Trailer Hitch

[winston66]

 

Winston66
  Hi Every body,
 You might have seen in one of my previous posts that I am in the process of a trailer build,
 This was somewhere associated with one of Brocks  posts , My new Trailer
 this is a progress report.
 Everything is comming along quite well the job is about 90% done , but now I am a little stumped at trying to design and build a suitable 360 deg. rotational trailer hitch coupling.
 The kitset supplied hitch is a standard 750 Kg. 50 mm.  tow ball pressed steel, locking car type hitch, which just bolts onto the 75mm. U shaped draw bar.
 I guess that one option is to make a detachable reciever out of a 22mm. high tensile bolt and a couple of nuts that can screw into a reece type reciever in the tow bar attachment on the bike.
 If you can understand this clear as mud discription , you will have a better grasp of the situation than I have.
 So the crunch of the matter is , can I draw upon that deep pool of relevant knowledge that lurks out there in the glim with all of you  great People.
  Some ideas are needed please.
 I am sorry that I can not show anp pics, with this but the relevant knoledge does not reside in my head, and I will have to get one of the younger folk here to help me out later in doing this,
 I seem to have enough trouble just typing , and posting this sort of thing, but I cant help feeling a little pleased with myself , in tyhat I have managed to get this far in posting some stuff.
 If you have any thoughts , and or comments , lets hear them please.

 Cheers.
Winston66, Northampton.
 

[alans1100]

Hi Winston,

You need a rotating coupling on your trailer and they can be purchased.

I only know of this site so far as it was the only site that came up during a search for the towbar for my bike. Which is another point, you need the towbar to suit your bike.

http://www.classicind.com.au/Parts/  There's a menu on the left, select coupling

You can find the towbar there as well but you'll need to do a search for it from menu across top of page.

Another point, the towing point on the bike needs to be as close as possible to the rear wheel axle centre. Mines a little above so when I and partner are on the bike it's ok.

There's more info her so have a read of this http://ali-lite.com.au/2neville.htm



 

[winston66]

 

Winston66,

  Thanks Alans's 1100.
 That was a quick reply, you must be on days off and getting bored.

 That is good info.
 The ride came with a tow bar that was supplied by the previous owner , and this was one reason for me to consider getting a trailer. He said his estimate of towing use would be somewhere between 15 and 20.000 kilometers,
 so I figure that the tow bar has been well tested.

 The commercial hitches that I have seen listed from various suppliers seem to price out generaly at around the $250.00 mark.
 I would prefer not to go that way.
 I like to make things, and I feel that with my limited financial resorces that extra few bucks could purchase a nice quantity of fuel for the beast.

 Thanks again for the heads up and your interest.

Cheers  Winston66, Northampton

 

[alans1100]

Days off,,,,,,,,,had a quite a few since end of Oct 2010 when I moved back from Karratha to SA. Also a lot of my bike related searches are kept in my favourites folder just in case.

Bear with me, I have a 20 year old classic trailer with an older style rotating coupling and I'll see if I can get some good pics for you to look at. I have to hook up the trailer later this arvo for a shopping trip tomorrow (140km one way) so I'll get some pics and post sometime this evening.

[Brock]

Winston,

My trailer wont have the rotating hitch, and I dont think it will need it. ( there is also a question as to the legality of same). If needed, I will work out a way to manufacture /modify some thing.

Try your trailer behind the bike without the swivel, and see how it goes, you would have to lean a long way I think before running out of travel, and by then you may even be going sideways

By the way, the pressed steel hitch fits a 50 x 50mm bar, or at least mine does.

[winston66]

 
 Winston66

  Hi Brock,
 Thanks for your interest.
 The only reason that I am contemplating a rotating hitch is that inetivably at some time the scoot might just happen to fall off its side stand.
 Now as you know , there is that Murphys law that says that it wiil happen.
 Then I think that the tow bar will be seriously buggered and as most likley I will be miles from somewhere or perhaps just the other side of nowhere
 Then I will be thinking why did not take the trouble to do it properley. You will know of the + 10% rule.
 Thanks for your suggestions,
by the way the trailer hitch that I have is a neat fit over the supplied 65mm wide kit set supplied draw bar.
 Thanks again.
Cheers,
Winston66, Northampton

 

[alans1100]

I'm posting these solely so you can see what they did twenty years ago for the coupling on my trailer.

Todays couplings look a lot better and are made to ADR standards. I also did a search on a few Aussie trailer makers and they all fit ADR approved rotating (swivel) couplings for towing behind a bike.

Normal upright position.



Rotated 180 degrees



The swivel point under the flat plate with the grease nipple in first picture.



Back then they used a threaded rod and tube. Today's couplings use the same principle but no thread. The coupling is rated for 1 tonne and the trailer load capacity is 200kg.

Your reasons for your coupling choice are good and regardless, if you need one or not, prevention is better than cure.

[winston66]

 

Winston 66,

 Thanks allans 1100.

 Those pictures were most informative and gave me a lot to think about.
  Attached to this I hope is my initial effort at a protype of a swivell type hitch.

I road tested it this morning and it was most satisfactoy.
So now I will set about making a n upgraded version using some better components and dersign and construction methods.

Cheers ,
Winston66

 

[johnnyYTED]

 
Winston another place for motorcycle swivel hitch is
AMZ Welding
1/57 Aldridge Street, Maryborough QLD 4650
(07) 4121 0755