ST1100 Trailer Hitch?

[DaveM]

I was thinking of getting this one ......http://www.schoolhousemcacc.com/index.php/cPath/2_9?osCsid=af4c3b3583d71d00e3d0f2b21d3ea3a3

 

[rjs987]

Here's another place http://hitchusa.com/
Same cost as many others.
I would prefer a hitch that attaches at the front mount for the aluminum plate where the pivot for the center stand is rather than the aft muffler mount. That rear location has a lot of motion by itself. But I may not ever find, or be able to make such a hitch.

 

[vinny]

I know someone with a hitch on a 2001 ST1100. Says he doesn't need it and would possibly sell it. Pm me with your phone number and I will get you hooked up.

 

[rjs987]

Didn't say I wouldn't use a hitch attached only at the muffler bolts. It's just that I can move the rear end of the aluminum frame at those points more than I think is ideal.
As long as the forces are just pulling in a straight line it's more than fine, but if there is any sideways force there would end up some wiggle farther back at the trailer. Just something to be aware of.

 

[Gene]

Since there are lots of folks using the muffler mount hitches without complaint or fear maybe it isn't a area for concern ?

 

[Gene]

Couldn't find one listed for the 1100 at Hitch Usa ? but they do have them for the 2003 +2004

 

[sirepair]

With my one-wheeled trailer attached, I do feel some lateral movement in the footpegs from time to time. I don't think it is anything to worry about as the footpeg plates are rubber mounted. May want to inspect the mounts and plates from time to time.

 

[rjs987]

Go here
Then scroll down the page to the middle of the 1100 group.

 

[rjs987]

Found another source for a DenRay hitch at Total Marketing Concept. Cost is a whole dollar lower than Custom Cruiser Chrome. Same hitch. The bigger difference is TMC is located just outside Chicago so shipping is lower than getting from CCC in Canada, and shipping time is a bit less for me since they are just the next state over. May have to go that way. Considered getting an available Bushtec hitch but the pin is welded on and Bushtec doesn't have a ball adapter for the ST1100 version.

 

[rjs987]

I won't so I just ordered one from there tonight. Not sure they have it in the store there but may be drop shipping from Canada anyway. Expecting it here in 7-10 days per their web site.

 

[rjs987]

Dont remember the suburb. Go to the link i put in my post, its on the web site contact page.

 

[rjs987]

The store near Chicago is in Mokena, IL.
They do not have any hitches in stock for the ST1100 so the do have to have it shipped from Canada. I have to take back what i said about less shipping time for that reason. I ordered mine last Friday afternoon and the eta was just changed from arriving this Friday to arriving next Monday! I suppose that will be ok since i will not be to install it for a week or two anyway.

 

[vinny]

Bob, I take it from this thread, you and Ethan could not work it out with his hitch?

 

[rjs987]

I would have loved to buy Ethan's hitch but it is the wrong kind for what i need to pull. Ethan has a Bushtec hitch for the ST1100. It has a welded on pin instead of a ball. I corresponded with Bushtec about it and they do not have a ball adapter for that hitch. I did fond out that it is rated to pull all their trailers, which can have a gvwr of 350 lbs. So any trailer that can be designed to fit the pin coupler within that weight will work. I need a ball coupler.

 

[vinny]

Hope you find the one you are looking for. Keep us posted and lets see some pictures when you get it installed. If the wife was more comfortable on the ST, I would entertain the idea of putting a hitch on it for two up long distance travel. Looks like we will be looking at a Goldwing sometime in the near future.

 

[rjs987]

Got a new DenRay hitch but found that the muffler bolts don't look to be long enough to mount both the hitch and muffler. Removed one side and tried the hitch mounting there but looks like I need to get longer bolts, by about 5 mm at least. The factory mount bolts are 50 mm long and have 1-2 threads showing (maybe 2 mm). The hitch mounting there is a firm 5 mm thick. I was thinking of just leaving off the 3 mm washer but that is really needed to keep the rubber insert for the muffler mount from pulling through. The instructions that came with the hitch says to "Take off the rubber shim to install aluminum braces, put them back after installation." What rubber shim?

Any one else with the DenRay hitch needed longer bolts?

 

[Bigmak96]

Any one else with the DenRay hitch needed longer bolts?

Yes Bob, I had to swap mine out too.
Where are you going to mont your vertical hanger from? I need to do mine better this year since I'm going with a single wheel.

 

[rjs987]

I decided to stick with the location indicated by DenRay for now with one modification. The instructions that came with are not entirely clear on this. They say to mount the hangers inside the saddlebag slider frame but the boss where the hanger has to go is recessed into the back of the slider frame. I noticed there is close to 1/4" space between the rubber insert and the metal spacer on the outside of the frame at that bolt so I plan to mount the hangers on the outside of the saddlebag slider frame in that space. There should be still enough play in slider frame as is needed. The factory hangers are not long enough to go to any other bolt up in there.
I also found that by just removing the phillips head screw at the bottom-back of the plastic cover and removing the flip down plate (for when the saddlebags are not on) I can then pull out a little on the plastic cover and get a socket wrench on that bolt without removing any other stuff. If I wanted to put in a heavier hanger I would make it a few inches longer and thicker as well and run it up inside the storage area under the seat and mount to one of the bolts for the hand grip bracket there.

If you are thinking of using a mono wheel trailer with this hitch I would highly recommend that you add another bar from the front bolt on the aluminum plate under the driver foot peg and run that back to securely mount to the main hoop somewhere, following under the exhaust. This is similar to what the Bushtec (corrected) hitch does (mount to both muffler mounting bolt and the bolt under the driver foot peg).

I will try to get some photos when I get back to installing the hitch. I did get longer bolts at True Value for the muffler mount. The factory bolts are m-8 50mm X 8mm hex head. The bolts I got to replace those are m-8 60mm X 8mm stainless socket button head. Couldn't find any hex head bolts long enough.

 

[Bigmak96]

Thanks Bob, I will add those bars, that sounds good. As far as hangers go, I think I will be going up to the grab rail bolts.

 

[Larry Fine]

RI have what turned out to be a Denray on my 1100. My question is: Where to mount the lighting socket?

I went with these 5-pin connectors, and I also have a mounting bracket if I need it: