So much for trailer towing...

[Hammerhead1st]

Built me a fine trailer to pull behind the XS. Made a sweet angle-iron hitch mounted to select frame points on the bike. Planned to pull the trailer with the XS all the way to Georgia when I leave on the 6th. Took it out around town, both loaded and empty, and it performed flawlessly, although a bit bumpy with the usual trailer springs (slippers) and bouncy small wheels. Overall, though, I was happy. It seemed as though my work would pay off in bonus points and I had a "bikeable" trailer.

Took it out of town this morning. Had a couple boxes in it for weight simulation, some clothing, etc, to the tune of about 35 lbs. Took the combo up past 40mph, and the trailer began to sway uncontrollably to the point that I thought I was a goner. Slowed down to 40, she straightened out and pulled true. Seeing as how I am leaving this week and still need to work to make the money for the trip down, I don't have time to mess with getting it all right. Kind of a bummer, but I suppose I can figure it out after I trailer the trailer to GA sometime this summer. It's 955 miles from here to Lawrencville. No way am I doing 40 all the way there. I'll settle for what the bike can hold without bags. My green army duffle and my back-rack bag and whatever else I can strap on. Guess I'm posting just to see what everyone's ideas are on the swaying?

[Rasputin]

From what I know about automobile trailers (which aint much) The further back the wheels are the less they will tend to sway. This is not to say move them right to the back but you may benefit from moving the axle even a small amount to the rear. Good luck

[TupperJ]

Hammerhead,

My experience with trailers is swaying as you describe comes from not having enough weight on the tongue. Guidelines I've seen call for 10 to 15% tongue weight.

For a better answer on towing a trailer with a bike, I would suggest a couple of other sites I visit, www.venturers.org and www.ventureriders.org both dedicated to the big comfy couch bikes. These guys do some serious towing and know their stuff.

Hope that helps!

Paul

[fredintoon]

Hi Hammerhead,
trailers sway if they have too light (or even negative) hitch weight. It's worse if they are short. What I'd do:-
Move everything in the trailer forward of the trailer axle.
Bungie your duffle bag to the trailer tongue to add forward ballast.
If there's time, cut'n'weld a longer trailer tongue &/or move the trailer axle backwards.

[soccer4m]

trailers

Hammerhead,,,it would help us if we could see a pic,,,there is a couple of other reasons that it could sway.
1. Topheavy- if the weight is too high the pendulum effect will cause sway, try heavy weights on the bottom of the trailer bed and do a trial run.
2. Wheelbase- if the wheels are too close it will not track straight, especially at speed or any slight bump which causes instablility.
3. Alignment of the wheels- check to see if both are wearing evenly or pulling slightly at speed.
4. Small wheels- cause lots of hopping around
5. trailer bed too high- it helps having the bed at least as low as the wheels, the lower the better the balance and center of gravity. So add some weight, shift axle back if possible,,,,trial runs and good luck, Mike in San Diego

[Jerry]

Have been pulling a home-built trailer behind the XJ since 2000.

TupperJ and other have the right of it...to little tounge weight. 10- 15 % of loaded weight should be on the tongue.

Couple fixes / solutions. I mounted the spare tire on the tongue near the hitch, which helped greatly. Load all your heaviest stuff as far forward as you can. Extending the tongue can help, but there is only so much you can do in that area.

On trailers, general rule to to have the axle 60% back from the front of the load area or front cross-member. On very small trailers, like mine, this really isn't possible, so extra weight has to be added to the front end to make get the correct weight distribution.

Don't give up...problem is fixable with a bit of trial and error.
Photo from Olympia Rally, 2007, XJ pulling trailer:

Note: spare tire is not visable in this shot, is normally just behind where the safety chains attach to the trailer tongue.

[Crazcnuk]

I have a trailer, that I pulled all over with my Shadow, without any problems ever.

I bought the frame from Canadian Tire in the 80's. It is sprung for 1000lbs (1080GVWR). It's 40" wide by 48" long. Not sure about the tongue length, 24-30" maybe?

I took out the extra set of leafs, in the springs, as I found it bounced too much, and I didn't need the 1000lb capacity.

I had a galvanized tin box (Furnace duct) made that is 40"Wx48"Lx24"H. I lined it with 1/4" styrofoam and panelling.

Fred's seen it, at least with the box off.

I've had it over 160kph (100mph) with no problems.