sidecar heater • sidecar heater • USCA Sidecar Forum • United Sidecar Association %

Sidcar@Sidcar

83 Posts

#1 · November 17, 2012, 8:07 am

Anyone out there with a Gold Wing outfit fitted a sidecar heater?
A Wing has coolant and a pump to circulate it so putting a heater radiator, one out of an old Mini might do, in the sidecar should be possible.

Sid

#2 · November 17, 2012, 9:03 am

Sid, if you have sufficient electric wattage available, a small 12v heater or a 12v electric blanket might be much easier, such as this heater:

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-rubberized-heater-with-fan-96144.html

Or this blanket: http://www.jcwhitney.com/12-volt-electric-blanket/p2010968.jcwx?skuId=345793&filterid=c2613j1

I gave one of the 12v blankets to Jena for Christmas a couple of years ago, but since she generally rides her own rig we've never used it, so I can't comment as to how well it works. A small pre-charged extra battery (lawn mower?) might work well in the sidecar to prevent draining the bike's main battery -- unless an "auto" battery is already intalled.

Lee / Summer Grove, Louisiana: Ural cT, CJ750, Burgman/Texas Ranger, Zuma 50F, MB5, TW200, CRF250L, GTV300

#3 · November 17, 2012, 12:59 pm

I'm already running heated handlebar grips so I don't know if I could run a 150w heater as well. The heaters are on eBay for a tenner so the easiest thing would be to buy one and see what happens. Pity they stopped fitting ammeters to bikes.

Sid

#4 · November 17, 2012, 4:00 pm

Sid, I'm thinking we'd plug the 12v blanket into our 12 "jump start" battery pack --not sure how long the charge would last tho.

Lee / Summer Grove, Louisiana: Ural cT, CJ750, Burgman/Texas Ranger, Zuma 50F, MB5, TW200, CRF250L, GTV300

#5 · November 17, 2012, 4:15 pm

I used to run pair of heated gloves off a 12v car battery when riding my old BSA outfit. The battery lasted about 30 mins but I don't know what power the gloves used to draw.

Sid

#6 · November 17, 2012, 4:20 pm

The easy way may be a heated vest with a PWM controller.........or check out the small heaters made by the streetrod industry. Speedway Motors has a web site and they have a heater that runs off the engines's coolant and is only slightly higher in price than a heater core at the parts store.

#7 · November 17, 2012, 6:50 pm

Depending on the year, you may be able to fashion an air duct into the car that draws heat from the back side of the radiator. Easily dismounted in the spring. I've been thinking of doing this on my '82 1100, but I dont have near the Tupperware to go thru as the 1500's and 1800's

#8 · November 17, 2012, 7:05 pm

The Oxford sidecar appears to have a box section under the front seat so, providing the Wing water pump can cope with the extra load, I hope to fit a heater rad and fan in the box section an the duct it to the passengers feet and up to the screen to demist it. When I've got the forks done, my EZ-Steer kit has got as far as San Francisco according to UPS so shouldn't be much longer, and I can get the outfit back on the floor I'll star measuring up to see what space I've got.

Sid

#9 · November 17, 2012, 7:32 pm

A transmission cooler would work well as a heater core.

#10 · November 17, 2012, 8:15 pm

Goldwings usually have enough wattage to weld with...but if you are worried and go electric then get one of these: https://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=5, I have a Kawasaki Drifter 1500 with an anemic alternator so I use this to monitor what I can have on at any given time.

Paul

#11 · November 18, 2012, 8:20 am

I had a Gold Wing 1500 with the heat vents in front of the riders legs. I found that when it was 40 degrees outside the air coming out of the vents was probably only a few degrees warmer. After that experience I not so sure ducting heat from behind the radiator would have much effect.

