more of the new hitch
 

Got it all assembled today, did a final test fit.

Will have to got to the HW store to get the vinyl covered clamps to mount it, as well as the hitch pins. I'm going to cut the head off the hitch bolt and drill for the pins. Needs to be quick attach & remove, an improvement over the last one with the double nuts arrangement.

http://jens-home-renovation.no-ip.in...altestfit1.png

http://jens-home-renovation.no-ip.in...altestfit2.png

http://jens-home-renovation.no-ip.in...altestfit3.png

Next step will be modifying the trailer to fit with the centered hitch. Will start on that tomorrow, after the final install of the hitch. will post pics of the completed unit.

I am also wanting to put mudguards on the bike, as I am out in all weather with my deliveries. I'll post those pics in a new thread.

Here is my trailer I built it myself and I use it every day to do deliveries for my shop...

Attachment 170622

Here it is loaded down with 165 pounds of stuff......

Attachment 170623

Got to ride slowly and carefully with that much weight on there! :thumb:

I just found out about this company - I like their work. http://www.new.zambikes.org/

Charlie , like the low center of gravity on your new design ! Will there be enough clearance for bad weather riding ? I ride a wally world bike too ! It was a freebe
& wanted to try multi-geared bike . Good luck & safe rides .

Worthlees, thank you for the comment. Yes, I think there will be enough room for foul weather riding. Will be putting mudguards on the bike before the snow flies, that will keep most of the crud contained.

Had to make a small change in the design. The inner tube wraps on the chainstays didn't work out so well. Allowed too much movement of the framework. So I made a couple of plates and clamped them on with 4 vinyl covers clamps each. Is now solid!

There is one caveat with this system though, in order to remove the rear wheel, I have to pull the skewer completely out.

Left side view:

http://jens-home-renovation.no-ip.info/ss/finished1.png

Right oblique:

http://jens-home-renovation.no-ip.info/ss/finished2.png

Complete with trailer:

http://jens-home-renovation.no-ip.in...andtrailer.png

Close-up of hitch:

http://jens-home-renovation.no-ip.in...hitchclose.png

Next project for the bike is figuring out how to make a front carrier.

Here's my farm bike with its trailer
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=171314http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=171315http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=171316http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=171317

Here's my farm bike with its trailer

Nice job Charlie,

I have a similar setup on the back of my bike but I use a small ball joint...

http://jwd.org.uk/hitch1.jpg

I changed this setup when I motorized my trailer as I didn't think the towball would hold up, plus I needed the trailer to be able to Yaw n' pitch - tip on bumpy ground. But I ended up going back to the ball hitch, it has held up nicely but I dont have a lot of yaw n' pitch.

Looks like you have solved the Yaw n' Pitch with the first joint on your hitch - if this in fact swivels?

http://jens-home-renovation.no-ip.in...hitchclose.png

Regards
Tom

Thank you!
Yes, each joint swivels. I have a wood "bearing" in the first joint where it attaches to the mainframe, to take up the space inside the square tubing.

That is the same trailer I built shown earlier in this thread, modified for this set-up. I shortened and centered the hitch portion, and the deck. I had a problem with cornering with the trailer at speeds above 10mph(16kph) with the long tongue, wanted to flip if the trailer hit any sort of a bump. Tacoed a couple of wheels from the extreme side loading when that happened. can take corners at 18mph(29kph) now before the inside wheel wants to leave the ground. I figured out that I didn't need a 5 foot (1.5 metre) long deck for the loads I carried.

That little homebuilt pulls like a dream now! Is also so much easier to maneuver in close quarters, and stores in the garage easier too.

I will be building another trailer soon, with adjustable length for hauling long lumber, similar to the BAW idea. Front section will separate from the wheel section when loaded, and the wheels placed near the balance point of the load. The lumber would be tied securely to both sections making the lumber itself become the body of the trailer. When not loaded the sections will be connected with these.

Started with a Trek Kid's Trailer. Added wooden deck lined with Aluminum rails. Built last weekend to haul my tools around. I used tie up a Tool Chest with Wheels behind me. Rode that till the wheels literally fell off. I had made another trailer from a shopping cart and wheelchair. A bit heavy and tracking was off. Decided to try a single wheel trailer based on thoughts and ideas garnered from this site (thanks). Seems to be working out ok, so far.
Started with a 24" wheel, but have changed it to a 20".
I want to add electric motor in the future to it.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/...1d1894fff5.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/...1f32924c03.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/...2b1e35a490.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/...08369b00dc.jpg

Now that's an awesome idea cuz it's simple to implement. I think yours is the very first example I've seen.

Wow, some of you folks seem to have a lot of time and $$ on your hands to make trailers and make more trailers... must be nice. Me, I have to work, no more play time for trailers after I built mine - seriously, must be nice.

So much useful creativity. Great job everyone!

Got creative with my free trailer today...

Before...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/mectrailer2.JPG

After... the 100 litre container dropped in perfectly between the axle mounts.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...trailerv2a.JPG

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...trailerv2b.JPG

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...trailerv2c.JPG

Here is my last winter's trailer project made mainly from a rigid titanium wheelchair frame flipped upside down, chopped, & with a 250 lb. rated axle tube moved around. It has quick release axles, some aluminum frame extensions, and a small amount of steel at the tip. Empty weight is about 8.5 lbs., and I usually haul my tool case and laptop all totalling about 75 lbs.

http://wheeloptions.tripod.com/truck...0328101151.jpg

http://wheeloptions.tripod.com/truck...0328101152.jpg

http://wheeloptions.tripod.com/truck...328101149b.jpg

That is awesome !

