Bike trailer

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I wouldn't entrust my Norton to one of those skimpy folding trailers with the 8" wheels. You don't want to try to save bucks here. One big pothole and there goes your Norton skittering across the pavement and over the cliff. (May be exaggerating a little here.) Ever been behind one and seen the wheels jumping off the ground? I've had a few trailers and it's not something I want to be constantly thinking about while heading off to a rally.
 
It's not really the topic here, but I started using torsion axles on my boat trailers years ago and will probably never go back to leaf springs. It is an easy upgrade if not cheap. As for tongue weight, you could alwasy move the spare and toolbox to the rear. It would help counterbalance. That or make your wife stand back there...she is obviously a good sport if you tell her why and she still does it.

Russ
 
I had a cheap ebay trailer and it gave me heartburn every time I used it. I sold it and got a Kendon. It has a chock that holds the bike while you tie it down. Also torsion bar suspension, so pulls great.
It folds up and stands up on end in front of my car in the garage. A little pricey. but you get what you pay for. What's the cost of a wrecked bike?
 
Mine is an old jet ski trailer that cut all of the brackets off of and put some plywood on. put some hefty eye bolt on and some small ones too. tows well, but is pretty short so jack knife's easily when backing up. I just have to undo a U-bolt and a through bolt on the tounge bar and then it stands up at th eback of my garage. The price was right (free), so i keep it around. Cj
Bike trailer
 
Moving around a loaded trailer, with rear mounted axle when its not hitched, seems like it should provide a pretty good work in terms of lifting heavy weights.
 
I've trailered all my life cargo to camping and can tell ya no one hardly ever moves a trailer by hand while loaded, so essentially a non issue on decision. Glad to see how nice a single Commando fits and almost got a jet ski trailer myself but it sold before I got there. The 4x7 one showed up on Craiglist soon after and liked it better as can carry 2 bikes and other cargo as well as wood and furniture etc. We don't have all the time in the world any more so trailing all day and night to get to a rally will expand your life experiences wonderfully. Do get a spare wheel/tire if not already and keep a bearing set and the tools to change it with you. I know too well about trailer bearing melting out states away from home, as happened on NY trip but I didn't have time to check them first, so lost 4 hr getting tools/parts in city to get going again. Its good to touch hub at gas stops to sense the heat build up which should barely be warm to touch. By time I caught mine the wheel was totally wobbly but tracked just fine. Might take to a welder to have tie down hooks and even bracing at front to mount storage box on. Give some thought on how to secure a ramp to load single handed or even with helper. BTW do not cover wrap bikes or wind flap beats up the finish. I've not refined my tire clamp downs yet but had trouble keeping straps tight till I mostly strapped down via tires and hubs. Be sure you don't have slow air leak in tire or the clamp force goes away too.
 
Well, I bought the trailer. Got it for $500
Got it home yesterday and changed out the wheel bearing so now I know they're fresh.
I'm of to Tractor Supply for a ramp plate and will fashion a nice ramp.
As soon as I get it all squares away and the bike loaded I take a pic and post it up.
I've got the perfect mountain about 1.5 hrs away with my name on it. It has 3 lakes on it. I plan to go there this weekend.
 
batrider said:
I wouldn't entrust my Norton to one of those skimpy folding trailers with the 8" wheels. You don't want to try to save bucks here. One big pothole and there goes your Norton skittering across the pavement and over the cliff. (May be exaggerating a little here.) Ever been behind one and seen the wheels jumping off the ground? I've had a few trailers and it's not something I want to be constantly thinking about while heading off to a rally.
Click to expand...

+1

I believe I have told my cheap trailer horror story on here before. It was a an open two rail dirt bike trailer (factory built). Hub disintegrated (bearings were fine!) and we drug my one owner '73 and my buddies' one owner '69 'S' down I-75 upside down by the safety chains at 60 mph. Never again! We were lucky that the damage to my truck was worse than the damage to the bikes. Think about what your pride and joy is worth to you before you load it on that trailer with 12 inch tires.

If you don't have room for a good enclosed trailer, rent one when you tow long distance. The peace of mind knowing the bike is locked inside at night is worth it.

We now use a 6 X 12 enclosed tandem axle with electric brakes. The second axle may be overkill, but nice to know that a tire or wheel failure gives you a chance to stop before you destroy what's inside.
 
hobot said:
I've trailered all my life cargo to camping and can tell ya no one hardly ever moves a trailer by hand while loaded, so essentially a non issue on decision. Glad to see how nice a single Commando fits and almost got a jet ski trailer myself but it sold before I got there. The 4x7 one showed up on Craiglist soon after and liked it better as can carry 2 bikes and other cargo as well as wood and furniture etc. We don't have all the time in the world any more so trailing all day and night to get to a rally will expand your life experiences wonderfully. Do get a spare wheel/tire if not already and keep a bearing set and the tools to change it with you. I know too well about trailer bearing melting out states away from home, as happened on NY trip but I didn't have time to check them first, so lost 4 hr getting tools/parts in city to get going again. Its good to touch hub at gas stops to sense the heat build up which should barely be warm to touch. By time I caught mine the wheel was totally wobbly but tracked just fine. Might take to a welder to have tie down hooks and even bracing at front to mount storage box on. Give some thought on how to secure a ramp to load single handed or even with helper. BTW do not cover wrap bikes or wind flap beats up the finish. I've not refined my tire clamp downs yet but had trouble keeping straps tight till I mostly strapped down via tires and hubs. Be sure you don't have slow air leak in tire or the clamp force goes away too.
Click to expand...

Building a trailer is a bit like building an engine...........you either do it right or wrong. Many reasons for doing things the wrong way, but perhaps the most common one, is the person doing the building simply not knowing how to do the job properly.
 
Ugh, now ya tell me, sheeze... who woke the dogs up...

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BTphm7-tDI[/video]
 
hobot said:
Ugh, now ya tell me, sheeze... who woke the dogs up...

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BTphm7-tDI[/video]
Click to expand...

Now that was faster than using that Milwaukee drill motor! Good show Hobot! Uh, you're going to shoot your foot off someday. :lol:
 
I rented a "Baxley" recently to pull my B*W from Houston, Texas to Jefferson. Texas for the Lake of the Pines Norton rally and it was A WONDER (true one man load/unload and it pulled like a dream) but I have decided that I am an "enclosed trailer kinda-guy" so it's U-haul for me from now on (the Baxley was about double the price of U-haul).

Vince
 
Yes, fun fast flaired holes cordlessly. I had shop modify myine by going around and tacking down skipped welds in strangers home made rig and then 45' angle iron to put box on and then found the tongue tipped nose down too much for my sedan so had it cut and welded back straight for more level trailering. I put on air shocks to level further under load. Enclosed is best way as can lock up beside deflect road grit and weather.

Here's that funny fancy trailer site
http://www.baxleycompanies.com/
 
i picked this steel trailer up in melbourne australia for $750 ,its all checkerplate on
Bike trailer
the top and also the gaurds aswell so not slippery,, holds 3 dirtbikes ,but used it to cart the norton 600-700kms when i bought it
Bike trailer
 
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