Queening around

[Mexican]

Last trip to Colorado Mad Dog, Son_of_Dog Will, and yours truly, were very close to pull our bikes on a trailer, not having the correct set up on his trailer, John ask me if i knew how to weld and if i trusted my welds. I said yes but was not 100% sure.
I bought a very light 8' trailer and decided to modifie it to fit my 8'6" long rocket and to have a set up that is permanent but at the same time easy to remove if needed, this is the only idea that came to my mind.
Now i can tell John that i trust my welds for sure, they won't win any beauty contests but they will not let the bike fall for sure.
what you guys think?

[BREEZE]

I always hit it with a hammer a couple times to see if it holds whenever I weld something did you?

[Mexican]

Actually, i had to take some welded pieces out due to measurement errors, the welds were extremely difficult to remove i think i am safe

[1olbull]

Amigo,
Me reckons with your motor that far forward, your tongue weight may be too high for proper handling.
Based upon your gross trailer weight (trailer and motor) you should have 9 to 14% of that in tongue weight. I use a bathroom scale for this. Google is your friend here if you want more information.

[Mexican]

Mr Toro, that crossed my mind, but the trailer tires are crntered where there is no tong weight at all on the trailer when emptyeven my 4 year old grandson can pick it up off the ground, and they recomend 400 but its actually rated for 525 lbs, the weight will be distributed about 60/40 which it may not be enough tong weight actually

[Mad Dog]

Looks to me like you melted the shit out of the places you welded, don’t think you’ve got a problem with penetration…probly a good thing.
I also considered tongue weight and decided I didn’t have enough info. to say for sure, you might be close considering an 8’ trailer and the length of the bike. The other 2 thoughts I had were is the frame strong enough to handle the weight of the bike bouncing up and down on 1 spot for extended periods and did you check the wheel bearings.

[Mexican]

John, the trailer is rated for 1600 lbs so i would say yes

[1olbull]

Is that gross weight or cargo weight?

[idk]

If you put an 8'x4' 5/8" marine ply board across the trailer then that will help distribute the weight of the bike, which is on 2 spots, across more of the trailer rather than just on the centre axis.

[Mexican]

Great idea!!

[1olbull]

Just curious. I don't follow this, mate.
The bike sits on the welded chassis of the trailer, how does plywood better distribute the weight?

[1olbull]

Mr Toro, that crossed my mind, but the trailer tires are crntered where there is no tong weight at all on the trailer when emptyeven my 4 year old grandson can pick it up off the ground, and they recomend 400 but its actually rated for 525 lbs, the weight will be distributed about 60/40 which it may not be enough tong weight actually

I be Only trying to help here, Amigo.
Who is "they" and exactly what does "400" refer to?
What exactly is "rated for 525 lbs"?
Too much or not enough tongue weight can result in very bad handling, and/or serious control issues.

[Mad Dog]

Absolutely, my experience has been when you are light on the tongue, or the tongue is high, the trailer tends to “hunt” or constantly swing L/R as you are pulling, if you’re tongue heavy, or below level on the trailer, it tries to come around when you are going downhill or braking as I recall. At any rate get that 60/40 percentage and make the trailer level by using the proper drop on your hitch.

[1olbull]

Absolutely, my experience has been when you are light on the tongue, or the tongue is high, the trailer tends to “hunt” or constantly swing L/R as you are pulling, if you’re tongue heavy, or below level on the trailer, it tries to come around when you are going downhill or braking as I recall. At any rate get that 60/40 percentage and make the trailer level by using the proper drop on your hitch.

You be right on there, John!
Holy shit, I be a poet and don't know it, but my feet show it . . . they're Longfellow's!

My last trailer example is the Aluma MC10. It weighs 540# + 900# for my bike and bags = 1440#
I used 11% (1440 X .11 = 158#) for tongue weight. I then set my Condor chock with my bike into it on the trailer (the Condor will hold the bike without straps).
I set the trailer tongue (ball receiver) on top of a bathroom scale while at the same height as my trailer ball hitch. I then adjusted the bike and chock forward or backward until I got 158# on the tongue.

[Mexican]

Well, here is the final product, as i suspected, i don’t have enough tong weight, i can easily pick up the trailer by hand when is connected to the trailer, i would say i have a max of 150lbs, will low the front a little by turning the reciver upside down and that will drop it 3”, as far as the car, it dont seem to mind the trailer and bike behind it.

[Sparky]

You be right on there, John!
Holy shit, I be a poet and don't know it, but my feet show it . . . they're Longfellow's!

My last trailer example is the Aluma MC10. It weighs 540# + 900# for my bike and bags = 1440#
I used 11% (1440 X .11 = 158#) for tongue weight. I then set my Condor chock with my bike into it on the trailer (the Condor will hold the bike without straps).
I set the trailer tongue (ball receiver) on top of a bathroom scale while at the same height as my trailer ball hitch. I then adjusted the bike and chock forward or backward until I got 158# on the tongue.

Just my opinion........Well explained, Always try to have trailer frame level, slight elevations can be corrected by different receiver tongue units(@Mexican) said he was going to flip his over to change tongue elevation,and also total tongue weight. If possible, use a scale and adjust load placement to put 10 to 12 percent of weight on the tongue @ towing height. Always better to tow with trailer tongue slightly down over slightly elevated as higher quality axles are "set" with a small amount of toe "in" to make a single axle trailer tow with better manners.
Once bought a used trailer with a newly installed axle, that towed terrible, My Father showed me the mark on the axle that should have been installed forward... When reinstalled, towed great

[Mexican]

Also the bend on the axle has to go towards the top, if you put it downwards it will tow like shit

[Steel]

I've had that same trailer for a long time. As for the weight of the R3 on it, just like Mad Dog mentioned, the trailer is always shaking it's ass. I've been thinking of doing the same thing, but with the cheaper HF wheel chock.

[Mexican]

Scott, that wheel choke is $40.00 at Harbor freight, dont get any cheaper than that

[Steel]

I've been using the gray $30 ones for years. 👍

[1K9]

Don Lupe; it looks good. Go ride the thing to see how it feels and look. Make sure you keep the trailer hooked up when you roll the bike off or you will be in for a surprise. I'v seen the trailer our French Canadian comrade rolls and yours's looks a lot sturdier.

[Mexican]

I saw that trailer, don't know how he bade it back home in one piece!

[1olbull]

Call me, Ricardo.

[skydog1000]

Can not believe that you are stealing your daughters car for this trip 😒

[Mexican]

don't tell her!!!!