Trailer question

[timtune]

Forum Sponsor

Thanks all.

So the ramp is a double edged sword. I think the dirt bikes will climb it fine but not my street bikes. The DragWing not evenly remotely close.
I have a nice pair of folding aluminum ramps and I wouldn't be adverse to taking the sawzall to ramp and cutting it down.

Looks like the tongue weight won't be too much, hell I may have to mount a spare on the tongue to add some. (Speaking of which do you see a spare? I don't it comes with one.)

@GreyGhost Not sure what you meant here:

use a bathroom scale under the tongue with a long or similar to have the tongue level.

@Priller I agree a wood deck would be better. I think the kick stand alone will likely dent the deck. But I'm all about weight and the cheesy metal deck is light.

I'll be ordering it today.

 

[GreyGhost]

@GreyGhost Not sure what you meant here:

"Long" should have been "log" but really anything works. Just an easy way to measure tongue weight that is more accurate than lifting the tongue and guessing.

 

[timtune]

Well fack me! I'm a rock of indecision. Luckily the Squeeze always provides good counsel.
She didn't think much of buying a new trailer and hacking off the ramp. "do more research??.."

Now I'm thinking about this. Just a 5x8 trailer kit. Even lighter at 250lb. Skinning the deck with 1x6 deck boards should only add about 75lbs. Not to mention it's about 6 brown cheaper. Thoughts??

https://www.rona.ca/en/product/stirling-5-ft-x-8-ft-galvalume-single-axle-kit-trailer-504084-331068523?viewStore=82413&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=19750304322&cq_con=&cq_term=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&gclsrc=aw.ds&&cm_mmc=paid_search-_-google-_-aw_pmax_generic_online_exclusive-_-&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19758762227&gclid=CjwKCAjwprjDBhBTEiwA1m1d0ppD-frWkmVCxQ1ca-wGnNSdtczpBcgpqYfOJSOZzn8E2LMaj-Z4YRoCEugQAvD_BwE

 

[GreyGhost]

Well fack me! I'm a rock of indecision. Luckily the Squeeze always provides good counsel.
She didn't think much of buying a new trailer and hacking off the ramp. "do more research??.."

Now I'm thinking about this. Just a 5x8 trailer kit. Even lighter at 250lb. Skinning the deck with 1x6 deck boards should only add about 75lbs. Not to mention it's about 6 brown cheaper. Thoughts??

https://www.rona.ca/en/product/stirling-5-ft-x-8-ft-galvalume-single-axle-kit-trailer-504084-331068523?viewStore=82413&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=19750304322&cq_con=&cq_term=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&gclsrc=aw.ds&&cm_mmc=paid_search-_-google-_-aw_pmax_generic_online_exclusive-_-&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19758762227&gclid=CjwKCAjwprjDBhBTEiwA1m1d0ppD-frWkmVCxQ1ca-wGnNSdtczpBcgpqYfOJSOZzn8E2LMaj-Z4YRoCEugQAvD_BwE

I don't like 1x6 decking. Too flexible, not strong enough. I'd skin with 3/4 ply or 2x lumber.

 

[timtune]

I don't like 1x6 decking. Too flexible, not strong enough. I'd skin with 3/4 ply or 2x lumber.

The span is less than 2 feet. Bikes are light-ish.

Trailer is available online at Rona and HomeDepot, either one better than the other?

 

[GreyGhost]

The span is less than 2 feet. Bikes are light-ish.

Trailer is available online at Rona and HomeDepot, either one better than the other?

As for span, with 1x6 on a normal residential deck, you want 16" max span. If you plan on bolting chocks on, I'd want more than 1x holding them.

Rona is theoretically canadian and HD is USA. Personally, I prefer HD over rona almost every time. Rona seems like more of a dumpster fire.

@mimico_polak where did you get your trailer? That could be another option.

 

[mimico_polak]

Rona is theoretically canadian and HD is USA. Personally, I prefer HD over rona almost every time.

@mimico_polak where did you get your trailer? That could be another option.

FBMP purchased for $600.

Love my trailer but would prefer something more robust. That’s why I’m considering either selling it, or finding a way to temporarily making it enclosed for a height of 24-36” for transporting some items.

I love in Poland how the vast majority of trailers were small aluminum with tarps tied down.

Security from rain, and open it up when not needing to keep things dry.

 

[GreyGhost]

FBMP purchased for $600.

Love my trailer but would prefer something more robust. That’s why I’m considering either selling it, or finding a way to temporarily making it enclosed for a height of 24-36” for transporting some items.

