A hitch idea that will most likely be voted down.

[John Schmidt]

First, keep in mind I'm not talking about pulling a camping trailer of a hundreds pounds, or a two wheeler weighing nearly 200 lbs. empty and will carry up to 400-500 lbs. A light weight camper will weigh in at about 360 empty with matching load capacity. The bigger units even more.

What I'm proposing will be for a one-wheel trailer that will have an empty weight of near 60 lbs. plus/minus a bit with a capacity of about the same amount. Total towing weight would be maybe 120 lbs., again +/- some. With a load that light, considering how solid the saddlebag mount is fastened to the frame, why can't a person fabricate a small hitch that attaches to the bag mount? Attach at the bottom of  the large diameter vertical bar that goes to the front fender bolt and have it go back to where a reciever plate would normally be. Then for vertical support have a flat strap go up to the rear fender bolt. Maybe I'm oversimplifying it, sure seems like it would work for a light weight application. I figure there will be a lot of naysayers on this, just understand I'm working the gray(grey?) matter at this point. If you saw how slight the hitch is for a Uni-go that attaches to the fender bolts as usual, you'd take a more serious look.

[DDT (12)]

John,

Self-discipline! Some have it, most don't! I'm sure you are one of the very few who could actually resist the unavoidable urge to keep adding stuff, and weight, to whatever you finally decide to attach to your rear-end.

That old axiom of motorcycling and space comes quickly to mind... "Whatever space is available will be filled to capacity in short order!" And, the slippery slope of rationalization most of us stumble down sooner rather than later goes something like this... "One more little thing won't hurt... Heck it doesn't weigh very much anyway, and..."

Used exactly and scrupulously precisely as you've described would probably work... Exceeding that even a little would in time, I'm afraid, reacquaint you with the law of unintended consequences! In the end you should do whatever you think will work best for your needs... I wish you well!

DDT

[mark81]

Most of the hitches I’ve seen on the European bikes have a similar design to what you are describing.   http://www.customcruiserchrome.com/valkyrie   Check this design out and see if you get and inspiration on how to accomplish you idea

[Bigwolf]

John,
That could work, but a lot depends on how sturdy the “flat strap” and other attaching parts are.  Keep in mind that a single wheel trailer throws a torsional load on the hitch and that load is increased by the gyroscopic action of the wheels when turning.  Two wheeled trailers don’t transfer a torsional load to the hitch unless your bank angle over runs the hitch capability.

I fabricated a similar setup for my bike.  However, my hitch is the saddle bag bracket.  I do not have OEM saddlebag hardware.  I used 1x1 tubing attached to the passenger foot peg/exhaust hanger bracket and welded to a plate under the back of the rear fender.  For vertical support, I used 1x1 tubing from the rear fender bolt to the lower 1x1 at the plate.  I welded a short piece of 1/4 x 1 on the ends of the 1x1 tubes to close up the ends of the tubing and make attachment points.  I cut the ends of the tubing on an angle so it looks clean and neat rather than just utilitarian.

I pull a large and somewhat heavy trailer with this setup.  The tongue weight on my trailer is right at 75 lbs when loaded.


Bigwolf

[John Schmidt]

Bruce, right on target my friend.  When I see hitches used by smaller bikes to pull a one-wheeler, the attachment points are rather frail looking. For many, it's nothing more than a bolt the size of my finger stuck in the rear axle which is already smaller than the bag mount tubing. Still mulling it over but my muller is getting more sluggish as of late.    Probably lack of sleep.