 Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 51
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Does anyone have any experience of attaching a trailer / caravan on their TBA...? I have seen a lightweight teardrop shaped caravan designed for a trike, but I don't want a trike - I like my America just fine...! How do I mount a tow-bar on my Bonnie, and where can I get one? Thanks.
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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That's spooky! I was just looking at teadrop trailers before logging on here!! Not to tow behind the bike (though I suspect it would be easier behind my Rocket than my America!  ). Found these people a while ago before I got the Rocket. They do a few Triumphs but I guess a call to them wouldn't hurt. Also, these people do a specific one but are based in Australia . Didn't someone have a trailer at Dent? Search the old thread for the pic, I couldn't be arsed to go so I don't know who it was.
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Feb 2008
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why would ya wanna pull a trailer behind a bike. ive seen it at rallys and just cant understand it defeats the object of havin a motorcycle. dont like trikes either unless your disabled in some way. an dont get mi started on caravans  
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jun 2006
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PM Sandman I think his is set up to pull a trailer he could give you some advice
Beautiful Black, T Bike pipes cross pipe blocked 18 tooth.
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
why would ya wanna pull a trailer behind a bike. ive seen it
thats a easy one ..this way i can get all the gear there with out loading down my bike..and if were camping at a rally or bike meet..this is really the way to go.. i can bring tents, cooler,grill stuff like that and stay there very cheap and be very confortable..
Ed 
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,254
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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i believe it was SteveViking that had the trailer at Dent ,i thought it was pretty cool.in the summer months , you see a lot of bikes with trailers touring around BC,especially the Gwing crowd and their matching trailers .
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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A friend of mine tows one of these behind his Valkyrie: uni-go Says he can't even tell it's there Don't know if you can get them in the U.K. though.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Feb 2008
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its just not right man, not right at all. 
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Freedom hauls his SCUBA gear round, I believe.
If the need is there, go for it.
Each to their own.
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Quote:
its just not right man, not right at all.
Why isnt it right? Its a free country isnt it?
2003 Red and Black Speedy. What do I want to change on my bike next????
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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I can easily see using a trailer if doing anything past a few days. Saddlebags carry only so much; I'm sure there are some out there that can't stand wearing the same clothes over and over every 2 or 3 days. And like Ed said, one could save a ton by bring camping gear vice a hotel every night. Plus if one is going to camp for a few nights, once you're set up, disconnect and hit the roads.
2005 America, green/gray, gutted stock pipes, tall sissy bar w/ luggage rack, Saddleman's dual touring seat and Tourmaster saddlebags (and sissybar bag).
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 Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2006
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Quote:
A friend of mine tows one of these behind his Valkyrie:
uni-go
Says he can't even tell it's there
Don't know if you can get them in the U.K. though.
Twenty-three Hundred Bucks?!!! And another three hundred for the Hitch? #*&%!@#$**
Think I'll pass.
Steelheart- '03 Speedmaster Black/Yellow
The Hayabusa Killa
16" Shorties/140 mains/Airbox drilled
Procom CDI
"There is no cure for Celibacy. But we can treat the symptoms."
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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stevevkings trailer at Dent. [image]http://images5.fotopic.net/?iid=ytvpfn&outx=704&quality=70[/image] funkletrumpet, you may be interested in these. http://www.littleguy.co.uk/index.html
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,186 Likes: 55
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,186 Likes: 55 |
Quote:
Quote:
why would ya wanna pull a trailer behind a bike. ive seen it
thats a easy one ..this way i can get all the gear there with out loading down my bike..and if were camping at a rally or bike meet..this is really the way to go.. i can bring tents, cooler,grill stuff like that and stay there very cheap and be very confortable..
Ed
Wendy and I have been camping twice this summer so far on the bikes for almost a week each time. No trailer and we took a 4 room tent and double sleeping bag with 2 extra fleece bags. We had all our things wee needed, soap, towel shampoo, etc.... along with small lanterns , 50' extension cord, drop light, all the clothes we needed and a couple extra changes in case of wet weather all on our bikes. We had room to bring stuff we bought home too. We even had a soft sided cooler with us. We had a great time both places, would have been nice to have a trailer but neither one of us want the hitch hanging on our bikes when not in use. Not sure if the extra weight of the trailer is any better than just loading it all on the back of the bikes or not. Each of our bikes didn't have any more weight on it than if we had a passenger.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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hi dog..ok you had two bike so you had room and yes with out a rider on the bike you can do this.. but my wife ride's with me so we lose that space...and i can take the hitch off and on in a few min's.. and to be real honest you don't even feel the trailer behind the bike ... Ed
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,402 Likes: 7
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
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"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,402 Likes: 7
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,402 Likes: 7 |
Quote:
... would have been nice to have a trailer but neither one of us want the hitch hanging on our bikes when not in use ...
