your opinion on a trailer

[lostsoul74]

eh gents, the trailer i've been using is my buddies, kind of one of those borrow for a year and he hasnt needed it since deals lol, but i'm moving and have a tiny back yard, my other neighbor next to me offered me his trailer for free, but it's narrow. it's a 3x5. I was just gona throw some 2x4's down and extend it out to 7 feet for bike use. But i'm woundering if the wheel base is too narrow to actually use it, meaning, would a bike want to tip the whole trailer too when taking a corner?? whats your opinion? thanks

[XJOK2PLAY]

Trailers...

Several things could alter your decision one way or another, I think...
First off, trailer mfgr.'s are required to attach an info. tag somewhere on the frame stating how much weight the trailer's designed to haul, (assuming it's not a home built.)
Secondly, ya gotta take into account the weight of the bike, and it's position on the trailer, in regards to axle location.
Thirdly, I've never cared for single axle trailers too much. If too much weight is applied too far back, and not enough is on the tongue... they can get pretty squirelly above 45 mph. So, simply lengthening the trailer might not be such a good thing. Depends on axle location, how much it and the tires are rated for, etc.
That narrow of an axle, and the top heavyness of the bike could be an issue, too.
Without seeing or knowing more about the trailer he's giving you, your distance intentions and speeds, and so on... it's hard to tell. My only advice would be... be careful. Trailering with a "free", but modified trailer could lead to disaster. And I think all will agree w/ me here, nobody wants to see a fellow XSer crash cause his trailer rig got away from him... much less the loss of the bike. Be safe, and hope this helps.
Bob

[lostsoul74]

thanks for the advice, i guess you wouldnt want to know what i 've been using lol, been using a little 4x4 tilt bed mulch trailer with a 6 foot piece of plywood screwed down on it, got to put the bikes in at a 45 to make em fit, gets a little squirly at 80 mph, but nothing that doesnt even herself out after changing lanes. Been fine for probably close to 40 bikes i've picked up in the last year or so, usually within an hour or so distance. My primary concern with this one would be weather or not 3 foot wide would be wide enough to prevent it from tipping in a corner. I guess if it was balanced too far back, i could just throw a 60lb weight on the front to balance it out. The freeby is a homemade, but for road use, not yard use. has lights on it. Concern is for top heavy with low wheel distance.

[CatatonicBug]

gets a little squirly at 80 mph,

NO WAY a single axle trailer should EVER go that fast!!! Especially with a tall (and heavy) bike on it. PLEASE take it slow when towing, no matter what your decision with the trailer might be. Those things are not meant to go that fast, and could easily tear apart, taking with it anyone else that is on the road with you.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Dude...

"been using a little 4x4 tilt bed mulch trailer with a 6 foot piece of plywood screwed down on it, got to put the bikes in at a 45 to make em fit, gets a little squirly at 80 mph"

Surely thou jests with me....

Bikes... plural???

[XJOK2PLAY]

Dude....

"been using a little 4x4 tilt bed mulch trailer with a 6 foot piece of plywood screwed down on it, got to put the bikes in at a 45 to make em fit, gets a little squirly at 80 mph"


Surely thou jests with me...

[XJOK2PLAY]

trailering...

"got to put the bikes in at a 45 to make em fit",


(First off, Sorry about the last double post... must have hit the button twice...)
These are trailering rules all should heed...
Golden Rule #1: Never overload your trailer or trailer tires
Golden Rule #2: Don't exceed the speed limit in your state concerning trailers.
Golden Rule #3: Always check tongue weight.
Golden Rule #4: Always position / center the load over the axle.
Golden Rule #5: Always properly secure the load.
And Golden Rule #6: If you fail to abide by these rules... don't come to the Tulsa, Ok. area please. Thank You!

Ohhh... if you were just yankin' my chain... Good one!!! Ya had me goin! HaHaHa!
L8R

[lostsoul74]

well, here we go again, seems half the times i come to forums and ask a single question, i get every school book rule about everything other then the question itself. I appreciate everyones concerns, but simply put, been doing it for years with never an issue at all, and concidering you can go to Uhaul and rent a single axle trailer that can carry the weight of a car at highway speeds, i completely disagree with that single axle statement. Expecially since i've done it cross country several times at 75 mph. Would it be what I would recomend if I was the editor of Trailer and Driver magazine (just made it up), probably not, but my question was strictly weather or not 3 foot wide would be ok for stability in cornering a bike or not. thanks for your time.

