This sidecar was built to transport my 3 year old son on the local cycle paths.
It was constructed from a steel angle frame, with a wooden bodywork and plastic screen.
It was designed to pivot against the bicycle frame so the cornering and riding were less affected by the addition of the car.
The design was reminiscent of sidecars which were commercially available in the 1940's.
Safety.
The sidecar was fitted with a harness to help the passenger stay safely in place.
A guard was also fitted to the side of the bicycle rear wheel to stop potential accidents between the child and the spokes.
Please note that being in the UK I mounted the sidecar on the left. If you cycle in a country where they drive on the other side of the road, you should consider switching the sidecar to the other side.
It was constructed from a steel angle frame, with a wooden bodywork and plastic screen.
It was designed to pivot against the bicycle frame so the cornering and riding were less affected by the addition of the car.
The design was reminiscent of sidecars which were commercially available in the 1940's.
Safety.
The sidecar was fitted with a harness to help the passenger stay safely in place.
A guard was also fitted to the side of the bicycle rear wheel to stop potential accidents between the child and the spokes.
Please note that being in the UK I mounted the sidecar on the left. If you cycle in a country where they drive on the other side of the road, you should consider switching the sidecar to the other side.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1: Making the Frame
The frame was made from 25mm steel angle 3mm thick. The angle was cut to the dimensions shown in the CAD sketch.
The frame parts were clamped in place using some wooden off-cuts and cable ties, then welded together.
The frame parts were clamped in place using some wooden off-cuts and cable ties, then welded together.
Visit Our Store »
Go Pro Today »
Plastic barrels come in all sizes from small medium and large so it will be basically the same technique to build one for an adult.
I saw an article years ago about a guy who used a steel barrel for a homebuilt sidecar for his motorcycle and it looked pretty cool. Plastic barrels have been used to also make travel trailers for motorcycles and bicycles, as well.
I've seen motorcyle sidecars made from steel drums (and bath tubs!).
You are right that it would save a lot of trouble with the bodywork construction and a plastic drum would be light and easy to work.
Thanks for the tip !
IDEA #1: using the frame from a kid's bicycle trailer would ease construction. A dual passenger model is usually rated for 100lbs. Frames are either aluminum tubing or steel angle iron (from what I have seen). You have your choice of outside wheels to keep. Height is a bit fixed, but you can find 16" or 20" wheel models.
Pacific Cycling makes them for InStep and Schwinn. In the US, these are avail for not much $. Walmart has the Instep for $100, and $160 for the Schwinn. Used you can find them for $40-$100.
IDEA #2: a kid's car seat would be a very good seat for the sidecar.
I am glad you mention other body options. I too was thinking of fiberglassed cardboard :)
I am still wondering about how to attach the car to the bike. My son Jacob has Cerebral Palsy. A trailer is ok, but I rather he ride beside me :). Jacob weighs about 50lbs, so that + growth is my design requirement.
Cheers - john.
Thanks for the comments.
A trailer would be a good starting point as you suggest. The removed wheel could be kept on the back as a spare - in case of punctures :-)
And you may be able to reuse some of the bodywork construction too, those trailers often have lightweight windproof covers.
Cardboard in fibreglass is an easy to make composite material. It is a good idea and I have seen bicycle cargo trailers made this way. Try it and let me know how you get on.
Yes, yes, yes to a car seat. I thought about this too, but didn't have room in this design. Car seats are very comfortable, safe and have proper restraints. Some car seats use what are called ISOFIX mounting points. You could use the same attach points to fix the car seat to the trailer, this would be very rigid.
You mention transport for your son. Sidecars are much more sociable than trailers. A trailer may be more efficient and more streamilned, but the enjoyment of riding side by side should not be under estimated.
Good luck with the build.
Steve
Love your project very clean picture are not blurry and the instructable is straight forward. In other words 5 stars
The design coudl be scaled up, but my concern would be the load on the pivot bar. This would be under considerable strain during cornering.
I think for adult passengers a fixed design my be more suitable, but this would of course require a different riding technique.
Might be able to figure some of it out from those. May not have the skills, parts or tools to MAKE it, but just figuring out how they did it is fun in its own way.
Hrm, one thing I'd change in their design is to ditch the sheet steel and use the sort of plastic they use on ultra light aircraft - stiff but light. But that's a pipe dream. Semi-enclosed and protected from the rain while riding. I like that idea. Would also reduce sunburn.
I like it.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Charge-Any-USB-Device-by-Riding-Your-Bike/
This might answer your questions.
Found the link http://www.instructables.com/id/Contactless-dynamo-bike-wheel-lights/
In the end I didn't need a headlight for it because I've scrounged up enough bits to make a trailer that he can sit in comfortably. I found a golf kart that was just a frame and 2 wheels. With a little work and a timber box made from scrap it looks like a chariot and connects to the Trail-gator. A piece of broom handle on the back to mount standard bike tail lights and we're gold. Also doubles as a trailer for grocery shopping.
Still, a USB charger is a good idea. The contactless dynamo wouldn't be suitable for charging anything as it's unregulated, etc and no one wants to damage their device with unregulated power, so yours has a very good use.
Yeah, you're right, it would add a lot of resistance and with the hills around here that's probably a bad idea. LED lighting and low-resistance dynamos or generators would be the best way to go. Or that contactless one in the reply above. It has the advantage of being able to mount the lights on the wheels/magnets on frame if you want to or reverse it and have the lights on the frame/magnets on the wheel. And only need to regulate it if you intend on using sensitive devices. LEDs aren't that fussy if you don't mind some flicker.
I'd still love to build the sidecar, but for now the trailer is working for us. In between jobs now, so I have the time but not the cash flow. When working it was the other way around.
I don't have any imperial plans, but if you divide each number by 25.4, you will get a result in Inchs.
Hope this helps.
You did good!! because I'm not as smart as I wish I was, there were a few steps that I did not understand, but I think you explained things rather quite well.
This is definately something I want to try & build.
looks VERY SWEET!!!!!!
TY for sharing.
Think I might try one myself. My first bike modification project, made from scrap, while I practiced welding; Was to weld 2 24" bikes side by side.
I slaved the front wheel forks with a tie-rod, and welded the 'slaved' bike's handlebars to the passenger side frame for a handhold. Both sides shift & brake independently...while steering is controlled from the left side.