BOB...bug out bike...trailer plans

[Da Nerd]

Some might think of using a bike as a BO vehicle.
Here is a set of plans to build a sturdy and cheap trailer for a BOB (bug out bike)

http://www.instructables.com/ex/i/A51076AC08D71029BC4A001143E7E506/?ALLSTEPS

[ephv]

The Japanese caught the British by suprise using this mode of transportation when they overran Indochina. No trucks because they had no method of transport so they use bikes and wagons to move tens of thousands of men and tons of supplies. Hong Kong was lost in a matter of days. This is a viable method when gas is gone.

[Da Nerd]

Bikes were used alot by the North Viet Nam troops alsol

[gunsmoke]

Originally posted by Da Nerd
Some might think of using a bike as a BO vehicle.
Here is a set of plans to build a sturdy and cheap trailer for a BOB (bug out bike)

http://www.instructables.com/ex/i/A51076AC08D71029BC4A001143E7E506/?ALLSTEPS



EXCELLENTE CONTRIBUTION COMMANDATORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bow:

The Swiss Army has relied heavily on bicycles for personal transport for 100 years now. Practice with your Bug Out Bike is an excellent conditioning tool as well!!!

[Farmer from Hell]

I personally think a better BO bike would be a duel sport bike like a Kawasaki KLR 650.

It will go a VERY long way on a tank of gas. You could run roads splitting traffic and cut across median strips and such if need be.

FfH

[Da Nerd]

Originally posted by Farmer from Hell
I personally think a better BO bike would be a duel sport bike like a Kawasaki KLR 650.

It will go a VERY long way on a tank of gas. You could run roads splitting traffic and cut across median strips and such if need be.

FfH

Until you run out of gas, which you will sooner or later..:D

[cycle_rcr]

I trailer my sons regularly. nashbar.com has a perfectly good trailer they will sell for $90. I have used it to take the boys on snowmobile trails in the summer.

The most tricky part of bike trailering is to get a little give in the hitch. No give gives a pretty jerky ride. Also, if there are hills, absolutely need the little ring in the front.

This is great training and you can spend time with the family at the same time getting a very intense workout.

I think it would be very unpleasant pulling 200# up a hill with your own strength. Also very dangerous. If pressing too hard on the pedals for extended time, you can blow a knee in 50 miles. Try and ride with knee damage.

[Farmer from Hell]

Originally posted by Da Nerd


Until you run out of gas, which you will sooner or later..:D

A KLR will run like 300+ miles on a tank full.

I didnt know we were bugging out across the country.

FfH

[Artful]

Originally posted by Farmer from Hell


A KLR will run like 300+ miles on a tank full.

I didnt know we were bugging out across the country.

FfH

That's the problem, you didn't get the memo:rofl:

I actually have a 3 wheel trike for this, but trailer is maybe a better alternative as if constructed right you could tarp and make into sleeping shelter as well.

[44echo]

The big proablem with a motorcycle is all the noise it makes, its a call to the looters that somebody has stuff to be taken. For me a motorcycle would have to be as quiet as a car, you would prolly get away with doing a trip just once but if you have to make the run every day somebody will be waiting for you. A bicycle is slow but quiet, find or build one that looks like a beater but functions perfect. Keep in mind towing a trailer behind a bicycle will drasticly reduce your speed, manuverability and range. Consider doing a "dry run" over the routes you are most likley to use.

Check out the sub forums on commuting and living car free on Bikeforums.

http://www.bikeforums.net/index.php

[Da Nerd]

Originally posted by cycle_rcr
I trailer my sons regularly. nashbar.com has a perfectly good trailer they will sell for $90. I have used it to take the boys on snowmobile trails in the summer.

The most tricky part of bike trailering is to get a little give in the hitch. No give gives a pretty jerky ride. Also, if there are hills, absolutely need the little ring in the front.

This is great training and you can spend time with the family at the same time getting a very intense workout.

I think it would be very unpleasant pulling 200# up a hill with your own strength. Also very dangerous. If pressing too hard on the pedals for extended time, you can blow a knee in 50 miles. Try and ride with knee damage.

Well this is not a pleasure ride, but rather a desperation run.
Going up hills, one must walk along side and push the bike.
The advantage of a bike/trailer is you can carry some what more and over a longer distance.
Your advice on taking it easy on the body is good advice tho.

