Building a motorcycle trailer. any suggestions?

[rathr-b-cruisin]

I've recently acquired an old 56 ford pick up box that was converted to a trailer. I am going to strip this down to the frame, make it a flat bed trailer for the motorcycle. I do not want to use the original axel for this so I'd like to get a straight tube type axel and put it on instead. I've seen some 2,000 lb axels for like 89 bucks with out any type of leaf springs. Here's the question. If this trailer is for motorcycle hauling only, do you think i need any type of suspension on this trailer? I mean the bike does have it's own suspension after all.

[tallannie]

Get a suspension ! You will take up 3/4 of the bike suspension travel with your tie downs anyway so they are close to rigid to the trailer.
Frank and I damaged our trailer once with our two cruisers on it... over a rough road with tires that had a funny wear pattern that made a regular small (undetectable to us) bounce of the tires.... when we stopped at night it wasnt evident of course. Anyway, we went about 1000 mi and then took the bikes off the trailer and discovered they had bounced up and down enough to puncture thru the diamondplate !! bent it all to hell. The trailer had shaken its LED taillights to death too.
you need a good suspension !

Originally Posted by rathr-b-cruisin

I've recently acquired an old 56 ford pick up box that was converted to a trailer. I am going to strip this down to the frame, make it a flat bed trailer for the motorcycle. I do not want to use the original axel for this so I'd like to get a straight tube type axel and put it on instead. I've seen some 2,000 lb axels for like 89 bucks with out any type of leaf springs. Here's the question. If this trailer is for motorcycle hauling only, do you think i need any type of suspension on this trailer? I mean the bike does have it's own suspension after all.

[Thundurburd]

I've seen a few trailers that didn't have suspensions claiming that the bikes suspension was sufficient. I also ran across a cheap trailer that surprised their new owners with a 45 mph limit after it was delivered. I would put a suspension on any trailer I built. In fact last year I considered building my own bust didn't because I'm in the middle of too many projects already. I started a thread about six months ago about trailers.

Here's a site that sells tailer parts... Portable Generators, Heaters + Wood Stoves, Snow Blowers, Pressure Washers | Northern Tool + Equipment

One option might be to buy a trailer kit and use the parts such as lights, hitch, suspension, etc. to complete your own. Northern tools has a few for about $250, a little light duty however.

There are quite a few trailer parts websites too.

Be very careful, the trailer needs to be strong with enough extra strength to handle cyclic loads without fatigue failures. A fatigue fracture is a sudden break with little or no warning.

[metric sprocket]

Originally Posted by rathr-b-cruisin

I've recently acquired an old 56 ford pick up box that was converted to a trailer. I am going to strip this down to the frame, make it a flat bed trailer for the motorcycle. I do not want to use the original axel for this so I'd like to get a straight tube type axel and put it on instead. I've seen some 2,000 lb axels for like 89 bucks with out any type of leaf springs. Here's the question. If this trailer is for motorcycle hauling only, do you think i need any type of suspension on this trailer? I mean the bike does have it's own suspension after all.

one bike or 2 suspension yes,but not so much that it dozent work.tip you can take or leave make it low and wield in a bracket to apply a tie down across the swing arm.I find it works very well Ron luck

[omegajim]

Those dopey old leaf springs won't do much, but when combined with the tires on the trailer as well as the suspension on the bike, it makes a difference.

Me, I'd be tempted to use the axle off of the truck if it wasn't in too bad a shape. Most things built then were more than heavy enough for the task at hand.

[Alan_Hepburn]

In a similar vein - I have a tow dolly that we use to tow my wife's Ford Escape behind our motorhome. I've been thinking of building up some kind of channel that I could install on the tow dolly so I could put my bike on it and tow the bike or the car. My biggest concern is the lack of a suspension on the tow dolly. It looks like according to the discussion here a suspension of SOME kind is recommended - am I correct?

[rathr-b-cruisin]

Originally Posted by omegajim

Those dopey old leaf springs won't do much, but when combined with the tires on the trailer as well as the suspension on the bike, it makes a difference.

Me, I'd be tempted to use the axle off of the truck if it wasn't in too bad a shape. Most things built then were more than heavy enough for the task at hand.

I could use the axle from the truck, but i'm a little hesitant because. 1) I dont want the differential to cause any more excess drag than needed, and 2) I'm not sure how good the differential is anyway. I'd hate to haul this up to the U P and then find out that the diff seizes up.

Thanks to everybody, I guess i'll need to get an axel with springs if i swap it out.

[omegajim]

I'd be less concerned about the differential freezing up than those crazy drum brakes acting up.

neither of which I think carries a great threat.

If I were to test this, I would jack up one side, spin the wheel and see how much drag there is.

By leaving one wheel on the ground you find out the resistance from the wheel bearings and what kind of resistance the differential creates.

Failing that, there are aftermarket axles available that should pretty much bolt right on to the existing leaf springs.

[KD57]

Having built lots of trailers in my time, I would suggest you find a good used or new homebuilt one. I don't know about up where you are, but around here you can buy 5x10 flatbeds w/ a ramp end gate all day long for 350 bucks. These are nice trailers, w/ suspension. Unless you just want to fool w/ building one. Lots of guys around here build them at their house and set them out in the front yard for sale. There was one down our road just last week, he had it for 350.00, then dropped it to 275.00 to sell it. These type trailers usually are made of angle or channel, then floored w/ 2x6's, have a single 3500 lb. axle, leaf spring suspension, on 14 or 15 inch tires. Down here in TX we have tons of trailer shops around. Prices are low, it gets so competitive.

[omegajim]

He's from Michigan, which means most trailers are used for hauling wood for heating.

Drives up the price of trailers a bit.

and snowmobiles, and atvs, now that I think of it.

[randalseeler]

From my experience it's always better to stray on the safe side. My wife already yells at me enough for buying my ducati, and the track time, ...and the new exhaust, and...well you get the idea, better to spend a little money now and save a lot later

[LCA_koolaid37]

My only suggestion is to make it large enough to house your spouse.

[omegajim]

and mother in law, don't forget mother in law.

That'll require two axles, and then electric trailer brakes to boot.