[sandgropher]

Is anyone considering or planning to tow a motorcycle trailer behind their AT.

I am seeking to exchange ideas on how best to add a tow bar to the AT and to discover if any company makes hitches for the AT.

Cheers

 

[Jyrays]

Get a Goldwing!

 

[JasonWD]

Ive always been interested in why people tow trailers with bikes.

I suppose a single wheel trailer like the BOB bicycle trailer would be okay as it is slim, but surely you can get everything you need on the bike?

 

[BenB]

I've been toying with the idea too. I wondered whether there was a towed weight limit. It would be great to tow my C90!

 

[sandgropher]

It is horses for courses JasonWD. I am often on tour for months at a time and its a great way of keeping costs down and allows you to carry more than you can on a bike.

 

[JasonWD]

It is horses for courses JasonWD. I am often on tour for months at a time and its a great way of keeping costs down and allows you to carry more than you can on a bike.

Does that not negate some of the freedom of a motorbike? I can see a trailer on a harley or Goldwing, but the AT seems such a go anywhere bike.

Thinking aloud, a trike or a convertible car would be better wouldn't it?

I'm genuinely interested.

 

[AussieTwin]

Several years ago my father converted an old fridge into a trailer. He built a light weight chassis and it ran on two small wheels on a fixed axle. The lid became a table etc

It was weather and dust tight as well as reasonably light once he striped out the electrics etc. He also built a lean too tent into the side so you just pulled up and you had the tent up in about 5 mins. From memory there was a limit to what his BMW could tow.

Initially I thought it was a waste of time and over kill but he lived on the road for well over a year...and did losts of trips all over Australia. As to the freedom thing...it's simply a case of disconnect and off you go.

Not sure the AT is the right bike but.....

 

[FullThrottle]

Aren't Goldwing hitches made for bikes with a more substantial rear end?

 

[alphamav]

Did you find a trailer?

I want to tote our two Border Collie fur-babies (~90lbs). I'm not having a great time locating my ideal trailer. Moto-mule comes closest and cheapest.

If I custom-made my own:

Attachment Point: I don't want a rough ride so I would like to attach it to the sub-frame to soak up impacts.

Frame & Box: I'd want a roll-cage with some kind of padding to reduce injuries for unpredictable situations. For wind and debris protection, maybe Lexan with some 3M film to prevent chips on the front and block UV but still be see-through. Mesh on the sides and more Lexan on the back to prevent fumes from being sucked into their cabin.


Wheel & Swingarm: I'm thinking a rear-end off an Apollo 125 dirt-bike as they seem to be cheap/common enough. I could maybe use the headtube for the pivot point.

Braking: Since I have the DCT, I'd get a left-hand brake and run a hose terminated with a drybreak non-spill coupling connector to the tail to connect with the hose to the trailer's caliper.


The main issue I can think of is if the dogs shift their weight and affect rotational/twist force or tongue weight, whether driving straight or in a corner. This makes me lean towards a wagon trailer, which affects cost, weight, and/or complexity...but solves the rotational/tongue-weight-shifting issue. Also, it could then be attached to the rear axle, but the trailer steering would be thrown off after hitting a bump mid-turn either way...

Maybe I should just go with the Wallick leaning dual side-car approach...If I had many, many more thousands of discretionary dollars...and it probably has its own issues with fore-aft weight shifting forces. Meh, I'm stuck with a car or a motorcycle and no bundles of joy. I wouldn't ride a non-leaning motorcycle.

 

[MT24]

Hey Sandgroper I am currently thinking of how to get a hitch on a Africa Twin to tow this: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200612543_200612543 Any info you could give me?
Thanks

 

[11674]

Look to Phil Funnell for some answers.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.532529036820990.1073741840.164076916999539&type=3
http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/sports/276984911.html

 

[High Country]

My Ford F-250 works fine for towing, and can haul the AT in it...but what is the fun in that? Can't think of a trailer full of stuff I would want to take on a motorcycle trip. And besides the unpaved roads are the way to go.

 

[Roman Sem 2]

Buy a Harley, buy a trailer for Harley and park the AT on it ...

On the other hand AT is an ADV bike so make shure that on trailer should be mounted proper tires

 

[Solarinsocal]

This is what I have for my Super Tenere when I need to tow. Something similar may be possible for the AT.

 

[43alaska]

I tow with the GW and love it! I thought about a single wheel for my AT also. Do what you want, who cares what anyone says!

 

[bdalameda]

I used to have a Unigo single wheel trailer that I used on my ST1100 Honda when touring and camping with my wife some years ago. The UNIGO being a single wheel and having a multi-axis hitch would lean into turns and articulate the connection so it really wasn’t very intrusive at all.

 

[Motobiker]

These people mention the africa twin. but it might be the earlier bike. Worth asking though.

https://kipmoto.com/products/sherpax-lightweight-dual-sport-trailer

 

[playinatwork]

I've towed my race bikes with Honda ST1300's and a Yamaha FJR. I plan to build a hitch for my AT to tow my trials bike with it.
Notice the curve in this pic. Decreasing radius, steep downhill, off camber, on WV 250. It was so gnarly, I had to go back and run it twice while towing the KTM525.

 

[locopny]

I dont recall where I saw it, but a company was building an off-highway capable lightweight single wheel pivoting hitch for use behind motorcycles. Used a very simple frame and built to fit a tote. Had a video of it being used over a short enduro course. I want to say it was a company maybe based in Oregon? Washington? Colorado?
Thought the idea was interesting, but it wasn't something I would see myself using on an ADV bike. Goldwing...trailer for the dogs...much more likely.

I'll update if I can find it again.


Edit/Update:
I guess if I read all the links...Motobiker listed the link of the one I was thinking of about 3 posts up.

 

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You can look at this https://trailtail.com/