Motorcycle Trailers, What should you look for?

[Streak]

Howdy All,
                Just pondering a motorcycle Trailer, nothing massive, just something to carry gear with 2UP work and take the pressure of the panniers and the like.

Suggestions on what to look for? We dont want one with every bell and whistle, something practical and easy to tow, that can take smaller camping gear and stuff

Our first thoughts are something like the below, minus the stickers

[bloodbikes]

I had the same thought but was pondering on a more luxurious setup, namely a teardrop style of camper, I had seen several different styles and some tailored specifically for motorcycles.

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://aussieusedcaravans.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/-136351810970065871.jpg&imgrefurl=http://aussieusedcaravans.com.au/ads/k-pod-teardrop-caravan-2/&h=300&w=400&sz=15&tbnid=B-KKwHZyBZj_yM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=120&zoom=1&usg=__LZbSHPQOgUyoRqFzqLntMma_epw=&docid=wFH4TiE8e9dj9M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ISjtUYz4DsqTiQf--YCIBQ&ved=0CDAQ9QEwAQ&dur=10158

 

[alans1100]

One here as well

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/gympie/campervan/camper-trailer-for-motorbike-or-small-car/1021516982

[StinkyPete]

Based upon Streak's simple requirements, characteristics would include....

Small, light & low
Lid to double as a table
Waterproof
Simple box style
Internal 12v Power outlets for charging stuff
Sufficient storage for small tent, bedding, chairs and a bit of tucker
Tie down points on the top of the lid
No esky mount required

If it's possible to buy a new 6x4 to tow behind a car for around $1,000, why can't we buy a small enclosed aluminium box on wheels to tow behind a bike for the same money or less, instead of needing to pay up to $4,000?

[STeveo]

I would be looking for something with at least 13" car type wheels, why do they all have silly little wheel barrow wheels on them? I followed a BMTroubleU with a trailer with the small wheels on Sunday and every bump or pothole that it hit (we have a few around here) the wheels were bouncing in the air, some times as much as 6" or more. The small wheels also make it harder to pull (why do you think bicycles and horse carts have big diameter wheels) as they have to spin at twice or more of the bike wheels for the same distance and speed. Also the bearings take a beating as well. I know that there are lots of trailers travelling across the country with these little wheels and they work ok, but if you are going to tow one why not get the best you can and not handicap your self with little fat wheels. My 2c.

 

[Turtle]

You can buy one like mine new for around $500 without pod just add on top what you like



My mate here in Perth still has his classic industries trailer for sale $1700 just have to come over and pick it up streak nice long run



Turtle

[Yorkie]

Or you could take it over if he covers expenses, I would accompany you.

[WendyL]

I have a blue shadow trailer. Tows like a dream. Back in the old days of open speed limits I towed it at up to 160km/h and hardly knew it was there. I'd be willing to let it go for around $1500 (with towbar). I'll send you a pic later if you're interested :)

[Yorkie]

That would require Turtle and I to go via Darwin, I guess if it has to be done then so be it.

[Williamson]

I bought a 1993 model Classic trailer from a Ulysses colleague, who bought it new, around four years ago.  Although was 16 years old, it was well looked after and in very good nick.

Mrs W and I travelled over 20,000km with the trailer behind the Mighty CB1300 and the trailer full of gear.  Freeway, highways, back road, gravel roads and tracks - the CB and trailer handled it all. 



The trailer weighed in at 100kg, with camping gear (tent, mattress, chairs, table, gazebo, etc....) and supplies for four days in the bush, the CB was pulling over 200kg.



Braking, down hill on gravel roads was a skill learned quickly.

The camp set-up was something like this.



We've now upgraded to an Elite camper trailer.



Only one trip so far.  This is a bit heavier at 165kg and was / is a bit much for the CB, hence the ST1300.

[ST2UP]

Williamson, your first pic.....Old Glen Innes to Grafton Rd near Dalmorton ???

[Williamson]

Williamson, your first pic.....Old Glen Innes to Grafton Rd near Dalmorton ???

Yep.  The Mighty CB wasn't so mighty on the trip to and fro Grafton.  Much of the gravel was very rough and slow, 1st or 2nd gear, engine getting very hot, 9.5litres/100km that day.

The tunnel is listed on some websites as 'convict built', but that is disputed.  We met an old truckie the next day at a servo in South Grafton, he told us that he use to drive a loaded timber jinker through the tunnel.  Not much clearance I'd say.

Here's another or two:



If you have not been there, it's (IMHO) worth the detour, as long as some rough gravel is not a concern.

 

[ST2UP]

Yep that right.....called the Convict tunnel but not the case, we did/do some camping and Bass fishing in that part of the world.....only 150 k's from home


 

[alans1100]

Mine is a Classic as well. Paid $1000 for it 2 years ago. Not sure of its exact age but at least 22 years old.

PortPirieFishingtrip15thSeptember2011 by Alan, on Flickr

Saw this yesterday in the shopping centre at Port Pirie. Suzy 650 scooter and trailer. Handy idea with the mirrors folding in as well.

2013-08-01Suzuki650ScooterPortPirieShoppingCentre by Alan, on Flickr

[Williamson]

..... Paid $1000 for it 2 years ago.

