How to build a DIY trailer for a bicycle or e-bike!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 พ.ค. 2024
- Make your own battery with my book DIY Lithium Batteries: amzn.to/2jbxvzS or check out my second book - The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide: amzn.to/2BGx4Fn
Parts used in this video:
Trailer hitch: amzn.to/2wpvwhY
wheels (20" of these, or 16" works) amzn.to/2PQ7DZc
Rack: amzn.to/2wrgCI6
1/2" bolts": 1/2" x 6" galvanized bolts
other hardware: 1/2" galvanized washers and nylock nuts
The gear I use for my videos:
Camera - Nikon D5300: amzn.to/2DcuVlM
Lens - Tamron 18mm - 270mm: amzn.to/2qLZlsG
Thermal camera for iPhone/Android: amzn.to/2FikWvW
Parts that I use:
1000 W electric bicycle kit: goo.gl/GFsH5N
48V lithium-ion battery with rack: goo.gl/hyXzLT
48V 14.5 Ah Hailong (shark) battery: goo.gl/jg429Z
36V 11 Ah bottle battery: goo.gl/Snja5H
All ebike batteries: goo.gl/FLC3cK
All 18650 cells: goo.gl/hYWnwU
Bafang BBS01 kit: goo.gl/6wi43g
Bafang BBS02 kit: goo.gl/GWLRxo
Bafang BBSHD kit: goo.gl/LgtBry
100W Flexible solar panel: goo.gl/dQPhQX
18650 cells: goo.gl/hYWnwU
18650 positive insulating washer: goo.gl/HBVOuc
Nickel strip: goo.gl/VIrNQq
Spot welder: goo.gl/KN3Uaw
BMSs: goo.gl/S6gSQx
Silicone wire: goo.gl/xmpbKD
Black 18650 cell spacers: goo.gl/hQxWF6
Vruzend cell spacers: goo.gl/5ReLqA
Large heat shrink tubing: goo.gl/6v1ow9
Small heat shrink tubing: goo.gl/OU3Z6u
Foam sheet for protecting battery: goo.gl/5e71tE
Kapton tape: goo.gl/D6BT57
Chargers: goo.gl/js0T0V
350W hubmotor: goo.gl/K1mYvR
36V/48V controllers I used: goo.gl/nJBnJP
Throttle: goo.gl/UebsNC
Cycle Analyst: amzn.to/2CIKIIe
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Music by Kevin Macleod
FYI ...swing by Lowes and get the following: Wheelbarrow wheel assembly kit and get 2 sets of wheels(4 wheels) --the dually effect(like a semi) will decrease the bouncing you're getting when you pedal at a higher speed. Also what you're using as axles works, but if you get a one-piece thru-axle of threaded round bar, it'll increase your trailer's carrying capacity. In-addition add some flat L-brackets to the trailer's arm to also make it more rigid than what you're presently using.
Most of the comments I'd make have already been covered by other posters, so I'll just add my general 2p worth, based on having made several trailers over the last (nearly) 4 decades.
All (bar one) have been 2 wheel trailers, with a central tow / hitch point, more or less at the same height as the axle of the rear wheel.
The bike end of the hitch is bolted on the rear end of a frame / yoke that is typically attached to the rear wheel mudguard stay holes.
This yoke / frame is prevented from rotation by stays of some sort to the pannier rack.
The bike / trailer connection is a 8mm male rose (spherical) joint mounted on the trailer with a clevis on the bike end. An 8mm bolt through both connects them.
The threaded stem of the rose joint is allowed to rotate through a full 360deg in its mounting to allow for mishaps such as the trailer flipping / rolling thro' 180deg after hitting a kerb / obstacle.
My current trailer - used for 3.5yrs is significantly different from all previous ones in that it folds (flat) and can be stowed on top of the pannier rack when not actually needed. The wheels are 12.5in stub axle types that can be removed and carried in one of the panniers.
The reason for this approach is that I'm a regular skip / bin / dumpster? diver and I wanted a means of being able to carry larger items if I happened to be passing a 'target rich environment' and there was something of interest (to me) there :)
The trailer frame is essentially a modified kid's buggy / stroller - Hauck brand (sport model or similar) - a simple but effective linkage and pivot arrangement that folds back on itself. Mainly 16mm / 5/8in steel tubing - but I've added other staff as necessary.
The bike mounted frame / yoke is also somewhat different from previous ones that I've scratch built - it's the rear triangle frame off an alu framed bike. I found an abandoned bike that'd been stripped, and rear stays jumped on such that they touched each other.
This is - by far - the best, most rigid hitch frame version I've used.
Trailer with wheels weighs about 5kg iirc and the max load I've carried is 50kg (only twice) typical loads are generally in the 15 to 35kg range.
