Trailer project

[Gti20vturbo]

My trailer from HF is supposed to show up today. I know what I am doing this weekend. I will post up pics and progress as it occurs. :D Still have not decided on which car topper but there are many to pick from locally at $150 or less so it shouldn't be a problem. I found a hitch, its $300 shipped, more than I would like to pay but if that's what it cost then that's what it cost right?

[Gti20vturbo]

Well after looking at everything the first thing is the red paint on the HF trailer has to go. Why do they paint these things red? Trailer frames are supposed to be BLACK!

I removed the second leaf from the springs and set it a side. I also found the car topper I want to use and it will fit perfectly on the standard width trailer.

Now should I use a nice piece or marine grade plywood for the deck or the diamond plate aluminum? I will have to see what’s available locally. What I find crazy is the fact I will have less than $400 into this thing and trailers this size sell for $1300+ on many websites!

[Trekker]

If you can do it, I would recommend the aluminum plate. And consider mounting the top box backwards.... It may be a little more aerodynamic if the back of the trailer slopes down (like a teardrop trailer).

Manufacturers charge so much because they need a larger profit margin to make it worthwhile. It's not like they pump out 10's of thousands of these things every month, eh? Think about what your time is worth...

Looking forward to seeing your progress and finished product.

[Papa Bear]

I too am looking forward to your updates!
But!!!!:worthless



PB

[Gti20vturbo]

OK OK here are a couple of pics.

First one is what the bolts look like, the second is what the nuts look like. :D

[Mellow]

OK OK here are a couple of pics.

First one is what the bolts look like, the second is what the nuts look like. :D

oh Geesh... that's 4 seconds I'll never get back.

[AZ711]

oh Geesh... that's 4 seconds I'll never get back.

+1 on that!:doh1:
Nice nuts anyway!

[Mellow]

+1 on that!:doh1:
Nice nuts anyway!

And what do I do... look at it and think to myself.. you're gonna have to do some re painting...

[AZ711]

OK OK here are a couple of pics.

First one is what the bolts look like, the second is what the nuts look like. :D

Hey, thanks for showing us your nuts......or is that you're nuts?:eek:
Sorry, I couldn't resist.:D

[Mellow]

Hey, thanks for showing us your nuts......or is that you're nuts?:eek:
Sorry, I couldn't resist.:D

Dude.. you're screwed up man....

[txdon2006]

Here's a trailer I just finished. It might give you some ideas. Good Luck on your project.

[Gti20vturbo]

Thats a pretty sexy trailer you have there. Off to Home Depot today to buy some paint and diamond plate.

[azlife4me]

Here's a trailer I just finished. It might give you some ideas. Good Luck on your project.


Don,
A very nice job on your trailer.

[Gti20vturbo]

Lights ordered yesterday. No work on the trailer this weekend. I will be at Laguna Seca watching MotoGP. After this weekend though I project the project will be completed within 7 days. I will add real pics later. When I assembled the trailer as a test run I mounted the second cross member about 10"s forward in the second set of pre drilled holes. This will give me about 10 more inches of tongue. The only thing is I will have to drill two holes in the tongue but that’s ok, no biggy.

LED light kit
http://www.superbrightleds.com/trailer_lights.htm

[sennister]

So is this a trailer to tow behind your motorcycle or a trailer to tow your motorcycle?

Sorry the shot of the nuts and bolts didn't help me much... I don't know why?? :confused:

[Gti20vturbo]

Sorry since I posted under camping I assumed people would realize its a trailer for towing behind the bike for camping gear. Why would anyone ever tow a bike on a trailer? Thats just WRONG! :o:

[ligito]

Which Harbor Freight trailer is it?

[Capt_Gruuvy]

Tow a bike ?

That just doesn't compute.

[Tankereng]

Tow a bike ?

That just doesn't compute.

What if it's a Beemer? Makes it compute a little easier....LOL

[Gti20vturbo]

Which Harbor Freight trailer is it?

The 48" x 40" utility unit.

[SupraSabre]

Sorry since I posted under camping I assumed people would realize its a trailer for towing behind the bike for camping gear. Why would anyone ever tow a bike on a trailer? Thats just WRONG! :o:

Then consider me "Just Wrong" :D

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18670&d=1182188935

And BTW, that is a HF trailer! :tat1:

[nm6r]

Then consider me "Just Wrong" :D

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18670&d=1182188935

And BTW, that is a HF trailer! :tat1:


Bob, your ST looks so sad. :( Thinking about getting a HD?


I once rode with a guy that had his headlight modulator take out all of his lights. There we were in a parking lot taking his bike apart trying to figure out the problem. We told people he was thinking about buying a HD and just wanted to see what it would be like.

Ray

[SupraSabre]

Bob, your ST looks so sad. :( Thinking about getting a HD?


I once rode with a guy that had his headlight modulator take out all of his lights. There we were in a parking lot taking his bike apart trying to figure out the problem. We told people he was thinking about buying a HD and just wanted to see what it would be like.

