that was the point of the design.

Very nice. I made a sticky outtta it. Maybe this is what folks who drive the 1.6 Sentra or similar need.

mikeschn wrote:I tried to get inside the Pico Light, to show you what the inside looks like. That's not an easy shot to do, especially since I end up having to use a really wide angle lens to capture any reasonable amount of detail.

So here is what I came up with...



Mike...

P.S. Yes, Dave, that was the point of the design.

Gee Mike thats some fancy computer work you do. That looks very nice.

synaps3 wrote:Mike -- you're measurements are on the wrong side of the pond! What are these mm's you speak of?

These are the only kind I know anything about:

Classic Finn wrote:
Gee Mike thats some fancy computer work you do. That looks very nice.

Thanks Finn,

But I can't take credit for that. It's Andrew's model. I just applied a few materials and rendered it.

Mike...

P.S. Aggie, I like those MnM's... reminds me of an MnM Trailer design I worked on once upon a time...

Auntie M rightly noted:

btw guys if you get it too light it will be blown off the road or take flight........

It's too light already to tow without ballast. Going 55MPH+ down the Interstate highways with side drafts from big rigs, or strong winds, you probably need a spoiler to keep it pressed down to the road. (And there goes some fuel savings.) Best to pack the floor in the front with ballast of canned food, water jugs and cast iron when traveling at highway speeds.

When I ask pilot friends about a light weight trailer lifting off the ground they suggest that it might, at about 140 mph.

By the time you put minimal camp gear inside and travel 55 or 65 it will work fine.

I remember the same arguments when I talked about building a 500 pound trailer.

dave

Yeah. It's not going to lift off both tires and fly. It's just going to blow over in really nasty conditions if too light. I've seen an (empty?) trailer behind a big rig lift it's tires off the road on one side near Lompoc, California on Hwy 101 in a strong wind. Scary to be behind. Then my son's surfboard got blown off our roof taking part of the rack with it.

I like Andrews new frame design so much , I asked him to redraw it for my 5'X8' modified Ultralight build (500-600#). Andrew redrew it for the Ultralight profile and I think it's the perfect frame design for any light weight build. The main triangle is 1" x 2" 11ga. rect. steel tubing. It uses less than 20' of this tubing, so one length is all I need to buy. The the rest of the steel is short pieces I can get from scraps.
Andrew drew it with 8" wheels, but I will use 12" I know the 550# stub axles will present a challenge, but I am committed to building this design as drawn. It will be the foundation of my light as possible Tear. I will document the process if others want to use this frame design.
Andrew.. Thank you for the new 5x8 Pico frame.

BTW/ being new to using the forum, where should I start posting pictures and my build thread? Should it be a whole new thread(where) or in the Ultralight thread? I will need some help/suggestions during my build.

Larry C.

One could always modify this design using a single pivoting wheel in the rear. Firmly attached to the rear of the TV and you eliminate the chance of tipping

Talking about different models of cars, my friend with her Prius is thinking of building something like this to tow behind it. I would think that would work very well.

So, maybe I'm just not looking hard enough, but what are the dimensions on this? Specifically the sleeping area? I want to try out the cardboard box suggestion...

Also, if anyone is feeling adventurous, how would this look behind a VW New Beetle? Mine is yellow.

almostanengineer wrote:So, maybe I'm just not looking hard enough, but what are the dimensions on this? Specifically the sleeping area? I want to try out the cardboard box suggestion...

Also, if anyone is feeling adventurous, how would this look behind a VW New Beetle? Mine is yellow.

Just a quick doodle. Didn't spend a lot of time on it and the Pico is missing some detail; but I think this may be what you want to see.