I'm considering making a mk2 version of this trailer with some mods - and decided to open an Instagram account to showcase this ( and to promote cycling / bikes in some way?) - when I extract digit - as people my side of the pond have asked me questions about this in the past.
I'm not sure how to link / point directly to this Instagram account - so I'll just give the name.
biketrailerguy instagram.com/biketrailerguy/
There's just a few pics of current trailer with different loads there at the moment, but it might be of interest to some people.
Zero cost, btw as made from materials / resources I already had, or found objects - like the buggy itself. No welding involved, or timber used.
Great! Creative useful up cycling - and skillful too :)
I’m discovering this channel just now. I was considering a trailer for an ebike and to wire it to a throttle with two hub drives. Now it’ll truly haul your gear while not stressing the bicycle setup.
I have been over thinking a bike trailer for a while now, thanks for the inspiration to keep it simple and just build it.
Or buy one that works for the same money/time.
It'll be interesting to learn how well it endures when it's actually loaded. I've used trailers to carry my gear when bike camping, and one improvement they really need are brakes. Going downhill with a loaded trailer is no fun when it decides it wants to go faster than you do. Very dangerous!
A bag of Portland cement would be a good test
Nice build of that trailer I just finished my ebike build and went online looking for light bike trailers and lo and behold I have a TH-cam video of Micah building one! Great job and thanks for the idea
Hey Micah i just want it say that i have been watching many of your videos related to batteries, great job they are very instructive and helpful in my journey to build my own e bike! I'm looking forward to watch your next project and hopefully to win one of your books.
Nice quick basic trailer, really liked the ingenious hybrid carrier/hitch design, good work.
I always wanted a trailer!!!! I sold my car back in 2014 and I use my bike for EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE I go... I developed some techniques but I really need a trailer!!! I’ll do it now after watching this video hahaa ohh yeaahhh =]
The best idea i've seen and thanks so much for listing the materials. Want a trailer for camping/fishing. Super idea and build
Awesome little project! We use trailers for our business and they're so convenient!
Good video and nice build, but you might want to consider at least adding some steel "FLAT L BRACKETS" to reinforce that arm from the trailer to the bike. I'm afraid you get any kind of load and that baby will cast her withers. You also might want to relocate the wheels to be more in the center of your trailer so the weight of your load is on the axle and not on that long hitch arm to your bike. Keep up the great work.
I'll keep that in mind when I build mine.
this will not work loaded. the trailer should have been attached to the seat post not a clamp on cargo rack.
Excellent advice
He. Great video! I have recently just started up an odd job handyman business in the UK. I work on a lot of private estates with good roads, and now we are coming into spring and all my clients are local, I wanted to start cycling to work, to help me get fitter and also become a low carbon handyman to reduce my carbon footprint and be more envoronmentally friendly. This has given me real inspiration. Thanks!
Your video is a life saver. I have been trying to figure out how I can pull my Fish-n-Mate beach cart with my eBike. Since I have a rack on the back, I can use the hitch assembly you used to solve my problem... Thank you for helping me out
Nicely done. Simple and organic, i would love to build one in the future when i settle in the countryside but perhaps i would install shock on both tires for better suspension.
great Video ..I have been followed your clips .. you Did it again... so educational for young dad's ... KEEP up the GREAT work... LOVES it...once again , you came through again so inspiring and fun thank-you ..!
Nice one man! Great job on the design. Impressed you made it look so similar just from one image. 👍🏻
You might have changed locations, but the quality is just as good. Thanks keep it up.
You did a good job on the trailer I am following your plans
You might want to stiffen the arm that attaches to the bike hitch. I would use a couple of 5" sided triangles of plywood or whatever size will match up with the stiffened you put on the hitch arm. If your bike rides beside a pot hole but the trailer can't miss it, look at all points that will receive the most force.
You probably need to get a small tool bag, to hold a spare tube for the bike and trailer. Tools for removing a tire and a pump to reinflate the tire. If you have a load groceries or building supplies you don't want to leave the trailer abandoned to go fix a tire. It probably would not still be there when you got back!
Nice building job! 😊
This video really inspired me it gave me the courage to build my own trailer
The book I like is the Ebike guide
Awesome. Great that you include so much info with the video. Thanks
That's a really cool little trailer. Nice job on the build. I really love that you used a duffel bag to source the wood! I was glad to hear in your video that you don't own a car. I don't either and I use a trailer for groceries and anything else that does not fit in panniers. Great video.
Cool! I've been thinking about building a trailer but I can't decide whether to make it 2-wheeled or 1-wheeled. They each have their pros and cons.
I didn't know you were in Boston. I'm South of Boston and I'm seeing a lot more ebikes this year. Finally I'm not the only one.
Good looking trailer, I think about building my own. Thank you.
