Recession Vacation: bike-pulled camper built from salvage
Paul Elkins' homemade bike-towed camper - Click for hi-res gallery
Designed with an eye toward post-apocalyptic living, Paul Elkins whipped up this trailer to pull behind his bicycle at the Burning Man festival. It's 100 pounds of home away from home, built from aluminum tubing reclaimed from a satellite dish and skinned with the same type of plastic commonly used for political campaign signs. A card table and some wheelbarrow parts are also in the mix, following the idea of using what's on hand after a disaster.
While Elkins designed another version of this idea that's more suitable for road use, this rig looks pretty comfortable and well equipped. It harnesses the energy of the sun to charge batteries and dehydrate food - you'll be able to read a book at night while enjoying your own beef jerky recipe. Hot water for a shower is also provided courtesy of the sun. It's all pretty cozy, and it's way cheaper than an Airstream. Checking out Elkins' blog reveals plenty of ingenious projects that might give you something to do during the coming winter months.
Gallery: Homemade Bike Trailer
[Source: High Mileage Trikes via Neatorama]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
futurama 3:08PM (9/05/2009)
oh yeah.. perfect for the burning man!!!!
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Paul 6:16PM (9/05/2009)
If you gotta travel light, that's the way to go!
Still, it's seriously hot and dusty out there and dust storms can be BRUTAL. I'd want more sun coverage, more ventilation and room for the crazy gear you need at night.
Folks, if you've never been, Burning Man is the ride of your life. I've never seen so many crazy machines and dangerous art in my life. It's a mutant car guy's dream.
Randy 11:25PM (9/07/2009)
Wouldn't it just be easier to wear a turbin and some desert gear and put on some rollerblades with all terrain tires while carrying an inflatable bed with a tent and a portable solar panel to power the motor to inflate the bed? Yeah it sounds more complex but oh so doable...
They have portable solar panels at www.greenandmore.com
they're pretty cool for powering things and charging them on the go. Ya know?
chanhe.jai 9:42PM (9/05/2009)
Hey, nice post, really well written. You should write more about this. I’ll definitely be subscribing. you know so many interesting information. You might be very wise. I like such people. Don’t top writing.
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James 3:16PM (9/05/2009)
Looks more comfortable than a Crosstour...
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ScubaTim 3:26PM (9/05/2009)
That's actually... pretty awesome!
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Soccer Mom 4:09PM (9/05/2009)
Well, even that thing beats Honda Accord Crosstour in the design department.
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James 4:30PM (9/05/2009)
Nice rims...
...better than the Crosstour's.
Jrejre 4:13PM (9/05/2009)
A head bubble may have made the crosstour more attractive.
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James 4:19PM (9/05/2009)
I smell Crosstour Bashing in AB... ;p
ij70 4:24PM (9/05/2009)
Looks cramped.
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Clavius 4:40PM (9/05/2009)
Shortly after the Facebook reveal of the Accord Crosstour he was quickly fired and lost everything. Though depressed some have stated he is happier now that he has his bike towed camper.
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RLQ 5:21PM (9/05/2009)
Burning is for want-to-be hippies.
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Paul 6:10PM (9/05/2009)
Oh really? Do tell, expert.
Been to Burning Man for years and the handfull of hippies are definitely a minority. If you can imagine mutant machines that shoot fire and are too dangerous for your silly little life, they're all at Black Rock City.
Seriously, get over your stupid preconceptions and go. It's creative machine-making center of the universe, by far.
RLQ 7:19PM (9/05/2009)
lol
Hank 5:33PM (9/05/2009)
Please tell me the kitty litter bucket is a repurposing of the bucket, and not what I think it's for.
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CharlieFoxtrot 7:48PM (9/05/2009)
His "Investigate 9/11" button makes me want to kick him in his non-existent balls...
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CharlieFoxtrot 7:52PM (9/05/2009)
I would like to add that his idea as well as the execution of this camper is excellent! Just for that one thing I mentioned before I absolutely don't like.
Geekengineer 10:19PM (9/05/2009)
@CharlieFoxtrot:
I was mildly amused by the concept until I ran across that button, too. Pissed me off.
I'm a mechanical engineer, and I can appreciate the effort put into this little travel box. It's just that one little thing that flushed it allllll down the toilet for me... typical dipsh!t nü hippie moron, that guy.
WetheSheeple 12:50AM (9/07/2009)
If you guys really believe the official 9/11 Commission report, that is totally your right. However, anyone who accepts the 'official' report of what happened on 9/11 really ought to put the Kool-Aid down. The twin towers fell at free fall speeds. Showed every characteristic of controlled demolition. Even the NYFD firefighters along with hundreds of witnesses all reported hearing 'bangs' right before the tower collapsed. Not to mention Tower 7 which had a few very small fires on a couple floors was supposed to collaspse from this? I can show you 2 buildings that where destroyed by fire that burned for much longer than these building, but they are STILL STANDING!! Silverstein, the owner of the Towers and Building 7 stood to make a ton of money if the towers were brought down by a 'terrorist act'. I can go on but I think you just accept whatever the government and MSM tell you what to do and think. We are a nation of sheep as my name suggests.
I suggest Geekengineer contact Richard Gage from the site Architects and Engineers for 9/11 truth and talk to him about 9/11 and see if he agrees with your findings.
This is someone who is neither a Dem or a Repub. Wake up, see how much this country has changed over this false flag terror event.