Motorcycle trike towbar carrier

[CompoSimmonite]

Mate, 81, has early signs of dementia. I've persuaded him not to ride his motorbike anymore so that will be sold and will get his Honda Deauville trike conversion roadworth again.
He keep on about how to carry it behind his VW camper and it's pestering him - one of the things that comes with his illness.
Now while I've told him numerous times, and he forgets, that no point in taking his motorcycle trike when he has a Pashley three wheeler tricycle and I'll adapt that to electric assistance if necessary.
However he will keep on about carrying his motorcycle trike so I intend making a towbar carrier that you just put the front wheel in and the rears stay on the road. Doubt it will ever be used (he is being allowed to continue driving at present and will be reviewed every year) but I've prefer to waste some of my time and bits of steel rather than having him fretting over the problem.
Has anyone built such a motorcycle front wheel carrier that mounts on a towbar ?

 

[mart13]

Saw this on another site and was going to get round to making one........

 

[Justme]

Not viable.

You (or more accurately they are when loading the trike) are making a trailer so the rear axle needs to have the brakes working.

 

[rtcosic]

Not viable.

You (or more accurately they are when loading the trike) are making a trailer so the rear axle needs to have the brakes working.

At under 750kg?

Or does that fall into the trap of 'if fitted they must work'?

 

[James1979]

You can buy a commercial thing like the picture above for ‘recovery’ which is different to towing I know but I’d think the same as @rtcosic. How do they activate the brakes on the towing a frames behind motor homes?

What I do know is that broken down vehicles are exempt from c&u in so much that they are not trailers when towed. An operational vehicle is not exempt. I’m not sure how broken it has to be? Would a battery kill switch suffice? Not your fault if you’re not mechanically minded enough to diagnose it?!

my mate has a thing for bikes as above. I will ask for photos if you like.

 

[Justme]

At under 750kg?

Or does that fall into the trap of 'if fitted they must work'?

Yes

 

[Justme]

You can buy a commercial thing like the picture above for ‘recovery’ which is different to towing I know but I’d think the same as @rtcosic. How do they activate the brakes on the towing a frames behind motor homes?

What I do know is that broken down vehicles are exempt from c&u in so much that they are not trailers when towed. An operational vehicle is not exempt. I’m not sure how broken it has to be? Would a battery kill switch suffice? Not your fault if you’re not mechanically minded enough to diagnose it?!

my mate has a thing for bikes as above. I will ask for photos if you like.

Recovery vehicles are designed for the extra unbraked weight.

It would be hard to prove recovery use in a camper van.

They are still classed as trailers just they are allowed some latitude.

 

[zzr1200]

Under 750kg no brakes required.
The only thing I would add to design above, is a ramp that folds up around/behind the front wheel so you are not relying totally on the rachet straps to locate and pull the trike ago.

 

[growntree]

Under 750kg no brakes required.
The only thing I would add to design above, is a ramp that folds up around/behind the front wheel so you are not relying totally on the rachet straps to locate and pull the trike ago.

Perhaps you could build a seesaw type bracket where it acts as a ramp and when the bike wheel gets fully into the bracket it causes the ramp to tip up behind the wheel.

 

[James1979]

Under 750kg no brakes required.
The only thing I would add to design above, is a ramp that folds up around/behind the front wheel so you are not relying totally on the rachet straps to locate and pull the trike ago.

I think as they’re fitted they have to work. It becomes a trailer and subject to c&u

However, from the OP, this is most likely fairly hypothetical so I think I’d be inclined to just build it and let the guy tick that off as done and move onto something else in his mind. It’s not likely to be used as far as I can see. maybe make it so it can’t be used easily? Satisfies him but also covers him at the same time.

Dementia is a funny beast and it’s hard to know what to do for the best.

 

[minimutly]

The towbar lift type thing is just not an option. I looked at it because I had a need. The towbar weight limit is usually around 80kg, most trike front wheels will weigh way more than this. The bending force on the towbar is not good either. The answer is a sub 750kg trailer - ie one made specifically for the trike, low level, no brakes. It's very doable. Oh, and it will have less drag.
I still haven't made mine...

 

[Justme]

Under 750kg no brakes required.
The only thing I would add to design above, is a ramp that folds up around/behind the front wheel so you are not relying totally on the rachet straps to locate and pull the trike ago.

UNLESS they have brakes fitted then they MUST work.

 

[RWD3M]

Towing dolly with a central mounting?

 

[Justme]

Towing dolly with a central mounting?

you mean like a trailer lol

 

[RWD3M]

you mean like a trailer lol

Well, no, not really. A trailer would hold all the wheels off the road whereas a dolly only supports one end or the other (usually the front). Or have I missed something here?

 

[Justme]

Well, no, not really. A trailer would hold all the wheels off the road whereas a dolly only supports one end or the other (usually the front). Or have I missed something here?

When you said "central mounting" the only way that could still be legal is to lift both sets of wheels.
Like a trailer.

 

[RWD3M]

When you said "central mounting" the only way that could still be legal is to lift both sets of wheels.
Like a trailer.

I think I get it. I was thinking a central mounting for the single front wheel of a trike as opposed to two mountings for the front wheels of a car. Are dollies for cars no longer legal?

 

[8ob]

When you said "central mounting" the only way that could still be legal is to lift both sets of wheels.
Like a trailer.

Or perhaps rig up an overrun hitch to a cable which brings on/pulls the rear axle brake lever/pedal. Wouldn't be that hard to figure it out and make it all quick release.

Bob

 

[James1979]

Or perhaps rig up an overrun hitch to a cable which brings on/pulls the rear axle brake lever/pedal. Wouldn't be that hard to figure it out and make it all quick release.

Bob

I think that’s how those tow cars work. I’m not sure. The four wheel brakes are activated by the a frame somehow

edit. Like this. Via the brake pedal

Car-a-tow System Information

 

[8ob]

I think that’s how those tow cars work. I’m not sure. The four wheel brakes are activated by the a frame somehow

edit. Like this. Via the brake pedal

Car-a-tow System Information

Thats neat, really there is no need to suspend the trike wheel on the towbar. With a bit of thought an overun gadget could be made to clamp directly to the two fork stanchions and just rig up the brakes.

Bob