Bike Trailer.

[benzo]

Im going to be putting down a deposit on a 450cc off road bike this weekend. I need a trailer to haul the bike around. The bike weighs 112kg, but i also have a 1957 triumph terrier (150cc) which will be getting hauled as well (not at the same time as the 450). Chances are, the bike trailer will see some serious mileage, including lots of motorway miles.

Indespension can provide a single bike trailer and install the tow bar to my car for circa £550. The trailer has no brakes and looks like this.



specs are: Gross Vehicle Weight: 300Kgs
Unladen weight: 60Kgs
Carrying capacity: 240Kgs
Overall dimensions: 2.34 x 1.47m (LxW)
480 x 10 wheels & tyres

Would this trailer be suitable for my intended use?

What other companies should i be looking at?

Any tips, pointers, info etc on trailers appreciated.

thanks.

[Carl-H]

I have been working at this company for a few weeks now http://www.sbstrailers.co.uk
The website is very old now and needs updating and only contains boat trailer but I have been told we do make boat trailers but just not very often at all. Try emailing them. I would be part of building the trailer up as that is my job. The quality is very good.

[anonymous-user]

I've got the Erde 3 bike 750kg version of that trailer, bought it new on ebay for £350 from a company on there called Wilstow. I trailerd 2 bikes to Monza on it twice and numerous trackdays over here without problem. good kit imo.

[Wedg1e]

Watch some of those cheap Erde and similar trilers: if you look you can see that the 'suspension' units are actually formed by ramming a rubber block into a length of box section that forms the axle beam; the stub axle carrier is bonded into that rubber and forms a torsion type suspension. Exactly the same principle as Indespension units, in fact... except that if an Indespension fails you unbolt and replace it. If one of those bonded-into-axle rubbers fails, you throw away the trailer...
I have one by Franc; it's the most cheaply-built pile of shit I think I've ever owned... and I've had Lotus and TVRs. Luckily I planned to modify the trailer to carry 25Kg kayaks, so it's unlikely ever to be loaded that heavily...

[BikealarmBlair]

I'd never consider a 1 bike trailer myself as its to inflexible, bye that I mean you can never take a mate with you (or ever bring someone else's broken bike home & that's something I've done plenty of times!)

Buy a 3 bike trailer although you'll only get 2 sports bikes on it (or 3 motox bikes) it gives you flexibility long term.

Mines a trelgo (sp?) & cost around £400 4 or so years ago personally I couldn't see any difference between it & the erdie ones.
Remember to budget for the extras too (ramp/no plate/spare wheel/jockey wheel) as these soon pump the price up!

The other point is we really struggled to secure sports bikes at first as there were no suitable strapping points at the centre of the trailer in the end I added a centre cross member & some car exhaust U clamps to that.

You can just see them in the pics below



The other thing I'd mention is don't buy the spare wheel carrier as it generally gets mounted on the front arm of the trailer & is bang in your way! I used a ladder carrier & hung the wheel under the trailer as its out of the way.

[BikealarmBlair]

having just read your post again I'd also recommend getting one with the biggest wheels possible as I was led to believe this aids stability at speed, mine has towed 2 600cc sports bikes @ well over 100mph on a closed road many times

[telecat]

Off-roaders tend to go to Dave Cooper or Autotowbars

Edited by telecat on Friday 20th July 08:24

[Busamav]

BikealarmBlair said:

I'd never consider a 1 bike trailer myself as its to inflexible, bye that I mean you can never take a mate with you (or ever bring someone else's broken bike home & that's something I've done plenty of times!)

I was going to make the same comment.
It cant be much more expensive to have a 2 or 3 bike trailer

[anonymous-user]

BikealarmBlair said:

mine has towed 2 600cc sports bikes @ well over 100mph on a closed road many times

When i was towing back from Italy last year, 2 up on the trailer. some Froggy passed us at 100+ on the autostrada with his bike trailer, i started catching him but chickened out at 110, in' insane!!! Trailer was rock solid though.

Edited by JS99 on Friday 20th July 10:13

[Kiwi_uk]

I've just purchased a BikeLug foldaway trailer and I've got to say I'm impressed. It's well built and well thought out. It collapses down making it very easy to store in my small garage. Plus once collapsed it fits in to the boot of my car.

I have the T7 Twin Collapsable which can be made up to two one or two bikes. I've towed an Aprilia Factory and Honda Firestorm all the way from Essex to Devon and back with no issues reaching very progressive speeds.

I've also towed Chilli's R6 and my wife Firestorm to Snetterton wihtout any dramas whatsoever. Not cheap but I would highly recommend them.
http://www.bikelug.co.uk/

[Hobo]

These guys seem to get a lot of recommendations (hence why I'm in the process of having one made by them):

http://www.autowbars.co.uk/biketrailers.html

Single bike, £269 + extras


Triple bike, £399 + extras

Edited by Hobo on Saturday 21st July 09:17

[scobby17]

Kiwi_uk said:

I've just purchased a BikeLug foldaway trailer and I've got to say I'm impressed. It's well built and well thought out. It collapses down making it very easy to store in my small garage. Plus once collapsed it fits in to the boot of my car.

I have the T7 Twin Collapsable which can be made up to two one or two bikes. I've towed an Aprilia Factory and Honda Firestorm all the way from Essex to Devon and back with no issues reaching very progressive speeds.

I've also towed Chilli's R6 and my wife Firestorm to Snetterton wihtout any dramas whatsoever. Not cheap but I would highly recommend them.
http://www.bikelug.co.uk/

Another vote for bikelug, with the wheel clamp one man loading and unloading.