Let's design a body for a Rhoades Car

Hi all! Long time lurker here. I just got a 4-wheel, 4-person electric assist Rhoades Car!! I live in the Oakland/Berkley CA area and would love create an incredible looking body/fairing on this thing and use it to drop the kids off at school and other neighborhood stuff.

I think the Rhoades Cars are pretty hideous in their default aesthetic - but I've always though that they are basically blank canvases as far as a starting point for a great pedal-powered/E-assit family city car.

So.. if anyone is interested, here is my thought. I would love to organize some sort of crowd-sourced design for a nice looking and relatively economical fairing for this model of Rhoades Car. By open sourcing and documenting the blue prints, BOM, etc., there is an opportunity to make a electric assist, four-person vehicles that are pretty accessible. These "bikes" are often available for under $2K on Craigslist etc. Cost aside, it would be a TON of work to design and weld something like this up from scratch - so there is a real advantage over a full DIY solution as well.

If you are not familiar with Rhoades, here are a bunch of photos: http://www.bikeforest.com/rhoades_car.php I have a shared workspace with tools available, but not a ton of time.

Below are some links to get the juices flowing. Mostly aesthetic and ‘form-factor’ ideas - versus practical approach ideas at this stage.

Toyota Pedal Concept with decent body styling options:
http://www.superstreetonline.com/features/news/eurp-1206-toyota-pedal-car-concept/

Local Motors has done some really excellent work crowd-sourcing designs for their various vehicles, including the 3D printed roadster:
https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a16726/local-motors-strati-roadster-test-drive/

The only Rhoades I've found with a full body built. Little too utilitarian for my taste:
http://www.bikeforest.com/rhoades_car.php

One of the only production pedal cars with a body I've found. This is getting more toward what I am thinking, but a bit more retro than I lean:
http://www.auburnjr.com/

And then this concept that is pretty awesome looking:
https://gas2.org/2014/01/11/pedal-power-sc-1-biposto-concept-brings-sexy/

Also - if this would be more appropriate somewhere else, please let me know or move it.

I'm out eating and using my phone, way too difficult for the post I want to make. A body like the Elf is very easy, not everyone has the skill level to make simple look good.

https://amp.fastcompany.com/1681198/is-this-solar-powered-half-electric-bicycle-with-a-roof-the-future-of-transportation

If you want to put an electric motor on it, think 3 wheel, you can build it yourself for less. You'll need to register it as a moped, they won't leave you in peace if you don't.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Three-Wheel-Bike-Car/

Another prospect.

https://cdn.instructables.com/FUK/K3GO/HW6HY5PL/FUKK3GOHW6HY5PL.LARGE.jpg

Another thing is body kits for go karts. Oh, also for strollers but you'll have to figure out if it's the right size. Or if the go kart bodies are the right size.

If the link doesn't work, I think it is sale #173419804162

https://m.ebay.com/itm/GO-CART-BODY-fiberglass/173419804162?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180306143914%26meid%3D24e90c26106b4047835c5b89b7e0f57c%26pid%3D100935%26rk%3D9%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D282662091192%26itm%3D173419804162&_trksid=p2056116.c100935.m2460

Lots out there for karts. If they fit the Rhoades car, you're in luck.

https://www.acivette.com/shrm_gokart.htm

The Rhoades Car is something I remember from the back pages of crappy magazines, way back when those were a thing.

Turns out, it's heavy, slow, crude, ugly, and stupid. So of course dressing it up as a normal car is perfect! More of all the above! But normal cars use suspension because real engineers know that four wheels without suspension won't all make contact with a non-flat surface. Rhoades Car and Surrey both rely on frame twist to get 'er done. Expedient, but... gross.

I suspect if I wanted to electrify a four-wheeled pedal-something I think is awful, I'd go for a Rhoades Car as slightly less awful than a Surrey. But still... gross.

EDIT:

Electric assist is really the only way to make a Rhoades Car make any sense. Analogously, at one of my jobs I design and manufacture the world's best six passenger pedicabs-- which nobody would want if they didn't take for granted that they'd be using e-assist. What blows my mind is that Rhoades Cars existed before electric assist was widely known.

