HF Utility Trailer For My "T" GS750TZ

[GSXR7ED]

I wanted to share some pics of the Trailer I purchased last year before I went on my road-trip with my current employer. It's already been assembled but you can see I was able to put a 4X8 piece of plywood on it as well as a bike stand/wheel chock. The last accessory purchased were the ramps.

Thanks to Charles/eil for requesting this information. He's on his way to Harbor Freight to purchase his trailer. I recommend the trailer with the 12" wheels because they can handle more than the 55mph limit as would the 8" wheels. On to the pictures:



















And Before I added the plywood...here she sits, ready to be utilized:

 

[GSXR7ED]

My New HF Trailer

My New HF Trailer

And here is my "T" loaded on new trailer:




Ed

 

[posplayr]

Good looking rig and folding as well. Only $299

http://www.harborfreight.com/1195-l...tility-trailer-with-12-inch-wheels-90154.html

 

[eil]

I highly appreciate the info and pics, Ed!

I was hoping to pick mine up today (have a 25% off coupon good for today only) but neither of the stores nearby had them in stock.

 

[mikerophone]

Got that 25% off any single item coupon good for today only burning in my inbox as well!

I want to get the solar panel kit one of these days, but think I'll wait for a summertime deal...

 

[Steve]

Good looking rig and folding as well. Only $299

http://www.harborfreight.com/1195-l...tility-trailer-with-12-inch-wheels-90154.html

Personally, I would avoid a folding trailer. Had one once, it was not a Harbor Freight model, but probably similar.

It is scary enough to see that the pivot is only anchored by a single bolt on each side, but the rails that support the first few inches of the foldable section are not nearly strong enough to support the weight of a bike's rear tire that is considerably beyond their reach. In my case, I was carrying a bike that was a bit heavier than a 750T (a dressed-out KZ1300), and the rear wheel was all the way at the back of the 4x6 trailer. That put a LOT of stress on the rails that were trying to support the back half. The trailer actually lasted from Los Angeles to mid-Illinois, when we were moving to oHIo. Had to take the bike off the trailer, enlist the services of a third driver that was along with us, and ride the bike the 240 miles from Effingham, Illinois to the 'new' house in oHIo. Ended up welding in some angle iron to support the sides and in the process, turned it into a non-folding trailer.

.

 

[Dogma]

I've hauled my 850GL and 1000G on one of these with no problems I can attribute to the trailer. Maybe a couple thousand miles cumulative total. So long as the load is balanced, it's fine. Late last season I saw a Bandit 1200 and an Aprillia on one of these together, navigating the Chicago area highway system. Personally, I thought it was scary to watch it flex and sway, but it survived. I wouldn't want to hang a lot of weight to the rear of one of these either, but that's just looking at the tool and being careful how it's used.

Anyhow, that looks like a single sheet of plywood, with e-tracks on top. It's not going to fold very easily. I'm thinking GSXR7ed may was well remove the bars holding the casters.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Under-Carriage

Under-Carriage

Thanks for your feedback Steve & Dogma. Here's some pics of the area in question (pivot bolt area).









The capacity on the trailer says 1195. My bike is roughly 500 pounds and I trailed it from Dover, DE to Alamogordo, NM this past year. I even took a short trip to LA from Alamogordo to visit family. When the road trip was complete, I trailed my "T" back to Delaware.

I bolted the 1-piece 4X8 piece of plywood (3 bolts up front and 2 rear). The heavy piece of plywood really made the whole trailer sturdy in my opinion.

Dogma, you're right...I need to remove the casters since I have yet to actually stand it up horizontally. I've rested it on its side when I had it in my apartment.




Ed

 

[Steve]

Thanks for the pictures. :encouragement:

It appears to be a bit better-built than the one that I had. Yours is constructed of C-channel, mine was just cold-rolled angle. There is also a bit more bracing on the rear portion where it lands just over the rear spring hanger. I would still keep a close eye on it, though, as all the weight on the rear is cantilevered out past its support.

I like the E-track for anchoring. :encouragement:

.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Time Tested

Time Tested

Hey Steve,

I'm carefully reading how you're describing the set up of the pivot area. There is considerable space on the rail that rests on the rear spring hanger. There may be less than a foot of overhang but I will keep an eye on it.

About the E-track...I'm gonna have to re-drill/re-position them since the screws are not tightening as they did the first time. That trek to Alamogordo/LA/Dover was at least 4K miles of towing.


Ed

 

[Steve]

I'm carefully reading how you're describing the set up of the pivot area. There is considerable space on the rail that rests on the rear spring hanger. There may be less than a foot of overhang but I will keep an eye on it.

Look at it this way: let's say that the back half of your bike weighs about 250 pounds and it's 3 feet past the pivot. With one foot of overhang/support, you are putting about 750 pounds of force on the ends of the supports. If you can keep the bike farther forward, the weight will be closer to the support and will apply less torque.

