The Bike Trailer

My father in law gave me a 7 x 4 trailer the other day, so ive been cutting
the rust out of it.

Im going to make up some bolt in tracks to store 2 bikes at a time.

Anybody played with figures, whats the best width for the tracks to fit
roadbikes?

whats the best way to strap the bike down as ill have to weld up some
mounting points on it as well?


MAD

 

whats the best way to strap the bike down as ill have to weld up some

I have 4 loops in each corner of the floor. Buy good ratchet straps. Get an
overweight friend to squash the forks down and tie round the handle bars to
the front loops. I know people who only do that and the bike never moves.
But I tie the rear of the frame in a similar fashion too.

How do you know good ratchet straps? Hold each side, pull apart. If the
stitching allows some stretch, don't buy them. If its solid, like a car seat
belt, its good.

 

Anybody played with figures, whats the best width for the tracks to fit

oh yeah, mine are 6 inches apart, but I don't carry modern bikes.

 

Learn the gentle art of wheel tie-down. This allows your bike(s) to
bob up and down with the bumps without bouncing up and down against
the straps.

Loading up your suspension by squishing the bike down may not be the
best idea if you just run ordinary trailer springs. My trailer (8x4)
runs a pair of springs from a toyota ute. It's a very soft ride for
the bikes (they do have feelings don't you know) but buggerall good
for carting real heavy loads.

 

Mad-Biker said...

have a look at http://www.motorcycletiedownpro.com/

 

If you want to carry modern bikes,the tracks will need to be 150mm apart.

Postman Pat

 

measuring thing sup, i think i can only fit 1 bike at a time in it..

 

Errr, anything past the second joint, is *far enough in*!

Hammo

 

I used this -> http://www.kyaracing.com.au/product.htm <- a rear wheel tyre
down system. Not affiliated just very happy with the product. Also,
regarding tracks for the bike, I'd just make a chock for the front wheel and
be done with it. Otherwise, 7 - 8 in wide tracks would do for everything
modern

 

How about one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOTO...34284QQitemZ4645327196QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD2V

 

Would one not have to remove the drive chain? IIRC a lot of modern
sports bike manuals suggest not moving the bike too much even when in
neutral with the engine off so I'm sure tugging it along behind a car
can't do too much good.