Dual Sport Trailer assembly thread

[Dan Alexander]

Here's another one in Quebec that has an open basket, adventure style carrier. Under $1000CDN so pretty cheap if you factor the advantage of the $US


http://www.cyclope2000.com/photos/Cy...615071651.html

[Barnone]

I have been enjoying this thread. I had a Bushtech trailer on 1990 Honda Pacific Coast 800 for camping.
Just for ideas, go to
http://store.royalenfieldusa.com/
and look at the RE trailer.

[toolfan]

Ironic that this got bumped.

Just last night I was thinking to myself -

"self, it's time to look into a moto-trailer."

[ag_streak]

It ain't pretty, but the mock-up is ready to go to the welding shop...

Current wheelbase seems to be about 67". The tire clearance is a bit insufficient.

[Dan Alexander]

Looking good

Are you fabbing if out of aluminum? I guess some of those pieces in steel would be really heavy.

[klrbaer]

Hey ag streak, Looks great. Looking at the pin where the trailer articulates, remember to keep your torerances close.005-.010 and make sure to use a pin that is threaded, to be able to increase the hitch pin presure to better stabeleze the trailer. It looks great. I can't wait to see the finished trailer.

[perkgana]

I started thinking about a trailer after imagining what could happen if I strapped my snowboard (sideways.. as a spoiler) on the back of the bike and hit a wind gust at 75 mph! hahahaha

[ag_streak]

Originally Posted by Dan Alexander

Looking good

Are you fabbing if out of aluminum? I guess some of those pieces in steel would be really heavy.

Oh yeah, all aluminum to keep under my weight targets. My only concern is the pivot points, swingarm and hitch. They may need bushings to prevent force and vibration from enlarging the holes.

[omnivore]

www.thirdwheelonline.com

-for sportbikes, it mounts to swingarm spools

[EwokGB]

Originally Posted by ag_streak

Oh yeah, all aluminum to keep under my weight targets. My only concern is the pivot points, swingarm and hitch. They may need bushings to prevent force and vibration from enlarging the holes.

I'm using these...



The tow pivot has a M10 thread up the middle and fixes through your hollow rear axle with spacers to centre it.

The “C” shaped parts are welded in the end of a “U” tube which forms part of the tow bracket around the rear wheel.

The trailer is then simply offered up to and over the tow pins and the collets pushed on and pinned to attach the trailer to the bike J - and no – it won’t pull off!!

[rw4x4van]

Nice!!..........

Originally Posted by EwokGB

I'm using these...



The tow pivot has a M10 thread up the middle and fixes through your hollow rear axle with spacers to centre it.

The “C” shaped parts are welded in the end of a “U” tube which forms part of the tow bracket around the rear wheel.

The trailer is then simply offered up to and over the tow pins and the collets pushed on and pinned to attach the trailer to the bike J - and no – it won’t pull off!!

[ag_streak]

What are these called, what are they originally used for, and where do you get 'em?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by EwokGB

I'm using these...

[ag_streak]

Well, me and the welder didn't "click" I carefully explained what I was after, but he didn't seem to get it. I wanted a quick and dirty prototype, he wanted to maximize his price. He estimated $800 for the work, saying it was a lot of welds.

I see his point, so I designed another frame with fewer joints and welds. It uses a single tube main frame instead of twin flat-stock main rails. I thought the flat-stock idea was a bonus, but apparently, it causes more hand-work.

A large-diameter tube would have great stiffness and can be bent to the shape below in minutes on a tube bender (the diagram has angled bends only because they were easier to draw). Then a simple three-piece hinge part for the swingarm pivot and a single hole for the main pivot. Simple.

The swingarm is conceptually the same.

The hitch is five easy pieces. Steel rod instead of aluminum wouldn't weigh much more, and can be bent without kinking (I'd still prefer a hollow-tube hitch loop.) The plates that mate to the bike axle could be the ones posted by Ewok.

[OPNYD]

[quote=ag_streak]Well, me and the welder didn't "click" I carefully explained what I was after, but he didn't seem to get it. I wanted a quick and dirty prototype, he wanted to maximize his price. He estimated $800 for the work, saying it was a lot of welds.

I see his point, so I designed another frame with fewer joints and welds. It uses a single tube main frame instead of twin flat-stock main rails. I thought the flat-stock idea was a bonus, but apparently, it causes more hand-work.

A large-diameter tube would have great stiffness and can be bent to the shape below in minutes on a tube bender (the diagram has angled bends only because they were easier to draw). Then a simple three-piece hinge part for the swingarm pivot and a single hole for the main pivot. Simple.

The swingarm is conceptually the same.

The hitch is five easy pieces. Steel rod instead of aluminum wouldn't weigh much more, and can be bent without kinking (I'd still prefer a hollow-tube hitch loop.) The plates that mate to the bike axle could be the ones posted by Ewok.

[/quote
FWIW: I built something like your trailer during the boring winter of 2007 in Green Bay. Easiest pivot/best tolerances: use a universal joint yoke assembly (available at any farm supply store). The u-joint is way better than a bolt/bushing and it permits the appropriate up & down + side-to-side movement essential for a single-wheel trailer. Weld one end to your hitch assembly to attach to the bike & the other end to the trailer. Take pains to ensure the u-joint yoke is perpendicular to the ground (and parallel to the tire) before welding it on.
My design has a swingarm (on a bushing) plus a coil-over shock from a youth ATV. I use the trailer to transport a tandem bicycle or excess gear (grocery shopping when I'm dragooned into the task). Bullet-proof - I've run 90+ mph: no issues behind my R12GS. Doesn't change the beast's fuel economy one bit.

[EwokGB]

Originally Posted by ag_streak

What are these called, what are they originally used for, and where do you get 'em?

Thanks!

Had them made specially for my trailer. The design has been modifed further now. No r-clip. The collet is a bit bigger and housed a push lock to 1. fix it to the bike and 2. make it secure.