Kawasaki Concours Forum
Mish mash => Open Forum => Topic started by: Conrad on May 20, 2016, 05:39:34 AM
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I finally bought a trailer (6X12) for Connie. This will be used to take my bike on our camping adventures and will be towed behind our motorhome.
(http://distillery-trailercentral.s3.amazonaws.com/eHfMfY/qkaSY1/WELLS_CARGO_CT6X121_ENCLOSED_6X12_TRAILER_DGOj2a.jpg)
(http://distillery-trailercentral.s3.amazonaws.com/eHfMfY/qkaSY1/WELLS_CARGO_CT6X121_ENCLOSED_6X12_TRAILER_awfvAC.jpg)
(http://distillery-trailercentral.s3.amazonaws.com/eHfMfY/qkaSY1/WELLS_CARGO_CT6X121_ENCLOSED_6X12_TRAILER_8zboE8.jpg)
The trailer has tie down rings at the 4 corners inside but they're not really positioned correctly for the bike. I'll be mounting an e-track system for the tie downs along with a locking MC wheel chock.
My question is about where to place the bike inside the trailer in order to get the weight distributed correctly. I was thinking about placing the rear wheel directly over the rear axel. The salesmen at the trailer dealership said to place the rear wheel 8" in front of the rear axel.
What do you guys think?
I'll have other stuff in the trailer as well but nothing heavy. Our MC gear and maybe two bicycles, not much more than that. Maybe the kayak mounted to the top of the trailer at some point.
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Everything I've ever read about trailer loading says 10% of the payload on the hitch (i.e 2000# = 200#). How you get there depends on how you configure your inside. A motorhome won't notice the weight if you go over, the trailer will just sway a little more. If it "wig/wags" you may decide to add a stabilizer bar like on the bigger travel trailers. My toy hauler is a pig without that but pulls nicely when it's engaged.
If you load up the front with permanently mounted cabinets, tools, etc. you'll set the bike a little further back than if you have an otherwise empty trailer, so you maintain the 10% hitch load, probably centered between the front/rear wheels. So, I suppose you can plan your toolbox, cabinets, gear racks, etc., then weigh the trailer tongue, and then place the bike. THEN place the chock centered under the front wheel in the middle of the trailer so you get even axle load (L/R).
Otherwise, you'll place the bike with the engine, which is the heaviest component, very slightly ahead of the axle and work the rest of the load around that, keeping an eye on the front load. I've never weighed both ends of any bike, but a fairing, controls, & handlebars might offset the rear drive, seat, and luggage. Maybe you could find a road test somewhere that gives the weight distribution or someone else knows.
When you've balanced the load, as you said use a chock , (the $40 Harbor Freight locking chock works fine for me-plenty strong), to keep the loading spot fixed every time. If you have a changing load, the E-track system looks like it works great to give you flexibility.
One thing my toy hauler has that you might wish to add, is a somewhat rough rubber tread on the ramp and some non-skid tape on the aluminum door frame where your tires will cross it. I almost dumped my C-10 one day when I was loading across some dew covered grass and hit the aluminum frame. The back end kicked sideways and it must have been almost YouTube worthy to see. But once the tires are on the rubber, it's not slick. It's sort of a pebbled surface, not ribbed. You can get the tape at a building supply. Wipe the aluminum with alcohol and it'll stick nicely.
I'll look forward to the pictures.
Ron
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Main thing is to keep the center of gravity of the trail well ahead of the axel. But don't exceed the tongue weight. If putting the bike as far forward as possible still does not exceed the tongue weight, then I would do that.
BTW: you should paint that trailer magenta ;D
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:rotflmao:
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That looks like a nice trailer, I have also used the harbor freight locking wheel chocks.
does your trailer have electric brakes?
what is your hitch rated for in terms of tongue weight?
not important to the discussion: When im using my JEEP to tow I always aim for 200-500 lbs tongue weight. Does your trailer have legs so that you can load/unload when it is not attached to the tow vehicle?
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Just wing it, that's what everybody else does... ;D
That is a sweet trailer. Even if it does need some Kawi green paint here and there. 8)
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Could post 'This Space For Rent', make a few bucks on the way, but if you listen to me, you'll
probably end up with a sponsor like Depends..
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Main thing is to keep the center of gravity of the trail well ahead of the axel. But don't exceed the tongue weight. If putting the bike as far forward as possible still does not exceed the tongue weight, then I would do that.
