The German company ModyPlast builds sleeping trailers for bicycles. The highlight is the outdoor version with fat tires and plenty of ground clearance.
During the pandemic, the demand for “outdoor” increased. Well-preserved campers are hard to come by, especially not allotments near the city. At the same time, sales of e-bikes reach record levels. Bicycle trailers are an inexpensive and exciting type of outdoor adventure. If you only move them with muscle power, a trip like this is a sweaty thing, but with a powerful electric motor you can also tackle the trailer tour comfortably.
The German company ModyPlast has also recognized this. Before the pandemic, the main product was racing car parts. Compact bicycle caravans are now the mainstay of the company. The trailers differ from other wheel trailers in that they are made of composite materials. These materials are light and inherently stable. The ModyPlast models are therefore not based on a metal frame construction that is coated.
Each pendant is made of foam core carbon fiber or fiberglass and is therefore very light. The weight is an important point even with an electric motor, and personal luggage is added to the kilograms of the trailer. The air resistance is also noticeable, which is why some competing products use a folding mechanism. The ModyPlast caravan follows the streamlined teardrop shape. With a height of 146 to 150 centimeters, the trailer stays in the driver’s slipstream.
Three variations
There are three options: Tour, Trekking and Outdoor. They differ essentially in terms of ground clearance and tires. The outdoor variant is the most stable and for that reason alone is worth considering. The trailers are designed for the EU limit for pedelecs of 25 km / h. It is not permitted to hang them on a fast S-Pedelec or on a scooter.
The interior measures 208 x 86 x 102 centimeters and is accessed through a side door. That’s enough to sleep. A cooking box can be transported inside, but cooking is done outside. After all, a real caravan with a kitchen and bathroom cannot pull a bicycle. All of these trailers are suitable for an overnight stay, if you stay longer you will spread out outside the box. The Moby offers lashing eyes to fix the additional equipment in the interior. The payload while driving is at least 50 kilograms. Together with the approximately 50 kilograms of the trailer, you then have at least 100 kilograms on the hook. An e-bike can cope with such a weight on the flat and on a covered road. On inclines and on uneven ground you should have a motor for mountain bikes and you have to expect speed losses. Basically, the wide tires of the outdoor version have a higher rolling resistance, but this can be reduced again with the right air pressure. The trailers are so big that they can be moved on field and forest roads. They are far too wide for real trails.
Carbon is getting more expensive
As an extra, you can order another window, a solar panel plus power station and an outside awning. In the future, underbody protection and aluminum roof rails are also to be offered. The models made of fiberglass cost 4999 euros, the carbon construction makes the trailer about 5 kilograms lighter, but also costs 2000 euros more. The surcharge for the outdoor version is 500 euros.
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