Quad build.
- Thread starter Emiel
- Start date
we had the hub motors already. So a lot cheaper than buying a mid drive.
As we used them in the wheels, we had to buy the versions that can be mounted on one side. I don't want amount on both sides. It makes the quad wider.
Those hub motors are expensive. Changing them yourself is possible, but then we needed more motors and controlers.
It was the easiest and cheapest way to go.
The hub motor is reliable, easy to repair and we can choose witch controler we use.
Mid drive has more torque, but as you get a big enough hub motor, then the torque isn't the problem anymore. These motors have enough torque and with the gearing, you get a lot more torque.
So it isn't needed to get an expensive misdrive.
I have not yet reached 1500w on my controler and that one peaks over 2000w.
So it isn't needed to get an expensive misdrive.
I have not yet reached 1500w on my controler and that one peaks over 2000w.
Yeah, I would love to use a higher-powered motor, but they hit you with hefty fines and take the bike if they catch you with anything over 750-watts around where I am. I would rather not have that happen. Most of the quad bicycles I've looked at are all UK or Australian designed so have the 250-watt limited mid drives on them. In all the videos they seem to have no issues with this power level and the quads zip along with riders and some considerable weight in the back. I only want to use the max allowed here of 750-watts because of the steep hills in a few areas and rather long shallow hills that just kill your momentum until you have no choice but to get off a normal bike and walk it up the rest of the way. There are no videos of an Armadillo or Pony4 heavy cargo going on hills only tons of videos of them zipping around on paved streets or bike paths. There is one video of an Armadillo with the funny soft side body shell going over a long shallow bridge over a motorway and it does not appear to slow down much. I found one video by a fellow where he's on a cross country trek with a very heavily loaded Armadillo maybe even overloaded and he is still able to climb a hill like around here at about 8-9 KPH just pedaling with minimal assist from the mid drive due to low battery. In the video he explains that due to shade from trees and the solar panel somehow getting unplugged from the charge controller his battery nearly died. He was way out in the woods quite a way from the nearest town.
That is why i go for a mobility scooter. Then i can use it without any problems. It stays under 25kmh and i can use a throttle.
The armadillo is designed for replacing vans in the city. Not for long rides outside the city.
Hills not to steap will not be a problem, but it limits the weight that they can carry.
The pony 4 is also used by people and home. It is smaller and less comfort, but fir pafed roads it is fine.
You can choose the motor on it.
The armadillo is designed for replacing vans in the city. Not for long rides outside the city.
Hills not to steap will not be a problem, but it limits the weight that they can carry.
The pony 4 is also used by people and home. It is smaller and less comfort, but fir pafed roads it is fine.
You can choose the motor on it.
After a long time is here and update.
I worked on the camper part and here are some images.
Skylight and the windows on the side are already there. On Tuesday I put the canvas on it and it is done. Then it's just finishing the door, connecting power inside for lighting, sockets, fan And the sockets that come on the outside and front and back. Then lighting and then he is ready for now. After my vacation I finish it and there will be a roof above my chair.
I worked on the camper part and here are some images.
Skylight and the windows on the side are already there. On Tuesday I put the canvas on it and it is done. Then it's just finishing the door, connecting power inside for lighting, sockets, fan And the sockets that come on the outside and front and back. Then lighting and then he is ready for now. After my vacation I finish it and there will be a roof above my chair.
The quad had its maiden holiday and it survived the ride from about 800km on the German roads.
As you survive the German roads, your vehicle is ready to conquer the world.
I had only one problem and that was that sometimes the chain came off as i went down hill and it was free wheeling.
Not a big problem and it was easy to fix. It came off a few times as the chantenger came loose.
That will soon be fixed.
But other than that, the quad was performing great. Steep hills where no problem ad all and also the low quality roads where no problem.
I didn't feel the bad road. The suspension smoothens everything.
On the meeting i took my quad uphill and where others where struggling, the quad went up without any problem. The motor stayed cool, where one on a bicycle with a 1500w motor on a bike, got his motor hot.
Just crazy looking ad the total weight with me on it that was over 200kg and going up hill, where others with way less weight, where struggling.
It is in Germany, but you can see how stable the quad was.
A German YouTuber made also a video and drove on it. He was impressed.
Soon the video will be online and as he posts it, i will place the link here.
I am going to take off the the camper part and make a caravan from it. The quad will be a short wheel base like the other one. The rear will be changed so i can put stuff on it and pull the caravan.
The caravan gets the same wheels and suspension.
As you survive the German roads, your vehicle is ready to conquer the world.
I had only one problem and that was that sometimes the chain came off as i went down hill and it was free wheeling.
Not a big problem and it was easy to fix. It came off a few times as the chantenger came loose.
That will soon be fixed.
But other than that, the quad was performing great. Steep hills where no problem ad all and also the low quality roads where no problem.
I didn't feel the bad road. The suspension smoothens everything.
On the meeting i took my quad uphill and where others where struggling, the quad went up without any problem. The motor stayed cool, where one on a bicycle with a 1500w motor on a bike, got his motor hot.
Just crazy looking ad the total weight with me on it that was over 200kg and going up hill, where others with way less weight, where struggling.
It is in Germany, but you can see how stable the quad was.
A German YouTuber made also a video and drove on it. He was impressed.
