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The Complete Cyclist’s Touring Support Trailer (CCTST)
This is an all-in-one touring support vehicle, but one that can be towed by the cyclist! This means he/she can be completely independant and self-supporting. It also means that a costly camper van and support staff are not needed, thereby making the Very Long Tour (in time and distance) within reach of many more people. Plus it can be used for short tours and other uses, particularly if the said person does not own a car. Necessarily it is a larger trailer than is usually seen behind a bicycle and is, by the same token, heavier. Nevertheless, it is still quite possible to tow it confidently over large distances. Advantages: Large capacity. No need to roll up sleeping bag (it acts as packing). Can take clothes on a hanger laid flat (very little creasing). Completely waterproof (and 95% covered even when open). The outside provides ample space for adverts/sponsors/signage. Very stable, especially downhill. Strong structure for dependability. Spreads the load, taking strain off the bike. Very visible to other road users. Secure - compartment locks and whole trailer can easliy be locked to a solid object. Fridge! On cradle below compartment a wet towel over a cool bag means that due to the ‘Latent Heat of Vapourisation’ as the water evapourates it cools and keeps the ‘fridge’ cold - even to the extent of making butter too hard to spread!
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I tested this towing it with a Brompton folding bike clockwise around the UK coast in 2004 (3751 miles, 3 months) and anticlockwise in 2006 visiting all 198 RNLI Lifeboat Stations (5610 miles, 6 months). Trailer average weight; 68kg. Total ‘vehicle’ weight; 140kg.
Comments
Great idea to use the roof box as the container to hold your possesions. I think this has potential. Weight is a problem - fully laden bicycle trailers becomes unbraked mass, at 68kg it will cause skidding by overcoming the tyre/road surface friction after applying the brakes for an emergency in both dry and wet conditions. Fitting a self acting braking system would help similar to the trailers towed by cars. The height of the box should be lowered, the centre of gravity is too high and could tip over (potentially at speed).This also allows more kit to be stowed on top with an elasticated cargo net. Consider some kind of tail lighting, width maybe a problem on cycle paths where anti motorcycle barriers are fitted. I have experience of using trailers (I own two - a fibreglass ‘Shuttle’ and a Burley Cargo) and think the concept is viable after straightforward refinements. I wish you luck, regards Dominic
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Trailer is quite wide compared to bike. Alternatives are narrower with box closer to axle line, longer hitch bar. Auto brake could be added too as intended for heavier loads.
The facility to take wheels the same size as the towing bike would be advantageous too.
If the “box” was a standard equipment case the trailer could be made to take various sizes and much of the manufacturing would be solved.