Let's talk race trailers

**Satch** · 8th January 2007, 17:15

Hey everyone

well over the past year ive spent a fortune on trailer hire carting bikes all over the show. I now find myself with the time the skills and the resources to build myself a real nice custom race trailer , (dont actually race yet )

i figure if im going to build one then its not much extra effort to build another one or 2 and flick them at cost and a bit of labour.

all trailers would be built to a high standard and avaliable in custom colours of course

Heres what im thinking, my ones going to be dual purpose, to haul around my poleskis aswell as bikes. Its goint to have a flat deck so it can be used for general purpose aswell. Have a good gear box up front, say 2 footish siding for looks and aerodynamics and a spiffy paintjob to match my truck and some nice alloys. I havent decided about lowering or tilting options yet as i tend to think it may be a bit over the top when a couple of nice stowable ramps will do.

so, i reckon most of you guys that actually have them will be hanging around this forum and have some good ideas to build into it, you know the things youve always wished you trailer had!

what ya reckon about wheel chocks and channels? gearboxes? built in petrol tank etc? tool area, fodl out siding for work bench?? so many ideas!! throw some ideas or designs out at me and ill let you know how it goes. basically im looking for input and ideas from you guys that know how to use them!

also if anyone out there is seriously considering a trailer, heres a chance to have your input into your own one!

any input appreciated

thanks

kane

**Goblin** · 8th January 2007, 17:20

Better off with a LWB van. Can only legally do 90km/h towing a trailer and unless it's a fully enclosed jobbie, ya cant lock everything. Van is the way to go IMHO.

**Darkman** · 8th January 2007, 17:39

I am after a small, light weight trailer. Something that is not to wide. Something in the line of the following but with the bike in the middle.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...p-32664527.htm

**Karma** · 8th January 2007, 17:48

I'd say wheel tracks would be advisable, and rings etc... for tiedowns as well to make sure it's all secure.

**Disco Dan** · 8th January 2007, 17:52

I may be wrong but I am sure building your own trailer is now a very expensive and complicated process... as they need to be approved, vinned etc and a whole load of other nasties... It used to be easy to build your own, but laws changed and it's now apparently very dificult.

My advice, look on trademe and buy one. Will save you so much hassle.

**sAsLEX** · 8th January 2007, 17:58

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

I may be wrong but I am sure building your own trailer is now a very expensive and complicated process... as they need to be approved, vinned etc and a whole load of other nasties... It used to be easy to build your own, but laws changed and it's now apparently very dificult.

My advice, look on trademe and buy one. Will save you so much hassle.

Yeah think you need certed welder etc now, we built our own and now have a "homebuilt" reg that can be moved to any trailer we build in future muwhahahah!

**Cleve** · 8th January 2007, 17:58

I have a real basic trailer built by some dumb arse South Island guy... it is nearly new but I would like someone with half a brain (ie lives in North Is - preferably top half) to do a few extra things.
PM me if you are interested.

Also the whole, van, ute, trailer ... debate is an older one in the race forums. Can't be arsed going back but if you are interested go find it. It came from a poll. Best way to carry your bike...

**Hellraiser** · 8th January 2007, 18:25

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

I may be wrong but I am sure building your own trailer is now a very expensive and complicated process... as they need to be approved, vinned etc and a whole load of other nasties... It used to be easy to build your own, but laws changed and it's now apparently very dificult.

This be wrong young grasshopper. only thing that needs to be cert is the draw bar hence why you start with an old trailer, you then reregister it as scratch built and you are allowed yearly warrants again. Total cost to get a trailer reg & wof about $130.00

**Motu** · 8th January 2007, 19:11

You can still build your own,you can buy trailer parts at various places,Repco and Supercheap on the retail side.I'm going to keep my new axle and coupling and make a new one soon....like,when I run out of things to do....

Make it single handed loading and unloading - easy to push up and the bike stay upright in it's chock unsupported,then you can sort out the tie downs without having to hold the bike with one hand.

**boostin** · 8th January 2007, 19:37

I have been going over this idea for a couple of weeks lately.

Any ideas on what you want to use for suspension, I have been told by a mate that the easiest (not cheapest) is these.

http://www.trojan.co.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145833594

When I saw some prices on trade me I lost a bit of interest, but now I forget what the price was...

**sAsLEX** · 8th January 2007, 19:42

Originally Posted by boostin

I have been going over this idea for a couple of weeks lately.

Any ideas on what you want to use for suspension, I have been told by a mate that the easiest (not cheapest) is these.

http://www.trojan.co.nz/index.asp?PageID=2145833594

When I saw some prices on trade me I lost a bit of interest, but now I forget what the price was...

Get the rear end out of a Honda City or something with leaf springs is an easy option.....

**vtec** · 8th January 2007, 22:20

Check this baby out, The back gate doubles as a ramp, and it can take 3 bikes and paddock stands and gas tanks and all sorts. Has been improved slightly since it was recovered after it got stolen.

Was trying to attach another pic, but just refer to this thread for example:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=37628

**What?** · 9th January 2007, 05:33

My bike trailer has a flat deck for usefulness. The wheel channels are only big enough for the front wheel to locate into - when the front end is tied down the back can't go anywhere.
The loading ramp slides in underneath the deck and is locked in with a couple of lynch pins. IMO this is waaaaay better than hinged or removable ramps.
Don't use duratorque (rubber) suspension. You will get a much smoother ride with leaf springs.
If you want to be able to use the trailer for other things, put heaps of hooks on it - the more the better.

**DEATH_INC.** · 9th January 2007, 06:01

Put shocks on it, hardly anyone does but they tow so much better.

**Firefight** · 9th January 2007, 07:22

have had both, good points with each, but have stuck with trailer now.

In my case I went for a standard Kea trailer with flat deck, was then able to use for all the other jobs you, ie cart a bit of builders mix/sand/timber what ever made it easier to justify the up keep/rego/wof cost etc..

Have bolt on channels(which can be removed quickly) to help keep bikes in place, added a big (ute style plastic ) gear box bolted to the draw bar, great for keeping oil/petrol/dirty ride gear out of the boot of work car, also spare tyre /carrier. Only other thing I added was an engineers vice which bolts on to the steel mud guard, without a doubt the best thing I ever done to the trailer, have used that vice so many times.

Trailer holds 3 motox bikes or two sports bikes.

Was used on the first KB down the line ride/piss up,""Waikato Rally"" that Quazzie organised for us and made a perfect support vehicle, and work bench for running repairs.

Will try and find a pic of it later.

F/F

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