| Trailer Towing Info |
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This area mentions several personal ideas / mods and thinking
(tough at times) |
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Aug 29-06 (this is a long post, but bear with me ) I tow an '06 Aspin Classic - 414# or so MT - 620# or so loaded (have electric brakes with a on-off switch in line...) NOW - I have drove it (the trailer) (after turning the brakes off)... it IS a handful - needs 2-3 times the regular SAFE stopping distance as with the brakes "on". - Having said that - if you "let off of the gas" or do not "accelerate slightly" in the turns (remember the MSF-BRC??)- THE TRAILER WILL PUSH YOU ALL ALROUND !!! Turns (and all other movements) need to be slower, more precise and as PLANNED as possible. You will NOT want fast dodging maneuvers. Sudden movements --dodging, fast turns, downhill, letting off
fast and/or letting off or breaking downhill and epically
downhill turns can get deadly in a hurry!! I do not want to be an alarmist, but when you pull anything that is a significant amount of weight (close to 1/3-1/2 or the bike weight) - you have to relearn your ride! It can, and is, being done every day - but you need to adjust your ride style for the load and road. When I ride two up (wife and I are NOT small) (bike is 700#
mt) - trailer is 625+ - there is a new driver in towne - ME !! Any turning is well planned out, slowed to approach speed in advance, more upright and with speed in complete control, passing is just about not there..... forget that one.. Stopping is planned out WWWAAAYYYYY in advance - engine braking is used a lot (others will disagree - another topic - another time) - but having said that - with the electric brakes properly tuned - I can stop the bike/trailer in almost the same distance as I do with just two up. - I do not plan that - I ride as if there's no brakes on bike or trailer...... You will want to play with the tongue weight - you will hear the 10% rule spoken of (10% of the trailer weight on the tongue). IMHO - that is OK for cars - trucks, etc. they can take the weight and weight sway or weight throw (side to side).... But again IMHO - 45# is about MAX in any two wheeler... (again there are differences on this) but that is what I strive for. I try not to run over 40 and am going to play with this soonest.... MY bike is comfortable (as one can get) with the trailer combo as I have it loaded.... On my trailer, I extended the tongue 20" and that gave ME a "new trailer" - (see other posts on that) - it is VERY much more stable behind the bike and car too. One part of that is that I went from the thinner tube (I think it's less then 0.120??) to the 1/8" wall - there IS a lot less flex and twist.... plus the extra length gave me a new trailer.... Keep the trailer tyres up to (30-40#) - bike tyres up too! Above all - common sense and carefulness is the guideline - hope this rambling helps... take care - john b - Wisconsin Cheesehead - '83 GL1100A - '06 Aspin Classic |
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TRAILER WIGGLIES I had a prob right off the bat - with the trailer wiggles.... mine was unstable at any speed over 45mph and at any tongue weight (I will NOT go over 45#) - - so I got a new tongue bar (one gauge heavier - 1/8" walls) - cut it 30" longer - THAT was way too much.... re-cut it back to 20" longer - re-drilled and repainted and wa-la - steady at all speeds (like a rock ) had up to 80+..... (45# max is my tongue weight target - 50# fish scale works like a champ - do NOT guess at this) I balance out the final weight with drinking water bottles.. you will be surprised what 5-6 Sam's h2o bottles moved from the front to the back will do to the balance weight.... BUT remember that you do NOT want your load to shift at ALL !!! I also have the electric brakes - need to putz to get them set correct, but it's worth it..... stops are smooth.... no down hill push.... am running 25-35# tyre air less bounce, but pulls smooth It is a load for my '83 GL1100a - mileage goes from 43 to 30-32 - at highway speeds - 55 to 65 as needed - When we are two up ( we are NOT light weights either <smirk>) BTW, you need to actually WEIGH your trailer both MT and loaded for travel! I use a bathroom scale - do one wheel ramp it up - - weigh both sides and add the tongue stand weight.... Mine when new and empty (cooler kit, electric brakes, awning kit, bed pockets, chrome kit, spar tyre, rear reflective bumper) clocked in at 430# new and dry.. Ready to camp - without camp food, just some dry goods, mine checks in about 630# or more - with all gear I weigh it before EVERY trip...(it's on a diet, what we do not use in three trips is getting trimmed out) You KNOW that it (the trailer) is there when towing..... just be carefuller. Hope this helps, john b - Wisconsin Cheesehead - '83 GL110a - '06 Aspen Classic |
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for what it's worth (not much considering inflation these
days) some of what From: http://www.dot.state.wi.us/statepatrol/inspection/faqs-inspection.htm take care, happy trailering john b - Wisconsin Cheesehead - '83 GL1100A
- "06 |
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May-23-06 Ok, this is my opinion from pulling the bunkhouse for @ 6
years. The tounge weight if you read is usually stated that it
needs to be 10 to 15% of the total weight of the trailer. If
your trailer is 450lbs then 45 to 60 lbs might not be too much.
I know your going to get others opinons too but this is what has
worked for me. I use a cooler too. When I travel I have water
and ice in it for the trip, then go to the store when i get
there. Load it and play with it somewhat till you can go freeway speeds with the trailer load and it feels comfortable to you. This is what works for me but I know others have their own criteria too that they use. Don't just consider my opinon as gospel. Hope it might help though.. |
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*************************** did you get the brakes?? I did and they are GREAT!!! my rig weighed in about 425 or so - added some camping things and we are looking at about 550 MAX - have been towing around at 450+- for about 400 miles now... the only times that I know that it's there is starting, loooonnggg hills and natch - stopping.. - another thing - WATCH out for hills - going down hill into a corner - decending corners with decending radaii are killers - remember the MSF - Streighten - slow, then turn - - - cause that trailer WILL push ya!!!.. AND one needs to practice the "SEE" out as far as one can.... I am riding an '83 GL1100A - weighs in at 795 - add riders and we are over 1m.... so caution is the word. another thing - toung weight.... some advocate 10% of the trailer gross, I am up to 40# now and think that's going to be my tops.... be accurate in this department or you WILL have a TAIL-WAGGER...... I am using a 50# fish scale - 6.96 at gander mountain..... ($120 for the pottie too wife sez that we will NOT be without this tool !!!!).. take care and have a GREAT trip. John b - Wisconsin Cheesehead - "83 GL1100a |