Announcement

**Jerry** · 09-16-2003, 07:16 AM

There are a few of us that pull trailers. Here is a shot of my home-built behind my XJ at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon from last September:

http://idisk.mac.com/jerryfields/Public/grandcan2.jpg

There are some articles on trailer building in the Tech Tips section, look in the Off-Site links. One of the articles is at:

http://facstaff.uww.edu/fieldsj/mcycle/mctrailer/

You can use the Search function to look for past threads on this subject; you will find several.

Personally, I like having the trailer, as I can carry more convenience stuff, like a bigger tent, a few more tools, propane stove, air mattress, and other goddies like my camera tripod. You pay for this in a loss of 2 - 3 mpg, little harder parking, and a bit slower acceleration / braking. My rig goes about 180 pounds fully loaded, about the same has having a passenger on back, but weight is much lower down and bike handles better with the trailer than with a passenger.

**beechfront** · 09-16-2003, 07:24 AM

I was thinking about this too. I had way too much crap on my bike this last trip. Made it too topheavy.

**TheDjost** · 09-16-2003, 02:43 PM

I was thinking of building a single wheel trailer this winter.

I like the fact that it leans with the bike when you corner, so it makes the hitch a little simpler to make.

What are youre opinions about 2 (or more) wheel, flat running trailers VS single wheel, leaning trailers.

Obvious diffrence is in cargo space. The single will most certainly have a lot less cargo room.

I also would think that there is a difference in the driving style you must adopt while pulling.

Comments please!

-Justin

**Ken Talbot** · 09-16-2003, 06:59 PM

Herb from Edmonton might like to disagree about cargo space available in a single-wheel trailer. He built a beauty a while back for his XJ, and is now towing it behind his new Venture. Herb - how about tossing out a few details, maybe a photo or two....

**Jerry** · 09-17-2003, 10:10 AM

Hitches...

If you look at commercial trailers and custom-built jobs you will see a variety of hitch styles. Ball hitch is quite common, as the trailer can then do double-duty behind your bike and car. However, other styles are out there.

Just for hoots, and the fact I had parts lying around, I made my own hitch that rotates in 3 axis, lateral (left-right) horizontal (up-down) and radial (twisting). Hitch uses 2 Heim joints and a bushing. Most other hitches work as well and are considerable simpler. Either way, leaning the bike is not an issue with a 2 wheel trailer.

As long as the bike can lean unrestricted by the trailer hitch used (ball hitch does have some twisting limits) it doesn't matter if the trailer has 1 tire or 2. Disadvantage of 2 wheels is that you are resticted a bit more in your lines through curves, as the trailer tires should stay in your lane.

Advanage is that when a two-wheel trailer is unhooked it doesn't have a tendancy to fall over.

Riding style won't be much different between 1 and 2 wheel trailer except as noted above. With both trailers you will feel more drag on acceleration, and a 'pushing' effect on braking and in corners. (The sharper the corner, the more noticeable the push.) I tend to start braking a little earlier than when riding solo, and that is about all the changes to riding style I've made.

Couple comments on the bike-side hitch. Most XS/XJ owners have used unused bolt holes in the frame under the seat for the forward mount, and fender-to-frame bollts near rear turn lights for the rear mounting points. Lenght of the 'arms' that drop down behind wheel are open to individual interpretation, with 2 factors to consider. First is how low to the ground you want to get. This will depend on some degree to the size wheels you use on your trailer. Generally you want the trailer to be level as you are riding, so do measurements with yourself on the bike. 2nd area is a safety issue. You don't want the hitch to be to close to the rear wheel. Trailer hitches require safety chains in case the hitch breaks. You don't want the trailer tongue to be able to come forward and hit the rear tire, but still have enough play in your chains to allow for left-right turning. Wheel-to-hitch distance can be varied by changing the angle and/or lenght of the 'down' arms.

Last issue....electircs. The XS/XJ uses a 5-wire set-up: ground, left turn, right turn, stop, and running lights. Most trailers run 4 wires: ground, left-turn/running, right turn/running, and stop. If you use this set-up so you can use the trailer with your cage you will need to get one of those 5 to 4 wire converters and put it on your bike. Not usually a problem, and cost is $12.00 - $20.00 for the cheap ones. More expensive converters run a wire to a power source and only use the signal from the lights to trigger the box. Price is higher at around $40 - $45. These are marketed for cars with on-board computers that indicate when bulbs are burned out.

I don't want to make trailering sound harder than it is; once you look at a few trailers most of these observations become self-evident or a matter of common sense. Just be aware there are some minor adjustments to be made to your riding style, a couple safety concerns with the hitch to consider, and a decision about using your trailer in a dual-purpose or bike-only configuration.

**Huron52** · 09-17-2003, 05:24 PM

I am not promoting these but I found them and I put them in my favorites.

This one from Canada

http://cyclope2000.com/intro_2002.html

and then this one.... from the US of A

http://www.n-line.com/

These are one wheel trailers.

I can of like the idea of the trailer wheel following in the bikes footprint.

**greatwhiteshark** · 09-17-2003, 11:11 PM

thanks for all the info I think this should be a fun project to undertake and the end result should make my vacations much more enjoyable ....cheers....mark

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