BTW: you should paint that trailer magenta ;D
;D ;D
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That looks like a nice trailer, I have also used the harbor freight locking wheel chocks.
does your trailer have electric brakes?
what is your hitch rated for in terms of tongue weight?
not important to the discussion: When im using my JEEP to tow I always aim for 200-500 lbs tongue weight. Does your trailer have legs so that you can load/unload when it is not attached to the tow vehicle?
This is the chock I ordered, should be here on Monday. http://smile.amazon.com/Extreme-Max-5001-5010-Standard-Motorcycle/dp/B00GRRFLOK/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1463828502&sr=1-1&keywords=Extreme-Max-5001 (http://smile.amazon.com/Extreme-Max-5001-5010-Standard-Motorcycle/dp/B00GRRFLOK/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1463828502&sr=1-1&keywords=Extreme-Max-5001)
No brakes on the trailer.
Hitch is rated at 5k lbs on both my RV and pick-up.
Yes, the trailer has jack stands attached at the back for loading and unloading.
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Just wing it, that's what everybody else does... ;D
That is a sweet trailer. Even if it does need some Kawi green paint here and there. 8)
Thanks! I definitely need some Kawasaki stickers to break up all that white!
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Everything I've ever read about trailer loading says 10% of the payload on the hitch (i.e 2000# = 200#). How you get there depends on how you configure your inside. A motorhome won't notice the weight if you go over, the trailer will just sway a little more. If it "wig/wags" you may decide to add a stabilizer bar like on the bigger travel trailers. My toy hauler is a pig without that but pulls nicely when it's engaged.
If you load up the front with permanently mounted cabinets, tools, etc. you'll set the bike a little further back than if you have an otherwise empty trailer, so you maintain the 10% hitch load, probably centered between the front/rear wheels. So, I suppose you can plan your toolbox, cabinets, gear racks, etc., then weigh the trailer tongue, and then place the bike. THEN place the chock centered under the front wheel in the middle of the trailer so you get even axle load (L/R).
Otherwise, you'll place the bike with the engine, which is the heaviest component, very slightly ahead of the axle and work the rest of the load around that, keeping an eye on the front load. I've never weighed both ends of any bike, but a fairing, controls, & handlebars might offset the rear drive, seat, and luggage. Maybe you could find a road test somewhere that gives the weight distribution or someone else knows.
When you've balanced the load, as you said use a chock , (the $40 Harbor Freight locking chock works fine for me-plenty strong), to keep the loading spot fixed every time. If you have a changing load, the E-track system looks like it works great to give you flexibility.
One thing my toy hauler has that you might wish to add, is a somewhat rough rubber tread on the ramp and some non-skid tape on the aluminum door frame where your tires will cross it. I almost dumped my C-10 one day when I was loading across some dew covered grass and hit the aluminum frame. The back end kicked sideways and it must have been almost YouTube worthy to see. But once the tires are on the rubber, it's not slick. It's sort of a pebbled surface, not ribbed. You can get the tape at a building supply. Wipe the aluminum with alcohol and it'll stick nicely.
I'll look forward to the pictures.
Ron
Thanks for the advice Ron, I appreciate it.
Wells Cargo says to put 10-15% of the load on the tongue. So I think that what I'll do is once I get the chock on Monday is to put the bike in the trailer and weigh the tongue then position the bike and the chock till I get ~10% of the weight on the tongue (the trailer weighs ~1,300lbs and the bike is ~700lbs so that's ~200lbs tongue weight) I will be putting some cabinets and the like up front in the trailer to hold our gear, tools, and what-not. So that should bring the tongue weight up a bit too.
The GVWR of the trailer is ~3k lbs and with the weight of the trailer being ~1,300 that gives me around 1,700 lbs of cargo weight. Subtract the bike's weight and I have around 1k lbs to play with. :)
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That's a lot of beer,C.
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That's a lot of beer,C.
How much does a keg weigh? ;)
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160.5 lbs
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What if it's lite beer?
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:banghead:
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I have two of these (LA Chocks) and I think they are the best solution for an enclosed trailer:
http://www.baxleycompanies.com/ (http://www.baxleycompanies.com/)
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If you think you might be dropping a fully loaded trailer, an electric tongue jack is sweet. I hate those hand crank jacks, but they do work.
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What if it's lite beer?
Then it's a lite 160.5 lbs.
