Bikes?

[regis101]

Ours is a TSC 4 x 8 1500lb trailer. It is made from 2 x 2 x 1/8" angle.

I'm hesitant to just add a receiver to the cross members. Seems kind of flimsy. The rear and the second cross members are about 20" apart. Then the axle is the next obstacle.

Adding more structural members is just going to add weight.

I'm now thinking of putting a piece of tube steel on top of the bare frame right down the center. This can be up to 8' long. I would then have to build a 2 x frame or at least some runners for the floor to raise the carcass.
This should be the cheapest and strongest way for this style of utility trailer.

[Conestoga]

regis, right on! i like what you're doing with the bikes



i've been working on how to secure two bikes inside without losing a lot of
space. not easy!


of course we have to pull out 4 bins and the bikes to sleep in there.
the bins are easy, it's the bikes that are most bothersome when
we're tired.

did you custom make those mounts for the front forks?
got a closeup picture?

[regis101]

That pic is from design "A". Notice that the rear wheels are at the outside walls. This is where they now set. The wood cleats are gone. Didn't need them. The black strap is velcro.

The fork mounts are Thule units. You can find them at most bike stores. ~$15/each.

The velcro straps hold down the bike most securely. I also let the rear slide a bit one way or the other depending on how I pack.

I loose some cu ft capacity up front with the bikes in there. I usually end up
filling the void with lighter items like chairs and such.

I would like a rear receiver added to the trailer to get the bikes out from the inside.

[Conestoga]

i did see the velcro for the rear wheels and assumed that was
your choice method. i'm glad to hear it works well.

have you tried packing them in with the handlebars at a right angle?

i'm considering a hitch rack too but i'm thinking it might be just
as bothersome, and more worrysome having them outside.

i have an idea to make the bikes slide in and out the rear
(mounted on rails or something) along with a grub box.

[regis101]

If the hitch on the tow vehicle could handle the weight of the four bikes plus the trailer, that would be the ticket. I try to keep my tongue weight at 120 lbs max. The four bikes weigh close to 120 lbs.

I've seen those double receivers at HF. The top could be 1 1/4 for a bike rack. The lower would be 2" for the trailer ball. This will place the trailer back a bit.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=99591

And yet there would have to be another extension to equal how far from the body that the bikes take up. Yikes. In my case the length of the bike rack arms are 26" so I'd need a 26" extension

[Cliffmeister2000]

I doubt seriously that a 26" extension would be safe. What do you have for a tow vehicle? Could you mount them on the roof?

Another option might be two on the roof, and two on the receiver adaptor.

[boxcar]

Mounting things to a teardrop in definatly one of my favorite things to do.(see pics.)
I looked at your trailor design and I agree with some of the earlyer posters. Mount them on the toungue. You may need to extend the toungue for tirning clearence. but the bikes will traval better on the front of the tear than on the rear. You won't have to wory about tail light visibility,Tail gaters bumping the bikes, or draging the bike rack on tight uphills like some driveways.

It may look like I am not fallowing my own advice here but I cary a 500lb atv on the back of my tear as well as a pontoon boat on the rack. and it goes into the woods behind my Jeep. Not the same thing.....Slide outs (reciever tubes) are a great idea . I utalized them in all aspects of this build. Even the toungue is a slide in. Allows for length and hight adjustments without modifying the tow rig. Good luck....Boxcar...

[dh]

Just a random thought, what about a reciever on the side so you could mount the bikes there? Maybe one on each side?

[Oasis Maker]

Just a random thought, what about a reciever on the side so you could mount the bikes there? Maybe one on each side?

It's great to mount and secure the bike at your campsite, and it gets it out of the way of the galley... but I don't think traveling with a bike mounted on the side would be safe or legal.

Scott G.

[dh]

How about one of those folding bikes?