VW trike specs, speed, comfort, cargo, etc?

Blog of person with their VW Trike / Camper: http://growingupoptional.wordpress.com/tag/teardro...

Picture of VW Trike / Camper, no info: http://motorcycles.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/1052...

Or a bit smaller you can tow a standard motorcycle tent camper trailer.

Comfort and cargo -- depends on how big a camper you want.

Speed -- depends on how big a camper you want.

MPG -- depends on how big a camper you want.

I once had a Fiat 238 Class-B motorhome, refrigerator, stove, sink, clothes rack, full size bed, heater, potty, can carried my Yamaha DT175 inside. Carried 50 gallons of gas and got 20 mpg. But it had 43 bhp and did to top speed of 57 mph. Which means that a VW1600, about 65 bhp, could handle anything smaller than a 5,000 pound van would be just fine doing 65 mph.

VW trike rigs are now working with 25 year old engines in US- the late 1970 Beetles sold in US had Mexican Beetle spare parts available until about 1990, many spare made in Mexico or Brazil until midd 2000. For performance? a early 1960s 1200 engine was a 36hp DIN and when cut to trike could keep up with 60mph traffic fairly easy with moderate load- couple people I know had them in 1970s. The 69mm stroke 1300 was a 45/50 hp rating, got up to 70 easy, the 1600 single port was 55 fairly honest hp and with the automatic transmission a one legged guy had around 75 or better easy- he was ticketed at 85mph after a radar hit doing in high 90s- officer gave him a little break on ticket- over 20mph above limit was more points and big jump in cost. The later 1973 dual port with the outside the shroud oil cooler is about the best engine available, the earlier ones can be built to those patterns and a little tuning will get 75 hp with good regular gas or the current premium gasoline. Set the battery forward of tranny for help in weight forward, might want a wheely bar in back and the early pre 1969(?) swingarm suspension could use a notch lower on trailing arm /torsion bar setting and a transverse leaf like old EMPI kit. The Type one ot early type 2 engine with upright shroud preferred for cooling- type 3 and 4s with horizontal shrouds fit lower but need some extra cooling shrouding or special trike body work. Three wheeler rallies have many of the old VW trikes show up pulling trailers. One setup from years back was a old Harley hardtail frame with front end with sidecar trees, big truck battery where Harley engine used to be and the 5 gallon Harley tanks welded to the tunnel of the Beetle donor and frame number at base of tunnel by gear shaft visible for registration- Highwaymen made up about 6 of these. . .

Volkswagen Trike

You don't want a trike, you want a campervan