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I have two of these (LA Chocks) and I think they are the best solution for an enclosed trailer. http://www.baxleycompanies.com/ (ftp://www.baxleycompanies.com/)
Your link points to an ftp site for some reason.
Nice chocks for sure but for occasional use I'm hoping that the $50 Amazon chock works out.
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$39.99 at Harbor freight. http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock-69026.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock-69026.html)
I used two of these from HF to haul two C-10's from Ga to Colorado and back last summer. Been using one for 3 years, the other went to a guy who used it to haul the C-10 he bought from me to W. Va.
Looks a lot like your Amazon chock. That'll do fine. I used some flat bar under my 3/4" floor like super flat washers to spread the loading.
Can't wait to see the pix!
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Your link points to an ftp site for some reason. <<<Looks like I clicked on the wrong icon. Seems to work now>>>
Nice chocks for sure but for occasional use I'm hoping that the $50 Amazon chock works out.
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$39.99 at Harbor freight. http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock-69026.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock-69026.html)
I used two of these from HF to haul two C-10's from Ga to Colorado and back last summer. Been using one for 3 years, the other went to a guy who used it to haul the C-10 he bought from me to W. Va.
Looks a lot like your Amazon chock. That'll do fine. I used some flat bar under my 3/4" floor like super flat washers to spread the loading.
Can't wait to see the pix!
Brown will be delivering my new chock today and the e-track stuff is coming tomorrow. I'll get the bike into the trailer today or tomorrow and get everything set-up then. I'll snap a pic or two while I'm at it. :)
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I got my trailer all set-up and used it for the first time on a camping trip in northern Wisconsin over this past week. Once I got the chock set-up correctly it worked as designed. I ended up not installing the e-track system on the trailer because the factory tie down points worked perfectly.
I did have a mishap while setting up the chock for my bike. Because of my stupidity using the wrong setting on the chock I broke a piece of the front fairing (right behind the front tire) when the tire locked into the chock. Then while I was trying to get the bike off of the chock (it got hung up), with my stupidity on full display, the bike fell over inside of the trailer.
>:( :'(
Minor damage to the bike though. The mirror and the bag hit the side of the trailer. The mirror folded up and got scuffed a bit on the edge. I was shocked that the mount didn't break. The bag got scuffed up in two spots but not terribly.
I took some pics and I'll get em posted if anyone would like to see.
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Post'em....let us share your pain. :(
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My Connie will NEVER EVER...EEEEVVEERRRR se the top/inside of a trailer, unless she is broken (which, fingers crossed, will never happen).....just say'in.....
If I can't ride her there, she doesn't go...
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My Connie will NEVER EVER...EEEEVVEERRRR se the top/inside of a trailer, unless she is broken (which, fingers crossed, will never happen).....just say'in.....
If I can't ride her there, she doesn't go...
We still talking about a bike?
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We still talking about a bike?
Trailering the bike I would say... ;D
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Nice chocks. Just saw the HF ones for $29.99.
Bummer about the damage. I always worry about a tip over 'in the box." Show us the pix. Misery loves company! :(
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A good friend of mine tried to ride his bike (GW or a big BMW) into the back of his truck using a ramp. It bottomed out and fell over with him on it. He wasn't hurt but the bike was.
C, at least it was more stable lying down.... And oh yes, we do need to see the pictures.
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My Connie will NEVER EVER...EEEEVVEERRRR se the top/inside of a trailer, unless she is broken (which, fingers crossed, will never happen).....just say'in.....
If I can't ride her there, she doesn't go...
I don't think that you understand, Hooligan. I don't know how you camp (if you do) but when I camp I take plenty of beer, my wife, 3 dogs, beer, 2 mountain bikes, a 14' tandem kayak, beer, and all the various and sundry items needed for a one to two (or more) weeks away from the house. Plus I need room for beer. Most of these items are fairly difficult to haul on my bike. Oh yeah, I mustn't forget the wine, my wife doesn't care for beer.
I pull the trailer and Connie behind our motorhome and the motorhome serves as my base of operations for riding where ever we camp. The trailer makes a great mobile garage too! If I want to ride on the way to where we're going my wife can drive the RV while I ride. I can't do that all the time, gotta keep her happy right? And what better way to keep her happy than the pleasure of my company? :)
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A good friend of mine tried to ride his bike (GW or a big BMW) into the back of his truck using a ramp. It bottomed out and fell over with him on it. He wasn't hurt but the bike was.
