home built trailer
 

I finally have a donor bike to build a trailer with. I was thinking a single wheel design using the front fork and wheel as the wheel.

I've seen a couple of good ideas online, but I'm struggling with finding a good hitch design.

I'm thinking something that mounts on the rear triangle and not the axle (problematic with my rack to some extent.

Anyone have any DIY designs for this that they're happy with? I was looking on instructables and they always seem to buy a hitch or mount on the seat post. The other designs I find seem complicated.

I don't weld, so that's a limitation.

I built this trailer using salvage materials and simple hand tools back in the 80's and still use it.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It...e-Trailer.aspx

http://www.motherearthnews.com/multi...id=67956&seq=0

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http://www.motherearthnews.com/multi...id=67956&seq=2

http://www.motherearthnews.com/multi...id=67956&seq=3

I beefed the frame up by using hard white oak from a shipping pallet so it will carry 300+ lbs. I also used 20" wheels from a kids bike to lower the center of gravity for better trailing.

I built a homemade trailer, mainly just for fun. Used it to haul some junk to the recycler, etc.
I took a piece of angle aluminum, drilled a hole on one angle for the axle, and another hole on the other angle. I rounded of the corner of this angle, and then put a quicklink through it. Quicklink goes through a hole in the trailer pull bar, done.
It's bulletproof, but it does have some play in it. It's never bothered me, and it cost me free dollars.

I didn't even think about the smaller wheel lowering the center of gravity. Maybe I should keep the kids bike I have instead of selling it.

Although I regularly have a trunk bag on my bike, so I'd like a something that mounts low on the frame, but it seems like most of the home built trailer use a seat post mounted hitch. Is it easier? Stronger to build?

Can you post picture of this? I can't seem to visualize it.

Yes, a seat post hitch is very easy to build using tire side wall and is as strong as metal plus you get flex . What's not to like?

I have to take off my trunk bag to use it. I don't want to have to take things off my bike to use a trailer.

Ok, fine with me now get busy and construct a hitch from a front fork and some conduit !

I found this hitch design (scroll near the bottom):

http://www.geneandsue.com/bike_trailer/bike_trailer.htm

I'm assuming I would need to go to a two wheel setup with this design. But for the loads I plan to carry, that's probably not a bad thing.

Nice! This fella put a lot of thought into this trailer and could do you well.

Or you could just borrow his hitch design..........

Definitely going to borrow the hitch design. I just don't see how it would work unless I go two wheels. I thought one wheel would be nice, but I'm thinking 2 wheels will be more versatile.