Soon the video will be online and as he posts it, i will place the link here.
I am going to take off the the camper part and make a caravan from it. The quad will be a short wheel base like the other one. The rear will be changed so i can put stuff on it and pull the caravan.
The caravan gets the same wheels and suspension.
Absolutely splendid .
You complain about the German roads ? why do you think we come to the Netherlands ? not only are your roads better than ours....
You actually have a cycle network !
I can see having a separate caravan is much more useful should you want to go into the nearest town/village you don't have to pack your camp up to do it ?
Hoping to meet you soon , I think we have a planned itinerary which we will get to you and Maddox as soon as possible.
All the best Paul
You complain about the German roads ? why do you think we come to the Netherlands ? not only are your roads better than ours....
You actually have a cycle network !
I can see having a separate caravan is much more useful should you want to go into the nearest town/village you don't have to pack your camp up to do it ?
Hoping to meet you soon , I think we have a planned itinerary which we will get to you and Maddox as soon as possible.
All the best Paul
It does. It goes great and it is very stable. It rides very good. Steering is heavier than on a trike, but it is not a problem. Bumbs are no problem and it also doesn't change direction with bumbs or holes in the road.
That is why i split the 2. Doing some shopping or going out for dinner is hard as you need to pack it each time.
I never road a bike in England and my limited experience in England is from many years ago.
I only know that they ride on the wrong side of the road.
I discribe German cycle pads as followed. The Romans true sand over their bad roads, because they found them terrible. The Germans found them many years later and called them bice pads.
Germans also love to ride in the Netherlands with their bikes. You recognize them on their helmet. As it rains they put a yellow cover over it and put on a red jacked.
Can't wait to meat you again, but then hopefully for a longer time Paul.
My quad will be changed a bit. It will get a shorter wheel base and a roof on it.
All year riding even when it rains.
It is my car, so shortening the wheel base, makes that i can go better off-road, ride easier trough the city and make it a bit more compact for parking.
But first build the underside of the caravan, so i can take the back kart off. That makes it also easier to work on my quad.
All year riding even when it rains.
It is my car, so shortening the wheel base, makes that i can go better off-road, ride easier trough the city and make it a bit more compact for parking.
But first build the underside of the caravan, so i can take the back kart off. That makes it also easier to work on my quad.
The last 2 weeks i worked on a trailer for my caravan.
Today i placed the caravan on the trailer and shortened the quad. Placed other springs on the back.
My quad now accelarates a lot faster and is a bit faster.
It also roles a lot less in the corners.
My caravan rolls easily, but i am going to ad a stabeliser. This, plus some extra weight of the stuff i put in to it, will make that it will role a bit less.
Tomorrow i make a plate to bold on the back of my quad. Then can i Cary stuff on the back.
Today i placed the caravan on the trailer and shortened the quad. Placed other springs on the back.
My quad now accelarates a lot faster and is a bit faster.
It also roles a lot less in the corners.
My caravan rolls easily, but i am going to ad a stabeliser. This, plus some extra weight of the stuff i put in to it, will make that it will role a bit less.
Tomorrow i make a plate to bold on the back of my quad. Then can i Cary stuff on the back.
No not this time. The meeting is in the Netherlands, so it isn't that far away for me.
Quad updates.
My quad is now about 37 cm ad the back shorter. The caravan part is removed from the back and has his own wheels with suspension.
It took about 2 weeks to build the frame where i could put my caravan on.
It has now the same suspension that is on my quad only with one difference. It has a stabeliser on it so it doesn't roll on its side.
I could push it very easy on its side, but the stabeliser solved that. With s bit of luggage in it, it is even harder to push over.
A week ago i went to the caravan meeting that i organised in the Netherlands. Now i could finally take my quad to the village to do some shopping.
The qaud also drives different. It rolls less in the corners and accelarates way faster. Nobody could keep up with me.
I drove a lot on it the last weeks and i love it. It rides so good. It is comfort and no obstakel is to big.
There will come a solar roof on top of the quad. Then i sit dry as it rains. Also a smaller box on the back for my stuff.
Here are some images and a video we made.
The quad how it is now.
My caravan how it is now.
Showing our quads on the robocub.
The bicycle caravan meeting in the Netherlands. My quad and my caravan.
Soon i hope to start on the roof and the case on the back.
My quad is now about 37 cm ad the back shorter. The caravan part is removed from the back and has his own wheels with suspension.
It took about 2 weeks to build the frame where i could put my caravan on.
It has now the same suspension that is on my quad only with one difference. It has a stabeliser on it so it doesn't roll on its side.
I could push it very easy on its side, but the stabeliser solved that. With s bit of luggage in it, it is even harder to push over.
A week ago i went to the caravan meeting that i organised in the Netherlands. Now i could finally take my quad to the village to do some shopping.
The qaud also drives different. It rolls less in the corners and accelarates way faster. Nobody could keep up with me.
I drove a lot on it the last weeks and i love it. It rides so good. It is comfort and no obstakel is to big.
There will come a solar roof on top of the quad. Then i sit dry as it rains. Also a smaller box on the back for my stuff.
Here are some images and a video we made.
The quad how it is now.
My caravan how it is now.
Showing our quads on the robocub.
The bicycle caravan meeting in the Netherlands. My quad and my caravan.
Soon i hope to start on the roof and the case on the back.