A bargain.  I got $1,200 when I sold my 20 yo trailer.

It looks like it's been looked after, and makes a handy helmet rack too!

Behind a Burgman, I hope it's is a bit lighter than mine.

[alans1100]

A bargain.  I got $1,200 when I sold my 20 yo trailer.

It looks like it's been looked after, and makes a handy helmet rack too!

I rang Classic Industries a few days after I bought it as the trailer used to sway above 80kph. I confirmed the tyre pressures were supposed to be 12-15 psi and I was advised not to grease the tow coupling. In the end I put it down to being empty and a side wind but the tyres were up around 25 psi and it's been ok since I dropped the pressures back.. Oh, they reckon if I paid more than $500 then I was being ripped off.

Looked after..yes.......layer of carpet (just replaced) over the OEM one. Replaced interior light globe. One tail light lens cracked, one clearance light broken (surprised to see them) so replaced all with LEDs.

Handy place to put the helmets, can leave them there and move the bike after I fill it but I'm thinking of mounting a solar panel there in the future.

 

[royst1100]

great idea. just make sure you pack properly



small ones are good as they still take heaps of gear. this is when we went to wagga wagga last year. lots off useless stuff but needed weight. set up properly you don't know its there except maybe fuel usage

[Brock]

used to sway above 80kph

Trailer probably needed a little more weight over the towball. if the weight is to far to the rear, the trailer will sway

[royst1100]

10% i think of overall weight  on towbar. i carry a set of scales with me (fish scales work well and don't take up room). last trip first had to much air pressure (also a must have right) for a short distance, then to much weight on towbar. overall weight is also to a large degree is limited as i think max weight on the towbar is 10 -15 kilograms a balancing act that's not really to hard to figure out. just take time an practice if possible

[Sicman]

Here is my setup. Got it for $5K. Gotta love a comfy bed on the road  1st 6 photos were taken by the bloke we bought it off. It will sit on 110km/hr all day with no worries  (I only do 100kms/hr in NSW though cause they have a rule if your towing anything you can only do 100km/hr even if the speed is posted higher  )






 

[Malcolm6112]

Two words. Be Careful.

Yes I own a trailer, a Alulite. Do I over load it? NO WAY.

Saw a guy at the Border on Saturday. He had a BMW 1200 with a camper trailer, 13" wheels and it even had brakes.
Picture this. So he was 2 up, with a fully laden trailer. It would have had to have been at least 500kgs.
He then wondered why his rear tyre delaminated. 3000kms old.
Stuck at the Border village with a sus tyre and having to get to Kalgoolie with a trailer, girlfriend and bike.

Trailers on bikes are great, but they are not a trailer designed for a lot of weight.

 

[Sicman]

There must have been a reason for that. I got 13K off 1st set of tyres even with towing the trailer. Its not overloaded by any means

[HOFFY]

I saw a bloke going across the nulla from WA to SA towing half a boat trailer

The trailer normally folded in half to allow a small dinghy to be winched onto it so he just disconnected the front half of the main draw bar and put the tow hook on the middle section so he could connect to the bike.

He then bolted one of those fibreglass pods that look like a coffin bought from Repco or Supercheap for $300 to the draw bar, run a power cord to it and stored all his gear inside out of the wind and rain and secure from outside eyes.. Mini tyres (10inch) total cost $600.

The pod was just under two metres long so if the weather got too bad and he didn't want to set up a tent, he could sleep inside the pod. bit crowded but he was only a short bloke.

Just a thought.

Regards

HOFFY.

[Williamson]

..... tyre pressures were supposed to be 12-15 psi ..... they reckon if I paid more than $500 then I was being ripped off.

The guy I bought my Classic from said the same thing.  I tired combinations of weight on towball and tyre pressures, and came to the same conclusion as you - 12 psi.

Trailer probably needed a little more weight over the towball. if the weight is to far to the rear, the trailer will sway

I had 25kg on the towball, could not stop the swaying unitil I dropped the psi.

I'm not saying what's right or wrong, only saying what worked for me.

Here is my setup ...... Gotta love a comfy bed on the road......

Noice

Here's mine (an earlier Elite than yours):


Supposedly a bit lighter.  Same comfy bed though - Mrs W agrees. 

There must have been a reason for that. I got 13K off 1st set of tyres even with towing the trailer. Its not overloaded by any means

Might have been the extra weight, might not have been - probably never know.

I figured that the CB1300 was pulling over 600kg (bike with loaded top box and bags 260kg, trailer 100kg, trailer load 100kg, Mrs W and me 150kg) touring around East Gippsland, Canberra, Yass and back home without tyre problems.  The 80km trip from Yass to Micalong Creek in those days included around 20km of gravel road, still no problems. 

The Yass to Micalong included some extras like a couple of slabs of beer and bags of ice - you get a lot of new mates when you have a trailer - like, "Can you carry this, or that for me into the camp site?"

Rear tyre wear?  Worst 10,000km, best 15,000km (Avon Storm  ).

 

[Sabie]

There must have been a reason for that.

3 reasons Tony, B. M. & W.