Great video and idea! On to building my trailer!
I've been wanting a hitch like that!
Nice trailer really dig the siderails
Bloomin heck yes dude. Ta muchly for the inspo. Gday from Australia.
Wow love the trailer! Thank you❤️
cool trailer looks really good
Nicely done sir!
That's wicked, and fairly simple too. Nice one fella 👍🙂
Awesome little trailer
Thanks, this is just what I've been looking for.
Awesome video. Thanks for posting
Good job Micah!
I needed this video thank you!
I was planning on building something like this but with steel. I was going to use a caster wheel to mount to the seatpost. Then a piece a square tubing can be placed where the wheel used to be.
Great project. Hope to win the solar guide book!. Keep up the awesome vids
Way cool enjoyed your show and your wit. Would like the ebike book have one myself😊
epic video thanks for the tow hitch idea from amazon that's a big help
Awesome trailer!
Hi thanks for the video. I find a lot of wood around so might just try this. I do have some spare wheels and just have to get that bolt
Hi I just started following you and loved what you’ve been doing I’ll be watching more videos
Good one.
I have also seen electric trailers that push the bike.
Thanks a bunch Micah!
You did a great job. You did good composition for video too. Thank you. I may build one to haul my dog around she is getting old. I may reinforce. I will need a rack on back to move hitch back. I will add reflectors More for style. Then personalized plate for dog name.
Awesome
You can also add solar panel for the charging System
Good Job on that. thanks for Sharing.
A kids bicycle trailer makes a good tow behind hauler by removing the covering/seats and securing a plastic tote to it!
Indeed they do. You can also cut them in half and extend them if you've got a welder and some scrap metal (for towing home longer objects and bigger grocery shops)
Great video and a good idea in making it.
Cool trailer
Thank you for the idea, I’m gonna build one for my scooter.
Nice looks easy. Should get the job done.
Sure would like to see an e-cart though. Like a power wagon if you know what i mean.
It's really nice I'm going to build one myself but I'm using s wood pallet as a starter and more
awesome. wonder if pvc pipe would be strong enough and lighter.🤔🍻
Great idea/project. How is the connector arm holding up? Is it starting to show any looseness from vibration? Also, from the footage, the trailer appears to tilt forward, was that intentional?
Could you (perhaps) try to put large battery pack onto the trailer, to gain better weight distribution, and also improve ebike start and range?
I thought it would be good idea, because its easier to pull weight than to carry it.
Great work man btw.
Great trailer built,very intrested & helpfull ,we learn new tricks ,thanks,continúe.,Say hello Joe.
Cool! Electric powered trailer build next!
Great video! I have taken away the idea of fixing the Mount at the back of my bag rack, couldn’t get my head around how to do this if I can’t fit onto my seat post. Thanks
Nice video mate! I was wondering if you had any second thoughts on the final height of the inside of the trailer? Assuming grocery store reuseable bags are almost 24 inches high, I was wondering if you experienced times when you would have preffered an additional "row" of horizontal boards to increase the final interior height? Any thoughts on this?
Hi there, how do i organise used cells to build a 14s 7p? Can i put differents batteries in the same pack? You always been very helpful. ✌🏻
Love this video
Nice build with minimal tools! I imagine that bike trailers would be like any other trailer, you want the load centered forward of the axle , 60/40 at least , then you won’t get the trailer oscillating at higher speeds. I agree with the other comments that there are some areas that have high stress that you might want to make more robust, at a minimum the axle should go across the entire width , reinforce the axle block with a bottom and top metal plate so the wood is more of a pillow block , the hub wood around the bolt mount may break with a good curb or pothole hit. For your hitch arm rectangular aluminum, say 1-1/2” square with bolted gussets at the angles would be light and strong. ( Aside:You seem like the type that would really get into a TIG welder with your mad “conceptual to finished product “skills. )
Nice trailer.
Very cool... I actually have a question about a previous subject: battery temp. Is it practical add a fan, for instance a computer fan, to a battery pack? I ask since heat seems to be an important issue and I'm planning a build in the near future. Thanks
nice trailer..like the wheels. any idea of the weight. am wondering if aluminium frame would be lighter than the wood?
awesome Micah! this is alex, the vruzend guy in the Philippines. Building a trailer also at the moment
The bolt you used for the wheel axle ...if I'm not mistaken weren't those Carriage Bolts? And FYI ...I mounted the Ventura Mini ball Hitch onto the rear plate of my Surly BFD and I later discovered that since the ball hitch is spring-action, it can come disconnected from the tongue mount. So I remedied it with a velcro strap. Plus with most truck trailers having a back-up chains that connect the tongue with the hitch mount, I applied the same using stainless chain. And in-case of slippage, the chain kept the trailer from getting away from my bike, and wandering into traffic.
very good job
Sweet build, diy trailers are harder than they look! I just built two... one is a single wheel and designing the hitch for that was by far the biggest obstacle. I like how you mounted the wheels directly to the wood frame. I decided on using aluminum over wood to try saving weight, do you know what this bad boy weighs? The only thing I'd change is mounting the wheels closer to center (front) for better balance and less stress on the hitch.
