e-bike to pull cargo box with little dog and life possessions

[Forest Gardener]

I am being evicted from the land I live on and have no driving license. Someone wants to buy me an e-bike but it has to be able to carry some of my possession, or tools and my little dog, sometimes. Can anyone recommend a good sturdy bike that will take me into the forest, along regular trails, not rough stuff. I am thinking of camping out in the National Forest for a few weeks.

The budget is a max of $1500 and I need something that doesn't require too much maintenance, because I may not be in a position to get spare parts too easily.

Is this too much to ask? Please help, time is running out. I cannot go fetch one, so I'd have to buy on spec and have it delivered. I'm good at putting things together, but not without a manual

 

[James]

Hey Forest,

I'd recomend this little device:

I'm not sure it it's still sold out, but if not it would probably do the trick. Does the National Forest have outlets?

 

[Forest Gardener]

That's really kind and I think it's a brilliant idea, but probably too small.. to carry around a dog and some tools, or life possessions.. thank you for caring.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

You might want to get a mid-range ebike (in terms of price) and a trailer like this.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=burley trailer dog

Burley makes some good trailers but they are expensive. pardon the name but the Burley Nomad is made for 100-120lbs cargo.

 

[Forest Gardener]

Ravi, what kind of price does a mid range bike come out at? Thank you for the link to the Burley Nomad. I saw those, yes they rae expensive, but quality is important and 100 lbs is a good weight if it can pull that.

I am so unsure what to buy. If I'm homeless I need to think about repairs and maintenance and parts too. I'm sorry if I'm a bother, but this is a desperate solution to a desperate situation.

Thank you for caring
Forest

 

[Forest Gardener]

Hey Forest,

I'd recomend this little device:

I'm not sure it it's still sold out, but if not it would probably do the trick. Does the National Forest have outlets?

The national forest is woodlands! No outlets in there. My closest town is Blue Ridge, GA - don't think they have one. We are very rural.

 

[JoePah]

If you're going off the grid you don't want an Ebike.. They are only good for about 1-2 hours of riding before you have to charge them for 4 hours.. And if you're going to be outside most of the time, it will not be reliable for you. Buy a sturdy steel bike off of Craigslist. The Aosom Wanderer Trailer is inexepensive and has good ratings.

 

[Brambor]

What Joe said. I see a guy all the time on a regular bike and a small trailer on which he sometimes tows his dog and sometimes the dog runs alongside. If I was off the grid I would think an ebike is an unnecessary hassle.

 

[Admin]

Agree with JoePah, Brambor and others here. Forest, it's great to meet you and no worries on the questions about ebikes. Sorry to hear you're in a rough patch.

The first trailer that was shared by James (the RideKick) is currently sold out and on pause until 2015... Not sure what the next version will look like or if it will be delayed. Ravi had some good advice about getting an inexpensive purpose built ebike like the eZip Trailz or something similar but the point about limited electricity is huge. You could get a portable solar panel but it would take quite a while to charge and in the mean time, you've just got a very heavy and expensive bike vs. something basic and simple without electric drive.

If I were in your position I'd focus on getting a small tent, waterproof backpack, peanut butter, layers of clothing and a very basic bike with tools to repair it and the trailer for your dog (or just have him/her walk with you). When you are going of the grid, speed becomes less important... You don't need a trailer for your dog if you aren't going fast. Check out this video of a guy who walked across China using a rickshaw (a trailer you pull when walking).

It's great that you're being proactive, there are lots of blogs out there that can help teach you how to survive but avoid overpacking and spending all of your money. I'm driving across the US right now and have very few things, the more you have the more it gets in the way and makes it hard to find stuff when you need it. Also, if you don't spend all of your cash then you've got some options if new ideas or opportunities come up

Also, study the wildlife and fauna where you'll be going so you can avoid ticks, aggressive animals and potentially find edible food without poisoning yourself like this guy. I've also heard that sometimes people who are homeless can end up stealing from each other or you can stumble onto someone growing drugs who might want to protect it and become aggressive. Consider a small portable Mace sprayer and maybe a multi-tool knife. Go simple but be prepared, go light and recognize that your dog is going to be very expensive and may become aggressive if he isn't getting fed right.

 

[Forest Gardener]

Agree with JoePah, Brambor and others here. Forest, it's great to meet you and no worries on the questions about ebikes. Sorry to hear you're in a rough patch.

The first trailer that was shared by James (the RideKick) is currently sold out and on pause until 2015... Not sure what the next version will look like or if it will be delayed. Ravi had some good advice about getting an inexpensive purpose built ebike like the eZip Trailz or something similar but the point about limited electricity is huge. You could get a portable solar panel but it would take quite a while to charge and in the mean time, you've just got a very heavy and expensive bike vs. something basic and simple without electric drive.

