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POD MODS

Hi All,
Just thought I would ask if anyone has done any modifications to there Pods. Anything from an extra cup holder, to maybe fitting a V8 and camper conversion! HaHa.
For anyone interested I will write down a few of the things I've done to my Funtech and throw in a few pictures, starting with the dog transporter I made last weekend.

As most people with dogs know, fitting two people and a pooch into a Pod can be a bit of a squeeze at the best of times, so I decided to build Webbo ( our Kelpie ) a place of his own on the back of the Pod. It started with some 20mmx20mm RHS cut to 960mm for the front and back,and 690mm for the sides. This was welded to some 180mm long uprights on each corner, then another set of tubes to form the top rails.

The front two uprights are longer and sit below the deck height with rubber stoppers on the end to prevent the the carrier from moving sideways. A centre support bar was then cut and welded in to help carry the load, with two large rubber mounts fitted underneath to protect the plastic body from damage.

The top front mount was constructed from two flat plates with a half round cut-out to fit over the top seat belt spacers which sit either side of the roll bar and a hole in the top for a bolt to go behind the roll bar. This allows the carrier to "hang" on the vehicle rather than bolt directly to it, and I only have to remove one bolt to remove it or it can be slid up the roll bar to allow access to the boot. In the next pic, the carrier has been slid right up to form a sort of roof, but it usually would'nt be raised this far.

For a bit of extra support I fabricated some stay bars which connect the rear of the carrier to the lower seat belt mounts, these bars actually hold the carrier down on the rubber mounts as well as take some of the load. The carrier works just as well without them for light items, but I prefer them fitted when carrying the pooch ( He weighs over 20 kgs. Fat bugger! )

The next thing was to make some sort of deck for the bottom of the carrier. I first made one of plywood but later thought this might be a bit heavy so I got hold of some composite alloy sheet which is made up of two thin sheets of alloy with a high impact plastic sandwiched in between, super strong and super light.

The whole thing weighs under 10 kgs so its not too much of a strain on the poor little Pod.

Instead of using pop rivets or bolts to hold the deck to the frame I decided to use liquid Urethane to bond it together, works a treat and no rattles.
Now all that was left to do was weld on some hoops so the portable dog kennel could be strapped down to it, paint it in 2 pack black, bolt it on and go for a test ride with Webbo on board.

For some reason Webbo is a bit camera shy so each time I get a pic of him he looks like he's done something he shouldn't have.

Despite the look on his chops he really did seem to enjoy being back there once I got under way. The kennel by the way, folds flat and is fully enclosed so he cant jump out whilst on the move.

On our first decent run with pooch on board everything went great, exept that on the way back about 500m from home the engine stopped. Some idiot got so excited about the new dog carrier that he forgot to look at the fuel gauge didn't he. They might be small but when you have to push them up hill for 500m you wish they were a lot smaller!

Cheers Rob.

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Comment by Rob Walters on April 9, 2009 at 9:48: Talk about two ends of the scale! A GSX1400 to a Funtech 350. The 1400's are a very, very nice bike but I guess your right the Bussa seems to be the flavour at the moment.
I've got a phone number here somewhere for the OZ importer of Secma's, so when I find it I will ask if he was the one who converted the 50's to RHD.
Thanks heaps for the offer of a ride in your 350, same goes if you ever find your way over here.

Cheers Rob.

Comment by Alan on April 8, 2009 at 20:44: I have always wanted to go to the IOM TT races before the health and safety police stop them! I,m into bikes myself and run a Suzuki GSX1400, but I would really love a Hayabusa.
I wonder why, if they made right hand drives we only ever got lefthand drives overhere? I wonder if the importer into OZ did that mod too? Questions questions questions!!!! Towing 3 wheelers has been a topic of conversation in the club pages quite recently, and I think the general feeling was the only way is on another trailer.

I,d offer you a drive in my Funtech 350, but I,m just abouit as far away from the IOM as you can get, without dipping into the English Channel!!! You will have to remind us all nearer the time, and perhaps someone will come forward, somewhere nearer to your route. I,ve been told that there isn't muchdifference in peformance in fact, but I suspect its a bit more stable going arounds corners!!!!

Nice talking Rob. keep on podding!! Alan

Comment by Rob Walters on April 7, 2009 at 21:31: Hi Alan,
Your right it is a right hand drive. All the ones I have seen here in OZ are that way. The front mudguards are made from fibreglass and were fitted by the importer to make the Pod comply with our road rules. I also have a Electric Pod and it is left hand drive, from what I can gather the Elect Pod was never complied for OZ rules so they didn't bother to change it over. The 4 wheel Elect Pod comes under our car registration laws which there is no way that it would comply without a lot of work.
Great idea the trailer plug for towing, I only wish I could tow mine that way. We don't get the 350 4wheelers out here due to having the same problems of rego as the Elect Pod. I'm coming over to the IOM TT races this year, and with a bit of luck I will try to get a test drive in one to see what it's like.
Thanks for your coments and if you get around to doing some more mods, take some pics and post them up.
Cheers Rob.

P.S might have to get a few more dogs for the harness idea, but it could be worth a look with the price of petrol going up all the time. lol.

Comment by Alan on April 6, 2009 at 21:31: Very smart Rob, I don,t have a dog myself, but nevertheless a very proffesional looking job. Loved the piccies. I don't really know much about the 3 wheeler Pods but one thing I did notice in your pictures (apart from the smart rear shock and expansion chamber (exhaust) is that your POD appears to be right hand drive! I've never seen a right hand drive Pod before. All the ones in blighty that I have seen including those in dealers are left hand drive. Any one else seen a right hooker?

I,ve kept my Mods down to simple little things. An extra couple of power points to charge the mobile phone or power the GPS, and wiring the POD lights into a socket so that when I tow it, I don,t need a trailer board. Other than that its a standard yellow (like yours) Funtech 350 4 wheeler.
I,ve not seen a POD with white front mudguards either.

If you are going to make a habit of running out of petrol, perhaps your next project should be a harness for Webbo. He gets to pay back for all the free rides he gets!!!

Regards

Alan