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Hauling Your Bike
Some thoughts based on my own experiences. Warning, a lot of thoughts!
Thursday, 12-Aug-1999 05:48:56
198.142.207.135 writes:
Strong tie down straps
I use 4 good web belts w/ratchets anchored to each trailer corner with eye bolts
that don't open under the stress (welding is better).
Strap scratching/scuffing
Plastic coated hooks for bike contact parts to reduce scratching.
Allow for flexing
Tighten the belts compressing the bike suspension (front & rear) slightly.
The whole thing has to flex because my trailer flexes.
Keep the bike held in place at the floor
I have wooden blocks (bolted to the trailer font and rear walls)
at the mid front and rear of both tyres.
Also wooden blocks (bolted to the floor) on each side of both tires.
The only way the bike can move is UP and the straps stop that.
Stone damage from your own rear wheels (trailers)
I have mudflaps and use a fiberglass spoiler that covers the lower half of the bike.
Headlamp stone guards (stick-on) protect the lamp.
Still, mirrors, blinkers and windshield cop some.
Theft - biggest worry
I use a bike alarm when parked and padlock the trailer to the car hitch.
AND sweat it out each and every time I leave unattended.
Bike cover
Don't. Wind causes buffeting and flapping quickly wearing out paintwork.
Ramps - a must for safety and one person operation.
I made an 7'6" ramp in 3 sections that attaches to the trailer rear floor
with drop-in 6" bolts to hold them there. (The rear trailer door slips off).
The ramp is 4' wide, same as the trailer.
Ramps have non-slip surfaces and cross-grids if I want to stop half-way up or down.
I ride up and sit on it coming down backwards. No dramas.
Ramps break into 3 and fit inside trailer on each side (w/bolts) of bike.
Must be strong enough to take the 250kg bike (live weight) plus rider (say 130kg).
That's 380kg on the ramp.
I had to go up to 6"x2" hardwood runners w/19mm builders' ply.
With 3 sections, that's 6 of 6"x2".
Strong enough trailer suspension
The VS1400 is about 250kg.
Add extra live weight for rough roads, the ramps (about 60kg)
and the trailer weight itself (mine is 250kg).
Total weight is probably about 560kg.
Most average 3 leaf trailer springs don't ride as well as 5 leaf ones.
I use 5 leaf springs under a heavy duty box trailer AND a spring steel axle.
Having the bike upright in the center of the trailer balances the trailer
and gives me clear rear vision down each side of the trailer.
Trailer flipping when doing a tire at speed after running on sharp road tarred edge.
I replaced OEM trailer tires with light truck tires. They are tough and take plenty.
Never even had a flat.
Have thought about making a quick-connector for the brake circuit on the bike
and plug it into a connector from my car (also 12V), trailer socket to have an
extra brake light at a nice driver height for added night safety.
I found that the safer you make it the less likely it will fall off
either the ramp or trailer,
and the less often I check the rear view mirror to see if it is still there!
Use of the trailer has opened a new world of motorcycling as my wife and I can go
to far off places (everything is far off in Oz), that were just too far and
too primitive (with no luggage capacity) to reach otherwise.
We check into a place and use it as a base.
Hope some of this stuff helps.
Phillip (Oz)
Note: Thanks Philip
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