Single Wheeled Bike Trailer

I wanted to recycle an old foldaway bike I used for an earlier recumbent project to make a one wheeled trailer. I was inspired by an earlier instructable but didn't want to do any welding, just nuts and bolts. I'm a big fan of 1/2" conduit for lots of metal projects. This project took about 2 weeks off and on. I'm going to use it when I bike around town or to the beach for the day and carry lunch, drinks, boom box, etc. It's not meant for heavy loads. That's another project for another time.

Step 1: Modifying The Frame

Here's a shot of the under side. I cut the existing frame and modified the vertical angle of the handlebar collar to be perpendicular with the ground so it wouldn't jam up when it pivoted. Geometry is critical here.I had to used plate steel and bolts to join the frame because of no welder. I reinforced the 1/2" plywood top with sections of 1/2" conduit that where flattened and bent in my bench vise. They were secured to the frame with sheet metal screws and eye bolts. I used cap nuts to finish the connections off to look right.

Comments

[camping crazy]

I just built one I love it!!! The thing I added to make it cool was styrafoam pipe insulation around the edge it makes it look cool and its safer.

[yyinfo]

Thanks,I like it,have fun !

[BillBiker]

I have been looking at similar projects I must say this one should have received some sort of recycling or green award. VERY NICE JOB!

[thetoolman]

Thanks, can you send me a badge?

[BillBiker]

Done :)

[TSC]

Nice job man!

[zack247]

im looking at the hitch, and i like it! i see that the hitch is a ballbearing from the front fork of the bike. i think i'll do something like this, but with 2 wheels

[eagleapex]

 Using the screw eyes as structure is brilliant. Elegant design.

[thetoolman]

Thanks. I've since retired this for a two wheeled version. Just too unstable on tight turns.

[eagleapex]

 Real quality build here. Great job!

[jamar3030]

It looks like you used a head tube (instead of steel plumbing pipe) from a bicycle here as your horizontal pivot and welded it to the trailer. Is the steel pipe inside the head tube?

[rangeside]

yeah it does look like a headtube

[pteranosaur]

...it is...but it's vertical,not horiz...

[anyoldmouse]

Do you have some kind of conduit squishing tool? I see the kink in the rail going to the hitch, so I know that you didn't use a bender for that part, but you have this getting down to a flat piece of metal (very clean) wherever you put in a bolt. I haven't worked with conduit before, so I don't know. Do you put it in a vise?

[thetoolman]

Just used the trusty vise.

[thetoolman]

Sorry for the late reply, yes, I use the vise for bending all of my conduit.

[anyoldmouse]

How did you flatten the ends? I'm imagining a vise and a cheater bar for more leverage or that you have access to a press.

[bosmith]

Cool. Nice hitch.