Pulling a Trailer

Post by **towerworker** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:05 pm

Anyone ever pulled a small trailer with an R? And if so how did you mount a hitch to the bike?

Wayne

Post by **Biff's R** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:00 pm

Wayne,
There are a couple of people in my local club that have trailers. Some a re GS riders, but it is the ssame concept. will get you more info on Monday.

What do you consider a small trailer? 40'

Post by **towerworker** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:58 pm

Hi Jeff

Thanks for checking for me. I am looking at a small trailer (around 4'by 5' roughly. Harbor Freight has a small trailer kit for a reasonable price and I plan to put something on the order of a car top carrier on it. Carry camping gear and so on. Love to take the bike and go camping. I can carry what I need on the bike but then there's no room for the lady!
I need her to help keep warm at nite. Hence the need for a trailer!

I have the trailer thing I think pretty much figured out--it's the hitch mounting arrangement I would like to look into. Don't think mounting to the paralever is the thing to do but thinking of some arrangement mounted to the frame on either side of the bike below the seat. Anyway that's where I'm at. Thanks!

Wayne

johno · Post by **johno** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:08 am

Trailers are a big bussiness in Australia, and there are a few that make specific tow hitches to suit just about every bike.
Classic Industries is the main one-do a search as I dont have a web site.
I have towed with my 1150GS, and my 1150RT. With the right trailer, they tow very well.
The hitch usually mounts to the passenger peg mount, and a bar up under the rear of the frame to the pannier mount( I think that is correct)
Not at home to look.
Some use a 50mm car tow ball, some a swivell coupling.
You will need to keep your trailer weight in the 60-80 KG weight.
A few people use the roof pods as you talk about, and make a frame up to suit.
Can make a very enjoyable holliday.

thenewcamus · Post by **thenewcamus** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:14 am

Check out the Uni-Go trailers. I saw one last week at the MOA Rally and its a damn good lookin trailer. One wheel so it leans with you, streamlined look and they have hitch mounts specifically for the R.

http://www.schoolhousemcacc.com/index.php

Post by **sjbmw** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:42 pm

When I see guys stretching out in luxury at rallies, I get the trailer bug.

http://www.tailpullers.com has a lot of info.

It says a trailer should weigh no more than 40-50% of the bike's load capacity. R1150R is 992 lbs. Let's call it 900 for safety's sake.

I guess that would be about 400-450 lbs of trailering.
This camper is 275 lbs empty, figure another 75-100 lbs of 'stuff' and I'd bet the R1150R could pull it.

This is a hitch on a RT, think it would fit on the R? Anyone spot big differences?

R4R&R · Post by **R4R&R** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 12:57 pm

Check out http://www.openroadoutfitters.com - This dealer is near me and lives his life around motorcycles. Lots of good knowledge!

Post by **Boxer** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:12 pm

They had those small camper trailers at that Florida Rally I went to back in Jan.
The tongue weight is only 17 pounds. That thing is almost perfectly balanced in the axle when rolling.
I've had the same thoughts Wayne...about getting a small trailer. Let me know what you come up with. I'll check around here at my local club and see what the guys say.

Post by **sjbmw** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:31 pm

Here is a link detailing pulling the mini mate with a 67hp 1986 Moto Guzzi Cal II.
The R has got to have more umph than a 20 year old Guzzi...

http://www.mgnoc.com/article_choosing_a ... tails.html

Post by **Biff's R** » Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:27 pm

Wayne here is a place to start.

http://www.dauntlessmotors.com/hitch-pa ... itches.htm

Post by **towerworker** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:53 pm

Thanks guys----I appreciate all the ideas and good links.

I have access to a fabricating shop (sort of) our shop at work. Welder, steel handling tools and equipment and so on. My first project will be to fabricate a hitch assembly--those things are incredibly pricey for no more than what they are. Going to look at the small trailer from Harbor Freight and then come up with an appropriate box for the trailer. When I get it done I will post pictures and details.

I will admit I am cheap, tight, whatever you want to call it. Plus I enjoy trying to do this stuff myself as much as possible.

Thanks again!

Wayne

Post by **bransan** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:11 pm

Uni-Go was My choice. I had dreamed of a one wheel trailer for some time. Then I stumbled upon Uni-Go. I bought one in 2003 directly from the mfgr. in New Zealand. They have since sold the rights to someone else. I have logged over 20k mi on My Uni-Go, with bearing replacements around 8 to 10 k mi. Chris didn't have the exact hitch for the R1150R, but I was able to adapt an RT' hitch. Pulls very nice and holds a large tent, 2 sleeping bags, travelling bag,tool kit and what ever else You pick up on the road. My wife and I travel all over with the Uni-Go. Remember a 4 or 5 hundred pound trailer is going to throw You all over the place. Yes the bike has the power, but not enough weight to control a trailer that big. The Uni-Go weighs about 80# dry, and holds 150# of equipment. If I'm solo and have weight in the trailer it's noticeable. I have become so acustomed to riding with it I never take it off, unless I know I'm not going to need to haul anything. Hope that helps.