$2000+ bike with trailer that looks like it was pinched from a sleeping homeless guy. Huh yep.
The wheels should be in the middle of the trailer. Then the weight will be on the axle. The way you have it, the arm will have extra stress.
I also find using the seat post makes things hard to control. However, connecting to the rear hub will require some design, driving will cause the arm to flex, either making the trailer bounce front to back, or break, depending on the material it's made from.
The big wheels are also better, unless this just carries groceries. Big wheels have less friction on the road.
Great video! How about gussets at the arm joints?
Hola Micah, soy Jose desde España. Hace un par de años que sigo tus vídeos y realmente son impresionantes. Me gusta mucho la posibilidad de fabricar una bici eléctrica para desplazarme, y gracias a tus vídeos creo que lo conseguiré. Gracia and good job.
Since you're in Boston now are you planning to use this during the winter?
Good job!
Great build.would love to see a video on load test. how do u control it on downhills?
Carefully :-)
Awesome work there 😁😁 maybe I would have lifted the front just a little bit just so it's possible to run over street edges without the trailer touching...
I made once a trailer with a single bike wheel (26in) using a car steering universal joint (connected to the seat post) as a articulation and with bags on each side. It was great on road and trail, but today I wonder how it would do with an electric motor in the wheels hub?
I have to build a trailer for my bike as well ty for the great idea how did you build a homemade solor sistem
I have a question pls.... since cargo trailers/carts all seem to roll along like laundry-carts (flat and straight) I'm wondering about adding shocks?? lol you know? Thank you
I bought one of those racks when I first built an E-bike to hold a battery.The tubing cracked by the seat tube weld. So don't put too much weight on the pivot or it may fail.Sorry I'm coming to you late with this information but I have suffered a broken leg and have been hospitalised
Good job, would suggest to place the wheels close to the middle for better weight distribution.
I lost the male part that connect s. To the amoesm trailer to my ele. Bike. Looking on how to install a bicycle ball hitch. To the trailer. I found you and watched. Thank you. But still need to figure out how to install. Probably in my opinion have to modify.
If I attempted to build something like that in my apartment there would a SWAT team up here in 15 minutes, lol. But great job on the build, now I'm interested in attempting something like this, albeit probably off-site. ;-)
I really like the trailer hitch. I'm a bit concerned about the arm up to the bike but the bracing will help. Have you tested it with a load yet?
I decided to use a sunlite axle mount hitch for my diy double wheel trailer. The complete assembly is only $15 and it feels more solid / looks nicer than rack mounted hitches.
Yea it's working well so far with light loads but I might replace the arm with metal pipe/conduit/pvc or something similar, also to help with vibration dampening.
What if installing the wheels onto the mid will it be more balancing when on road? Curious about this
That's pretty cool Micah. Have you taken it out with a decent load in it? How is it riding and making turns with a decent amount of weight in the cart?
That is a great idea, maybe next time you can look at putting an axle or two supports across the tires so that when you are carrying extremes amount of weight that the tires won't blow out and ruin the frame
5 minutes in the production quality increases dramatically
Great Video!!!!
my dogs trailer had 20in wheels when I got it, had problems with spokes, so I got 16in mags, even better, but got flats a few times, then I found 12in mag wheels on a discarded stroller, that had solid rubber tires. no spokes, no flats and a much lower center of balance, making a safer, more stable, ride for my dog. get a hitch for the back hub of your bike wheel, and make an arm out of square metal rod to connect them...
Very cool. extra battery space~
Need a little help. I bought the hitch you mentioned and it didn't come with the extra piece you used to attach it to the rack and been looking for that part for a month now. What do you suggest?
I like the idea for your trailer. but off topic how does the number of amps from a battery effect a controller. now I have a 36v 17.5 amp controller can I run a battery that is 36v 40amps through the same controller?
Amps is current rating, which is sort of like saying 'how much power can it handle'. A controller draws current, a battery supplies current. So if your controller is 17.5A, that's the max current it will try to draw. If you battery is 40A, that means it can supply 40A max. So basically your battery can provide 2.5 times more power than necessary, which is good. It means you have a safety factor. Like using a 250 lb test rope to lift a 100 lb load.
Very nice! I like that you did not paint it
Electrical Conduit is also a good material to build one of these out of (cheap, relatively easy to come by, and sturdy). The wheels could also be taken from an old kids bike (#walmartbikes). Great project!