trailers, anyone used one?

[prawny1]

I have been giving though to building a trailer recently but would like some advice from those that tow regards hitch mounting, what is easier to tow with chassis mounted or axle/ swing arm mounted?

And what is more natural to tow single wheel or two wheel in regards of adjusting riding style cornering etc.

I am torn between a single wheel set up with custom pivots or a two wheel with regular towball (and maybe swivel hitch) so that it can be used on the cars in the household too.

Single wheel would be lighter so I could carry more weight (150kg total or 2/3 towing bike weight) but would put more of the weight on the hitch.

two wheel would have a removable box so that I could hopefully make a towing dolly for lightweight bikes and scooters, and if set up and loaded right should put the majority of the load on the trailer.
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hellkat wrote:

Some people are only alive cos its against the law to kill them.

[G]

If your two wheels are across the plane of travel rather than inline, then the weight on the hitch will be the same as with a single wheel - it will be determined by the position of the load in relation to the position of the wheels.

When I made a push bike trailer I intentionally made it put a fair bit of pressure on the 'hitch' - this way the weight was on the driven wheel, which in slippery Glastonbury mud is exactly where you want it!

Also, "get a car"?

[BTTD]

Not used one myself, but on my random wanderings across the interwebs I read some stuff this guy posted up..

https://nomad.eurekaboy.com/mctrailer.htm
https://goldwing.eurekaboy.com/trailerv2.htm
https://goldwing.eurekaboy.com/trailerv3.htm

Doesn't directly answer your question, but might be an interesting read.
I was into the stuff he was putting up about his Jeep at the time, but dear God does he tinker with his Goldwing as well.

[prawny1]

G most single wheel trailers have the wheel on the furthest most end so it would be nigh on impossible to keep the weight over the trailer wheel like could with a two wheel unless the two wheel also has rear biased wheels .

I understand what you're saying about it all being down to how you load the trailer tough.

I would like something like the mk3 trailer jnw010 linked to If I go two wheel or something like the mk1 with a single wheel.
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hellkat wrote:

Some people are only alive cos its against the law to kill them.

[G]

But is there a good reason they are like that?

It's quite possible they were trying to achieve what I was going for.
Or it may be a case of keeping the weight low and not taking away from space inside the trailer.
I don't see that they should have to be like that.

[mtriderrob]

I used to tow a trailer with my XV750 years ago, it was a 2 wheel model called a shuttle made by a company called freewheel UK (in fact it's only this year that I got around to selling it)
I did many trips with it covering thousands of miles without any trouble. It didn't upset the handling at all but then the XV is a custom cruiser!! I used a hitch that was mounted to the frame and didn't find a need to use a coupling that swivelled as I could still scrape the centre stand. In truth I had to make a conscious effort to remember it was there. It was a great way of carrying loads of gear for camping - frame tent, stove/grill, gas bottle, chairs, table etc but looking back I guess I didn't really need all the stuff, I just took it because I could. At the time it was cost effective as good luggage systems were mega money and not that good, these days I don't go camping on the MT01 I stay in hotels/guest houses so all I need to carry is spare clothes, the trailer was a lot of fun, but with decent luggage systems that don't cost fortunes, do you need the inconvenience that a trailer brings?
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Current bikes; MT01, XTZ1200 & 1981 XV750 which I've had from new, TRS300RR
Scorpa factory 300-still mine despite the fact that some thieving scumbag bastard currently has possession of it

[John933]

Just be careful where you go. As some country it's against the law to tow with a bike. Unless that's changed. Read that some place. The story went something like this.
They got through the boarder OK with a bike and trailer. Only to be stopped up the road with a spot fine. Turned out no towing on a motor bike. Why they were not told at the crossing I have no idea.
John933
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My trip

[Marmalade]

I towed a trailer with pan euro. Quite a lot of miles as well.
It was ok, even moving a lot quicker than i should have been.

It was a standard 50mm ball on the back and no issues at all.

If you build a trailer you'l have to get it inspected at cost to you to make it legal.
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[G]

[Marmalade]

https://www.armitagetrailers.com/trailerlaw.htm
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[G]

Seems you've got until next year if you can blag it as 'special purpose'. If it's got living accommodation, that counts, it seems!

But, of course, again, if you completed it a couple of years ago and had it sitting in a shed since, then it'd be absolutely fine.

[prawny1]

[mtriderrob]

[prawny1]

I know the weight limit is different with a trike being allowed to carry 256kg rather than 150kg or 2/3 towing vehicle weight.

But do the rules on the trailer dimensions also apply to trikes?
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hellkat wrote:

Some people are only alive cos its against the law to kill them.

[bikersupermot...]

does anyone make a trailer that the bike can tow - to carry camping equipment etc
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tinybikes

[motobiker]