[cycle_rcr]

Da Nerd,

I just wanted to speak from experience that long distance loaded riding is no easy thing. A person really should be physically prepared or they have a large chance to become injured. Besides not pressing too hard, on long distance activities if the weather is hot, a person should watch their electrolytes and sugar intake very carefully. Incorrect sugar intake makes me nauseaus, incorrect electrolyte, and I get the twitching spasms of the abs and calves.

This is not a problem for short rides, but go 80 miles in the summer on a bike and it can happen. Some people seem to tolerate the heat better than myself. I drip sweat and have to replace the salt.

I use a cheapo electrolyte mix I make myself. Unsweetened Koolade,table sugar, salt, no salt, in my Camel Back plus a calcium citrate + mag tablet just before riding. Banannas also wrork great

I guess I mean to say, a bike trailer is a very viable way to transport self and gear without need of gas/diesel, but 200# for any distance is very unrealistic for most but those very accustomed to such effort.

You gotta try pushing 60# of kids and 20# of trailer up hill or through a muddy area of trail. It is not so easy because the load is not centered to you, it is offset

[Da Nerd]

+1 What you said. I dont expect to travel more than 10-15 miles a day under SHTF conditions. Due to many factors. In fact I dont expect to bug out at all., but thought the bike trailer was novel and for those who might bug out on a bike might be a good idea.

[goldenspurholderx2]

DaNerd, hat's off! Great idea!:bow:

[Powderfinger]

Originally posted by Farmer from Hell
I personally think a better BO bike would be a duel sport bike like a Kawasaki KLR 650.

It will go a VERY long way on a tank of gas. You could run roads splitting traffic and cut across median strips and such if need be.

FfH

Like this?:)
Not mine. Courtesy of Goggle.

[Farmer from Hell]

Originally posted by Powderfinger


Like this?:)
Not mine. Courtesy of Goggle.

Yup.

Dirt cheap ($3-4K used), easily maintained, big 6+ gal. fuel tank, parts (factory and after market) everywhere, pretty quiet, and the swiss army knife of duel sports.

No trouble throwing a jerry can on for added fuel or bring a syphon hose and "borrow" along the way.

People ride these around the world (no joke) all the time. Ive been following a guy posting on the net who has rode a BMW F650 around the world and he has an aftermarket fuel tank that gets him like 600+miles on a tank of gas.

All you have to do is look at the pics of the highways that turn into parking lots during hurricane evacuations to see where something like this will be the fastest way out when everyone else has the same idea.

This is of course conditional on pre-positioning of goodies.

FfH

[arashi]

Free bike trailer plans...
(Scroll to the bottom of the page for lots of free plans links)

http://www.carryfreedom.com/bamboo.html



I got one of these for the little one. The conversion kits let you take them along on all kinds of outdoor activities.

http://www.chariotcarriers.com/html_english/cx1_conversion_kits.htm

[Bwana John]

While the trailer seems to be a great thing to take the little tyke out for a ride, I have found them to really be a pain in the ass if traverseing anything rough.

A good mountain bike with a heavy duty rear touring rack and large panniers can be loaded with enough backpacking type gear to get away fast, and still be able to ride trails, push the bike over rough terrain, or hide in the bushes fast.

In the early 80's when mountain bikes started to be big I poached many miles of trails thru wilderness areas in the Sierra Nevada using just such a set up. The wife and I still enjoy off-pavement bike touring/camping out here on the Colorado Plateau, but now we try to stay legal.

I would not recomend a front rack and panniers unless you are going to stay on the pavement.

An ATV rifle rack mounted horizonaly across the handlebars would give you firepower in a very handy position.

[Rawles]

RE:
>An ATV rifle rack mounted horizonaly across the handlebars would give you firepower in a very handy position.


There was a magazine article a few years back, IIRC it was in The American Hunter, about a gent who used a mountain bike for deer hunting. In the article, he said that coasting down hills was a quiet way to approach deer, and that when they did see a bike, they didn't "spook." He used a handlebar-mounted rack (parallel to the handlebars) for his rifle. These are the same type of racks sold at ATV stores.

[mosbysmen]

in some old issue of TMEN they have a article on using the front wheels from two dirt bikes to make a trailer ,looks pretty good ..

[Bwana John]

An ATV rifle rack mounted horizonaly across the handlebars would give you firepower in a very handy position.
I used to hunt ducks next to the LADWP aquaduct(Owens River)the same way.
If you fall over though the shotgun takes it HARD!

[FN74]

Hong Kong is in china.

Singapore is in indochina, and what ephv is most likely referring to the fall of.