If I were in your position I'd focus on getting a small tent, waterproof backpack, peanut butter, layers of clothing and a very basic bike with tools to repair it and the trailer for your dog (or just have him/her walk with you). When you are going of the grid, speed becomes less important... You don't need a trailer for your dog if you aren't going fast. Check out this video of a guy who walked across China using a rickshaw (a trailer you pull when walking).

It's great that you're being proactive, there are lots of blogs out there that can help teach you how to survive but avoid overpacking and spending all of your money. I'm driving across the US right now and have very few things, the more you have the more it gets in the way and makes it hard to find stuff when you need it. Also, if you don't spend all of your cash then you've got some options if new ideas or opportunities come up

Also, study the wildlife and fauna where you'll be going so you can avoid ticks, aggressive animals and potentially find edible food without poisoning yourself like this guy. I've also heard that sometimes people who are homeless can end up stealing from each other or you can stumble onto someone growing drugs who might want to protect it and become aggressive. Consider a small portable Mace sprayer and maybe a multi-tool knife. Go simple but be prepared, go light and recognize that your dog is going to be very expensive and may become aggressive if he isn't getting fed right.

Thank you everyone.

I have a confession to make. I'm Sunny, Forest's wife. I was deported to England and he was left there living on the neighbors land after he moved out of the house we rented and were building a homestead on. I started this thread as him... cos it is his thing. But it is me writing. And suddenly I thought.. this is crazy. I am in the UK, he hasn't got internet [the farmers cut him off] and he has lost his licence because of back child support slapped on him years after the wife took them off! and which he can never hope to repay and which means he can't com ehere]. He is hoping to get somene to let him move an RV onto their land [he can't use that as we never registered it.. just lived in it] and prepare himself for what's next. Two weeks to get out been there 2 yrs working for the farmer, and helping him without pay for four years before that.

My main purpose in coming on here was to find recommendations for a good sturdy e-bike and trailer and I've gotten so much more. He has the usual summer handyman work locally and knows people and can use an e-bike to get around... currently when people want to have him work [forest outdoors, deck painting kind of work] they pick him up cos they know he's a solid systematic and goes the extra mile worker.

The terrain there is hilly so a regular bike and pulling a trailer is gonna be impossible. He's 55 and has a broken heel which means walking hurts after a long time.. otherwise very fit and strong. And I was concerned about the dog.

He can't buy anything online with cash so I am doing it all. I got him a good comms kit so he can get on line to sort out various legalities and things you do online and a solar charger for that. Right now, if he gets to stay in teh area, he can probably charge the bike at a friends.. but obviously later if living in the woods and still working the same applies. Going fully off grid and just being in the woods, I can understand it would be silly. He literally will have to camp out in the National Forest if this guy doesn't offer hm space and it's touch and go.

He has a Nook courtesy of his younger son, and has put all the info about permaculture, aquaponics etc on there and that and the phone will charge with the solar panel I've sent a fold up one. But he can't surf the net right now. Also lots of books we bought on survival etc... and he's lived in the woods before, grew up in Montana, so thankfully that isn't gonna be the worst challenge he faces.. and that said, thank you for caring so much to write all this whilst travelling and to everyone else.

A trailer would be great for carrying more stuff.. it must be so hard when there is no pubic transport and you can't drive your own truck for fear of being slung in jail. It is very hard being separated like this for ever and knowing someone is suffereing and can't get online or do anything for themselves in that way.

Thanks.. I love the rickshaw guy.. I am a keen transitoner.. trying to persuade people in my town to hunker down, live simply, go on the land, grow more food and stop using their cars for every journey. I ride a Wispa e-bike given to me by a friend who put me onto this place.. he reviews e-bikes in the UK as well as motorbikes.

 

[Forest Gardener]

This is us when we first started on the homestead.

 

[Forest Gardener]

If you're going off the grid you don't want an Ebike.. They are only good for about 1-2 hours of riding before you have to charge them for 4 hours.. And if you're going to be outside most of the time, it will not be reliable for you. Buy a sturdy steel bike off of Craigslist. The Aosom Wanderer Trailer is inexepensive and has good ratings.

Thank you for this.. looking at the trailer.. and all of them... much appreciated

 

[Admin]

Hope the thoughts help you guys. He looks like a fit man and it makes me think a full sized ebike would make the most sense (if you go down that path) but another alternative is a folding bike that could be cheaper and easier to carry. I've had great luck with the e-Joe Epik Lite.

Since I think we've covered all of the options here I'm going to close the thread. If you need anything else related to this you can message me on the forum