Mody Plast Bike-Camper: A Green Rig Full of Ideas

The Rösrath-based specialist for plastic parts in automotive applications, Mody Plast, is breaking new ground and has developed a camper trailer for bicycles. The "Bicycle Caravan" product line takes visual cues from legendary car campers and was initiated alongside the core business of mold and model making for motorsports. The series is set to gradually enter the market and continuously grow.

"Due to the Corona crisis and the resulting cancellation of motorsport events, time was used to push forward new projects. One of these projects is high-quality bicycle caravans. This project is actually almost ten years old, but due to the lack of e-mobility in the bicycle sector and the consequently low demand, the project was repeatedly put on hold. However, now the time is ripe to tackle it again," explain the company's founding siblings, Frank and Udo Nolden.

The main criterion for the makers: The current pedelecs are now so mature and powerful that they can easily handle the already lightweight trailers, argue the bike trailer creators. They plan to go into production with three different basic models. However, it shouldn't just remain with the three different bicycle trailers: they plan to gradually develop further and also include useful accessories in the program.

Top-notch Design, High-Quality Materials

But even at the start, the line-up and program can be impressive. In addition to the design, which looks like a scaled-down version of auto campers such as the Dübener Ei or the Knaus T@B, special emphasis was placed on high-quality materials as a material specialist. Besides the base version made from vacuum-laminated GRP panels with a 4 mm foam core, there is also a carbon variant that saves another six kilograms in the still somewhat heavy prototypes, bringing the weight down to about 42 kilograms when empty.

The maximum load capacity while driving is 50 kilograms, but when stationary, the robust trailers, which measure 2.25 meters long, 1.14 meters wide, and 1.46 meters high, can even handle a load of 190 kilograms. Inside, the exterior dimensions leave 2.08 meters in length, 86 centimeters in width, and 1.02 meters in height, allowing for a maximum of two adults to fit side by side. The door on the robust hinges opens 75 by 48 centimeters, making for a relatively easy entry. Including the overrun brake system and drawbar, Weber coupling system, the trailer measures 3.05 meters.

Self-supporting and torsion-resistant construction

The basic construction features a self-supporting, vacuum-molded GFRP floor panel with a 20 mm foam core and integrated aluminum bushings for mounting the axle and overrun brake. Alternatively, a carbon-fiber option is available. The windows are made of green-tinted acrylic glazing, another specialty of the Nolden brothers. Standard features also include four extendable aluminum supports for parking and four tie-down rings on the floor for securing the load. Ventilation in the door. Naturally, roof ventilation is also present. The interior walls are homely and covered halfway up with 3 mm light gray felt. One internal LED lamp provides lighting. Externally, LED rear lights and front LED lamps ensure visibility almost akin to truck trailers, complemented by red rear reflectors and a phalanx of reflectors on the sides, front, and rear. The entire system is powered by a 12-volt battery block.