If i spend the time to strap her down, then i'm obviously concerned about it making home safely, if i felt there was a legitimate concern, then i wouldnt, but concidering i pickup and flip 2-3 bikes a week and never an issue, well, that speaks for itself. Then again, i'm also not the type of guy who worries about a polished bike and wear a beanie helmet, i ride hardtails and chopped up rats, and I never do the speed limit, if i get a ticket, it's cause I went too slow and they caught me. If textbook overkill safety was a concern in the least, I wouldnt own a motorcycle, much less the 11 still left in the garage. I'm not here to offend anyone, but please keep answers relative to what you know by real experience, and related to the question. thank you.

[XJOK2PLAY]

My apologies...

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend ya... really. It just struck me as funny what you said. I realize you have had a lot of experience pulling trailers, and I'm sorry I got carried away a bit. If it were me, I wouldn't. 3' wide axle sounds to me like it could tip over easily in a turn, as top heavy as these things are.
But, then that's just my 2 cents. I wouldn't take a chance with my bike if I had any doubts about the trailer it was on.
Be safe.
Bob

[lostsoul74]

sorry if i sound awnery, got a customer dickin me around for the final bill and leaving me having to pay my guys out of my pocket. but reguardless, it seems more often then not, when a question is asked, a direct answer is seldome given.

[CatatonicBug]

you can go to Uhaul and rent a single axle trailer that can carry the weight of a car at highway speeds,

I dunno if you ever actually rented one of those trailers, but they have a sign on the side of them (in backwards print so you can see it in the rear-view mirror) that says "Do not exceed 45 MPH". They are NOT meant to go at highway speeds. I didn't mean to offend either, but I see, way too often, people hauling trailers down the road in the fast lane going 70-90 MPH, and cringe as it sways back and forth between the shoulder and the next lane over. There are reasons why states have lower speed limits for vehicles towing trailers. I know there are areas where the roads are nice and flat, but in many places (like here in MO), there are pot holes all over, and hitting a 6" deep hole at 80mph with one of those tiny trailer tires would not be a good thing.

I only ask that you play it safe, especially when towing something.

[lostsoul74]

right on, appreciate it, and yes, I know the uhaul trailers say that, but I have never ever seen anyone actually driving 45 on the free way with them, and yes, I have personally done over 75 with them on several occasions, i pick up stuff all the time on ebay for a steal of a deal, bring it back for a flip. Actually, i just finished a thread in this same section of a 5 dollar 2007 Vstar fender i just put on the 1100, check it out and tell me what you think so far. yea, i'm thinking hte 3 may be too narrow, but i'll throw a bike on it anyways and rock it back and forth to tell ya know.

[Crazcnuk]

"Do not exceed 45 MPH".

That sticker is as much about safety, or the trailer as the 55mph speed limits were on interstates.

That is an inurance disclaimer that is supposed to take away any blame from U-haul should anything happen. U-haul 1 and 2 ton trucks also have that same sticker, you think those aren't made for highway?

They do that because they understand that many, if not the majority of thier customes may have never pulled a trailer or drove a big truck, ever.

Single/dual axle really only pertains to load carrying. I have never found single axle trailers any different to pull. If your trying to pull one and your hitch is too high, you should be getting a drop hitch. I have the opposite problem with my Neon as the hitch is so LOW.

Keep in mind that MOST my trailer pulling was with a bike. If anything is squirrely there, I would know it.

My Boler pulls a little funny, but that's because the suspension is shot on one side of the trailer and it leans.

As to the question at hand. If you KNOW it may be tippy, you just have to drive more carefully. If most of your pulling is around town, it should be fine, as long as you don't do the 'cut people off rapid left turns, or run red lights doing right hand turns!

You could also redeck it with checkerplate, to lower the center of gravity, and make it look nice and hard wearing. My bike trailer is 40"Wx48"long and it's never tried to tip over, but the heaviest (tallest) load I ever had on it was a washing machine.

The center of gravity of most bikes is less then 24" from the ground, so the load is not as tall as it may seem.

[lostsoul74]

right on, so you've never had an issue with your 40 wide then, thats what I needed to know, thanks Craz, and thanks for the mention about the center of gravity being at the 2 foot mark, didnt really think about that. yep, exactly like you said, if i think it May be an issue, then i just got to keep that in mind and take it easy on corners which I do anyways. We tend to reply to eachother alot ... lol. i see like minds still think alike

e

[DiverRay]

Expecially since i've done it cross country several times at 75 mph. Would it be what I would recomend if I was the editor of Trailer and Driver magazine (just made it up), probably not, but my question was strictly weather or not 3 foot wide would be ok for stability in cornering a bike or not. thanks for your time.

I've also had a trailer or two behind a car, truck, BigRig. I AM guilty of cruising at 70 to 75 MPH with a Zodiiac behind the car..... I ALSO agree the IF the trailer is balanced well, and the hitch is LEVEL there is NO problem, other than the speed rating of the tires.
Stopping, on the other hand, CAN be a problem! that is the ONLY thing you really need to look at, if all other things are good.