Trailer build suggestions (1 Viewer)

[Bayou Boy]

I'm going to build a rough road trailer to tow behind my Jeep. My dilemma is that it needs to be able to hold my motorcycle every once in a while which requires 8 foot of space. Should I build the shorter easier to handle 4x6 box with 2 foot sides and just put the tailgate down when I need to carry the bike or build a 4x8 box with the same height sides and be able to leave the gate up? Is the extra 2' of length and ~1' of wheelbase really that big a deal if the trailer will only see rough 4wd roads and no actual trails?

 

[matt 105]

Eer....to tow behind WHAT????

To put the Heep IN?








Matt

 

[D'Animal]

What bike? That has to be one big bike to take up a full 8' bed.

Buy air bags for the back of your rig and get a motor bike mount that slides into your receiver hitch. Go to an RV shop to look at them.

 

[Bayou Boy]

I know haha. I have a Jeep. Can't we all just get along?

I found this site when I started looking at offroad trailers. You've got a lot of good stuff here in the forums that aren't vehicle specific. I even did some research last week for my father in law's FJ80. He wants a small lift and 285/75r16 tires.

BTW the bike is a Suzuki Vstrom. My wife doesn't like the 500+ mile days on the bike so I have to tow it for long trips with both of us. Most road bikes are not going to fit in even a 6.5 foot truck bed. And this one weighs around 500 lb wet so the hitch idea isn't really an option on something with a 3500 lb tow rating.

Eer....to tow behind WHAT????

To put the Heep IN?








Matt

 

[lowenbrau]

I'd consider making a shorter trailer and an opening in the front that you can poke the front wheel through. You'll want to get the tongue weight right and having that bike hanging off the back won't make that easy. I see a lot of trail trailers with a space for a cooler on the tongue. Just remove the cooler and park the front wheel of the bike there when you need to. You can also make the drawbar adjustable for extra length if you need it.

 

[Bayou Boy]

I hadn't thought of this. This would also help if I needed to carry some long lumber or something. I could set up the front gate to where the tray on the front would support it.

I'd consider making a shorter trailer and an opening in the front that you can poke the front wheel through. You'll want to get the tongue weight right and having that bike hanging off the back won't make that easy. I see a lot of trail trailers with a space for a cooler on the tongue. Just remove the cooler and park the front wheel of the bike there when you need to. You can also make the drawbar adjustable for extra length if you need it.

 

[lowenbrau]

I hadn't thought of this. This would also help if I needed to carry some long lumber or something. I could set up the front gate to where the tray on the front would support it.

If you use a full width, fold down gate you'll have to watch the corners don't hit the towrig on tight turns. I was thinking something narrower or removable.

 

[ROOSTER]

If you go with the full front gate Idea you could also use a adjustable length tounge.

 

[Bayou Boy]

I was planning on doing an adjustable tongue anyway, but if I have a tray in front of the box for fuel, water, ice chest, etc. I can have the gate fold down into the tray.

Or I could have two barn-style doors that fold back into the trailer and latch onto the side walls or forward and latch on the tray.
But then I may be getting a little complicated for nothing really.

I need to sit down and make some more sketches.

 

[rusty_tlc]

I was planning on doing an adjustable tongue anyway, but if I have a tray in front of the box for fuel, water, ice chest, etc. I can have the gate fold down into the tray.

Or I could have two barn-style doors that fold back into the trailer and latch onto the side walls or forward and latch on the tray.
But then I may be getting a little complicated for nothing really.

I need to sit down and make some more sketches.

Barn doors would be cool, but make them overlap when closed and open forward to make a rock shield for the bike.

 

[Bayou Boy]

Would a 2" OD .125" wall square tubing tongue be strong enough supported inside 3 feet of 2.5" OD .125" wall tubing with a max of 5 foot sticking out unsupported? Do I need to go bigger?

Should I go to 2" OD .25" wall for the tongue?

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

Like a few of us you father in laws FZ 80 may save your bacon on the mud site, Just kidding, enjoy some of us have both cruisers and Jpppppss.

 

[KY854RUN]

Would a 2" OD .125" wall square tubing tongue be strong enough supported inside 3 feet of 2.5" OD .125" wall tubing with a max of 5 foot sticking out unsupported? Do I need to go bigger?

Should I go to 2" OD .25" wall for the tongue?

For the size trailer that you are considering, you should go with the .25 wall thickness for the extendable tongue.

The weight of the trailer could possibly bend the tongue when it is extended if you use tubing with a .125 wall thickness.