Check this out; a real bike trailer house! It’s not built to be a four-season house but it looks fairly complete and lightweight. It weights only 100 pounds dry. It was built by a guy named Paul who likes to build a cool transportation toys like 3-wheeler bikes.
This camper served as his nomadic home for a week at Burningman. It wasn’t made to work for long road trips but it does sound like a successful proof of concept. Every time I stumble across one of these tiny bike houses it makes me think that a bike pulled tiny house is a perfectly logical low-cost solution for some people. Read more about this Bicycle Camper on Paul’s website. Photo credit Paul and friends.
Ok, that is mega cool. To use white corigated plastic for the siding is a very interesting idea.
I still perfer the idea of a colapable trailer, but this could be quite a bit more sturdy that fabrics. I’ll have to think about the best way to do the joints and hinges to prevent water leakage.
I really like this design, other than the fact that you can’t lie down for sleeping. It seems like a pull out shelf like he has in the drawing on his site would work to give you that extra room. I just did another post on a bike motorhome that you really can sleep in. Check it out here: http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/brians-bike-motorhome/
You know, there are SO many homeless people! Most of whom for reasons of Mental or physical “Disability”, Alcohol, etc…., can’t drive. But so many of them DO have bicycles! What about building something along the line of these little “Portable Homes” for them so that they can at least not have to sleep on the ground or in a Cardboard Box? The ideas that I have had, though I’m not homeless myself, are very Light weight and can even be pulled by Hand if need be! And it would allow them to keep what little Belongings they have with them!
I work with a Non-Profit Org. (Volunteer Time Bank) here in Cedar Rapids, IA. where I Volunteer as a Furniture Bank “Clinic” Manager. We deal with many people from “Homeless”, Near Homeless, “disabled”, all the way up to Major Businesses and Charities…
My Part is Soliciting for, picking up, refurbishing, Delivering Donated Items, and moving our Disabled and Low income Members/clients. All on a Volunteer Basis. At no monetary cost to them. “Just Pay It Forward”, basically. Just volunteer to help someone else in payment.
Our organization is http://www.thetapestry.us You can find out about the Time Bank theme by clicking on the Good Morning America Video Link there.
My whole reason for doing this reply to your article is that there IS a resource for materials for these projects to make it more affordable. Or you could GET one started in your area if not. Our Local Landfill GIVES away Bicycles and all kinds of Materials FREE that could be used to make these little HOMES. Just to help Recycle stuf that is dumped there! Maybe people could start checking thier OWN local Dumps and Landfills, and start thier OWN volunteer programs like ours to help thier fellow man… Not every homeless person is Homeless because they are LAZY! I would be interested in hearing from people if they have questions, or ideas for plans to build lightweight Homes and trailers like this, as I just started looking for NEW ideas for our homeless.
I want to help all I can…
It seems that the back could be made to pull out either with cloth sides or hard ones that would slide into the trailer when traveling to allow the mattress to lay flat.
This is probably the best bike trailer designs that I’ve ever seen. With features like solar and wind power, solar hot water, sink, stove, cooling fan and mister, shower. What really blew me away was the built in solar food dryer. Now how many people have one of those in their trailers? Did you notice that it looks like he has what might be a herb garden on the front also.
I suppose for a more permanent design it would be better to curve the front to more of a teardrop shape for less drag.
You’re right about the roof. It was a bitch to ride it in a head wind, and yes I did sleep in it. The camper is a little over 5 ft long, my head sticks out the bubble in the rear so I could see whose coming and look up at the stars at night.
This camper is intended for the harsh desert climate of the infamous ‘Burningman festival’ which I’ve attended 6 times now. The year prior I made a 4x4x4 box out of coroplast that I hung out in with my recliner. It had a radio, lights shelfs etc. but not enough room to sleep in.
The next years theme was ‘hopes and fears of the future’ (they have a theme every year) I went with fear. “how would one live in a post apocoliptic setting?” Using this idea, my experience living in a box and the idea of what could be the bare minimum space to live, yet have the comforts of home was what sparked this camper.
In the end, other than pooping and laundry cleaning (which I had plans for) this little space has everything a traditional basic home can offer.
Some major tweeking would be needed for a touring version no doubt, but for what it was it worked out pretty well.
Thanks for filling in the blanks Eric. Inspiring tiny bike house!
this quote right here makes you my hero of today:
“other than pooping and laundry cleaning (which I had plans for) this little space has everything a traditional basic home can offer.”
being forgetful as hell, i don’t even worry so much about laundry, but most anything i can dream to afford – you can rule out an honest poop or a safe shower.
as always – thanks to all.
Its really a great thinking, You have a very cute and nice house in a trailer. Great!
Very cool I noticed your small trik with the muffler on back very cool , your going to invent something some day and become a millionare very cool camper light and fuctional very cool . heck you could add a tarp to it for more covered space. I lost your email if you email me I will send you pictures of my TRYOTA , Im driving it all around Bonney Lake WA. Keep up the great work Tim DuBos.
Hey Tim, You did it!! Fantastic! You’ll have to send me some pics of the trike.
[email protected]
wow, grandpa’s smile is sooo cute 🙂 [last pic]
The materal choice was interesting, tough and light weight. I’m wondering how to cut the weight, have solar charged lighting for use with a EU25 moped (25km/h). The motor is small on those, so 90lb will be top range for weight, so one can have 40lbs of gear. Basicly for sleeping and getting gear to sight using a moped.
I am trekking this year early March from Indiana to San Diego, then doing it again back home. Oh, I will be doing this not from a bike, but my manual wheelchair, using a garden cart that I will reconfigure into a trailer for me to tow. I guess the weight will be with gear and the trailer weight about 100 pounds or less.
I am trying to find out where to locate that plastic cardboard you used online.
Your design is wonderful. 🙂
Looking forward to following your progress on Facebook! Good luck!
Jon you can get Coroplast at any sign shop/supply company as well as Home Depot or Lowes. In my opinion it is not the best material for exposure outside as it will break down especially if you are in a high UV area. If you choose white or yellow it will resist degrading better than most other colours. Especially avoid red./Glen
id make it electric