Am I Missing Something?

[TeamBandS]

Hi All, Having recently received some great advice and ideas from members, I thought I would try my luck again!

Having a tow bar fitted to my 3500kg MH to enable be to take a scooter away with us. The Garage will not accommodate even a very small scooter and it would probably take me aver the max weight for the rear axle. Axle limited to 2000kg and even with air assistance I believe that it would only add approx 200kg to the axle which in turn would make the front axil weight an issue.

My solution is a trailer on which I can carry the scooter and some heavier items from the boot. Having seen the MotoLug, a light weight trailer that can be dismantled in a few minutes and has an easy load system I thought I had found the idea solution. However, this trailer only has tie down points on the axle which prevents my bright idea of having boxes mounted on the axil either side of the bike for storage.

I am now thinking of a transverse trailer with a box mounted in front and behind the bike space? Ideally, I need to carry a bicycle and a tent on the trailer plus a few smaller but heavy items such as small BBQ and gas bottle.

Given the max I believe can take the MH to is 3850? 3650kg with some expensive add ons and we love the van and its relative small size am I missing any other solutions? MH Hymer Exsis 504, 3500 kg at moment and 6.2 mt long. Alko chassis and rear axle.

 

[cyberyacht]

Fit some U bolts at appropriate places on the trailer.

 

[bigtwin]

Fit some U bolts at appropriate places on the trailer.

The only member that is perpendicular to the wheel channel is the axle. There are no other locations that you could use the U bolts on that particular trailer.

Ian

 

[Brains]

Right idea, but possibly the wrong trailer.

How about getting a box trailer which would mean not only would the bike travel in comfort inside, you can pack as much as you like around it.

You could also look at a low level box trailer, motorbike and BBQ on the inside, bicycles on top of the trailer on a car roof rack.

Something like this one as an example

 

[cyberyacht]

I noticed quite a few German motorhomes towing box trailers whilst in France in May. Some chunky motorbikes in them too.

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[TeamBandS]

Thanks for thoughts so far. As pointed out, the only points to tie down on the MotoLug are on the axle ends which will work fine but will prevent anything else being transported - its a great trailer if you only need to carry a bike which is exactly what it is design for! I have to rule out a box trailer unfortunately as I have no where to store it at home.

 

[Brains]

Thanks for thoughts so far. As pointed out, the only points to tie down on the MotoLug are on the axle ends which will work fine but will prevent anything else being transported - its a great trailer if you only need to carry a bike which is exactly what it is design for! I have to rule out a box trailer unfortunately as I have no where to store it at home.

So, don't store it at home ....

 

[Phill D]

Motolug do a twin bike trailer I know it will be wider and cost more but perhaps use the second bike rail to mount the additional items.

 

[TeamBandS]

I did look at that idea but was not sure about stability when just transporting the motorbike on one side and just the bike on the other. I only need the extra load space when I go to Spain when we tend to stay on same site for a month or 2 and put up the tent and BBQ area. With a smaller MH we do go out in it for the odd few days especially going to the mountains. The scooter will be for short trips up and down the coast.

 

[David and Sally]

I have a monolog and agree that having the only tie down points on the axle is a bit of a nuisance, but not a deal breaker as compared to it’s being able to be dismantled. I too have thought of a box for stuff of some sort but can’t see a way of doing it.

Bloke on the next pitch had a trailer with curtain sides that he drove his Enfield 650 up a ramp into. When not using the trailer for his bike on site he used it as a kitchen unit. Class

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[ChrisL]

Armitage do low loading transverse trailers with and without boxes, worth a look.

Low Loading Transverse Motorbike -

 

[TeamBandS]

Did look at Armitages and the low loader has many merits. Unfortunately, having the bike in front of the trailer wheels transfers a lot of weight onto the tow ball - something I need to minimise to keep the rear MH axle weight within limits. Now looking at the luxury bike trailer from CMF at Ross on Wye. They will make the trailer length to fit the bike and do minor modes to suit customer requirements.trailer. Imp not knocking MotoLug, a great product for towing just a bike!

 

[Tigertom]

Yo remorque, superb trailer!

 

[ChrisL]

Yo remorque, superb trailer!

But very expensive.

 

[Tigertom]

But very expensive.

Haha, I think the expression is reassuringly expensive.

Good price when you sell it on though.

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[Speve]

Could you clamp a box either side between axle and front light beams obviously the clamps need to be easy to remove to fold up but you could then fix tie down hooks to the boxes either side

 

[donkey]

Thanks for thoughts so far. As pointed out, the only points to tie down on the MotoLug are on the axle ends which will work fine but will prevent anything else being transported - its a great trailer if you only need to carry a bike which is exactly what it is design for! I have to rule out a box trailer unfortunately as I have no where to store it at home.

Have you any room at home for storage, if so there are a few light trailers that can be stood on their rear ends flat to a wall. Still take up a bit of room but not as much.

Geoff

 

[TeamBandS]

Went to see a trailer maker near Bridgnorth (Phoenix trailers) who have a bike trailer that you can fold the rear of the trailer over the bed to enable it to be stood upright in a garage. (Every thing behind the wheels) Looked well mad and solid but I was unsure about the suspension being leaf springs with no dampers (not allowed apparently?) as opposed to the usual rubber suspension systems. Anyone had experience of leaf springs on trailers, I was told that it will be a bit bouncy when unladen but so are rubber suspension systems? Phoenix where super helpful and can make the trailers in 3 different widths which would be great for storage either side of the bike, they will even change out the size (width) of the front wheel holder to suit a scooter tyre.

The suggestion of a covered trailer reignited my thought from before I moved and had storage issues. I remember speaking with someone on a site who did this but stated that I should avoid box trailers in favour or canvas sides trailers as these are so much easier to strap down the bike plus on his design he could rollup one side and create his outside kitchen. I am hoping to get a quote from CMF trailers to see if they could add a covered top to their Deluxe single bike trailer.

As ever thought and suggestions welcome - I did look at the Yo swivel wheel trailer and I love the concept but it does not solve my requirement to reduce weight on the rear axle.

 

[stevewagner]

I used to have a side loading trailer where the motorbike was loaded on top of the axle. I bought a large aluminium box off ebay which I bolted to the A frame. I fixed 2 cycle rails to the top of the box. When fully loaded it was still less than 70kg nose weight

 

[Speve]

Anyone had experience of leaf springs on trailers,

My twin axle car transporter has leaf springs and it travels really well not had any problems carrying a 4x4 Fiat Panda @ 1100 kg

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