Cargo Trailer Build on the cheap :D
08-09-14, 07:45 AM
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Cargo Trailer Build on the cheap :D
My goal,
A bike trailer for my dog so I can take her with us on the Rails to Trails ride.
and go get beer now and then...
But with a secondary goal, It must not become expensive.
The Master Cycle two kid trailer I found at a VFW post flea market for $15
Only thing missing was the hitch, typical, most people leave that on the bike.
I stripped the thing of all the canvas stuff as all I wanted was the rolling chassis.
I then orderd through my 'LOCAL BIKE SHOP' a Burley hitch for $20...
Yeah Yeah online I found it for $15 and saw other workable not as clean looking hitches for less.
BUT I support my 'LOCAL BIKE SHOP'
Point Made......
The Tires are like new but the thing saw some use and lots of garage time so I got new tubes and rim tape.
$12
So,,,,
Trailer,,,,,,,$15
Hitch,,,,,,,,,$20
Tubes n tape, $12
Total so Far,,$47
I got a small thin 3 ply piece of plywood for a floor,, cost=zero.
Nuts n bolts n screws, got plenty.
Got a dog crate already,,
and a dog,
Maybe a can of spray on wood seal for the floor, so call it $50 done.
The photo's:
Thats a 70 pound floor jack in a 15 pound box and a 2 pound strap on the 16 lb chassis.
Thats a 103 pounds, a Good stress test for the chassis ya think ?
The Burley mount swung a bit forward when I got down hard on the brakes, I will correct that...
My dog is only 31 pounds so estimated finished loaded trailer weight should land about 65 pounds
It pulled and stopped just fine BUT
As I read somewhere on some forum I need to shorten or rebend the drag bar to center the trailer
behind my Tour Easy because it did make for an exciting U-turn with some mid swing braking for
added stability XD
Also I think that rat nasty mess of springs n safety straps on the tongue can be re-done to a lot neater cleaner set up..
But as many of you know the low center of gravity and great stability of the LWB Tour Easy made this
maneuvering surprise a breeze to recover from.
Thank you again Mr. Gardner Martin, You Da Man, High Five biker !
FYI peoples, Notice I have already upgraded my Tour Easy with the very strong Avid BB7 rear disk brake.
I do not think this setup would be very safe with the stock rim brakes on this particular bike
because the Tour Easy by design has a lightly loaded front wheel with very little forward weight shift on hard braking.
Without the trailer I'd guestimate the rear brake does 70% of the stopping when going to full on brakes.
with the trailer I think the rear brake is doing about 80-90%, This is just a feel when testing the point of wheel lock on the front.
No point to all this, Just thought a few would like the read and of course, any pointers ?
I am all ears.
A bike trailer for my dog so I can take her with us on the Rails to Trails ride.
and go get beer now and then...
But with a secondary goal, It must not become expensive.
The Master Cycle two kid trailer I found at a VFW post flea market for $15
Only thing missing was the hitch, typical, most people leave that on the bike.
I stripped the thing of all the canvas stuff as all I wanted was the rolling chassis.
I then orderd through my 'LOCAL BIKE SHOP' a Burley hitch for $20...
Yeah Yeah online I found it for $15 and saw other workable not as clean looking hitches for less.
BUT I support my 'LOCAL BIKE SHOP'
Point Made......
The Tires are like new but the thing saw some use and lots of garage time so I got new tubes and rim tape.
$12
So,,,,
Trailer,,,,,,,$15
Hitch,,,,,,,,,$20
Tubes n tape, $12
Total so Far,,$47
I got a small thin 3 ply piece of plywood for a floor,, cost=zero.
Nuts n bolts n screws, got plenty.
Got a dog crate already,,
and a dog,
Maybe a can of spray on wood seal for the floor, so call it $50 done.
The photo's:
Thats a 70 pound floor jack in a 15 pound box and a 2 pound strap on the 16 lb chassis.
Thats a 103 pounds, a Good stress test for the chassis ya think ?
The Burley mount swung a bit forward when I got down hard on the brakes, I will correct that...
My dog is only 31 pounds so estimated finished loaded trailer weight should land about 65 pounds
It pulled and stopped just fine BUT
As I read somewhere on some forum I need to shorten or rebend the drag bar to center the trailer
behind my Tour Easy because it did make for an exciting U-turn with some mid swing braking for
added stability XD
Also I think that rat nasty mess of springs n safety straps on the tongue can be re-done to a lot neater cleaner set up..
But as many of you know the low center of gravity and great stability of the LWB Tour Easy made this
maneuvering surprise a breeze to recover from.
Thank you again Mr. Gardner Martin, You Da Man, High Five biker !
FYI peoples, Notice I have already upgraded my Tour Easy with the very strong Avid BB7 rear disk brake.
I do not think this setup would be very safe with the stock rim brakes on this particular bike
because the Tour Easy by design has a lightly loaded front wheel with very little forward weight shift on hard braking.
Without the trailer I'd guestimate the rear brake does 70% of the stopping when going to full on brakes.
with the trailer I think the rear brake is doing about 80-90%, This is just a feel when testing the point of wheel lock on the front.
No point to all this, Just thought a few would like the read and of course, any pointers ?
I am all ears.
Last edited by osco53; 11-29-16 at 06:31 AM.
