Trailer addition for travel with 2 scooters

[angib]

Lynn, you've someone else thinking about putting their motorcycle at the back! But I still think that the best plan would be to put them at the front, as I drew out some time ago (this is a one-bike version, but with the same 36" wide platform):



It's just so much less bother to have the bikes at the front and then they definitely won't be the cause of any swaying problems. With your size of truck, the extra hitch weight of putting both bikes at the front shouldn't be a problem - though you might decide you wanted air bags to level the truck off.

Andrew

[brian_bp]

Like Andrew, I think on the front would make it easier to manage the changing loads. This (a front load deck) is becoming a common configuration for tent trailers. Aerodynamically, it is a disaster, but maybe that doesn't matter. Also, the galley (I assume it has a rear galley?) would be accessible even without unloading the scooters.

I realize that I may be alone in this, but I don't understand the appeal of the Harbor Freight trailers. By the time radical modifications are done to accommodate the rear platform idea, it seems like buying the trailer just gets you a set of components, since there's no original structure left. On the other hand, the front (non-removable) platform could just be the front part of a longer stock trailer frame.

[brian_bp]

Another thought. What if i add an axle with wheels on the scooter platform so it is more like it's being towed as opposed to having weight on the end...

Yes, it exists. "Works" would be a generous description. If the wheels on this sort of rig don't turn, the whole trailer resists turning (like a car with the steering locked); if the wheels are casters, it's a big pendulum weight pulling your trailer around. I shudder every time someone mentions this scheme.... but it has occurred to lots of people, because there certainly is some logic to it.

Usually, this sort of rig (with caster wheels) is a small thing added to the back of an enormous RV, so they get away with it.

[lcurrie]

Wow. Even more great info!

Do you guys think it's possible to put a platform on the front for one scooter and a hitch platform on the back for the other without doing any mods to the trailer?

Would the extension of the toungue be for weight distribution or to add lengthen the tongue for a turning radius?

[madjack]

Wow. Even more great info!

#1Do you guys think it's possible to put a platform on the front for one scooter and a hitch platform on the back for the other without doing any mods to the trailer?

#2Would the extension of the toungue be for weight distribution or to add lengthen the tongue for a turning radius?

#1 ...you would still have to add the additional crossmember to counter the twisting stress we discussed earlier...

#2 ...essentially both but but primarily for the extra distance for turning....

...the following comment is not aimed at anyone or a knock on anyone...it is just a personal rant........

...personally , I would not use one of these types of trailers for anything but hauling trash to the dump or firewood/building materials home...primarily, that is all they were designed for...you pay in the neighborhood of 300 bucks for one and then haveta modify it...I just bought a #9 Torqflex and the steel for my new build(a 5x8) for 295 bucks, I realize I still have wheels/tires to add to this BUT I will end up with a trailer that is several magnitudes better that any HF or Red or TSC trailer...I further realize that not everyone has the same set of skills but once again I say that if you can cut and fit wood, you can cut and fit steel and even if you don't weld, don't have a friend with welding skills, you can still pickup the yellow pages and hire a weldor to come to your house, with his truck mounted rig to do the welding after you have done the fit up..

...once again, this not meant to knock anyone who has used one of these trailers...there are a kazillion wonderful little campers out there that have used one as a base...this is simply a personal thing with me...

Lynn, if you don't wanna do the mods to make the trailer properly useful(and safe), then just leave the scoots at home and go enjoy your camper in the great outdoors and I hope you will forgive me my little rant.....
madjack

[Podunkfla]

Lynn... I have to agree with Madjack. Modifying a HF trailer is just not worth the hassle? You can buy a better trailer for about the same money at Tractor Supply... And, it's already assembled and welded. You could have a local welder add a removable "tongue extension" with a cargo rack that could hold two bikes? In effect he would be creating a removable tongue (not a bad idea anyway) with a separate cargo extension you add in when you need it. It would use pins to attach just like receiver type hitches do. He would probably have to replace the original tongue with heavier grade tubing... but, it is quite doable and shouldn't cost a fortune. I wish I was closer to you... I'd be glad to build it for you.

PS: You just need to find a friend or neighbor who can weld? It's worth asking around... lotsa folks could fix you up.

[lcurrie]

Madjack and Brick,

No offense taken on the rants. We all get on this board to ask questions about things we don't know about from people who know a lot. For me, that's trailers so I appreciate the input.

For the time being, I probably wil leave things as is and just not plan to take the scooters with me. I'm working with a friend on this project and don't want to change things drastically because we've already come far enough that changing trailers might be a bit of an annoyance.

He's teaching me some advanced woodworking skills so maybe once we're done, i'll build #2 to keep from getting rusty!

[madjack]

...hey Lynn, that is why we build #1 and #2 and..............

[Kevin A]

Lynn,

Sounds like you need one of these,
http://www.racknroad.com/versa-haul-sin ... h-55.html#

[angib]

Sounds like you need one of these

No, I think she would need two of those - one out the back of the trailer to carry one scooter and then most of a second one welded underneath the trailer to provide the support for the receiver tube that the first one is sitting on.

An extension of each side rail (where all the strength of the trailer is) makes much more sense, would be lighter and would cost less.

But I think Lynn's idea is that somehow she can just fix these pieces together with a HF trailer and quickly/simply get a two-scooter-carrying trailer - in practice a lot of work is required to achieve this.

Andrew

[Arne]

how about adding a second axle on the back when you pull the scooters.. with a h/f trailer, it is only 2 or 3 bolts on each side...

put the tongue on the ground, slide the axle in and bolt it on.... and your set to go in about 15 minutes.

[alaska teardrop]

Lynn, One more idea. How about one scooter in front, the other on the rear and two identical axles placed as close together as possible at the correct balance point? This would also address the overall & tongue weight issues. It might be done by stretching the middle of HF trailer & adding the second axle or combining the front & rear halves of two trailers.

Fred

:peace:

Sunshine 42 below