My first trailer

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I went to the drag strip a couple times with my streetbike and came to the conclusion that riding an hour to the track, racing for a few hours then riding an hour home was just flat not fun. So I came up with this. I only had time to clean up and snap a pic before I had to go to dinner with the inlaws I'll get some more detail when I strip it back down for paint. The axles are sleeved and pinned to the trailer so they can be removed and the trailer can be stored easily. I don't have alot of room in the garage. I may eventually cut the whole thing in half so it could be carried in the trunk of a car. I need it for next weekend so it's finished for now
Reply:Cool idea, Just make sure those pins are TIGHT keeping the axles on; it could be an expesive mistake I'd make some more tie dows on the side so you can ratchet strap the bike down pretty good.
Reply:neat and clean. i like it. i agree i would add some tie downs. better safe than sorry.
Reply:Be careful on your first tow. All axles are designed to carry the load close to the spindles. Center loading the axle greatly reduces it's capacity. Lack of suspension will also increase impact on the axle.Do not attach tie-downs to the axle ,they may come lose if the axle flexes.
Reply:Where are the safety chains?Nice simple trailer.  The bike has suspension, but you tie that down.... Don'tchya?David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by triptesterBe careful on your first tow. All axles are designed to carry the load close to the spindles. Center loading the axle greatly reduces it's capacity. Lack of suspension will also increase impact on the axle.Do not attach tie-downs to the axle ,they may come lose if the axle flexes.
Reply:I guess I should not have said it was finished. I do have to add tie down hoops two for the front where the 1.5" tubes extend and two more for the tail light stems (also 1.5" .095 wall) and safety chains. The wiring is not on yet but the holes are drilled (you can see one on the left side front of the center tube). I also have 2.5' of the aluminum channel to make the ramp. I plan on cutting the edges back and hinging the ramp so it will fold at a 70* angle, with a bracket to hold the ramp up in place.  Wow, you guys are making me more tired just thinking about it!  I was feeling pretty good....
Reply:Looks good PJ.One recommendation on your tie down points.  For the rear set, I wouldn't tie down to rear light bar.  You would then be pulling the bike away from your chock instead of towards it.Other than that (and the comment about axle loading), I like the design and may steal portions of it for a mini trailer I need to build for my wife.
Reply:What sort of bike do you race?City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:The problem with asking 10 Craftsmen for their opinion, you'll get 10 different ways to do it better. I've been riding for 39 years, most of them trailering. I never tie the rear suspension down, including my snowmobiles. If you hit a dip hard enough to compress the suspension past the straps, the 'snap loads' on the straps and frame loops, are huge. Just strap the rear tire to the ramp and let the rear suspension do its job. You don't have to be riding for the rear shock to work.I like the simple design.  BUT, I'd have made the front cross piece for the tie downs, wider and 'heftier'. They're the ones carrying the load. Yes, I bent one; trailering through the back country in Utah.  No damage, lesson learned. 9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Originally Posted by PJ1I guess I should not have said it was finished. I do have to add tie down hoops two for the front where the 1.5" tubes extend and two more for the tail light stems (also 1.5" .095 wall) and safety chains. The wiring is not on yet but the holes are drilled (you can see one on the left side front of the center tube). I also have 2.5' of the aluminum channel to make the ramp. I plan on cutting the edges back and hinging the ramp so it will fold at a 70* angle, with a bracket to hold the ramp up in place.  Wow, you guys are making me more tired just thinking about it!  I was feeling pretty good....
Reply:Thats a good looking simple trailer and will suit the purpose you have built it for. My thought is this, if you have 22 inch tires on your car or truck, how fast do the little 13 inch trailer tires go? If you value your bike....Be careful.If your wheel bearings seize up and you have to leave your bike on the side of the road somewhere, make sure you stay with it so it isn't stolen.I have seen many trailers on the side of the road with little, tired bearings because the little tire was going 220000 rpm while you drive 65 miles an hour.Keep an eye on that.
Reply:Well, the fabrication is done anyway. I can understand issues with trailer wheel bearing failures but I guess I have been lucky. Never a failure. I have always been on top of maintenance and never abused my equipment. The tires on this trailer actually measure 20" tall, if you multiply that by 3.14 and divide 63360 by that it comes to 1009rpm at 60mph. A 28" tire turns 720rpm at the same speed. Considering the spindle diameter is right at about 1" in diameter for both bearings and being rated for 2k lbs I feel it's well within a safe margin. My friend had concerns with the 1/2" pins (which I swapped for 1/2 bolts with Nyloc nuts)used to secure the axles, then I reminded him that he pulls a 6k+ lb trailer with his 5/8" pin with direct shear force with no issues. I would leave the trailer and truck on the side of the road and ride the bike away if there was a problem. Here's a couple more pics for design detail and a loaded pic with my Suzuki on it. I guess I'll have to paint it next weekend...With enough material anyone can make a bulldozer, not everyone can make a glider that flies.
Reply:I really like your trailer.  I wouldn't worry at all about the axle and wheel loads.  You set the bike forward enough that about 1/3 to 1/2 of the weight is on the toungue anyway.  The hinged ramp is neat too.  I assume that with the skelton frame that it's pretty easy to load as a one man operation.  The only issue that I see is the way that you are tying down the rear wheel.  I usually put a wrap of the tie down strap around the wheel and use one for each side for the rear.  I don't think that yours is going to come loose anyway with the way that the front is tied down, but I always put more straps than I absolutely need in case one comes loose.  For space savings, check out how the HF folding trailers tip up on casters.  You could probably do something similar very easily.  Definitely a thumbs up from me,Rene