About the E-track...I'm gonna have to re-drill/re-position them since the screws are not tightening as they did the first time. That trek to Alamogordo/LA/Dover was at least 4K miles of towing.

I would suggest ditching the screws and going with stainless bolts and self-locking nuts. Use fender washers against the lower side of the decking to prevent the nuts pulling through.

.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Overhang

Overhang

Steve, take a look at post #2 on this thread. My "T" is as far forward as the bike stop/wheel chock will allow. There is about 1 foot of clearance from the contact patch of the rear tire and the edge of the trailer. I think it's sufficient enough for the short wheel base.

I'm gonna have a second look underneath.


Ed

 

[Steve]

Does not look too bad, your rear wheel appears to be about the middle of the panel, or about a foot past the support.

The most important thing is to maintain balance. I am sure the trailer weighs at least a couple hundred pounds and the bike weighs about 500, for a total of about 700+ pounds. You need to have about 15% of that, or about 100 pounds, on the ball to maintain stability while towing.

If push comes to shove, though, you might have room to move it all another few inches forward, according to this picture:



We have one of those chocks, as well as a Condor. Overall, I prefer the Condor, but it does cost about three times as much.
The HF chock is now on sale, making the difference even more.

.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Contact Patch

Contact Patch

Good interactions here Steve...thanks for taking the time to give your feedback on this. I will be getting the stainless bolts/self-locking nuts/fender washers when I re-fit the E-track.

Okay, now to some visual aids...

The contact patch is just past the over hang point...which, based on the second pic, is right where the casters base is located.



That cross beam is close enough to the caster termination point so it provides support where my contact patch is located.



And you are right about moving up the bike stop/wheel chock. There's about 4 inches of forward space available. That would definitely scoot the contact patch closer to the caster termination point. I think it's an acceptable range...plus, I've successfully utilized this trailer in the past year. I can simply make small improvements based on your recommendations.

NOTE: And I can also remove the casters like Dogma recommended.

EDIT: The trailer weighs about 250 pounds and the weight of the plywood/Wheel Chock adds another 80 lbs or so.



Ed

 

[chuck hahn]

Had one that I gave away when I left Michigan in 2011. I welded it flat at the center hinge where the guides met the rest of the frame. Had a ramp to push bike up on it. Hauled lots of stuff with that little guy and it was one helll of a work horse for what it was.

Never had use of the tilt bed option and the safety pins actually rusted themselves in the holes. Hauled a bike up every weekend up to my 35 acres so I had a bike when up there. Hauled Rustybroncos Penelope back on the trailer as well.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Work Horse

Work Horse

Had one that I gave away when I left Michigan in 2011. I welded it flat at the center hinge where the guides met the rest of the frame. Had a ramp to push bike up on it. Hauled lots of stuff with that little guy and it was one helll of a work horse for what it was.

Never had use of the tilt bed option and the safety pins actually rusted themselves in the holes. Hauled a bike up every weekend up to my 35 acres so I had a bike when up there. Hauled Rustybroncos Penelope back on the trailer as well.

I'm very satisfied with my HF trailer...I won't be welding it since it limits the option of folding it. Some minor improvements and I will be ready if the call comes to do a roadtrip again.


Ed

 

[GSXR7ED]

Solid Piece of Plywood

Solid Piece of Plywood

Anyhow, that looks like a single sheet of plywood, with e-tracks on top. It's not going to fold very easily. I'm thinking GSXR7ed may was well remove the bars holding the casters.

I keep the plywood as one-piece. It's tedious to remove and replace but it keeps the whole foundation more solid (In My Opinion). And it weighed quite a bit dragging it into my apartment. Plus the weight of the wheel chock provides 40 lbs up front which is where I need to shift a little more weight to.

Like I mentioned before, I had no problems trekking my bike back home from New Mexico. I made sure I re-greased the bearings before each long trip. The 55 mph limit on the tires was on the back of my mind...but when I needed to pass those big rigs in excess of 65 mph, this trailer handled it with a solid feel.

Love my trailer!


Ed

 

[Steve]

Looking good, (R)ed. :encouragement:

With the detailed pictures, it is apparent that it is built a LOT better than the cheapie unit that I had. It was cold-rolled angle around the perimeter, and the plywood set inside it. I don't remember right now whether there was any cross-bracing or not. I think I might have added some before making our cross-country trip, but can't say for sure.

Enjoy it, it looks like it is ready to do the job.

.

 

[chuck hahn]

I ran 70 and 75 MPH all the time with mine and it never gave me any tire problems nor tracking problems.

 

[GSXR7ED]

^^Haha,

Yeah, Gramma P and her eyesight. I started watching "Black Is The New Orange" and so now I have a complex.

Anyway, thanks for the Steve seal of approval!

What's sad is, I'm gonna leave my "T" here at home. I'm just not ready to proceed with all she needs. Back to jax today.


Ed