Platform versus body dilema

Threewheelbonnie · 02-23-2009, 03:06 AM

Looking at the various picture posts below and thinking about some of the places I've been/am planning to go, I can't decide about replacing the Ural body on the Triumph with an open platform for when I'm on my own.

Advantages of a body IMHO:

Keeps things out of sight.
Slightly more streamlined?
Has "chuck it in and go" ability with some weather proofing.
Could carry a passenger even without the seat in an emergency.
Already fitted, so zero cost and no swapping bodies to carry the dog/wife.

Advantages of a platform?

Would be about 30kg (70lb??) lighter.
Could be marginally lower cross section.
Easier to get bulky items like the spare wheel lower/further out.
Everything would be in plain sight, no more rummaging in the nose.

Having had a play about with a sheet of plywood on the chassis I've half concluded that with the amount of gear I've got and the fact that I'd probably screw a pair of Touratech boxes to the back of the platform I'd gain very little by the time I'd done. I've played with makeing a platform that'd fold out into a bed, but concluded it'd weigh a lot, be narrow and I wouldn't be happy unloading everything every night.

Has anyone else done the open platform thing? How's it compare to a body?

My platform would be a 1m (3 foot) square 3mm aluminium checker plate with maybe 15cm/6" angled entry, sort of like a glorified bash plate bolted to the Ural main chassis tubes without the rubber buffers. Is this the sort of construction other people are using?

Cheers

Andy

RedMenace · 02-23-2009, 07:08 AM

I made sort of a compromise between the two, not for cargo but for hooligan fun. Originally there wasn't a seat back, but I added a small seat as a compromise for my wife. The seat could be unbolted for when my buddies were up for a tear...

johno · 02-23-2009, 03:18 PM

This is mine, and since have fitted a full size box.(no photos yet)
1st attempt at a sidecar

Ivan Rider · 02-23-2009, 09:05 PM

I took the sidecar body off my Ural to have Bed Liner sprayed in it. So for 2 week I drove around with just a plywood platform. It needed a hundred pounds of sand to hold the sidecar down or it was undriveable. I've had 2 cargo rigs which are neat for hauling things but when parked in town I always worried about things walking away. I'd keep the tub on it so you can secure things.

Rockman · 02-24-2009, 05:30 PM

I recon a lockable box which can be interchanged with the sidecar body is the way to go. The body on mine unbolts by removing 7 nuts and one wiring plug. If you had a mudguard on the box they could be swapped in about 1/2 an hour and away you go. Maybe bevel the front of the box for streamlining. I'm planning something like this for a bush trip later in the year, maybe with a fold out bed on top. Phil

Uncle Ernie · 02-24-2009, 05:49 PM

Build a box. Otherwise you have no security, no weather protection, and I have a vision of underwear and linens flying down the freeway.

johno · 02-24-2009, 05:57 PM

Updated version of mine. Rides a lot better with a little weight in it.

Threewheelbonnie · 02-25-2009, 12:27 AM

I think the box might work. Going to look at tool/storage boxes today.

The platform idea BTW is fast becoming a no-go due to the price of aluminium. To put a platform on the Ural chassis would be well over £200. Angle to make a box frame would be under £20.

Wiring is no issue in this case. The Ural mudguards fastens to the frame, as does all the wiring and the battery box is on the chassis, specifically designed to allow the body to come off with 10 bolts undone.

Andy

claude · 02-25-2009, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedMenace

I made sort of a compromise between the two, not for cargo but for hooligan fun. Originally there wasn't a seat back, but I added a small seat as a compromise for my wife. The seat could be unbolted for when my buddies were up for a tear...

Vernon,
That has to be the ugliest sidecar I have ever seen.

Looks like something my own brain would come up with..scary. It is probably good we are a continent apart

RedMenace · 02-25-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claude

Vernon,
That has to be the ugliest sidecar I have ever seen...

yeah, but it hauled ass! You could pivot it with brake and gas and the right twist grip was more like a rheostat than a throttle- choose a speed set the dial and that's how fast you go, right now!

