Setting-up To Pull A Trailer.

[Craig N. AZ]

Just bought a Time Out Camper to pull around the country this summer with my tourer and now I need to get the bike ready to pull it. I need a trailer hitch and get the bike wired. I’ve done some research on the board and it looks like the most popular hitch is the Hitch Doc (#15350)and I will need 4 to 5 wire converter (Hoppy #46255) to plug in the trailer. Does this sound right? Is there anything else I’ve overlooked? Any tips? Will the Hoppy let the blinker blink at the correct rate?

http://timeouttrailers.org/campingtrailers.aspx
http://www.hitchdoc.com/motorcyclehitches.php#honda
http://www.herberts.org/wayne/valk/trailerlights.htm

Thanks

Craig

[ptgb]

I don't know the number for the HitchDoc, but the brand is the best you can get.

Yes, the Hoppy 46255 is the right converter. On the Valk standard I tapped the lighting wires under the right-side cover where the harnesses connect (front harness to rear lighting harness) I simply soldered the wires to the connectors themselves then taped them.

I had LEDs on the first trailer I had (Harbor Freight) and it blinked at the proper rate. The new trailer I just bought has both regular and LED lights and it also blinks correctly.

[R J]

How old is the TimeOut?

If it has any age on it, take it to a good welder and have him build and weld some gussets on it.

You will be glad ya did.  Mine decided to take a right hand dive in rush hour, downtown Detroit traffic coming in from Canada.

A City Cop I found led me to a welder to get it fixed.   The guy was his father-in-law and done did a great job.   We flipped the trailer over on it's top and set to cutting and welding.   After that trip and repair, it made one last trip to Alaska.    Some guy wanted it worse than I did and had CASH, so he got it.    Daughter and I shipped items home, and the bike and us rode the ship down the channel to Washington state.  Rode on down to home in Northern California.

[sandy]

So old buddy: Ya didn't call me first. That's the setup I have. The bike's rear wires mearly trigger the relays in the converter. The battery power to the converter sends the power to the trailer so everythings blinks at the correct rate.

[Sodbuster]

I guess if I were you I would install a "Trailer Relay Isolation Package" ....
http://www.electricalconnection.com/wire-harnesses/hrns-trailer.htm

Also, I have put a Hitch Doc on my Standard. The one I bought is the receiver type (15400).  You can remove the ball from the receiver and hardly know it's there.  With your Tourer you'll encounter having to tip the top of the bags outward in order to install the Hitch.  Someone will prolly comment on that shortly that has done that.

[ptgb]

I guess if I were you I would install a "Trailer Relay Isolation Package" ....
http://www.electricalconnection.com/wire-harnesses/hrns-trailer.htm

The Hoppy 46255 isolates the wiring also, as well as converting from a 5 wire to 4 wire system.

[Craig N. AZ]

Thanks for the tips.
RJ - I'll check out the welds.

Craig

[larryh0841]

Be sure that you check out the wheel bearings on the trailer and the seals.  Having a wheel bearing seize up a 65 mph is not a fun thing to deal with.  I bought a brand new tent trailer once and it had the wrong seals installed.  I didn't find out until it was too late.  In the rain the grease washed out and the bearing froze up...check them out.
                         Larry

[MP]

Even worse when they fail, is to see the wheel pass your bike, as it comes off the axle! 

MP