Please add a tow hitch to the m1 and hook it up to the van. It just needs to be done
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Check out ultra light backpacking kits, can get my old kit under 10 lbs without food. The problem is when ive got that kit together i want to turn off trail and go places only feet can go. My kids are finally getting tough enough to actually do some backpacking… need to pack a couple bags this summer and see what kinda trouble i can get them into. Alpine Blueberries ripen in august 
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That’s why I’ve been trying to consolidate my cook kit better. I’m all about that ultralight, albeit with low budget.
My hammock setup is pretty damn light already, though I could stand to get a dyneema tarp for it to shave off a few grams.
I have a blow up mat for colder weather, though it weighs almost 100g more than my folding closed cell pad.
I find most of my weight exists in esk8 gear and my backpack it’s self.
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I might have a camouflage tarp for you, shipping might be a bitch tho
This sounds like an activation codephrase for a sleeper agent
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Reliance on grid power for charging is a bit of a hangup in my mind.
I’d like to cruise further than i do, towing Fiona in her chariot, which is 85 LBs with her in it, yet it still tows easily even with a bum shoulder.
Since I mainly charge via a CCCV adjustable voltage booster, from 12vDC systems, II could put a decent amount of watt hours into the chariot, and carry a 100 watt ‘flex’ solar panel to charge that 12v battery at upto 82watts, while underway, or stopped, and shade Fiona in the chariot’s Basket as well.
I have used the booster to directly charge esk8 battery from solar panel, at upto 82 watts, but a passing shadow on the panel causes weirdness and 50ish watts max, requiring twiddling with trimpots to re-achieve 80 watts.
The wide chariot handle, allows me to move it pretty far side to side, like I can have esk8 wheels on very edge of sidewalk and chariot wheels completely off to the side of sidewalk, and when I stop i can quickly put the esk8 in the chariot, alongside Fiona if she does not want to walk, and tow it, or push it as I walk, balanced for zero tongue weight on handle.
It has a pretty wide track, unideal for narrow trails, but not having a sweaty back from a backpack is nice.
Would like to build a 50AH 4S lifepo4 battery to keep in chariot, kind of like a rolling power station. Probably never happen but exploring the possibilities is fun.
I have a 22ah ,14lb Lead acid battery I could do this with now, but instead just carry a 7s2p for an extra 100 watt hours
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As far as solar, lead and iron goes, the issue of Diminishing returns and energy:weight ratios becomes a huge issue.
Even if I could carry 300-400w of panels and a good MPPT, it would still take multiple times as long to charge my batteries than using a high current AC-DC charger. And plugs are about as common as gas stations anyway, especially out here on the coast.
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This is the goal for sure, and the issue of using 2 batteries vs. one large battery is pretty evident with this in mind.
As I’ve done it last I pretty much did the opposite and it worked out alright for me. I had anything bulky and cumbersome strapped to the board and the heavy stuff as close to my core as possible.
Was definitely able to recover from minor wipeouts, only issue I had was trying to portage my board across a grassy ditch
I’ve gone through the math, a couple of times for solar and the weight that it adds the range that I could actually contribute and unless you’re working with a very very efficient solar set up on very efficient urethane wheels it really quickly gets into rocket equation, tyranny territory
Until solar efficiency gets into the true 40 to 50% range I don’t think it’s viable. I’m open to being proven wrong, but as I see it now anywhere that is good enough for urethane wheels and therefore the efficiencies needed to be able to use solar as a power source is also an area where Mains power is available.
A good fast charger and all the adapters necessary, plus any additional bulk added by using a higher amperage input, capable BMS easily weighs far less than spare batteries and a solar trailer. The 20 minutes it takes to charge a battery is also a good rest. After fully discharging one so I don’t see the time needed to charge as a drawback.
Edit: wtf did vtt get that punctuation? It’s so bad im just gonna leave it
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Carry the charger in your backpack, not sure if vibration on the board will cause issue to it or not if you strap it to the board.
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I’d think that would depend on the construction quality of the charger.
I’d trust stuff from WATE or AFU for example.
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Damn that looks awesome. Have you road tested it? I feel like that front wheel would be prone to wobbling around? Or is that meant to be off the road while riding?
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No tests yet. I need to stiffen it up in some places and find a way to attach it to a board. That front wheel is load bearing. I don’t want extra weight on my rear truck when towing.
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Hmm. Seems to go against my understanding of trailer physics, definitely curious to hear how it goes for you.
Good content here Trailer Sway – Video Review & Discussion – Mechanical Elements
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Weight on that front wheel is good.
Weight pushing down on my rear truck is what I want to minimize.
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Ball weight is reduced by centering the trailer axle beneath the load. With a well located axle and optimized load location, there shouldnt be any downward force on your rear truck.
Without meaning to sound condescending, think see-saw.
Those castor wheels go crazy even at low speeds on shopping carts, i am more than a little concerned about how it will behave in this instance.
I’ll eat my hat if this approach works for you, but i’m dubious.
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Also, with the trailer not being able to pivot on an axle, the load on your hitch and the caster is going to be extreme on uneven terrain
In fact, by employing your method, you seem to be creating the exact problem you’re trying to avoid.
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I brought this single drive, light weight, Leafboard with me on a long ride once. Ended up needing it when the battery tapped out 2 miles from home. Hooked my emtb up to a dog leash I brought and towed it home.
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This process seems tedious to me, I don’t want to balance the load.
I have the caster there so any load goes into it instead of my rear truck/hitch. I’m trying to minimize all forces on my board in the up and down direction.
Do you have an idea of how to do this that wouldn’t involve balancing the load or moving the axle to put it under the load?
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