C, at least it was more stable lying down.... And oh yes, we do need to see the pictures.
I was actually talking about pics of the bike loaded properly and strapped down on the trailer (standing up). I didn't take any pics of the damage but I could I guess since ya'll want to see it. The bike didn't actually fall completely over, the side of the trailer stopped it from doing that.
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I don't think that you understand, Hooligan. I don't know how you camp (if you do) but when I camp I take plenty of beer, my wife, 3 dogs, beer, 2 mountain bikes, a 14' tandem kayak, beer, and all the various and sundry items needed for a one to two (or more) weeks away from the house. Plus I need room for beer. Most of these items are fairly difficult to haul on my bike. Oh yeah, I mustn't forget the wine, my wife doesn't care for beer.
I pull the trailer and Connie behind our motorhome and the motorhome serves as my base of operations for riding where ever we camp. The trailer makes a great mobile garage too! If I want to ride on the way to where we're going my wife can drive the RV while I ride. I can't do that all the time, gotta keep her happy right? And what better way to keep her happy than the pleasure of my company? :)
I'm not sure but I think you forgot to mention beer.
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And what better way to keep her happy than the pleasure of my company? :)
Clearly,,, great minds think alike!!
Ride safe, Ted
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I don't think that you understand, Hooligan. I don't know how you camp (if you do) but when I camp I take plenty of beer, my wife, 3 dogs, beer, 2 mountain bikes, a 14' tandem kayak, beer, and all the various and sundry items needed for a one to two (or more) weeks away from the house. Plus I need room for beer. Most of these items are fairly difficult to haul on my bike. Oh yeah, I mustn't forget the wine, my wife doesn't care for beer.
I pull the trailer and Connie behind our motorhome and the motorhome serves as my base of operations for riding where ever we camp. The trailer makes a great mobile garage too! If I want to ride on the way to where we're going my wife can drive the RV while I ride. I can't do that all the time, gotta keep her happy right? And what better way to keep her happy than the pleasure of my company? :)
I hear what you are saying, and I understand. Wasn't aware that you go camping with the RV, and it makes sense.
As I'm quite involved in organised biking, I do a lot of rallies here in the RSA, mostly 400 miles+ away from where I live. Closer that than is considered a day "jol" (Party). That is about the only time I go camping, and I do take the Mrs with. Once there, and the tent is set up, I'll take the empty top box and panniers, and go to town for supplies. Lots of beer and scotch, as well as a boat load of meat to BBQ ( like you call it in the states). However, we don't use gas, we use wood, and we call it a "braai" (pronounced "BRY"). During this time, the kids stay with the grandparents for the weekend, and they feed the pets.
There is a group of bikers here that prefer to do it the "old School" way, and not do the rallies using cars, pickups and campers/RV's. I can honestly say that I belong to that group, and love it.
Click the link and let me know what you think?
http://osbm.co.za/ (http://osbm.co.za/)
I do respect that fact that you move around, and love what you do.
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Jip, that's the way we do it here in the RSA!!
http://osbm.co.za/ (http://osbm.co.za/)
Some great info there guys! Respect!!
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Here's a few pics of the trailer set-up and the bike loaded properly. Loading and unloading is a breeze.
[smg id=730]
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I used a bathroom scale to weigh the tongue and I moved the bike and chock till I had 250 lbs on it. The trailer tracked perfectly on the road.
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[smg id=735]
[smg id=736]
[smg id=737]
[smg id=739]
[smg id=738]
[smg id=740]
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And what better way to keep her happy than the pleasure of my company? :)
Clearly,,, great minds think alike!!
Ride safe, Ted
:chugbeer:
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Sweet trailer set up Conrad!! :thumbs: :thumbs:
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Sweet trailer set up Conrad!! :thumbs: :thumbs:
Thanks! Now I need some really large Kawasaki stickers.
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Glad you got it set up properly Conrad. Loads of space to spare for those beers... :chugbeer: :chugbeer: :chugbeer: :chugbeer: :chugbeer:
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Nice Conrad, and it's not even purple! But are you sure you have enough space for beer? 8)
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Don't you worry. If that trailer doesn't have enough room for beer there's always the RVs outside storage compartments
(http://i1.rvusa.com/wm/showimagerv.ashx?id=24066519&t=3)
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:thumbs: