shadetree

Thanx fridge, I wish I knew how to do drawings on here but I know a couple of people in abate who have camper trailers for bigger bikes, I'm just thinking of building a simple cargo rig out of my car top carrier.

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flitecontrol

The lightest trailer would probably be an in-line with a motorcycle tire. Not sure it would be easy to build.

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I'm keepin' all the left over parts. I'm gonna use 'em to build another bike!

2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
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Guba

Hey shadetree, I've been toying with this idea also. I have a 14' canoe that I'd like to take out. I haven't really had time to start tinkering with metal, but two of my attach points were gonna be where the passenger foot pegs are(were). I also was toying with the idea of electric brakes for jack knife prevention.

Most states will cite you if you have a passenger on without foot pegs, just something to keep in mind.

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Some days beer tastes good...other days beer tastes better!

'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles

shadetree

Towing a canoe would be wild to see going down the road. I made a trailer for a jon boat some years ago that I towed behind a mountain bike out of part of a hand truck and some wood that got peoples attention! This time though I have to make it to go down the road legally.

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shadetree

As for mounting it to the bike I was thinking of a wishbone shape 1x2 box tubing and U clamps aroung the swingarm and reliefs cut in for the axle ends.

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Blueberry

I have seen trailers on Vespas and Royal Enfields. There are hitches made just for that. What you are talking about doing under the conditions you described sounds to me like it will work. Google PAV trailers for info. It may give you some ideas on hitches.

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Ride Safe, Blueberry
1985 Honda 250 Rebel
1970 Honda SL 90
2008 Royal Enfield Electra 500

Guba

I think I understand what you have in mind. But if you cut a hole/relief for the axle, then you just made weakest place for possible future failure. I wouldn't cut away any of the frame anywhere on the trailer hitch. But maybe you could add a small piece to the hitch frame that has the relief cut in, I think that would be stronger.

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Some days beer tastes good...other days beer tastes better!

'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles

shadetree

Found all kinds of wild looking stuff at singlewheel.com . Ideas that I hadn't even considered for a hitch.

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cagie

consider some sort of shock system for the trailer if you re still thinking of going that route. A hard mounted trailer will bounce considerably adding to other problems you will encounter at speeds.

I have seen trailer hitches that come off the trailing end of the swingarm. That area tends to stay relatively more stable than fender or other frame points.

Just my thoughts here. I'm not sure a Rebel is the best platform for hauling a trailer to begin with. First you have some serious torque issues to deal with. Braking is another matter.

Saw a sidecar setup the other day on the interstate that I thought was pretty neat. Guy built a side car platform out of angle iron, couple of U bolts, heavy turnbuckles and an old motorcycle rear wheel/axle and shock. Had one of those narrow (Thule?) cartop carriers strapped to it. The way it looked, he could take the carrier off and have a flat platform to carry odd shaped long cargo on the plywood base. It looked pretty good. Wish I had taken a picture. I was enough inspiration for me to consider it as a winter project.

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Comments contained in my posts are not intended to cause physical or psychological stress and are mearly my two cents worth, and in this economy, that's cheap!
87 CMX250C 'the Pygmy Pony'
87 CMX450C 'Black Lithium'

shadetree

I think I'm going to start mocking something up this weekend and if possible, post pics of my contraption. I have a .7 cubic yard trailer for my lawnmower with no suspension that I am going to use as a test victim and run it around the neighborhood at 30 mph just to see what happens.

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