Detachable cargo box

[ed_b]

Hi

Been ages since I was on CTC forum (that long!)

Not asked here though.

Does anyone know of a “utility van” type bike that has a detachable cycle unit?

The use case is a plumber’s “van” but I want to be able to unhitch the bike part and zoom off to get some parts, without dragging everything with me

This from Get Cycling CIC is my current inspiration
https://www.getcycling.org.uk/products/nihola-flex/

Suggestions welcome… thanks

[Grldtnr]

I don't see how if you have a cargo bike/ trike that you could easily unhitch the cargo area.
Perhaps have a detachable side car or trailer, if your thinking of just cycling on your errands on a cycle bit.
Maybe have an easily removable cargo box, just slide/ lift the box out then ride to get your parts..
Quite common to see tradesmen use cargo bikes on the continent, especially Netherlands and Denmark.

[pjclinch]

I'm thinking a trailer with a lockable load area and a structural frame loop to let you lock it up might be the easiest way to do this.

Pete.

[Lionel]

Velove Armadillo, popular with businesses in the Nordics and used by the likes of DHL.

[ed_b]

Wow, the Armadillo looks exactly what I want. I could even pack the Brompton on there (maybe like this !)

Crazy money though. I may have to start with a trailer.

Does anyone do take-offs that hinge above the rear axle, rather than at the seatpost or rear triangle? I don't know, but it feels to me like that would be nicer handling, like an articulated trailer and pick-up. I'm thinking possibly a towball mounted upwards on a very heavy-duty rear rack? (on a reversible platform would be good, so that it can point downwards for a flat carry when no trailer.)

Incidentally I've found cargobikedb.com, which is a truly vast range of options.

[Grldtnr]

Wow, the Armadillo looks exactly what I want. I could even pack the Brompton on there (maybe like this !)

Crazy money though. I may have to start with a trailer.

Does anyone do take-offs that hinge above the rear axle, rather than at the seatpost or rear triangle? I don't know, but it feels to me like that would be nicer handling, like an articulated trailer and pick-up. I'm thinking possibly a towball mounted upwards on a very heavy-duty rear rack? (on a reversible platform would be good, so that it can point downwards for a flat carry when no trailer.)

Incidentally I've found cargobikedb.com, which is a truly vast range of options.

Neither of those options look very human powered, but as an idea to explore a cargo trailer as a 5th wheel trailer on a ordainary bike might work .
If you search the internet , you can find people who have built their own trailers using an old bike ,and easily sourced parts , all bolted to get her.

[ed_b]

Neither of those options look very human powered

I realise... My assumption is that the physical behaviour of the vehicle will be comparable, and the hundreds of years' experimentation with mechanical load carrying is a good place to start when problem-solving for human power. But as a complete novice to this, happy to be told that's a foolish assumption.

a cargo trailer as a 5th wheel trailer on a ordainary bike might work

Thanks. I didn't know about 5th wheel couplings. Would probably leave the platform useful for load-carrying if the trailer isn't attached.

Any thoughts on handling? I feel intuitively ( no stronger than that) that the handling on regular trailers will be a bit odd, whereas if the pivot is at or above the rear wheel axle, turning will be smoother and more like the normal two-wheel experience.

[belgiangoth]

The bullit cargo bike (Larry v Harry) is just the loading area; so you could have a lockable storage unit that you could unload and then the bike could be ridden off swifter.
The Bullit isn't the only cargo bike design that is just a loading area.

[pjclinch]

Any thoughts on handling? I feel intuitively ( no stronger than that) that the handling on regular trailers will be a bit odd, whereas if the pivot is at or above the rear wheel axle, turning will be smoother and more like the normal two-wheel experience.

I haven't spent much time pulling trailers but at least the ones with pedigree don't appear to affect the handling much art all

The degree to which they just tend to follow the tug is illustrated here...


More seriously, folk do pretty hard touring, including off-road with e.g. BOB Yaks: I'd have a go of a few before seeking out a different hitch than what seems to be a well proven formula.

Pete.

[Grldtnr]

Several home built trailers use a spring for the coupling, think of something like the plumbers spring for bending copper pipes.
Seeing as the OP said he was a plumber he may know exactly what I mean ( or she,...,)
Articulates in several planes and easy to connect, I've seen trailers made up using ladders as the chassis, bolt on some wheels, make a simple wooden cargo deck, bolt on a towing arm & use your wobbly wobbly spring as a hitch.
But finding aluminium ladders your willing to chop up ,well might not be easy, but many utilities have replace ladders within a certain span.

[Tigerbiten]

It all depends on how much load/volume the OP needs.
For camping trips and/or shopping trips when I need to buy large items which wont fit in pannier bags, I've a large carry freedom Y frame with a 100 litre aluminium box bolted directly to it.
It was costly to build/set up but is ideal for what it's used for.
The only real difference in handling is it slows me down on hills.

[ed_b]

This is all super-helpful, thanks.

The most important thing is weight: looking at up to 100kg sometimes. Volume of tools, consumables, small parts, etc can be say 1.5 washing machines in volume (and it would be good to be able to carry a washing machine!)

Pipe lengths I'm planning to have running at ~45deg from transom over the rider's head.

I like all the ideas for DIY and cobble it all together from ladders etc. Given prices, I think that's where I'll start.

[Grldtnr]

I've got a PDF somewhere, explaining how to self build a trolley/ trailer, basically you start of with the chassis , use the forks of a small wheeled bike, mount à 20" wheel in the forks, you could use the tubing from your scrapped bike to make a hitch.
Best to weld / braze it all up but you can bolt it together, but if you want to lug washing machines then, best to Weld.
Being a plumber brazing skills are within your remit presumably.

www.re- cycle.org.uk was my original source, when I worked for Royal mail ,I sent all the scrapped bikes to Africa via this charity via Colchester, Royal mail no longer use bicycles, hence my early retirement.
I never did get round to building my trailer

[ed_b]

Thanks again all for replies. I'm going to see if I can spoof something like the BicyLift: turns any Euro-pallet into a trailer.

Also, @Pete, I didn't say thanks for the video!