Finished my Trailer -- Here's a look...

[RedShift]

Way back in July I asked a question about how to position my bike on a trailer:

Center of Gravity

I finally got all my ducks in a row and offer you folks a look at the results:



I was surprised at how far forward I needed to put the bike to get reasonable tongue weight -- a full 8" forward from the axle.  (You can't really see it in this photo.

I can't feel it behind my minivan (that's good) but I need corner markers when I need to back up as I can't see the trailer without the bike (that's bad).

I tried it out a couple of times this season and it was great to have.  Looking forward to a full season of having the family follow me when the roads get twisty.  When the wife gets tired of that arrangement, I hop back in the van and continue to see the world...

Thanks for the help in making this happen.

Roy...

[JBix]

Well, congrats and good work on your trailer.  Hope you enjoy hauling the family (or having them follow you) around the country!

[john]

Damn thats a nice looking trailer

[Casimir]

Nice trailer!  

If you have some plans you could post, I am interested in replicating it. I'm sure others would be too.

[firedan]

Nice

An idea about being able to see the trailer when backing-I have seen trailers with various items sticking out sideways at the end.  If you do much night time driving, 18 wheelers and pickup wannabe have metal rods with small marker lights at the ends.

[Sportbilly]

I'm all for plans being posted.  Also, what do you estimate your costs at, do you have your own welder, and where did ya get the major components from?

Nice job!  

Me needs a 3-bike trailer for next year   :mrgreen:

[RedShift]

Gee, had I known you wanted step-by-step detail on the construction process, I would have been more conscientious about tracking what I did.

Still, I can compose a Reader's Digest version of how it came to be.  (I took some starting-point digital pictures, but dog-gone-it, I can't find the pictures of the frame.

It may take a few days but will see what I can do.

[pantablo]

... 18 wheelers and pickup wannabe have metal rods with small marker lights at the ends.

JCWhitney sells these. My friend with a 4x4 had these on his front bumpers. Lights are near eye level.

[Rich500]

That is so similar to my trailer. DAmn I love it. Best investment I ever did make. They are so friggin tough too. I have a removable box that slips on too it when i need to haul stuff other than my bike. it works briliantly. Easy to build too. Especially when you buy one of those trailer kits from home depot!

[Briliu]

Red, how do you get the bike on it? Do you use a ramp or does the trailer tip down to the ground?? Or, do you heft it up there by yourself  

Very nice looking trailer too btw!

[Blueknyt]

ok, from pic it looks like the trailer is pitched up, hitch is higher then horizontal centerline, what i have found works well if you cant lower the ball hitch height, shift the axle back alittle, or, i would cut the tongue and get another section of square tubing and weld the tongue's hitch onto it, then lay the new tongue ontop of old, U-bolt it in place, at this point i would cut 4 plates and with everything clamped together, weld 2 plates to one tongue then 2 plates to old tongue.  now these plates would overlap each tube. drill 1 hold through side of each unwelded section of plate, put bolts through them and you now have a folding tongue for storage, this at the same time, will lower the H-line of the traileralittle, add alittle more weight, and you can add alittle length to help it track alittle better, not to mention be easyer to back up. these are just MY approches to a project, not right or wrong in any way from what you did, it looks good and the key thing is, are you happy with it

[RedShift]

Red, how do you get the bike on it? Do you use a ramp or does the trailer tip down to the ground?? Or, do you heft it up there by yourself  

Very nice looking trailer too btw!

Competition Accessories offers a Fly Folding Aluminum Ramp.  Although a bit pricey, it's light and when folded fits well in the back of the van.

...from pic it looks like the trailer is pitched up...

I think the photo is a bit deceptive as to bed angle.  The hitch is practically parallel.  There's barely 1 degree of rise, and with about 50 lbs of tongue weight (bike on) it tracks straight (no wiggling).

I'll keep your explanation though.  Might come in handy in the future.

To all -- I didn't weld anthing.  It started as a tent trailer (a box with propped-up canvas), became a utility trailer, then became useless due to wood floor rot.  Stripped it to the frame, painted and bolted wood to metal to make essentially what you see here.  I'll offer more detail in the future.

Roy...

[firedan]

firedan wrote:
... 18 wheelers and pickup wannabe have metal rods with small marker lights at the ends.



JCWhitney sells these. My friend with a 4x4 had these on his front bumpers. Lights are near eye level.

I was thinking more attached to the end of the trailer, sticking out sideways, or maybe at an angle to make the lights higher.