Probably is a good thing there is a continent between us. Come on out and play

02-23-2009, 03:06 AM	#1
Threewheelbonnie ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2008 Oddometer: 939	Platform versus body dilema Looking at the various picture posts below and thinking about some of the places I've been/am planning to go, I can't decide about replacing the Ural body on the Triumph with an open platform for when I'm on my own. Advantages of a body IMHO: Keeps things out of sight. Slightly more streamlined? Has "chuck it in and go" ability with some weather proofing. Could carry a passenger even without the seat in an emergency. Already fitted, so zero cost and no swapping bodies to carry the dog/wife. Advantages of a platform? Would be about 30kg (70lb??) lighter. Could be marginally lower cross section. Easier to get bulky items like the spare wheel lower/further out. Everything would be in plain sight, no more rummaging in the nose. Having had a play about with a sheet of plywood on the chassis I've half concluded that with the amount of gear I've got and the fact that I'd probably screw a pair of Touratech boxes to the back of the platform I'd gain very little by the time I'd done. I've played with makeing a platform that'd fold out into a bed, but concluded it'd weigh a lot, be narrow and I wouldn't be happy unloading everything every night. Has anyone else done the open platform thing? How's it compare to a body? My platform would be a 1m (3 foot) square 3mm aluminium checker plate with maybe 15cm/6" angled entry, sort of like a glorified bash plate bolted to the Ural main chassis tubes without the rubber buffers. Is this the sort of construction other people are using? Cheers Andy

02-23-2009, 07:08 AM	#2
RedMenace Adventure Sidecar Joined: Dec 2001 Location: GoodLiver,Oregon,USA Oddometer: 4,852	I made sort of a compromise between the two, not for cargo but for hooligan fun. Originally there wasn't a seat back, but I added a small seat as a compromise for my wife. The seat could be unbolted for when my buddies were up for a tear... __________________ the Red Menace "You are measured by how you ride by people who ride, and how you pose by people who pose." Alejo "Riders who get pissed off are doing it wrong." DAKEZ

02-23-2009, 03:18 PM	#3
johno Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia. Oddometer: 2,893	This is mine, and since have fitted a full size box.(no photos yet) 1st attempt at a sidecar __________________ Down in the land of the confused(mainly me)

02-23-2009, 09:05 PM	#4
Ivan Rider Studly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2008 Location: Bodega Bay & Galt. California Oddometer: 505	I took the sidecar body off my Ural to have Bed Liner sprayed in it. So for 2 week I drove around with just a plywood platform. It needed a hundred pounds of sand to hold the sidecar down or it was undriveable. I've had 2 cargo rigs which are neat for hauling things but when parked in town I always worried about things walking away. I'd keep the tub on it so you can secure things. __________________ '99 Ural Patrol '02 Ural Sahara BC '03 BMW CLC/Ural '06 Honda Ruckus /Sidecar '10 Ural ST Solo http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanrider/

02-24-2009, 05:49 PM	#6
Uncle Ernie Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Asheville NC Oddometer: 3,978	Build a box. Otherwise you have no security, no weather protection, and I have a vision of underwear and linens flying down the freeway. __________________ LOOK OUT IT'S COMING THIS WAY!

02-24-2009, 05:30 PM	#5
Rockman Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Inverell, NSW Australia Oddometer: 228	I recon a lockable box which can be interchanged with the sidecar body is the way to go. The body on mine unbolts by removing 7 nuts and one wiring plug. If you had a mudguard on the box they could be swapped in about 1/2 an hour and away you go. Maybe bevel the front of the box for streamlining. I'm planning something like this for a bush trip later in the year, maybe with a fold out bed on top. Phil

02-24-2009, 05:57 PM	#7
johno Beastly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia. Oddometer: 2,893	Updated version of mine. Rides a lot better with a little weight in it. __________________ Down in the land of the confused(mainly me)

02-25-2009, 12:27 AM	#8
Threewheelbonnie ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2008 Oddometer: 939	I think the box might work. Going to look at tool/storage boxes today. The platform idea BTW is fast becoming a no-go due to the price of aluminium. To put a platform on the Ural chassis would be well over £200. Angle to make a box frame would be under £20. Wiring is no issue in this case. The Ural mudguards fastens to the frame, as does all the wiring and the battery box is on the chassis, specifically designed to allow the body to come off with 10 bolts undone. Andy

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