Single rail trailer for behind the family car.
- Thread starter Hurco550
- Start date
Maritime
Over 10,000 Posts
Pretty rad Levi. I have a little 4x8 trailer and with the Pilot I can no longer see it at all in the mirrors so I know how that feels, the CRV I could. I need two posts on it for backing it up when empty as once I can see it it's already to far to the side I was trying to put it LOL.
Maritime
Over 10,000 Posts
This, We had the coleman pop off the hitch on a large frost heave and the crossed chains kept it on the car and made it a minor thing versus what could have happened. The chains also stretched and were toast after so were replace along with the coupler that failed.Yea, if I had a dollar for everytime I hauled something, I'd... well, I'd be broke. I get paid waaay more than that
Also, If you didn't already know, you should cross the chains
Crossed chains will catch the tongue, so it doesn't dig in, should it come loose.
Nice design, I've been looking at trailers with the idea of building a new one, I like what you have come up with. Have you tried to load yet? I just wonder about balancing the bike (old guy) while rolling on, whether I would need a walking ramp parallel to the bike track for handling heavier bikes. I'd be interested to read how the solo loading, tie down works out.
Nice design, I've been looking at trailers with the idea of building a new one, I like what you have come up with. Have you tried to load yet? I just wonder about balancing the bike (old guy) while rolling on, whether I would need a walking ramp parallel to the bike track for handling heavier bikes. I'd be interested to read how the solo loading, tie down works out.
Yep, crossed chains is my go to as well. In this case, they are mounted centrally under the tongue, not on the sides, so they are "crossed" automatically.
I have not yet loaded a bike on the trailer. Literally an hour after I got it home from being weighed, its started snowing and left us with 5-6 inches. I will likely load up the xr200 this weekend and take it out to the farm for a couple shakedown hot laps before it and the trailer follow me 500 miles south to brown mountain NC the following weekend for some riding. I will update on how easily it loads. the "deck" of the trailer is 13" high, so I am hoping that loading it while walking on the ground beside it will not be an issue, especially since I am used to loading bikes solo into the back of a 4x4 silverado. I think most things will be a bit easier than that. The chock "should" hold the bike in place while i get the straps situated, but again, that is to be seen.
Also, If you didn't already know, you should cross the chains
I've heard about the crossing chains thing for years, my gray-haired old daddy taught me that one. What I didn't know until recently is that some states actually require it. I guess the Troopers won't stop you just for that but if they have you stopped for something else or if you are in a kerfuffle they'll stack that offense on w/ all the others they think you've committed.
Just goes to show- after all these years of hauling shit on trailers, you’re not necessarily skilled in it, just lucky.
Today was the day. I loaded up the xr200 to take it out to the family farm to give both the bike and the trailer a shakedown before taking them 500 miles this coming weekend for a brown mountain NC ride. The bike loaded easily, walking right beside it under its own power. I will likely re design the chock hinge mechanism, as it did not hold the bike upright on its own while strapping it. Not a huge deal on a 220 lb. Dirtbike, but could be a real pain on the DR650 or heavier bikes. Two straps from the lower triple down and one looped over the rear wheel (this only worked well because of the deep dirtbike lugs) kept the bike firmly planted on the trailer. I will likely add a few more straps for redundancy sake on the long trip.
I did a 10 mile stretch of interstate at a sustained 75 mph, and it handled like it wasn't even there. The car (4cyl Chevy equinox) really did well. The trailer also backs well, as I managed to get it into the garage using the backup camera.
All in all, I'm very happy with it, and will report back again once I make the 1000 mile loop.
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I did a 10 mile stretch of interstate at a sustained 75 mph, and it handled like it wasn't even there. The car (4cyl Chevy equinox) really did well. The trailer also backs well, as I managed to get it into the garage using the backup camera.
All in all, I'm very happy with it, and will report back again once I make the 1000 mile loop.
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Alternatively you could run it over the rim/bottom of the wheel. Put a shop rag between the rim and the strap to prevent any scuffing.
I'm sorry ya missed us... only about 36 hours or so late. Looks great, glad it's working as intended!
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The trailer made it there and back again, and did so without drama or issue. It ended up being 1,166 miles round trip, and most of it I had to remind myself that the trailer was back there. The 4 cyl averaged 24.52 mpg over 3 tanks. The best being the first tank at 26.2 mpg up here in the flat lands with the cruise set at 74 mph. I will be re working the chock system up front to hold the front wheel a bit better while tying the bike down. All in all I'm very happy with the outcome. (Even if the xr200 took a couple naps on the tails)
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The trailer came in handy again this evening , and I had the opportunity to see how it handles a little bit heavier bike. I found a deal on a 1980 xs850 special about a hundred miles north in Cleveland. ( I actually met the guy in a parking lot that is the very spot that Daniel Greene, an Irish American mobster was killed in October 6, 1977... so there's that lol)
The bike weighs in at 570 lbs wet, and there is a definite handling difference between that and the 220 pound xr200. If I had to do it all again I would have moved the axle forward a notch or two to get a little bit less tongue weight. The car never felt like it was going to lose control or anything but there was a noticeable change in handling. Still happy with it all in all.
The bike weighs in at 570 lbs wet, and there is a definite handling difference between that and the 220 pound xr200. If I had to do it all again I would have moved the axle forward a notch or two to get a little bit less tongue weight. The car never felt like it was going to lose control or anything but there was a noticeable change in handling. Still happy with it all in all.
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Maritime
Over 10,000 Posts
I thought you made the axle movable for and aft? Or did you x that? nice score. I missed one of those close to me by a few hours. $250.00 complete titled but not running with an electrical issue.
