[Blindstitch]

After doing the trailer hitch for my bike I realized one thing I still needed was a nice shinny ball. Well I'm semi confused. I ended up just buying a 1 7/8 ball for the bike but is there really a reason for the different ball sizes? Not really talking about 3 inch but 1 7/8 and 2 inch is very close?

In the long run I figured $7 for a ball or two isn't as bad as the price of the attachment.

 

[CXSarnia]

'normal load' trailer (class I or II) usually has 1-7/8" balls - the more heavy duty trailers would be 2" or larger.

If I were you, Stick with what you know!... Small balls are better!

 

[kingston73]

Stitch,

First off, it cracks me up to see guys like you and Sarnia labeled as "newbie". Second, did you post pictures of your trailer attachment? I missed it if you did, what are you going to be towing? My toyota has a 1 7/8 ball on it, that was what I used to tow my CX home back when I first got it, should be good for any load you'd be pulling.

 

[Blindstitch]

I had a post running for a few weeks about the trailer hitch.

Bear helped me make it down at his place in Joliet/rockdale. Eventually we will probably mod saddlebag attachments to it since the ones from honda are crap compared to anything we could build.

 

[Blindstitch]

I would like a trailer like this one but they are pretty costly and I don't want to pay $1000 plus for a trailer.

So I will probably go something similar to this.

24x30 would be fine. And then add wheels.

 

[Dana_h_acdc]

cool but why is there no balls? kidding... Hmmm... I wonder if my dad's old bike trailer is still in buffalo, I wonder if it has a title still and I wonder if my mom would be willing to part with it? be nice if I ever go on a bike trip cross country. It was custom welded aluminum trailer made around 1980 or so for the CB750 he had. I doubt my mom will ever use it except for scrap$$

 

[stormtrooper784]

[I would ditch the "Balls" altogether, and go with a form of "U-Joint" conection to allow for greater range of motion between the bike, and trailor.



But what do I know, this is only my first post here!!!!! LOL!

 

[PhoenixBlaze]

I'm hoping 1 7/8" is good because that's what I bought for mine. Now I just have to make time to actually make the hitch! lol

 

[ramprat06]

One factor about balls, they hook up in a way to limit a certain range of motion. Any arrangement needs to be wary of "fishtail" in an emergency. Safety measures, highly recommended.



If that is not enough innuendo for one night......

 

[DavidfromWisconsin]

Don,



Make sure that your hitch is low enough that the tongue of the trailer doesn't go uphill to the hitch. The uphill position tends to add to the possibility of fishtailing. Also, as a rule the longer the tongue of the tailer the better that it will track behind you ... but you don't want it too long either.



When you get a trailer I will talk to you about mounting a spare tire if you are going to carry one. There are important point that you should know. One mounted wrong came close to making me crash once.

 

[ChopperCharles]

I have that UMBT-1 trailer. It pulls really nice... i might be willing to sell it if you're near Durham, NC.



Charles.

 

[CXSarnia]

Stitch,

First off, it cracks me up to see guys like you and Sarnia labeled as "newbie". Second, did you post pictures of your trailer attachment? I missed it if you did, what are you going to be towing? My toyota has a 1 7/8 ball on it, that was what I used to tow my CX home back when I first got it, should be good for any load you'd be pulling.

Thanks for the thought, I was chatting with BS tonight about exactly that. I think I was over 2,700 posts, and he was onto his 2nd or 3rd identity which goes up to 5,000 posts!

 

[DavidfromWisconsin]

I have that UMBT-1 trailer. It pulls really nice... i might be willing to sell it if you're near Durham, NC.



Charles.

Charles,



What would you want for the trailer??? Are you going to the Amish Rally???

 

[Blindstitch]

I was thinking about the uphill angle and I know my hitch is a bit higher than it maybe should be but I was thinking about a goose-neck style extension from the trailer instead of straight out. I was basically using bicycle style trailers as a thought platform.



Sarnia. I think I can do a cached search to find the amount of posts you had.

I know mine were 5,000 + 9950 ish on the second user.





Edit.....

Sarnia somehow I found it.



Top 10 Posts

Joined on 01-11-2008

Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

Posts 2,614

 

[Blindstitch]

Here's a picture of the whole bike.

 

[Trickster]

Don, ball diameter is in direct corelation to trailer size/weight.

1 7/8" is what you require for your light load.

I did not notice chain stays on your hitch (yet?)

Required by law in alot of places.



Also for your trailer you can get a pivot on the tongue for lateral movement of the trailer, so it can move independently

from the bike on the longitudal axis. This is common on better quality motorcycle trailers. BTW the longer the trailer tonque the better the stability at speed, as opposed to being too short.



Rick

 

[Blindstitch]

Yeah I'm stay less at the minute but it won't be hard to add them. There are several options along with hitting up my welding buddy. I have more work that I want to do on the assembly.

 

[Trickster]

Well I like what you have done so far looks very solid.



I did not notice your exhaust before.....2 into 1

 

[Billrod]

I have always understood that 15% of the trailer weight should be on the hitch.

 

[Blindstitch]

Well I like what you have done so far looks very solid.



I did not notice your exhaust before.....2 into 1

Yes it is. The two into two didn't like me. It does make it really quick to drop the exhaust. The only thing I don't like is it leaves the left side a bit bare.