New version for the dogs; usable for cargo too, with removable air conditioning for the dogs (if the parts I have work out).
Previous versions are here:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18671
and here:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54323
and here:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=63781
and here:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=76539
Still in design phase, sketches attached.
It will have an enclosed and insulated area 4 feet x 4 feet x 4 feet, so just a little wider than the last one, and about the same length.
Basic frame design is nearly the same as the Mk IV, just wider and with enclosure between the wheels, which had been planned for Mk IV anyway, just never done for lack of time and the right materials for that plan.
1 inch square tubing for the framework, with some solid rod and/or cable with tensioners for stuff that only stays in tension (is a little lighter that way, as this will be quite heavy even unloaded).
Metal grillwork as cage inside the insulation, to prevent dogs from digging thru (ones I have now dont do that but I have had some that would, and could have again in future). Theyre big enough to dig thru even plywood if they wanted to (Nana did).
Insulated panels will be removable so they can have a view (and people can see them, too) for the half-year its cool enough to do that. Rest of the year the insulated panels would enclose the entire trailer box to keep the heat out. At least 1 inch of styrofoam between plastic sheets, most likely, possibly in a wood frame to make install/removal cleaner.
Air conditioning:
I have a harbor freight inverter that might be able to handle the smallest window A/C unit I have. Theres reports on the web of people using it for larger shop tools, so it might be able to handle compressor starts.
Itd run off a pack of EIG NMC cells like the trike itself does. All this stuff would probably weigh almost 75-100lbs by itself, depending on the battery size needed for it, and the extra mounting hardware to set it up on the triangular frame just in front of the big box, behind the hitch tongue.
If I could find an RV-type A/C unit being scrapped out (but that still worked) Id put that on there, but not much chance of that. Theyre too expensive to just go buy something meant to run on DC, unfortunately, and I think that all of my window A/C units use capacitive-start/run compressors (I could change teh blowers to DC types, but I cant do anything about the compressors).
So if the window A/C unit wont run off the inverter, then Ill have to work out some evaporative cooling method, like a mini swamp cooler.
Either way, Ill be putting a wired-remote thermometer of some kind in there, so I can monitor temperatures on the handlebars during a ride, in case something goes wrong, so I can stop and deal with it.
Wheels:
I have two realistic easy options, with parts I already have. The first is just to take the axle out of two bike wheels, and install them both on a longer axle (like solid or threaded rod) that goes thru both of them. Most likely Id take out the regular bike bearings and use cartridge types, just to make the whole build process easier with parts I already have, without finding threaded rod that fits the existing bearing-cup type axle hardware.
Basically two independent bike wheels (26 inch, as I have enough of those, and bigger diameter is better rolling/ride) on a single axle. Provides redundancy in case of flats, and spreads the load out under normal conditions. I have some old knobby MTB tires that will work, though Id prefer fatter ones for a better ride, but Im pretty much out of repairable tubes, so I would have to buy those, which likely adds up to $80 to the cost of the trailer.
Second, I could use the pair of motorcycle wheels and tires I have. Tehyre basically like cast wheels, so much heavier than the spoked ones I wish I still had (that appear to have vanished after the housefire 5 years ago, probably stolen). One is probably a 19 inch and the other probably a 21 inch, a front and a rear off the same bike. IIRC they still have their bearings, just no axle, so Id have to come up with a solution for that.
The tires are so thick I could possibly pull the empty trailer even if they were flat, though not likely with the dogs in it. But theyd be nearly bulletproof for my application, and they are designed to take this kind of weight and more. The catch is they probably add another 100lbs to the trailer, between the pair.
More later, as I work it out.
Previous versions are here:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=18671
and here:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=54323
and here:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=63781
and here:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=76539
Still in design phase, sketches attached.
It will have an enclosed and insulated area 4 feet x 4 feet x 4 feet, so just a little wider than the last one, and about the same length.
Basic frame design is nearly the same as the Mk IV, just wider and with enclosure between the wheels, which had been planned for Mk IV anyway, just never done for lack of time and the right materials for that plan.
1 inch square tubing for the framework, with some solid rod and/or cable with tensioners for stuff that only stays in tension (is a little lighter that way, as this will be quite heavy even unloaded).
Metal grillwork as cage inside the insulation, to prevent dogs from digging thru (ones I have now dont do that but I have had some that would, and could have again in future). Theyre big enough to dig thru even plywood if they wanted to (Nana did).
Insulated panels will be removable so they can have a view (and people can see them, too) for the half-year its cool enough to do that. Rest of the year the insulated panels would enclose the entire trailer box to keep the heat out. At least 1 inch of styrofoam between plastic sheets, most likely, possibly in a wood frame to make install/removal cleaner.
Air conditioning:
I have a harbor freight inverter that might be able to handle the smallest window A/C unit I have. Theres reports on the web of people using it for larger shop tools, so it might be able to handle compressor starts.
Itd run off a pack of EIG NMC cells like the trike itself does. All this stuff would probably weigh almost 75-100lbs by itself, depending on the battery size needed for it, and the extra mounting hardware to set it up on the triangular frame just in front of the big box, behind the hitch tongue.
If I could find an RV-type A/C unit being scrapped out (but that still worked) Id put that on there, but not much chance of that. Theyre too expensive to just go buy something meant to run on DC, unfortunately, and I think that all of my window A/C units use capacitive-start/run compressors (I could change teh blowers to DC types, but I cant do anything about the compressors).
So if the window A/C unit wont run off the inverter, then Ill have to work out some evaporative cooling method, like a mini swamp cooler.
Either way, Ill be putting a wired-remote thermometer of some kind in there, so I can monitor temperatures on the handlebars during a ride, in case something goes wrong, so I can stop and deal with it.
Wheels:
I have two realistic easy options, with parts I already have. The first is just to take the axle out of two bike wheels, and install them both on a longer axle (like solid or threaded rod) that goes thru both of them. Most likely Id take out the regular bike bearings and use cartridge types, just to make the whole build process easier with parts I already have, without finding threaded rod that fits the existing bearing-cup type axle hardware.
Basically two independent bike wheels (26 inch, as I have enough of those, and bigger diameter is better rolling/ride) on a single axle. Provides redundancy in case of flats, and spreads the load out under normal conditions. I have some old knobby MTB tires that will work, though Id prefer fatter ones for a better ride, but Im pretty much out of repairable tubes, so I would have to buy those, which likely adds up to $80 to the cost of the trailer.
Second, I could use the pair of motorcycle wheels and tires I have. Tehyre basically like cast wheels, so much heavier than the spoked ones I wish I still had (that appear to have vanished after the housefire 5 years ago, probably stolen). One is probably a 19 inch and the other probably a 21 inch, a front and a rear off the same bike. IIRC they still have their bearings, just no axle, so Id have to come up with a solution for that.
The tires are so thick I could possibly pull the empty trailer even if they were flat, though not likely with the dogs in it. But theyd be nearly bulletproof for my application, and they are designed to take this kind of weight and more. The catch is they probably add another 100lbs to the trailer, between the pair.
More later, as I work it out.