Where to get medium sized Ball Joint for project? (sorted)

[G]

Ok, this is probably more likely to be car related for a push bike project, but still more relevant to here I suspect.

Making a large trailer for a push bike to carry stuff at Glastonbury.

I've decided a ball joint would be the best articulation to use - the previous method saw the bike working like a bike for slight turning, then go to working like a trike for anything more serious, which is very confusing!

So - any ideas where I should be looking for such a thing (can be found on various bits in cars, but I don't know the details) - it needs to be strong enough to tow a light (upto 150kg or so) trailer with a decent range of movement, but not too heavy.

[sickpup]

Make one.

Two hinges welded at 90 degrees to each other.

[G]

Unfortunately I'd really like it to be able to rotate too.

I was trying to look for a pic of what I made last year before I broke my leg - that effectively had the two hinges (not right next to each other at the time), but wasn't too great with it. They'd be better with the hinges next to each, but still not perfect

[iooi]

https://www.carryfreedom.com/Y-Frame.html

Download the Y-Frame pdf file
Gives you a good idea of the hitch used
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Ste]

Is this going to be attached to that BMX?

[G]

Nope, I submit you were right ... will try and resurect the Orange I reckon.

Cheers iooi... I had considered adding a swiver bit like they are using to mine, but decided it would be starting to get a bit too 'clunky' - could be tempted to spend the £15 on one of their setups as easy removal would be nice.
However, I was initially thinking having a solid bar extending behind the bike to offer a smaller turning circle.

[sickpup]

[Paddy Blake]

I'm not to sure it is your looking for but check the link.
https://images.google.ie/images?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hl=en&q=universal++joint&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

Paddy.

[G]

What's that from sickpup? Looks quite weighty, but not sure of the scale.

Paddy:
A unversal joint would mean that I'd have to make my own bit to do the rotatings, which I'd prefer to avoid - though not like it'd be that hard to do.

[sickpup]

[G]

Ta for the thought - I had considered basing it on a standard tow hitch, but really want something a bit smaller and more 'light weight' if possible.

In the end, all I need to do for the rotation is two flat plates with a bolt going through them for rotation if don't find anything else.

Probably with most ball joints is going to be the range of movement I suspect; though could maybe cut away from the areas I expected movement in.

[G]

Gave up on the ball joint, deciding it probably would be a bit too restrictive and adapted what I had.

Started with this:
https://gees.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p276208135-3.jpg

Which is similar to what I had before (new bracket for this bike with quick-release, as I was using the stunt pegs on the bmx before).
I got a bit of M20 threaded rod, then welded an M20 washer onto another bit of box section. Seems to work - I'm guessing M20 nuts/thread can take a fair bit.

The above, now that the bike can rotate separately, did feel a bit weird as the long throw to the horizontal pivot meant a small turn on the bike would turn the trailer a fair bit the other way.

So I cut it up and reversed it, so the pivot was just behind the wheel (letting me turn at about 90 degrees):
https://gees.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p206432087-3.jpg

The whole thing:
https://gees.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p351562650-4.jpg

Bigger pics available here:
https://gees.zenfolio.com/p951369777

[G]

A final update: worked well at Glastonbury!

A couple of pics of it loaded here:
https://gees.zenfolio.com/p630820744/