A friend of mine has asked me to make him an ice cream bike (as they cost so much new) The bike side of it shouldn't be too hard but I've no idea about the freezer side of things. I can't seem to find info about how ice cream bikes freezers are powered. They obviously need to be away from mains power for a day at a time, would you plug it in to mains to get it cold then run on gas or batteries to keep them cold? Anyone with experience of portable freezers* (needs to be a good size but not as big as a regular freezer, and weight is important) A new freezer, made for ice cream bikes, are around a grand(!) so looking for locost options (even if it looks naff and could be re-boxed in ally to look nice)

*caravans, canal boats? etc

I don't think they are powered?

http://www.businessonwheels.co.uk/

"The freezer unit is manufactured to our specification and is a top of the range commercial unit, standard 240v with two glass-sliding lids and fully insulated top lids to ensure maximum trading hours. The lids also come with locks as standard, keeping your stock secure if left unattended. Simply plug in the unit overnight, un-plug the next day and away you go, then just plug it back in on your return, ready for the next days trading, no need to empty each day and move heavy freezer plates. "

Just build bike with an insulated box (minimum 4" foam) then buy a boat or caravan condenser/pump unit by Frigoboat or Waeco or Vitrifrigo to mention a few that work down to -15. These come with an evaporator plate on a long coil so you mount the plate inside the box and the unit outside with good circulation for cooling.... Job Done.

Oh, and a decent 12volt battery. a 130 amp/hr will keep box cold for 6/8 hours provided its down to temp first.

[Edited on 14/2/11 by plentywahalla]

I saw a similar trike selling condoms.

The sign on the front read......

Buy Me And Stop One.




I'll get my coat.

Paul G

A quick google suggests they are either packed with dry ice, or use a traditional mains freezer to get everything down to temperature with multiple freezer packs to keep it cold during the day.

http://www.cateringclassifieds.com/details.php?id=1742

[Edited on 14/2/11 by MikeRJ]

Eutectic plates is what they used to use, a tank of low freezing temp liquid that you freeze overnight to as low as you can then bung them into the well insulated compartment in the morning and off you go.
I would have thought you can make your own by making a slim tank and fill it with neat anti freeze then stick it in a freezer that is switched onto fast freeze an hour before you put em in and then left on fast freeze overnight.
Alternative would be dry ice.
Cheers,
Bob

Simple Locost idea would be the latest builders underfloor insulation, the 4" expanded foam stuff with the silver coating and camping freezer blocks the ones you freeze overnigh then put in a portable cool box.
Another idea is the coolboxes sold in that plug in to a cigaret socket, would run off a 12 volt battery fir ages and could be charged from a dynamo on the bike.
You could also build the bike round those battery assisted ones.

thanks for all the info everyone!

some price though 2k for a basic bike and freezer