|
|
Post by spyug on Nov 22, 2006 9:40:34 GMT -5
After suffering through a few rides that ended up with me either pushing the bike home or trying to get my buddy to bring his trailer I was contemplating getting a trailer of my own. Since the old lady has been complaining about me cluttering up the garage and being dead set against parking "junk" (her words) in the driveway I've been putting off the purchase. I've also thought about the front wheel "haulers" and finally found one on craigs list. I think this should work ok as the 650 and Virago are both light bikes (compared to the Harley in the picture) but I'm wondering if any one has had any experience good or bad with these units?   I will have to modify it a bit to fit my towbar and I'd like to tweak it a bit ( put on a locking collar that will clamp the front wheel). I'll let you know how it works out. I'm hoping this works like insurance. Once I get it setup, I'll never need to use it as the bike(s) won't break down again! Cheers, Spyug |
|
|
|
Post by garyr on Nov 22, 2006 10:30:06 GMT -5
Good Idea!! Thats one way to do it. My other bike has a shaft drive I don't think that would work, the engine has to be on to lube an internal bearings.
Don't worry about the wife comment, my wife has no clue what kind of bikes I have in the garage, as long as I keep buying the same color bikes she has no idea......and that is a good thing.
|
|
|
|
Post by acormier7 on Nov 22, 2006 18:47:46 GMT -5
Spyug,
Just wondering how you get the front tire up there without dropping it on it's side?
Art in Peterborough
|
|
|
|
Post by jeepurze on Nov 22, 2006 20:08:25 GMT -5
Spyug, Just wondering how you get the front tire up there without dropping it on it's side? Art in Peterborough boy it would be neat if it would tip down and bike could roll up on it. reckon a feller would have to find a ditch or ump it up . |
|
|
|
Post by spyug on Nov 23, 2006 9:35:44 GMT -5
Guys,
There is a little angle iron lip at the back end. The idea is you run a piece of 2x6 as a ramp to it and you role her up into position.
On my van the receiver is lower than the one in the picture so the bottom of this hauler is going to sit no more than 8" from the road. The bike should go up easily with 2 feet or so of ramp.
My first priority once it is in place at the right height is to make a clamp that will hold the wheel to the hauler. I'll be making this lockable.
Since most of my breakdowns have been local and no more than 10 miles from home I'm thinking this will be more than adequate for emergencies.
For longer hauls I've been thinking about a dolly wheel assembly for the back end. Basically a set of small road rated wheels with a "bucket" that the rear wheel fits into. Alternatively, If necessary, I could detach the chain and let the back end free wheel ( just in case it would drop into gear as I trundle along). This wouldn't work for the shaft drive Virago though.
Once I get it all set up I'll post some pics now that I have the hang of that.
Cheers,
spyug.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mildmitch on Nov 23, 2006 12:37:35 GMT -5
Most of the Bike guys at Bonneville Speedweek use similar set ups to cradle the front tire when transporting from pits to starting line and after their run. This is a distance of maybe 8-12 miles all together. Real simple and effective!
I try and find a photo for you.
Mitch
|
|
|
|
Post by Machi on Dec 12, 2006 0:02:29 GMT -5
I bought one of these for my son and he towed his Honda Rebel to Miami behind his girlfriend's Civic. It felt a little iffy at first but it went smooth. The chain got a little stretched.
Now I need to get it back - or buy another - so I can take the SG camping with the wife. Find a campsite in the cColorado mountains and roam the backwoods.
|
|
bill
Junior Member
Posts: 81
|
Post by bill on Dec 12, 2006 1:30:59 GMT -5
Just a thought ...is a saftey chain required? If so where would it connect? I like the idea though. Bill
|
|
|
|
Post by Mildmitch on Dec 12, 2006 13:26:39 GMT -5
Not to hijack this Tool thread, but here is a similar setup used typically at the dry lakes (Bonneville, El Mirage) to shuttle the bikes around...    Mitch |
|
bill
Junior Member
Posts: 81
|
Post by bill on Dec 12, 2006 14:41:23 GMT -5
Salt flats..... the ultimate dyno!
|
|
|
|
Post by spyug on Dec 12, 2006 15:05:05 GMT -5
Guys I'm still working on the mods for the hitch. I have added side pieces from the top to bottom brackets to hold the wheel from jumping sideways and changed the receiver portion to fit my tow bar. I was wondering about safety chains also and I think what I'll do is get a long enough length to go around my t/bar and through the wheel and looped around the hitch. Padlocked in place it will keep everything secure to the van. I'm hoping to get it finished soon and will post pics and a road test. Bye the bye, have a close look at the hitch in the first photo ( a company promo shot) doesn't the background look very much like the favourite "herb" of we leftovers from the hippy days?  By the look of the welds on my hitch, the guys building it were likely sampling some. I think I'd better go over those areas  Cheers, Spyug. |
|
|
|
Post by Six-Five-O on Dec 12, 2006 21:43:04 GMT -5
I dunno which one is the cooler of the 2 machines there on the Flats. The Triump is pretty nice, but the tow bucket is a fine rat ride in the best kind of way..
|
|
|
|
Post by Mildmitch on Dec 12, 2006 22:39:32 GMT -5
Land Speed Racing brings out the most in Creative folks of all sorts.
Check the Black '34 Roadster in the first photo. It's a VERY nice (as in WAY over the top!) Rear Engined Modified Roadster. It run a 4 cylinder engine that sounds like 1000hp! It's half a Hemi! Porbably half of what they are using in Top Fuel Drag Racing these days from the sounds of it.
Mitch
The little Triumph is pretty wicked too.
|
|
dahondaboy
Full Member
if it aint broke, i'll fix it anyway!
Posts: 138
|
Post by dahondaboy on Apr 18, 2007 19:26:16 GMT -5
(picture on bottom) I built one of these that bolted to the bumper of my 77 plymouth duster. i hauled my bike from pheonix az to salt lake city utah and back and forth...and..... so on. what i did was build a top clamp for it , using a piece of 1/4" flat bar about 14" long and 2 6 inch pieces of the flat. i bent the small pieces ino u shapes to fit the curve of the wheel and bent the long one to the circumference of the wheel. i then welded the u shaped pieces to each end and placed the unit on the top of my front tire (some front fenders are too cose for it to slide under) then i marked holes in the bottoms of the u's for the tie downs. after drilling i put the bike on the carrier and put the top hold down on, attatching it with 4 ratchet straps. it held the tire to the carrier. because if you have them attatched to the handle bars it picks up on the back of the bike. but strapping the front wheel the bike is allowed to float. heres a professional drawing of what i mean.  |
|
ducky
New Member
Posts: 14
|
Post by ducky on May 28, 2007 8:34:16 GMT -5
Man! this site is it!! U people are making me drool. I'm a little kid and it is Christmas!
|
|
By the look of the welds on my hitch, the guys building it were likely sampling some. I think I'd better go over those areas 
