Trailer and Hitch Questions.

[Dave Ritsema]

Not the kind you put the bike ON, I already have gotten plenty of crap from some of ya on that one. 
Just kicking arouind the idea of picking up a trailer hitch for my Interstate when I can, and looking for a small trailer.
Can some of you tell me what you think is the "hot set-up?"

[Chrome]

Hi Dave Had the same thoughts two years ago as well.Picked up a used receiver hitch from a fellow VRCCer but didn't want to spend big bucks on a trailer just in case I didn't like it. I bought a Habour Freight trailer kit and mounted a car topper on it. I thought this would make a good  starter setup but have liked it so much,it's now a keeper.It has a couple thousand KMs on it and am still happy. I got a ton of hints and help from   http://forums.delphiforums.com/MCTrailertowing/start





My total cost into this project is about 600 Canadian and I think well spent.
Happy Trails Adrian(Chrome) V

[Dave Ritsema]

Thanks Adrian! 

[Gear Jammer]

Mines a Voyaguer XL3  made by Fibro Concepts in QC, Canada. 

                                                         

[Sodbuster]

What are you all running for ball height in relation to the axle ??

[ChromeDome]

I got a Bush-Tec back in 02 and really like it.

[Popeye]

Dave,

I had a Piggybacker trailer.  Bought it in kit form and put it together.  It is a good entry level trailer
without breaking the wallet.  I think I paid around $550 plus $50 for shipping. Does the job, not the
best but not the worst.

Going to Sturgis this year, we passed a trailer manufacturer in Iowa that had a nice trailer. It had the
diamond plating. Can't think of the name, maybe RJ knows.  I looked at them online, if I remember right, around $1500.

There are several on ebay.  You can spend a small fortune on a trailer.

Popeye

[Ken Tarver]

escapade

[Jean the Black Wolf]

I got a Sylger desing and very happy and really like it



 

[R J]

Dave,

I had a Piggybacker trailer.  Bought it in kit form and put it together.  It is a good entry level trailer
without breaking the wallet.  I think I paid around $550 plus $50 for shipping. Does the job, not the
best but not the worst.

Going to Sturgis this year, we passed a trailer manufacturer in Iowa that had a nice trailer. It had the
diamond plating. Can't think of the name, maybe RJ knows.  I looked at them online, if I remember right, around $1500.

There are several on ebay.  You can spend a small fortune on a trailer.

Popeye

Same company as his bike hauler Aluma.

[R J]

Dave:

Your gas mileage will go to hell.
Keeping it balanced front to rear can be a pain in the arse.

Ya got a good toy hauler, use it..............

Don't worry about what the snot nosed brats say,

[solo1]

I told Dave the same thing,  RJ.  When we both showed up in St Iggy he started making excuses to me for trailering his Valk.  I got out of my Miata and told him not to worry. We both do it things differently for a reason.
We got absolutely no static from our friends, the Michigan Misguideds.

[Bob E.]

I built my own hitch using the following link:

http://www.gonzos-garage.com/bike/Valkyrie_Receiver_Hitch.htm

As you will see, there are a few dimensions missing, but I just made a foam posterboard template on the bike and figured it out.  It was pretty easy.  I took the foam templates to a local steel fab shop and they cut them out for me for about $120 or so, if I remember correctly.  The lower horizontal and front vertical (slanted) rails I added to support my home-made saddlebags that I was building as part of the project.  Then I spent some $$ on hardware to convert to a quick bag drop...that one fender rail bolt is an odd thread pitch and was very hard to find.  It's not chrome like the hitch-doc is, but since it is hidden behind the bags, I didn't care.  Here's a pic before it was painted.



As for trailers, I use a Kompac-Kamp that belongs to my dad.  It is a nice trailer...I think he paid around $1000 for it 12 years ago.  But there are such a wide variety that it really depends on how much you want to spend.  Like others stated, you can build a Harbor Freight trailer with a car-topper for a few hundred, or you can spend upwards of 5-6 thousand on a top of the line Bushtec or Tailwind.

[Cattman]

This would be the top of the line one.  http://tailwindtrailers.com/
Get a BBP or Hitch Doc hitch. Remember if taking a passenger you'll need at a minimum 13-17 CF for their stuff and 2-4 for yours. Always use soft duffle type luggage,hard sided are a pia. Look at some of your local  area manufatures as they may have a demo or floor model at a discount.

[Al in AK]

 I have a little over 20,000 miles on this one. Two round trip's on the ALCAN.
Tailwind with a hidden reicever Hitch Doc.
Look in the photo galery in the Tailwind site, Tom used two pictures of our bike and trailer.

[Sodbuster]

Get a BBP or Hitch Doc hitch.

Is anyone watching this thread using a Hitch Doc hitch with the hidden receiver and if so what height is the ball in relation to the axle ??

Here is what I've read to be the norm ........

"To be safe a trailer hitch on a bike must have the tow ball sitting at the same height of the axle or up to 2" above with the weight on the bike, never below the axle. Reason being is a trailer will always try to go in strait line, when leaning in a curve the trailer will try to bring the bike back up and that is easy corrected by forcing the bike to lean using your own weight, if the hitch is to low, the trailer will push under the bike axle and force the wheel to slide, not a good thing. "

[fudgie]

I have the reciever type hitch. I like it cause I can change from the ball hitch to pull the trailer to a hitch cargo rack. But yea, your looking into the 20's mpg wise pulling trailer. Haven't pulled mine yet this year and probly won't. The hitch rack served my purpose this year. You're looking at $250 or so for the hitch.
Trailer I got was Smoking Joes. I wanted something no so expensive since I have the occasion to be ruff with it. I can get alot of stuff in it. Like popeye said, the piggypacker was my 1st choice till I got Joes. Call up ol J Peebles. He's got a trailer maybe you can look at for ideas. Plus your a short jount to the trailer capital of the US. If not, there is a big trailer maker down here by me.
Unlike the others, I'll razz ya for trailering. 

[Sodbuster]

I have the reciever type hitch.

Is yours a "Hitch Doc" ??  Not sure where you got $250 but when I checked their website their talking close to $400 !!!!

Here's the trailer i picked up for $400 .... I think it's an old cyclemate.

[fudgie]

I have the reciever type hitch.

Is yours a "Hitch Doc" ??  Not sure where you got $250 but when I checked their website their talking close to $400 !!!!

Here's the trailer i picked up for $400 .... I think it's an old cyclemate.

Not a hitch doc or BBP hitch. Its something like MMD or very similar with the 'M' in the name. Got it from the classifieds 2 yrs ago for $250, slight use. He even thru in the reciever and wire harness. I see them all the time for about $250. Even chrome ones for $300. Mine came in 3 pcs. I did get new bolts this year cause the 'metric' ones were to small diameter for the hole so the hitch would tild downward from the slop in the hole.