I guess it's the car thing. Car, so better. Zombie thinking.

Harsh Chalo, real harsh.. the guy just wants a body.

It's a neighborhood ride. Thats the key. There are 'neighborhood vehicles', check your local regs on such things
first. But you can also register it as something else?

Building a body is no easy task either. Have you any experience in fiberglass/plastics? The material you use, and
the cost of a form, and mold could far outweigh the cost of the car.

I'm a little concerned when you say "not a lot of time".. all projects take tons of time! And a body is the worst!

I've always liked the 'helmet' style design. A styrofoam body, with a thin thermoplastic outer skin. I thought it would
transfer nicely to a car such as this. The RC guys have vacuum formed bodys for their cars, with windows!

If you plan to sink any large amounts of money into it, it might be best to design and build a new chassis, using your
current one as a size template. And then maybe sell the Rhodes to pay for it. $2k would go a long way on a frame.

You could build it much better than the dated Rhoades, and design the electrics right in to it, rather than 'attach'
things.

Geez, now I sound like Chalo :? I don't mean to discourage you I realize that your just getting started...

APL said:

Harsh Chalo, real harsh.. the guy just wants a body.

Click to expand...

It's reflexive, from a lifetime of suffering due to cars. Did you know I don't like them?

I will hasten to add that I've gone to great effort to build a number of pedal contraptions that could quite fairly be called slow, heavy, crude, ugly, and stupid. Just because. Something being a bad idea doesn't make it an un-fun idea.

I'd make something model T-ish. Antiques look "stately" at pedal car speed, and the scale of small skinny tires looks OK with a tall roof. A racy modern shape shaking slowly down the side of the road on bike tires looks just silly. Plus simple curves or flats are way easier and cheaper to make. You can buy thin flat panels of fiberglass that can be bent around plywood, or plain plastic sheet, or even light gauge sheet metal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xirVm7MUu2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2Tc8-ii-30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCeze9hOjsI

I think these are on Rhoades cars?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUjdj_mnYQc

Chalo said:

I will hasten to add that I've gone to great effort to build a number of pedal contraptions that could quite fairly be called slow, heavy, crude, ugly, and stupid. Just because. Something being a bad idea doesn't make it an un-fun idea.

Click to expand...

Me too. Witness my avatar.

How about the original pickup truck. The Speedwagon, from REO. (Pronounced 'Rio.')



Maybe the Olds Curved Dash. Oh, REO stands for Ranson Eli Olds, founder of Olds Motors and REO. http://geetel.net/~turbojer/gallery9.htm

Or maybe something more modern which followed the theme, such as the Ice Truck.

Hiya... So. So far we gots "pedal-powered/E-assit family city car"? ... and a "body"...

So guessing priorities as 1) SAFETY... 2) COMFORT... 3) LOW COST (hehe)... Not sure watt else to add... `cept MY "vehicle" would include PEDALING... for warmth and for exercise... and in "EV Terms" to shave off peak power outs at starts and against gravity ("up" hills) to extend ranges per charge and also such that the cells (the "battery") last longer before eventual recycling and replacement. So overall, lowest cost per mile... (see "low cost" above...)

AND BTW... MY vehicle includes ZERO empty seats... so I guess we have a problem...

(More guessing)... That any Rhoades Car shell ("body") refers to 2) above (aka "comfort")... while my first thought re any "body" is aerodynamics (see "low cost"). :wink:

Any other priorities (other than drink holders, I mean...)?

EDIT: PS... Speaking of body shells... and "vehicles" as sailing boats on water... I'm used to "light weight" as a plastic and foam core construction catamaran sailboats... (see "low cost" above re costs to operate as kinetic energies involved to accelerate any object...) So re any "body"/shell for a Rhoades, can only suggest "light weight" as a design criteria.

Easier than most to fabricate. Save a bit on headlights.

^^ Hehe... Citroën 2CV a "car like no other"...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citroën_2CV

:lol:

Go with some style. I was looking at Gravity Racers on 'Images' and saw this . It reminded me of your post.

