Adventure trailer

Any one have any experience pulling a trailer with a TW? I used to pull one with my old Super Glide years ago on the highway, but dirt roads are a different story.  I like the single wheel type but am open to idea's. The Moto Mule trailer looks pretty interesting, I plan to build something similar to that. Any thought's?

Well, I bought some steel today, guess I'll try my hand at trailer building. I've searched a lot of designs and have a pretty good idea of what I want, hope it works.

I've talked my buddy OldBrattrider into building my trailer, he's a machinist and good at this sort of thing. I would have cobbled up some thing useless so I'll back off and let a real welder do it for me. Pictures of the project to follow.

We got a good start on the trailer today, we modified my spare set of axle spacers for the hitch mount.

Made a little more progress today, got the hitch plates finished, welded, painted and mounted to the bike.

Looking really nice.  I will enjoy seeing it completed.  Good job.   Gerry

Thanks Gerry, we'll get back on it today and I hope to have it finished by the weekend, I'll post more pictures as we progress, I can't wait to try it out.

We got back to the trailer project today, the swing arm is built and mounted to the trailer, still waiting on a new tire. I hope to have the tongue and hitch arms built tomorrow, with any luck I'll pull it home Saturday.

Looking good can't wait to see it finished.

Thank ya sir, I think we'll finish it this week. I can't wait to give it a tug and see how it feels.

 

I wanna see the hitch. I wanna see the hitch. I wa.....

I really like the echo in here. Anyone been here in months? lol

It is quiet in here ain't it? I nearly got the whole place to myself. Ya wanna see the hitch eh? Maybe later  . Here is the swing arm and shock finished. The shock from the front of the scooter was too soft so we used the one from the rear, it's much better.

A nearly done hitch made from 1 1/2 strap steel, the off set in the swing arm caused us a bit of extra head scratching, but we got it figured out.

A test fit of the hitch. Anything that moves has a bushing and a grease zerk, I like things to be smooth.  I got my new knobby trailer tire in the mail today finally!.  It may be a few days before we can finish it, but there ain't a lot left to do.

I'm liking that. How big is the "box" part?

The box is 26" x 15", I made it that size so my gear would just fit with a one gallon Rotopax gas can. That way I wouldn't be tempted ot over load it.

Exclusive spy shot of the fat boy's first test ride of the trailer, it still needs to be disassembled and painted but it pulls like a dream and handles great, I'm big happy to say OldBrattrider has built one hell of a trailer. I'll post finished shots as soon as the paint dries.

  

lizrdbrth wrote:

  

THANK YOU!!


Some better finished trailer pic's,
You can go with this,

Or you can go with that,

Here is a slide show of the build,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvDm1o65Dw0
And here is a video of the test.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqEiU-ClOEI
I'm super happy with the way it all came together and how well it tows

Oh man!  Thanks for posting all this.  I crew for a land speed racer and one thing I learned taking my bike to Bonneville this year is that I need a trailer.  I don't want to take my car on the salt because the salt out there is extremely corrosive.....I've done a lot of damage to cars in the past. We get to the pits at sunrise and stay til sunset and there are a few things I need that I can't take on a bike....like a chair, a cooler for food, water, & beer, and other things too bulky to strap on the bike.  It's hard to depend on others so a trailer like you built would really be handy.  I'm gonna add that to my list of winter projects.  Thanks again.

Thank you!  A little trailer like this would be perfect for what you want. If I can help in any way just let me know.

In my state (Washington) a trailer has to be inspected by the state patrol, be plated, issued a title and have all of the usual trailer lights.

The late
Macadam Drifter's 
Epic trailer

I remember Macadam Drifters wonderful journey and his fine trailer, it's a heck of a nice set up.  I followed his trip reports all the way, he was another inspiration for me to build one. I don't need lights on it here because the bikes lights are clearly visible from the rear and inspection isn't required. As for tags, I haven't checked on them yet.

Looks real nice R80rt.  It will be nice to hear how it works out off-road.  Gerry

Wow, Thank you Gerry, I appreciate that. The little trailer works surprisingly well in the rough, I built it for back road use, not for off road, but I wouldn't have a problem with it on a good trail. It tracks behind perfectly. Pulling it feels similar to having a small passenger on back, it's better than carring a passenger, but that's the best equation I have for it.
Here is a video of the trailer test. It's like a puppy and follows me everywhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqEiU-ClOEI