I really think it's cool how you guys made some of your trailers. I would be so excited to make my own if I had to equipments to do a "pro" build. Fer now, I'm quite satisfied with my bikes at work trailer. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/...9d112421_b.jpg

Hey Sixty Fiver, thanks for the compliment. I'm not sure this quite qualifies as a trailer, but it is trailered anyway. My girlfriend can't steer and pedal at the same time, so this takes care of the steering. The handcycle has been modified quite a bit for positioning and gearing for higher than normal road speeds for a handcycle. The hitch itself is a little hard to see, but it does pivot up & down on 4 bearings at the foot cages, and I used 1/2" flexible pvc for a universal joint. This hitch is constructed entirely of steel components for safety, and with 15 degree camber on the rear wheels it's quite stable.


http://wheeloptions.tripod.com/truck...r/DSC04713.jpg


http://wheeloptions.tripod.com/truck...r/DSC04714.jpg

http://wheeloptions.tripod.com/truck...r/DSC04716.jpg
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=174224http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=174225http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=174223

....Awesome. I love the design, simple, functional, and highly versatile.
If I ever get deeper into photography and need a equipment trailer (dreaming....let me dream!) This looks looks like on of the best ways to tow a lot of stuff, or something similar to this anyways.

Hi Oscuro, thanks for the compliment. Used wheelchair parts are great for building things with. I had thought about building a level bed trailer using independent quick release axle assemblies, but decided I didn't need the loading area. I considered the parts shown below that happen to be from Sunrise Medical catalogs, and the axle parts as pairs are usually rated in the 250 pound range. I used a previous version of the ultra lite spoke wheel assembly on my trailer. It was available as used, weighs very little, and runs 24x1" Primo clincher tires @ 110psi. Wheelchair wheels are almost always radially spoked for lateral stiffness. Maybe your local wheelchair shop could source you some cheap or even free used parts?

http://wheeloptions.tripod.com/truck...dAxlePlate.jpg

http://wheeloptions.tripod.com/truck...leaseAxles.jpg

http://wheeloptions.tripod.com/truck...SpokeWheel.jpg

I wish I had more money I could then afford a car here in the city to haul my tools around :)
The bike I found in a basement on a job I was doing. The tires needed patching, some cleaning up and a part here and there. The trailer I got from a bike rental place that was selling off old stock for $50. The rest of the materials I got from the scrap heap.
I've managed to haul all kinds of things around on it. I tied an air compressor on wheels behind it without he trailer loaded up. Carried 2 ten foot lengths of 4" PVC on it. I regularly haul around 50-75lb of tools hung in cases and bags off the sides.
The only shortcoming is that I can't move loads like a 5 gallon bucket of paint. The center of gravity is too high. I'm planning on building a two wheeler or a single wheel with a the wheel trailing the payload area.
I haven't been a bike rider much in my life, but I'm now exercising the potential of pedal power.

http://wheeloptions.tripod.com/truck...r/DSC04713.jpg

This is a whole new level of awesomeness.

My 25 foot long contraption :)
 

Hey all, I just joined and thought I'd post a picture of my rig.

'96 Marin Pine Mountain, converted to an xtracycle a couple of years back. Attached is a 1st generation bikes at work trailer purchased off craigslist from a contractor who used to run his business entirely by bike!

The photo is on the bank of the Charles River outside of Cambridge and the total length with the boat is about 25 feet--much fun to ride through Harvard Square!

Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful trailers and some incredibly inventive designs!

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_U_2DaXJ_NNM/TM...0/IMG_0577.JPG

looks good!

Like the boat trailer, looks great !

M-Wave experiment.

I'm new to bicycle camping but have gone several times this past Fall on a local rails to trails system. I purchased the Nashbar trailer but on its second trip the skewer snapped forcing me to push it like a handle-less wheel barrow with one arm and my bike with the other for over 3 miles. Fortunately I was able to return it for a refund (which I'm yet to see but it's only been a few days). So, while shopping for options I came across the M-Wave trailer but could find very little information or reviews.

http://i56.tinypic.com/2wfl3ev.jpg

They sell in the 200 - 220 range and when I saw Meijer had them on sale for $120 with an October free shipping code I decided to give it a try and these are my first observations.

The box arrived pretty beat up, as if it had been shuffled around in a warehouse for a long time.
http://i56.tinypic.com/11wa3vs.jpg

It had quite a few rub marks and tiny flecks of rust here and there which may explain the price. I'm still pleased enough to not return the trailer, if it hadn't been $80 off I would.
http://i53.tinypic.com/29vgrhv.jpg

Now to shed some weight. I weighed myself (on old analog bathroom scales) holding the trailer and wheels and concluded it weighed 31 lbs.. Then I took the top rails off to convert it to a flat bed dry bag & fishing tackle hauler and the rails weighed 8lbs.. So, if my scales and math are correct, the trailer weighs about 23lbs topless.
http://i53.tinypic.com/2zquh5e.jpg http://i54.tinypic.com/alhxdg.jpg

The trailer arm is tucked under it, it doesn't appear to come with any form of quick release hitch. Also, the floor is made from a very stout plastic which seems to be sturdy enough. I'll post a road / trail test when I get the chance.

This trailer is proving to be very versatile... used it during a food bank drive on Sunday night and was shuttling loads back and forth to the drop point all night.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...iveforrest.JPG

I just love what you get done with that folder! I know quite a few people who think there only purpose is riding to the office and maybe light errands. Good to see proper examples of what they are really capable of!

People are always asking me... "is it fast", "how much can you carry", "won't those wheels break"... :)

Top speed for the night was 40kmh (it isn't geared to go much faster then this), carried as much as 100 pounds in the trailer, and I have put over 3000 km on those wheels this year... they have never needed any truing.

It is great for towing that trailer... the low COG of the bike really adds to the overall stability and I should have hooked it up to an 8 foot trailer as it would pull those just s easily.