How To: Make an economical trailer

[phantom]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/Intro/DSC03339emailReadytoRoll.jpg


I built the trailer from an Armor Rex kit sold by http://www.sportutilitytrailers.com/LongChih/745TC.htm

http://www.armorrex.com/upload/product//1/1190693050734_1.jpg



Over several months I added other features,

bolting on the "coffin" Seal-Tite tool chest from Truck Stuff USA , http://www.truckstuffusa.com/sealuttoolch.html

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/truckstuffusa_1978_799704



and mounting the fuel carrier using square pipe I sourced from a local scrap metal yard

http://www.trailerpals.citymax.com/catalog/item/4411288/4396211.htm

http://www.trailerpals.citymax.com/i//2_Mt_Fuel_Jug_Rack_1.jpg

[357Magnum]

moved from phantom's intro post

[SAK]

damn thats nice. i wish the one we had for laguna was economical. you got any pics of that richie

[357Magnum]

dude i cant believe we never took any pics of all the bikes on there. the only one I got is one of jerrys face suckin on the gas line while we were on the side of the road

[SAK]

ya me too

[357Magnum]

and I saw my dads new one this weekend..will work a lot better lol. 21ft enclosed..tie downs all over

[SAK]

nice we takin the rv again?

[357Magnum]

well c once it gets closer

[MAYO]

does the bmw pull that?

[357Magnum]

yup lol. he races both of them 2. haha

[phantom]

Yep :cool:

Fully loaded the trailer weighs about 1300lbs. The combination still hauls azz. Measured top speed in this configuration, 125mph indicated.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/DSC02349email3.jpg

Towing the trailer costs about 15% in fuel economy (21.3 MPG PHX-LA-PHX averaging 70 MPH). No biggie. Pulls steep inclines, no problem. Rock-solid handling on the street and highway, handles gusty crosswinds with aplomb. Neutral balance of the trailer minimizes tongue weight and stress on the hitch.

[Blue Devil]

very nice man, but if i were to do that i would start out with one of the harbor freight trailors as a base. My only problem is a need a trailor i can fold up like the harbor freight so i can store it. As for tools and that shit i got a pretty good setup between 3 storage containers in my jeep and two tool boxes.

Pretty cool though dude. those 10 or 12in wheels on the trailor?

[357Magnum]

12in wheels

[RICH22]

but he keeps em clean...

[phantom]

Yep, they are 12-inchers. I'm shopping for some dubs, 22-inchers, with spinners, though.

[357Magnum]

just a thought, but from that pic 6 posts up, would putting the bike in backwards put more of the engine weight directly on the axle? instead of having the engine weight forward of the axle, pushing down on the tongue

[phantom]

Ummm, I haven't completed a Finite Element Analysis yet to precisely locate the Center of Gravity (my Cray supercomputer crashed last week while downloading internet porn :) ), however,

The trailer loading and tongue weight are properly balanced with the bike loaded this way, even with a simply bare trailer with no tool chest / fuel carrier, etc.

Tongue weight is less than 75 pounds, I would say.

When I load up the tool chest I use the contents as ballast, arranging the denser items (hardware, tool boxes, hydraulic jack) toward the rear as necessary to keep the tongue weight light.

Check the pic below and note the balanced ride height front-to-rear of the car. Consider that in this pic the trunk is fully loaded with about 200lbs of gear (luggage, bike stands, helmets, leathers).

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg5/phntomf16/2005/RigLeftSideLow.jpg




Also, consider the aero loads on the fairing if mounting the bike backwards and towing at speed :(