I have a new DMC Sidecar frame onto which I need to attach some counterbalance weight. Here's the catch: my sidecar will not have a passenger tub (so sandbags and some other conventional means won't work). The sidecar is there solely for the purpose of carrying my wheelchair. As such, it will consist a platform with some quick release clamps to hold down the chair. I'm going to need to attach some weight to the outside of the frame (minimum 100 lbs) in the most clean, compact, unobtrusive fashion. I know I'm not the 1st to have to solve this problem so, give me your ideas. Thanks!
My knee-jerk reaction is to simply recommend you overbuild the platform for the wheelchair. Course, this assumes you're going to use metal. By using heavier metal stock you can quickly add 100 lbs or more. Or, incorporate a heavy metal plate in your design (I've seen this posted about on hack sites).
Bill
A 1'x2' piece of 1/2" plate weighs about 40#. You could get all your needed ballast by using a metal deck on the frame.
L.
There is a company called Tow Pac, ( www.towpacusa.com ) They used to make a sidecar that was counterbalanced with weight plates, they were placed onto a solid round bar stock, and I think that could be implemented into what you are trying to do. They use a slightly different setup now, take a look at their IT3 demo video, you may be able to use some of their engineering, and still have a bit of style, as well, not knowing if you are using a sport styled wheelchair, or a more conventional would also be a determining factor also, with the low backed ones, you could possibly even use an outboard hinged car top carrier, and offer a little more protection to your wheelchair, and more aerodynamics as a side benefit, as well.
Good luck with your choices, and keep the rubber side down.
Doc
If using weights, place them outboard and to the rear of the axle of the car to keep from dipping the nose in the pavement during a left turn stop.
L.
Bill, Lonnie, Doc - Thanks for the input. If "push comes to shove" I s'pose I'll have to use a heavy deck but it would be more efficient to use weight as far outboard as possible as I would need less of it. Lonnie, the DMC frame locates the wheel at the absolute rear of the frame. I guess you'd recommend staying as far to the rear as possible, yes? Also, if anyone has a clever idea where I can get such weight in a nice compact size & shape I'd like to hear about it. -Art
One could build a box from 1/4"x4"x4" angle iron , fill it with old wheel weights and bolt it inside of the rear frame tubee of the chassis under the deck.
Compact, removable and inexpensive.
L.
Build a kind of small flat horizontal "trunk", eg. 20"x20"x3". Fill it with steel/copper/brass/lead(plumbum) junk when not using a chair. And when you mount a chair in its top (acts as a platform for chair), then you can fill it with blanket or other flat-shaped caming equipment. Small, elegant and multifunctional.
Or you can bulld a kind of holder for two 20l canisters (spare tanks) that can be mounted instead of chair to the same mount points. Filled with water (40l weighs almost 90 lbs) or with gasolone (about 70 lbs) it will quickly add a weight to your rig. And you can take a long journey without tanking.
How about PVC drain pipe? A few feet of it, capped and filled with sand or lead shot would give you the ballast you need. It's relatively compact, cheap and could be mounted below the deck and out of the way.
Sand wouldn't weigh enough. Lead would need sling type hangers as PVC can shatter.
Lonnie
I think Lonnie has a good idea, Bolt to the bottom of the rear section of the frame a floor, fill the space to the upper part of the frame with lead, (wheel weights are often free) if this still is not heavy enough then you could go with plate steel on the rear half of the floor, You could also as you will need to add a fender add behind the fender a mount for some extra fuel, this would add a bit more weight and in a pinch, you have extra fuel.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
