Trailer Idea...

[dr. nate]

So Saturday chinotex, chevy42083, Will, and I were on our way to the Novemberfest Century. There is another guy that we have done the Moonlight Ramble and the Woodlands ride who hauls his bike on a trailer, along with his cooler, chairs, and other gear. So I thought it would be a good idea to build one of these to haul four to six bikes, a cooler converted into a refrigerator, a battery for the "coolerator", as well as some folding chairs, and an EZ-UP.

So I'm tossing this out to see if anyone has ever considered building one of these? The idea behind this is that even if I couldn't make the ride one of my other friends who drive SUV's might be able to use this as well.

I'm thinking of using a Harbor Freight Trailer: Linke...Clickie Clickie (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42709)

This one folds up so it can be stored in a garage. I was going to build my own sides, make the tailgate turn into a ramp for easier loading. I figure I'll use the A portion of the frame to hold the battery for the "coolerator". Or I could put a cheap tool box on the A portion to stow cycling bags, pumps, etc...stuff that could be locked up for when we are away from the truck and not on the bikes. The bikes we would just secure via bike cable to the trailer (we currently secure them via bike cable to the bike rack).

-Nate

[chinotex]

Nate, you want to just hold on to my water bottles until the Thanksgiving ride? I've got some spares I can use in the meantime.

Regarding the trailer, of course I think it is a fantastic idea, even if I am the only person in Texas who owns a pickup truck without a hitch.

[dr. nate]

Your not the only one without a hitch. My low rider and chevy42083's hot rod don't have hitches.

-Nate

[chinotex]

yeah, but you two should be towing those cars in their own trailers, so that's different. If you need help putting this trailer together, I'm sure me and the other guys will be happy to stand around and drink beer while watching you build it.

[dr. nate]

It would be narley to bag it and have it lay frame.

[chevy42083]

Your not the only one without a hitch. My low rider and chevy42083's hot rod don't have hitches.

-Nate

My Hot rod has a ball on the bumper... should be more than enough to pull a trailer full of bicycles ;) ... and get there in record time :p
The ball isn't really out of place on my truck... why I left the frame mounted tow hooks on the rear I will never know :D Not exactly going offroad with it anymore :D

As for the trailer... I think it's overkill... but then again, that's not out of place for you ;) It would definatly make things easier... only problem; storing it. My bike rack is getting very annoring.... and if I had the money to replace it now, I would. It's big, bulky, awkward to load, and difficult to secure the bikes without trashing them. :( I would love to have a throw bin for my riding bag, and a quick release for the fork, velcro for the rear, and be done and on the road.

I'd like to find a way to cover the bikes.. but that's not really important... but would suck to drive to Dallas or something, and have the bikes caked in the road grime from our own truck.... especially in a rainy wet road condition.

Also, I've seen those quick release fork mounts cheapest on ebay ;)

[dr. nate]

The lowrider doesn't sling much of anything...it all goes in the wheel well. The fullsize, that is a different story. Do you think if the bikes were set far enough back on the trailer that it would keep them clean from what the tires kick up?

-Nate

[simonite]

You need to add a 2 ft tall cowling to the front like motorcycle trailers.

[chevy42083]

yeah, that's pretty much what I was thinking.

[Teeleton]

You need some yosimitie sam mudflaps on the fullsize to keep the debris down. :)

Teeleton

[dr. nate]

You need some yosimitie sam mudflaps on the fullsize to keep the debris down. :)

Teeleton

I was thinking of the naked girl ones...maybe in stainless steel so they "bling" in the sun.