Ray

Actually the bike was quite happy that it was able to go on the trip...otherwise it would have had to stay home. :(

We were heading up to Pine Grove for our annual ride around the gold country. :D

And as I have always said, if I have to trailer my bike somewheres, since the wife doesn't ride that often...then it will be trailered! :o:

[Gti20vturbo]

OKAY! Well I sold the Concours and the new owner should be picking it up this week so now I have room in the garage for an assembled trailer. In other words its time to get started. Yesterday I used a scotch brite pad and some solvent to wipe the trailer frame down and then used some Rustoleum Universal All Surface "red be gone" and removed the red paint which they obviously have a surplus of in China.

[Gti20vturbo]

Well I have myself a decent trailer frame now. :D One mod I did was mount the cross member in the red circle about 11 inches forward than the original location (red arrows). The holes are pre drilled so it an easy mod. This allows me to mount the tongue 11 inches further forward than normal to give me an increase in length. I have read this should help with stability? Anyway all I had to do was drill two holes in the tongue for the bolts on the front cross member and install the bolts. I will use the original holes in the tongue to mount the brackets for the cooler carrier. This week I will install the deck and the car topper as well as wire the lights.

[Gti20vturbo]

Well in thr great overpriced state of California the cheapest aluminum diamond plate I could find was $200. Call me cheap but a 1/2 piece of finished birch hardwood plywood for $25 seems to be just the ticket. I am currently applying layers of oil based gloss black to the plywood and will bolt it on tomorrow afternoon.

[TMUS2122]

I pulled one like the one you are building years ago behind a 85 goldwing, one thing the I found was to lower the tire pressure to about 15 or 20 lbs otherwise the bouncing was to much, roded real nice when I lowered the psi.. You will be way below the tire load rating. :D

[iride]

Might as well install some good LED lights and take the load off the Alt, on the ST.....
Mike

[Gti20vturbo]

Might as well install some good LED lights and take the load off the Alt, on the ST.....
Mike

Yeap I plan on it. They are sitting right here in the box waiting to be installed. :D

Thanks for the low PSI tip TMUS, I have that written in my notes but its good to hear so many people have better luck at 20 psi or less.

[UNTMatt]

oh Geesh... that's 4 seconds I'll never get back.

Well...it could be worse...at least he just posted pic's of the nuts and bolts on the trailer...:eek:

It's probably just me but that trailer looks really big...

[iride]

With the small 8 inch wheels that my shoeline trailer;. runs, The tire says Max load at 50 PSI,,, I run about 20 psi

Yeap I plan on it. They are sitting right here in the box waiting to be installed. :D

Thanks for the low PSI tip TMUS, I have that written in my notes but its good to hear so many people have better luck at 20 psi or less.

[Gti20vturbo]

I forgot to mention.....The next time I have the front wheel off the our Ninja 250 I will be taking measurements to I can have the axel turned down on the trailer to fit two Ninja 250 front rims and tires. That will be a winter project after Christmas unless I come across a smoking deal on two 250 front wheels before then. :)

Once this is done I will custom mount a pair of motorcycle fenders to the trailer as well as flipping the axle to be on top of the springs to lower it a touch. Oh and of course I will have to powdercoat the 250 wheels to match my ST wheels......

[Gti20vturbo]

It's probably just me but that trailer looks really big...

It will look very similar to these.


http://davedragon.rilysi.com/2007/11/motorcycle-trailer-project-rilysi.html

http://www.herberts.org/wayne/valk/trailer.htm

[ligito]

Bob, your ST looks so sad. :( Thinking about getting a HD?


I once rode with a guy that had his headlight modulator take out all of his lights. There we were in a parking lot taking his bike apart trying to figure out the problem. We told people he was thinking about buying a HD and just wanted to see what it would be like.

Ray

The picture is Ray passing to close to a paint booth with his Blue '04.:D

[UNTMatt]

It will look very similar to these.


http://davedragon.rilysi.com/2007/11/motorcycle-trailer-project-rilysi.html

http://www.herberts.org/wayne/valk/trailer.htm

Well, ain't that spiffy! Neat idea. :)

[Lowrider]

I'm going to follow these designs, but want to use a rubber torsion bar suspension. Anyone know of a light weight set-up? I found them in Northern Tool, but the smallest they have is a 1K lbs each side. Anybody know of some that are 250 lb each or there about?

Also, Is an extended mud flap on the bike necessary?

What is the max trailer load that an ST 1300 can reasonable pull/brake up and down hills using a normal coupler and still be very safe?? I need a max design weight to begin thinking here.

My plan is to build the trailer with everything that will be sprung weight, load it up with a reasonable load and balance the trailer with about a 20 pound tounge weight. Heavy stuff will be over the axle area with lighter things front and rear in the box. I will also include ice chest on tongue, ice and appropriate beverage weights too. I haven't seen one up close, but I think I will be using the X Cargo or one of the long Thule boxes. Thule seems to be a little long, but they are aerodynamic shaped. Either would have baffles and tie-downs to prevent/reduce load shift.