Small trailers? | Page 5 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Small trailers?

Forum Sponsor
Ash said:
Even if you don't overbuild it, a quick off-the-shelf parts list for a home-built trailer is already over $600 before tax (axle assembly, wheels+tires, leaf suspension, lights, coupler), and that doesn't even include the metal for the frame or the plywood for the deck.
Click to expand...
I bought a Lincoln MIG welder but not their cart, figuring I could make my own cheaper. Then I found out I could buy a passable one from Princess Auto for the price of the steel alone. IIRC it was a dollar a pound including all the hardware.

A possible source of trailers is a trailer park. Sometimes people abandon wrecks and they get hauled into the bush. You end up doing a lot of dismantling but all the parts are there. They will probably need new tires and the axles may be too heavy duty for a light haul trailer. Camper trailers are better. Sometimes they appear on Kijiji or Craigslist, free or really cheap.
 
mimico_polak said:
Seeing a bunch more trailers popping up so may be able to pull a trigger soon (missed the one by @crankcall as I just didn't see it posted dammit!). But a question...is there a way to take a 4x8 or 5x9 trailer and just stand it up?

I'd prefer the folding ones, but since I don't feel like keeping it in the front yard, I wouldn't mind putting it along the side of the house behind the gate...it may squeeze through the gate but I'd like to stand it up simply for storage space saving. Or does it need to be in the position it's in always? Basically is the frame strong enough to support itself laying on the side, or standing up?
Click to expand...
I stand my little one on end (described earlier in the thread, approx 200lb and 8' total overall length) and it's a hefty lift. A proper 4x8 would be heavier and much, much harder to lift on end due to the additional length. You would need two really tall guys to do it, or something like a winch. Maybe quick-disconnect pins instead of bolts on the suspension linkages would let you drop the axle, wheels and suspension off as a unit and reduce the weight to make it a one-person job.

You will also need to either have the taillights mounted on the sides, set back from the trailing edge, or have them quick-detach somehow. Plus the license plate hanging down under the trailing edge. I've got mine on a stiff hinge, so it stays folded out of the way.

Tipping it on the side would be a one-person job, but you'd have to be careful with the fenders. It'll also still take up more space than you expect with the wheels and axles sticking out from the wall.
 
Regarding fitting it through the gate, mine has a 40" wide deck and is 54" from fender to fender. So add at least 8" for a 4x8 deck. Subtract a couple of inches if you're willing to remove the fenders each time. Mine will fit through one of my gates, but not the other.
 
Lyndsay said:
I was just up at Woody's cycle near Perth and he is selling an old motorcycle trailer. It's set up for one bike in the middle, or two; one on each side. It has a little ramp and channels for the tires. Low bed for easy loading. It looks really rough, and he banged the wheel wells down in the middle for clearance of the bikes I think, which makes it look even rougher. I think I would extend the side channels and return the wheel wells to a proper state. This might also make it easier to ensure proper tongue weight. Anyway, $250. I took some pictures on my cell phone, but it's a flip, so getting them off is not easy. Once I do, I'll post pics. L
Click to expand...

Worked as an elevator operator and have a flip-phone....how old are you?!!
 
I think getting a utility trailer would be a better option instead of a motorcycle specific trailer.

You can always use the utility trailer to bring home the new couch the wifey always wants to change. ;)
 
GVH said:

Log into Facebook

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

5,10x8 flare deck tilting. $500
Click to expand...
I dislike 8" tires due to stories from old-timers but I haven't had major issues with them. If you get a flat just throw out the rim and tire and buy a new one. Getting those tires on and off is a nightmare and I pinched a tube trying to put it back together.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ash
GVH said:
www.kijiji.ca

Kijiji - Buy, Sell & Save with Canada's #1 Local Classifieds

Visit Kijiji Classifieds to buy, sell, or trade almost anything! New and used items, cars, real estate, jobs, services, vacation rentals and more virtually anywhere.
www.kijiji.ca www.kijiji.ca

only $230 for what ever this is.
Click to expand...
Hahaha. Definitely cheaper than buying the parts to build it. It has a winch mount and everything in case you want to move dead things around..
 
My math is always a bit suspect, but given the diameters and derived circumferences from etrailer I think that at 100km/hr:
- a 4.80-8" tire is spinning at ~1,300rpm
- a 4.80-12" tire is spinning at ~1,020rpm

If we're totally going to geek out we'd probably need @Brian P to weigh in, but it looks like the RPM limit of a L44643 bearing is 13,000rpm. I've got 8" on mine and I don't worry too much about them.
 
Ash said:
My math is always a bit suspect, but given the diameters and derived circumferences from etrailer I think that at 100km/hr:
- a 4.80-8" tire is spinning at ~1,300rpm
- a 4.80-12" tire is spinning at ~1,020rpm

If we're totally going to geek out we'd probably need @BrianP to weigh in, but it looks like the RPM limit of a L44643 bearing is 13,000rpm. I've got 8" on mine and I don't worry too much about them.
Click to expand...
You aren't worried about the bearing self-destructing due to overspeed, heat is your enemy. I suspect if you dig into the bearing specs there will be a comment about flowing oil to maintain those speeds. The 8" tires seem to be more affected by heat as well. Maybe because they have less time to cool before flexing again?
 
GreyGhost said:
You aren't worried about the bearing self-destructing due to overspeed, heat is your enemy. I suspect if you dig into the bearing specs there will be a comment about flowing oil to maintain those speeds. The 8" tires seem to be more affected by heat as well. Maybe because they have less time to cool before flexing again?
Click to expand...
I do pull over and check the heat with a hand every now and then. Neither hub nor tire has ever been noticeably warmer than the metal frame (eg: the only heat present is due to the sun), even after 45 minutes at 110 on the highway. Due to the lower internal volume you do need to pay closer attention to the tire pressure than with a larger tire though. Losing some air puts you at a dangerous pressure faster, and I suspect that's the real reason for a lot of anecdotal 8" tire failures. They also call for much higher pressures than most people realize.
 
small trailer tires +- 8-10lbs = friction = heat= failure.

During my short stint as a tow truck driver , based near the 401, we harvested a lot of 8-10-12" trailer wheel repairs , because tent trailer folks, and tin boat guys, and mom&pop moving junior to college are not trailer people , they dont do basic lubes, they put 900Lbs of PT lumber in the tinny to get to the cottage and who left all the space inside the tent trailer if you werent supposed to fill it with everything ??
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom