Trailer trash - towing behind a Fazer

[Dead Eye]

Where has this new "nemesis" name sprouted from? You'll always be merv the swerve :P

[ChristoT]

Mickey is known as chatty man at work; I am his nemesis for being as / even more verbose!

[noggythenog]

Cristo T

[Hedgetrimmer]

The Trailer Sailor

[red98]

i like a good project..........but............i think you might be overloading your trusty fazer,the weight of the tow hitch and bracket,trailer,luggage and you  .......i think you need to do the maths.i also do a lot of towing and know only to well the effect of extra weight on the towing vechicle 

[ChristoT]

Noggy - LOL! Although I don't fancy having my balls near that bar in an emergency brake!! 

Red - the tow hitch and trailer are replacing my panniers, make my life easier and comfier. So the load is only slightly increased, as drag. Although I haven't pulled it yet, the chap who towed it behind his bike from Basignstoke said it was nicer to tow, and lighter than his own one! In other words: a keeper.

As for weight, the trailer will be taking some of the load through its own axle. It might even work out lighter on the suspension this way!!

[ChristoT]

I decided to take pity on Nick and Fizzy's curiosity. 

That's just a mock up, a few things need changing - and a towbar needs fitting! 

It's galvanised steel - but lousy galvanising, has a few rust spots. Quite light, I'd say 40 / 50kg dry weight. The suspension is a transverse leaf spring. Lid is hinged, and has that handy grab rail allows ample bungieing space! 

Details Trailer!

Trailer!

The trailer needs a few mods:
- Lid needs spinning through 180 degrees
- Trailer needs painting black
- Shorter tow bar (hitch to trailer body)
- Wiring re-routing

And a few various cosmetic touches! 

[red98]

iam still not convinced CHRISTO.....i do hope it works out ok but looking at your picture,the trailer makes the fazer look small  ......how much does the trailer weigh on its own ?

[Hedgetrimmer]

Don't forget the "long vehicle" stickers for the back! 

[ChristoT]

iam still not convinced CHRISTO.....i do hope it works out ok but looking at your picture,the trailer makes the fazer look small  ......how much does the trailer weigh on its own ?

See above. 40kg / 50kg dry weight. Not 100% sure, I just know Tony found it much lighter than his own 60kg one.

I'll be better without the mile and a half of metal bar between the bike and the body. And the red makes it look bigger than it is! The trailer is 1m wide (max permissible), and the body is about 1.3m long, by a max of 40/50cms deep (I'm guessing).

[noggythenog]

Give it a try but make sure youve got breakdown cover.


Ive towed my bike back & forth to scotland a couple times now & even with a purpose built trailer ive had some teething problems, last time i got to scotland with my trailer tyres almost down to canvas in the middle which turned out be wheel alignment due to wheel to axle being bolted on only slightly out of line.plus i focced up my fairing with the ratchet straps oops ,but you dont know til you try do you.


I always carry a trolley jack in the boot plus a spare trailer wheel but you dont have the luxury of having a car to put such luxuries in.


End o the day its a fairly simple concept,if you can pull a cart with a horse then sure as foc you can do it with a bike & trailer but all id say is you'll be cought up in the technicalities but remember to have good tyres,bearings,well greased & a good contingency in place & get lots o pics up along the way.

[ChristoT]

Give it a try but make sure youve got breakdown cover.


Ive towed my bike back & forth to scotland a couple times now & even with a purpose built trailer ive had some teething problems, last time i got to scotland with my trailer tyres almost down to canvas in the middle which turned out be wheel alignment due to wheel to axle being bolted on only slightly out of line.plus i focced up my fairing with the ratchet straps oops ,but you dont know til you try do you.


I always carry a trolley jack in the boot plus a spare trailer wheel but you dont have the luxury of having a car to put such luxuries in.


End o the day its a fairly simple concept,if you can pull a cart with a horse then sure as foc you can do it with a bike & trailer but all id say is you'll be cought up in the technicalities but remember to have good tyres,bearings,well greased & a good contingency in place & get lots o pics up along the way.

Not worth getting a year of breakdown cover for only a month of use! As for a boot, I have the trailer for that!

The trailer will get plenty of road testing before I take it to France via Holland - a slow trip of 1000 miles. Regular tyre / fastening checks all along the way, of course!!

Contingency plan = having phone numbers of friends along my route!! 

[noggythenog]

Give it a try but make sure youve got breakdown cover.


Ive towed my bike back & forth to scotland a couple times now & even with a purpose built trailer ive had some teething problems, last time i got to scotland with my trailer tyres almost down to canvas in the middle which turned out be wheel alignment due to wheel to axle being bolted on only slightly out of line.plus i focced up my fairing with the ratchet straps oops ,but you dont know til you try do you.


I always carry a trolley jack in the boot plus a spare trailer wheel but you dont have the luxury of having a car to put such luxuries in.


End o the day its a fairly simple concept,if you can pull a cart with a horse then sure as foc you can do it with a bike & trailer but all id say is you'll be cought up in the technicalities but remember to have good tyres,bearings,well greased & a good contingency in place & get lots o pics up along the way.

Not worth getting a year of breakdown cover for only a month of use! As for a boot, I have the trailer for that!

The trailer will get plenty of road testing before I take it to France via Holland - a slow trip of 1000 miles. Regular tyre / fastening checks all along the way, of course!!

Contingency plan = having phone numbers of friends along my route!! 

The lord says he's pretty sure im ok..........but your Focced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[His Dudeness]

I admire your madness but could you not just bring less stuff?

[fireblake]

Go for it young Padawan.
I have a mate who can get you some discount to join the caravan club if you want?   


Mickey the chatty man.

[ChristoT]

Got the rig finished tonight!

Just need to wire it in, and I'm good to go! 

Details Tow hitch

Tow hitch

[Exupnut]

Good job christo. It shud (but probably wont) improve your cornering ;-)

[locksmith]

Someones nicked your exhaust.

I know nothing about these things but it doesn't look heavy duty enough to me?
Are you allowed to make diy towbars, don't these sort of things have to have type approval or something?

[richfzs]

Fortunately we don't have type approval in this country (yet)

[ChristoT]

Fortunately we don't have type approval in this country (yet)

As every motorbike has a tow rating of zero, every system is bespoke anyway, be it built by a pro or an amateur.

As for the frame, yes it does clear - but no hooning for me.

As for heavy duty, it's solid steel!! 

[ChristoT]

Does it bolt through the grab rail on each side? And where do the lower legs attach to and how?

Yes, the load bearing arms attach to (and above) the rack/grabrail mounts.

The towing arms attach to the back of the pillion footrests. 

[slimwilly]

Looks like the weight of the trailer load will load your suspension ( a bit ), you will now be a bobbing foccer

[ChristoT]

Noggy - a bit! The worst is low speed shunt - at about 15, the trailer wants to go in a straight line, and you have to fight the bike round. Very unpleasent.

Details Trailered

Trailered

Can I call myself the Foc-U pulling expert now? 

[Hedgetrimmer]

How's that going to be when it's all loaded up - or is that how you tried it?

[ChristoT]

How's that going to be when it's all loaded up - or is that how you tried it?

That's empty.

That's also going at a top speed of 50mph.