Trailers to carry bikes.. now car crash thread

[P.addy]

Just some info needed really, I'm looking to get bikes to and from tracks/fields/off road places etc. I don't particularly want a van, increased insurance costs, don't want it as a daily runner so would have to declare 0 NCB as they are used on my other car.

Trailer sounds sensible, I have no tow bar but can possibly steal a car with one, I have use of a van, but its not exclusive and is likely to be with various other people most of the time.

Do trailers need to conform to anything? Currently, around ~100-150kg bike weight wise is likely to be present. I'm led to believe it needs some form of lights for the rear? Number plate is a given, anything else?

The journey is only 50 miles round trip currently

[t121anf]

Only thing on the back of my dads trailer is a light board with plate, not used for a bike its a garden use type.

Don't recall anything special about my uncles bike one either.

[Entertwainer]

lights and number plates easily sorted - you can buy the full assembly from places like Halfrauds i think - comes on a board and you just hook it up to a connector you get with towbars.

there was a chap on here (who did a video diary of his trip to the nurburgring) he had a trailer built - he may know a bit about it...
this chap KLR600 - one of his mates did it for the trip.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=270751&highlight=
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Honda CG 125 W - Turkish - 1998 - 2015 RIP

[Vincent]

How much are you looking at forking out? After a bit of searching, I picked mine up for £115 IIRC

https://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j71/Drewskovitch/Untitled-1.jpg
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Space Is Deep

[P.addy]

Erm, not that much tbh, It'll only be a weekend thing, overall its probably ideal to have one with 2 bike spaces, enough for say 2 sports bikes, but not a requirement.

[Ste]

You want a van, trailers are very not cool. You can't complain about the expense as it'll be cheaper than booking Brands for a private trackday.

[P.addy]

[Ste]

But a van has many other uses!!

https://www3.picturepush.com/photo/a/2507236/img/Anonymous/pedobear-free-candy-van.jpg

[Ste]

The above post is work safe.

[stinkwheel]

Buy an old caravan. Cut a hole in the back/front, cover it with a plywood ramp on a hinge and keep the bike in there.

Then you have somewhere to kip/store tools if you're at a race meeting too.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[P.addy]

That is a superb idea... now, to find some shitty caravan.

That said, a small cheapy 2 berth is apparently ~850kg. Is that too large for a standard car licence?

[DrDonnyBrago]

[pits]

For starters you need to check the towing capacity of your car.

Then you need to check the plated weight of your trailer

Then you need to check that the plated weight isn't over 750kg

Then you need to check that the plated weight and weight of bike combined isn't over 750kg

If it is then you need to do a B+E test

Then you need to wire your trailer socket into your car, knowing you it will be scotchlocked in badly, probably wont work and be fairly dangerous, probably set on fire as you try and fix it with a spoon and some crayons.

You will then need to attach a tow bar, knowing you it will probably involve a U shape exhaust clamp around the towing eye bolted through the tow bar.

Then Iain will sell you a trailer which is bent, broken, fucked jockey wheel and hitch, which has been tarted up and described as being awesome and worth £9000 when it is really on worth three quid, those problems will be your fault, even though they have been blatantly hidden.

At this point you will complain it is too expensive, so you will attempt to fabricate something shit out of some 2x4 and some scaffolding tube that has been rotting away somewhere, to create this
https://www.lbadelphi.co.uk/images/LBA2%20Towing%20aid-5.JPG

Only to then complain it all fell apart etc

Then you will buy something like this
https://www.towequipe.co.uk/products/a351cat-mottez-motorbike-scooter-towbar-mounted-carrier-tow-bar.html
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[P.addy]

pits, fuck off

I wouldn't want my nice, tidy and bodge free bikes to fall off and be fucked thanks, I also don't want to fuck the car. I'm asking a serious question so go troll someone else.

I wouldn't fit anything, its not my car to fuck with, I'd leave that to my dad

Donny, from that.. I drive a 2001 Astra which isn't too heavy, so I see it as I could actually tow a caravan if it was about 1 ton anyway? wouldn't exceed the combined weight of 3.5t...

Either way, doubt I'll get a caravan, probably too large for me to drive with, I like visibility.

[Vincent]

I had a look at making my own trailer starting with just an axle but it would have ended up costing me more than what I paid for a real one.
If you do buy a decent one, you'll never lose on it. Tricky bit is finding a cheap one, mine was covered in crud but it's galvanized so so cleaned up nicely.
After 3 years, I may even get the electrics finished on the car this weekend
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Space Is Deep

[P.addy]

My car is stated to weigh 1290kg so hopefully covers me to carry a ton behind me.

[DrDonnyBrago]

[weasley]

Don't forget that with a trailer you knock 10 mph off your allowed speed limit (paraphrasing for brevity) and you can't use lane 3 (or more) of a motorway.

This may or may not be of concern, but just throwing it in there.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[P.addy]

2 litre TD should tug it along OK I suppose I know someone who tows a trailer with 2 trials with a 1.6 Focus, that's all I'd really need.

[Fizzer Thou]

I use a three bike trailer and have been known to fit a GSXR1100 and a FJ1200 on in the past.

But more often I fit three full size dirt bikes on with ease.

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Dirt%20bikes/Sussexhorse2.jpg
https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Dirt%20bikes/Picture003.jpg

But occasionally I have been known to rescue friends bikes when they run out of sparks and the breakdown people are hours away.

I paid £100 for my trailer about 20 years ago and has lasted well.You can never own enough straps and ratchets.I bought a six pack from MachineMart and they have been in regular use with the original four pack of heavy duty straps that I bought when I first got the trailer.I made my own nylon loops for wrapping around the frame and/or handlebars so as not to scratch/mark the paintwork.The tye down straps then attach the loops to the various points on the trailer.

For single bikes up to a certain size/weight I use a rack which bolts onto the tow ball bracket.

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Dirt%20bikes/2013-06-12131601_zps9d4f5e47.jpg
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[P.addy]

Currently its only to get a trials bike to and from an area. I can fit in the car but removing the wheels each time shall become a pain, especially when they are dirty!

Ideally it will also carry a KTM and a trials at some point, perhaps even 2 sports to a trackday

[Tristan.]

[Fizzer Thou]

[P.addy]

OK... so I may be getting a van, managed to write the car off today Super duper.

On a large roundabout heading to motorway entry lane, car pulls out of a give way section straight into me, pushed me away and then I did some head on crash into a stop barrier here...

https://goo.gl/maps/OlZsw

Mucho pain. headbutted my steering wheel, fucked my glasses and damn does my head hurt Oh well, waiting for the insurers to come pick it up but at 203,000 miles its definitely a write off.. pics later.

[Ste]

Get a modern pedobear van, one with airbags.