[warlord_mind]

one thing to remember get two bikes same make and parts oil and so forth at the same time just use 1 until shtf
also beware of heavy loads in hill or mountain country in 3 years riding a good quality mountain bike with rider and backpack of text books i burned out two free wheels due to loads stress and hill riding
and a half stripped free wheel with a load on is a good way to hurt a knee
of course that is a 200+ lb person and college text books often dooing 20 + miles a daay the last 2 miles climbing 700 ft of elevation
definately not downing the idea but be aware and definitely ride some for training first

[Sandman]

Some other folks "out there" have given some thought to alternative use of bicycles. Google "railbike" and see if you come up with something like this:

http://rrbike.freeservers.com/ or http://home.aol.com/RAILBIKES/

I hasten to add that I have not done this; I am merely hoping one of you will let me know how much fun it was, particularly with a full BOB on your 'bars.

I hope I didn't deRAIL your thread.

[bykerhd]

A few scattered thought if you please.

I don't see any gun mounts or provisions for a turret in the trailer plans.

It would be nice to be able to bicycle down the road without having to worry about some soccer mom on a cellphone in a minivan wasting you with her offside mirror as she goes by. However, on a bicycle towing a trailer you are also a slow moving target subject to becoming the prey of whatever miscreant might take a fancy to your goods and/or your rig. Or, maybe yourself. Cannibals, you know ?

A bicycle constructed for the rigors of serious off-road use might be the best, although not fastest, choice for a SHTF scenario as traveling by road is likely to be an iffy proposition due to roadblocks, broken roads or bridges and hostile elements on the road. The trailer should have tires which would offer enough floation on soft ground to not mire the rig.

The motorcycle may still be a reasonable choice for the SHTF scenario. The main reason is the ability to put distance between yourself and your area in a hurry. As mentioned, gas can be "borrowed" from abandoned or wrecked vehicles. Even an "empty" tank will usually have a bit in it that the pickup in the tank cannot reach. It would be a slow and somewhat dangerous propostion to salvage/harvest it though. Another alternative might be alcohol. It might be feasible still on some carburated Bikes, but I'm not sure how electrionic ignition systems would be able to cope with it. Fuel injection won't work at all I think. More practical to convert to alcohol once a new location has been established and a still of some sort can be set up.

Choice of motorcycle is critical if you want to continue to use it beyond what is in the tank and what decent gas you can scrounge. You must carry a reasonable supply of spare parts and tools in addition to your other gear and have the thorough knowledge of the bike to complete major roadside repairs if necessary. A basic skill is repairing flat tires. Spoke maintenance goes along with that. Lots of incidentals to keeping a bike going. Especially when the dealer you depend on is closed forever.

[Powderfinger]

I was amazed at what I saw hauled on the ubiquitous 3 wheeled bicycle with a bed/platform in Shanghai. They are the Ford pick-up for the masses. 6' wide double French doors stacked 6 high. Lumber. Sand and gravel. Bricks. Garden produce. 40-5 gallon bottles of water. 18-100# bags of rice. PEOPLE, as many as could climb on. Some regular 2 wheel bikes simply had a couple 32 gal trash cans lashed on to haul who-knows-what.

[TXscout]

Here's an idea!!!!.........:biggrin:

http://i2.tinypic.com/xfro8w.jpg

[Farmer from Hell]

Originally posted by bykerhd
The motorcycle may still be a reasonable choice for the SHTF scenario. The main reason is the ability to put distance between yourself and your area in a hurry. As mentioned, gas can be "borrowed" from abandoned or wrecked vehicles. Even an "empty" tank will usually have a bit in it that the pickup in the tank cannot reach. It would be a slow and somewhat dangerous propostion to salvage/harvest it though. Another alternative might be alcohol. It might be feasible still on some carburated Bikes, but I'm not sure how electrionic ignition systems would be able to cope with it. Fuel injection won't work at all I think. More practical to convert to alcohol once a new location has been established and a still of some sort can be set up.

Choice of motorcycle is critical if you want to continue to use it beyond what is in the tank and what decent gas you can scrounge. You must carry a reasonable supply of spare parts and tools in addition to your other gear and have the thorough knowledge of the bike to complete major roadside repairs if necessary. A basic skill is repairing flat tires. Spoke maintenance goes along with that. Lots of incidentals to keeping a bike going. Especially when the dealer you depend on is closed forever.

Eveything you need to know about heading out into the unknown on a bike is right here.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/motobooks_1892_46835755

Surprisingly the people who do RTW traveling carry little in spare parts. The great thing about the KLR is that Kawasaki hasnt change much more than paint schemes in the last 15 years so parts swapping is easy.

FfH