#12 · November 19, 2012, 11:00 am

If your Goldwing is a 1500 or an 1800 then you can put an over sized altenator in however I doubt that you will use all of the power that the bike now produces. Should you need a bit more power then you can change some of the bikes lights over to LED's and also change the head light to HID. All of the electric options mentioned work well, I have used all of these in the past. All would be better then opening up the cooling system and adding heat however if you want to go this route you could also add A/C on the GL1500 by using parts from hot rod air. The GL1800 the end of the crank shaft is only 10mm for turning the crank position triger so it is not strong enough to drive an AC compressor.
Jay G
DMC sidecars
866-638-1793

Jay G DMC sidecars www.dmcsidecars.com 15616 Carbonado South Prairie RD Buckley WA 98321 866-638-1793 Hours Monday - Thursday 6-4:30

#13 · November 24, 2012, 9:15 am

i've been thinking that a cuff around the exhaust like we use on the airplanes. it would face the front and then collect the air from around the pipe and route it to the sidecar through a 2 inch or so flex tube. works great in airplanes.. no shortage of heat... only downside doesnt' work when sitting still.. and the flex has to be rather large but heat in the s/c you will get. johnny

#14 · November 25, 2012, 10:59 pm

Heating something as large and leaky as a sidecar would take a lot of heat. Better to have the heat focused where it will do the most good:
http://www.warmnsafe.com/

Cold weather is no longer an issue for my passenger-- a heated liner and a windblock fleece over the feet and ankles and she's good to go!
🙂

Best,

GTRider

#15 · November 26, 2012, 9:15 am

I like the last comment "Heating something as large and leaky as a sidecar would take a lot of heat. "
Right on spot.
In my job I have to make a lot of inventions and for small cheese maturing rooms I needed a small reheating for to achieve the right humidity and eliminate mould.
I used a chineese refrigeration condenser with its fan (for 1/4 ton fridge box = 20$) and a proportional 3 way valve (1/2" = 250Euro) hooked up to the warm side of a chiller. (in your case to the radiator hose)
plus some temperature control.
After that temperature and humidity became completely stable. within the technical limits (If the cooling would be on water I could have got it absolute right on the spot withaout any oscillation rest.

But if Your electric system is well over dimentioned a electric trouser and jacket as suggested is easier to install, plug in, done.
Sven
Sven

#16 · November 30, 2012, 10:06 pm

Our sidecar has a 12v outlet. The wife wears a heated jacket liner and covers her legs with a blanket. She says she is as warm as toast!

#17 · December 1, 2012, 3:23 am

I'm definitely going to fit a 12v socket and buy one of those 150w heaters. Not just to try out in the sidecar but to de-frost the windscreen. When there's a frost I can't see through the windscreen. I don't want to spray it with de-icer as any residue is going to blow back over me and the paintwork when I ride off so I'm hoping to melt the ice with the heater then I can wipe it away with a soft cloth. I've just ordered a new screen so I want to sort this problem before I fit it.

Sid

#18 · December 4, 2012, 6:38 pm

There is a company named "Curtis" that makes cabs for compact tractors. For their cabs they produce a very small all in one package heater core heater with a 2 speed fan.

#19 · December 5, 2012, 12:10 am

I'll put in another vote for the 12 volt blanket. Everyone who has used it loves the thing. It only draws 75-80 watts. Bought it at a truck stop. Under $20.

#20 · December 5, 2012, 3:28 am

Here are a few options to consider:

Go to a major truck stop and scout out their supply of electrical blankets and even some small heaters. One never knows what you may find in those places that can be converted for sidecar use.

Check out this vendor and see if something like this may meet your needs. It works as a cooler or a heater. Forget the nonsensical 3rd grade comments about the product though.

Hope the above link works...

Look at the old Zundap heaters that worked for both the sidecar and at the feet of a rider.

The above reminds me of the old manifold heaters on Model A Fords. Check out the old VW's and see what they used and if it could be adapted or not. I know my old '59 Bug would melt the sides of my shoes after a while..... a long while though. 🙂

Bobby Riddle is trying to make a tonneau cover that works to protect the hack monkey from the elments and keep them warm. Here is a link to his site. He sells some lap robes that may be of interest for riders. Most of his stuff is specific to Urals though.............
http://www.riddlescustomupholstery.com/Products.html

Don't forget to check out your local John Deere supplier, as those farmers in those tractor cabs have to keep warm, too. One never know what they may be using.

Just some options to look at. Good luck in finding what works best for you.