I love in Poland how the vast majority of trailers were small aluminum with tarps tied down.

Security from rain, and open it up when not needing to keep things dry.

I was more thinking of the manufacturer than your specific trailer. I thought it came from a company near Milton. Galvanized or aluminum are nice options for trailers that live outside.

 

[GVH]

It’s all the same chines factory. You can change the gates

Trailer Parts - Gates (Rear & Front) - Page 1 - Westbrook Trailer Parts

www.westbrooktrailerparts.com

 

[GVH]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/5-x-10-ft-folding-trailer-kit/product/PA0009088113

Princessauto has the 5x10 on sale still needs tires, lights and coupler

 

[mimico_polak]

I was more thinking of the manufacturer than your specific trailer. I thought it came from a company near Milton. Galvanized or aluminum are nice options for trailers that live outside.

Ah sorry...yes they're all pretty much the same Chinesium.

I get the parts from the guy in Milton as they're good to deal with out of their house.

But the trailer is a black version of the HF one from the US.

 

[mimico_polak]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/5-x-10-ft-folding-trailer-kit/product/PA0009088113

Princessauto has the 5x10 on sale still needs tires, lights and coupler

That's a great deal considering the 4x8 is about $300 more expensive. But does include the lights, and can't remember if deck also or not.

DIY Folding Trailers | Best Quality & Price Starting at $850 for a 4x8

At DIY Folding Trailers we believe in being the best price, providing quality galvanized folding trailers & accessories. Assembly available

diyfoldingtrailers.com

5x10 is $1283+hst

5' x 10' Hot Dipped Galvanized Folding Trailer Kit

Embrace versatility and durability with our 5' x 10' Hot Dipped Galvanized Folding Trailer Kit. Unlock endless possibilities for your DIY ventures.

diyfoldingtrailers.com

 

[GVH]

https://dexterindex.ca/

These guys in Milton are good for hubs, complete axles plus all other bits. Hubs for my folding trailer $27 each including bearings

 

[GreyGhost]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/5-x-10-ft-folding-trailer-kit/product/PA0009088113

Princessauto has the 5x10 on sale still needs tires, lights and coupler

Weird. I guess they pulled out all of those parts to get the perceived price down. I'm still using the 4x8 HF trailer I bought 15 years ago although it is looking a little rough. I was going to suggest he runs down and grab the HF 5x10 but the current price is no bueno. If he's not going to use the folding feature, I think he'd be better off with a trailer that can't fold. Folding adds more weight and is less strong than a similar straight trailer.

 

[GVH]

I agree on the galvanized if possible

 

[GVH]

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

5x10 sterling galvanized $1000. Well used and damaged $280 for the new rails

 

[GVH]

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

Note what you are looking for but never seen this before

 

[mimico_polak]

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

Note what you are looking for but never seen this before

That’s actually pretty awesome!

 

[GreyGhost]

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

5x10 sterling galvanized $1000. Well used and damaged $280 for the new rails

Wow. Looks like front a-frame may be tweaked, hinges torn off bed and other issues. Yikes. What is scrap value? That's probably close to what that one is worth as it will need a lot of time and money to bring it back.

 

[Mad Mike]

That is going to be a big pull for your car. The ramp up in the air like that will have about as much wind resistance as a solid wall of similar size. I used to pull a lot of trailers and the double enclosed snowmobile trailer was a lot tougher pull than a tandem axle dump trailer unless you were on a steep grade.

As for tongue weight, that depends on distance from centre of mass to axle. As a rough guess, empty trailer will probably have pretty low tongue weight. I would hope 40 lbs but expect 20 lbs or less as that makes it easier to move around without a car. If bikes centre of mass was at centre of bed length, with 900 lbs of bikes, tongue weight is probably ~100-150 lbs. 900*([90/2-34]/90). When I'm setting up trailers for a frequent use, use a bathroom scale under the tongue with a long or similar to have the tongue level. Obviously wheels chocked. Adjust bike position to get the tongue weight you want (heavier is better as long as you don't go over). Personally, I'd probably set the tongue weight with the KLR on at close to 100 lbs. That lets me pick it up and move it if I have to but with a second bike I should still be under 250.

The wind resistance on my 5x9 utility trailer costs about 1l/100km on my mileage when its up.

As for the trailer selection, those stamped sheet metal trailers don't like to be heavily loaded. Concentrated weight, like heavy motorcycles, will likely twist the thing up unless you add something to reinforce mounting points and use a plywood floor. You can de both by bolting down a 3/4" plywood floor and mounting the tiedown points to the floor .

Forum Sponsor