I'd say the convenience of having the trailer would outweigh having the hitch on the bike for the short time it was being used, namely on each trip.
Could always remove the hitch when you got back home - between camping trips.
Quote:
Not sure if the extra weight of the trailer is any better than just loading it all on the back of the bikes or not.
I had a VW camper and thought about trailering the America into Europe.
One VW 'specialist' asked the weight of the bike with trailer and said that the extra weight would be a drain on the already gutless 1600cc motor.
My thought was, well, I can push my bike but I can't lift it.
I couldn't get him to see that surely towing the bike isn't the same as lifting the bike ... ?!?! 
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,186 Likes: 55
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,186 Likes: 55 |
Quote:
hi dog..ok you had two bike so you had room and yes with out a rider on the bike you can do this..
but my wife ride's with me so we lose that space...and i can take the hitch off and on in a few min's.. and to be real honest you don't even feel the trailer behind the bike ...
Ed
Oh I agree that is a whole different scenario, with a passenger the only way would be a trailer but wouldn't that over tax our bikes? I wasn't knocking the use of a trailer just saying I wouldn't like the hitch on my bike so I don't. I actually like the idea I saw of taking the cheap light weight trailer frame from Harbor Freight and putting a light weight fiberglass car carrier on top of that for a light weight and cheap instant trailer. On top of that put an elastic cargo net inside the lid so when you close the lid it holds things in place.
cheap trailer
Could even make the "tub" detachable for use as either flat bed or tub type trailer. That's why in that wish thread I said a quick disconnect hitch would be cool.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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hi dog..the one i made it just like the one in that link.. i just go mine from nothern tool.. and i left mine a falt bed style and just used a coule of square tubs straped down to it.. so no it did not flow thought the air like i wanted to do put far as enough HP to pull it.. my bike did that no trouble at all... went down the road doing 80+ easy.. and i made my own hitch and i can take it off and put it back on in just about 3 mins .. ED
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Sep 2005
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Kinda funny I've been kicking this idea around for a while.Fact is about 2 weeks ago I picked up a Sears cartopper for $20.00,at a yard sale in nice shape just has 1 broken latch.No biggie.Thanks Ian for the links,and Ed I don't suppose you could share some details on the one you built i.e. measurments, attachment points etc?I'm okay with the actual fabrication but I would have a pro welder put it together,as I don't feel comfortable with my own skills in that area. Ride safe,Charlie.
Just an old Hippie and I don"t know what to do.
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Oct 2007
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I just want to buzz up and down the coast, stop for a couple of nights, use the caravan as a base from which to explore without carting round all the usual junk, and also to sleep in relative comfort. The 'Little Guy' looks just about right. The tow bar arrangement has to be quick release - unless it's dripping in chrome of course...!
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Jan 2007
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as for a tow hitch this is the 1 i made 
04 yellow&black Speedmaster+the Money Pit{xj jeep}
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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So the hitch is attached at the swing arm pivot?
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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perhaps this is what you refer to as a hitch 
04 yellow&black Speedmaster+the Money Pit{xj jeep}
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: May 2010
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Check Pants
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Check Pants
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I meant the bracket itself and the lower frame attachment as to where. It's location is hidden in the picture by the cast passenger foot peg brackets. The swingarm pivot point is a logical location to me, but I am no engineer. You obviously have a working system, so maybe we don't need no engineer.
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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I think Ed attached his to the lugs where the center stand would mount, I could be wrong.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Quote:
I think Ed attached his to the lugs where the center stand would mount, I could be wrong.
Well, that would work, would get the benefit of the front and rear suspension and that's as smooth as the bike gets.
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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If your interested in a trailer try this kompactkamptrailers.com . Pretty interesting and if I was thinking of hauling a trailer I sure would be looking at these 
ENJOY!!!!! NEWT!!!!!
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Re: Trailer / caravan...?
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
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Quote:
If your interested in a trailer try this kompactkamptrailers.com . Pretty interesting and if I was thinking of hauling a trailer I sure would be looking at these
Cool, Thanks.
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