Pricing...

[zippy]

Hi guyz,

I currently have a small motorbike and am completely co-piffled about the pricing on trailers for bikes, and that they have no other purpose other than for bikes

So... My m8 has a arc welder, and I was wondering after some practice.

What what the cost in materials be for making a 8x4' trailer and how hard you reckon it would be realistically for me to make.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV2Vr2sy_yE
like this one.

I just see the cost of a motorbike trailer impractical and fancy making a tear-drop trailer with a large enough door on side to ramp up my motorbike.

Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[octo0072000]

camper

if you are going to build it to fit a m/bike you will need it to be a lot bigger than 8ft x 4ft also you may need brake's if it's over 750kilos and with a bike in i would say it will be over 750kilos
might be better finding a small caravan and making a teardrop door on the rear i have seen a few caravan's like that used by bike races you can't tow your bikes and a caravan with it at the same time
only other way is ldv pilot van and a teardrop van for bike think you need to do a lot more thinking about getting a bike in a teardrop you have to push from rear no room to ride it in or stand at the side to balance it
belive me i have had many bike in my time once had a norton dominater 650cc in a minivan that took four people to get that in layed on it's side two athe back pushing and two one in each front door pulling passenger seat removed front wheel into passenger side back wheel hanging out the doors tied shut my dad driving and me wedged in the back sitting on the bike on a couple of cushins 30 mile drive home it was harder to get it out than in

 

[^neo^]

For what you have in that vid, probably £100 in box and bits, £150-£200 for indespension units / tow hitch / jockey wheel, £90 galvanising, and a days work for someone who knows what they're doing

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

How big is a small caravan?

Find someone who is scrapping one?then strip the caravan shell downt to the frame....there you will have the basis of a frame for the trailertly like that in the video.

 

[zippy]

my bike only weighs 100kg ish.

Not a full size bike.

so would i be best building or like buying a wilstow folding flatbed (at a guess american import).

rrp £339 (power coated steel)

How big is a small caravan?

Find someone who is scrapping one?then strip the caravan shell downt to the frame....there you will have the basis of a frame for the trailertly like that in the video.

chassis going for silly money.

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

Sending you a PM,there might be a risk that members on here will go for this trailer?

 

[octo0072000]

How big is a small caravan?

Find someone who is scrapping one?then strip the caravan shell down to the frame....there you will have the basis of a frame for the trailer like that in the video.

about 10/12 foot van plus A frame would make a nice over size tear drop
that you could get the bike if you don't put the kitchen across the back or make the kitchen bit with a 2 foot flap to lift up to get the bike through
make sure you get one with a AL-Co chassis they are galvanized

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

make sure you get one with a AL-Co chassis they are galvanized

I just sent him a link for a trailer of the kind you stated...275 squid

 

[Engineer]

If you are looking for a bike trailer able to take a light machine, keep a look out on Ebay, and you should be able to find one for less than the cost of the materials needed to make one.

Other option that will mean no towing speed restrictions, and no problems with storage, would be a tow bar mounted bike rack, which will work very well when used with lightweight bikes.

You can easily make a good bike rack, and if you have a local steel fabrication shop who use sq section tube, you may well be able to get materials very cheaply as its quite possible to make a rack out of offcuts.

 

[zippy]

Sending you a PM,there might be a risk that members on here will go for this trailer?

350 gets me that wilstow trailer, no fuss then. 275 I'd consider pricey, but that thing is HUGE

about 10/12 foot van plus A frame would make a nice over size tear drop
that you could get the bike if you don't put the kitchen across the back or make the kitchen bit with a 2 foot flap to lift up to get the bike through
make sure you get one with a AL-Co chassis they are galvanized

Ford Escort van rear axle with no brakes If i was gonna make my own, I've seen one with extra length on front with a track for c90 and smaller.

If you are looking for a bike trailer able to take a light machine, keep a look out on Ebay, and you should be able to find one for less than the cost of the materials needed to make one.

Other option that will mean no towing speed restrictions, and no problems with storage, would be a tow bar mounted bike rack, which will work very well when used with lightweight bikes.

You can easily make a good bike rack, and if you have a local steel fabrication shop who use sq section tube, you may well be able to get materials very cheaply as its quite possible to make a rack out of offcuts.

My car only has a ball weight limit of 60kg, and the bike is 100kg ish

lightweight and normal motorcycle trailers going for silly money, why I'm consider this

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

275 I'd consider pricey, but that thing is HUGE

Your not thinking straight.

Its huge but can be cut down to size and re-welded,offer the guy 260 sobs.

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

Is this pricey,guys?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Galvanized-Ca...mpers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item19c664d7a5

 

[Engineer]

There are plans for teardrop trailers on Ebay, but there are also a fair number of quite well made trailers about the £150 mark, which seems to be less than the cost of materials to make one.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Motorcycle-Trailer-/180685380494?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2a11b01b8e

 

[zippy]

there is a bargain trailer on ebay atm, wont link it

has coils and damps, but hamerited :/

unsure how that suspension will handle some weight. Odd layout.

 

[SC_BK]

An old carvan chassis should be £20-£50

Smallest I seen was about 10ft long "bed", most are 13-15ft

 

[octo0072000]

remember if you buy a caravan you get the cooker fridge windows door all the alloy roof vent all the bits you would have to buy for a tear drop and you make it how you want the chassis at 275 is dear by 175 squidies

 

[zippy]

Well if someone could point out if that trailer pics I showed is good suspension then I'll try and win he ****** for 99p

Got the perfect length to do teardrop and motorcycle mount I front.

 

[Wedg1e]

unsure how that suspension will handle some weight. Odd layout.

Looks to me like the chassis hangs UNDER the axle, pulling the spring downover as the load increases. As you say, odd...

 

[the snooper]

its a stadard 60s / 70s caravan chassis

 

[Wedg1e]

its a stadard 60s / 70s caravan chassis

Geek

I used to have a trailer tent that dated from the 60's... the suspension was by a transverse single-leaf spring with a stub axle on each end! No damping, the thing used to bounce like a fresh schoolie after a couple of alcopops.