Maybe little bigger version? This one has an open top.

Alright, we gotta have a quarter mile, Ice Truck vs. whatever you call it.

Take it a step farther and copy a classic. There are 3/4 scale bodies out there that you could just buy. E bay has a Cobra,
and a Corvette 3/4 scale. I like the Lambohrgini myself.




You could make styrofoam replica car wheels that wire tie on to the spoke wheels, that would look real from a distance.
And install a speaker so you could playback a motor winding to 12 grand! 8)


Some small replicas;
https://autowise.com/30-awesome-cars-that-arent-quite-full-scale/

Some aren't too bad.

Oh man. . . . https://www.complex.com/sports/2012/12/the-25-craziest-kids-cars/

3/4 scale is big enough for an adult. I'll take the Ace (Shelby) Cobra AND a Stingray Corvette.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-3-4-Scale-427-shelby-AC-Cobra-Twin-Seat-Mini-Hotrod-Car-Fiberglass-Body/253229988802?hash=item3af5aefbc2:g:8MMAAOSwdx1Z9E0f

I like the way you think, Dauntless..

Theres also full scale cars that are really small, Like the classic Willys coupe, fiberglass bodys are already available.

Why cower in fear,.. when you can dominate the hood!

OMG! It's the Ice Truck again! I do like your Ice truck though, simple with no windows.

This ones a little expensive..




https://www.ebay.com/itm/1923-Ford-C-Cab-Delivery-Fiberglass-Body-t-bucket-tbucket/282655350519?hash=item41cf925ef7:g:9IcAAOSwzaJYB8im

Could use motorcycle wheels and still be pedal/electric?

Well, darn, where did jklein go? Trolled off that easy?

I'm seein' two longtime build ideas in one thread. The first was indeed an Ice Truck version of that instructables bike that got delayed by an accident a few years ago then my project bikes were stolen when I started. The other was indeed some mini Cobra or Corvette that could be registered in California as an NEV. That would take some serious planning, but there's some information out there.

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/fiberglas-sports-car/

I just keep finding stuff.

Found out about Custom Golf Cart bodies today. Lot's and lots of them. Light, small, and fairly cheap.
Might be a quick and easy way to go. Or at least a good start.










Check them out;
https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1680&bih=1012&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=hsyuW4vjCMrVjwStw7GQBw&q=custom+golf+cart+bodies&oq=custom+golf+cart+bodies&gs_l=img.12...0.0..350916...0.0..0.0.0.......1......gws-wiz-img.xFl1SiQ0wjU#imgrc=_

Look about the same size as the Rhodes.

....

No suspension? throw some scooter/motorcycle tires on it and weld up some new disc brake tabs if it doesn't have them.

What i'd do is approach it like i was making a tall velomobile.

4 wheels is kind of a legal problem though if you get 'er going really fast.

He who? The OP? Chalo trolled him to the hinterlands, if he can't man up and stare that one back under the bridge, WHO CARES what he wants?

I thinky Cobra needs the number 50 on it in Homer of Dad's friend Ken Miles. I came too late for all this but the guy raced the Cobra.

California NEV is like a moped, not so fast. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr37

[youtube]SawqMSTYUSk[/youtube]

Hehe... As far as I know, watt we're tapping about here looks like this?


... and the OP said:

would love create an incredible looking body/fairing on this thing and use it to drop the kids off at school and other neighborhood stuff.

I think the Rhoades Cars are pretty hideous in their default aesthetic - but I've always though that they are basically blank canvases as far as a starting point for a great pedal-powered/E-assit family city car.

So.. if anyone is interested, here is my thought. I would love to organize some sort of crowd-sourced design for a nice looking and relatively economical fairing for this model of Rhoades Car.

Click to expand...

... where they said "E-assit".

... and "a nice looking and relatively economical fairing"...

(No mention re drink holders...)

I vote for Custom Golf Cart bodies (extended version). (<-period)

I vote to remember he don't seem to be paying attention anymore so we can live out our fantasies.