Is 8inch big enough ?

[Howard H]

Ok got your attention but could do with some advice I have recently bought a motorcycle trailer for my scooter , I like the trailer but the 8inch wheels do look very small and not really up to the job of towing long distances over Europe . But these are the wheels that come as standard but look like they should be on a wheelbarrow has any one had any problems with these type of small wheels or any experience of changing to say a 10 inch rim . Thanks

 

[Richard n Ann]

That's what puts me off trailers too.

 

[WESTY66]

I’d av bought one with at least 12” wheels (keeps the heat in the tyres down

Just sayin

 

[Spriddler]

I've 8" wheels (tyres marked 4.00 x 8) on my trailer and have toured many thousands of miles over the past 15 years with a 285lb bike around U.K. and Europe both on m/ways at 60 and doddling around minor roads. No problem at all. Never even had a puncture but I do take a spare wheel and tyre fixed on the trailer frame.
Tip:
I fix a small flag on a bamboo stick and attach it vertically to the back of the bike, otherwise the only time I see the bike is a glimpse when halfway round roundabouts.

 

[Flamenca]

Hi @Howard H I bought a Conway box trailer with 8" wheels but wanted to replace the tyres in Spain and was not able to find that size rated for road use so I 'upgraded' to 10" wheels when I returned to UK.

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[David and Sally]

I have a box trailer and a m/cycle trailer with 10" wheels. I think a straight swap for 8". Try Towsure.

 

[Howard H]

I've 8" wheels (tyres marked 4.00 x 8) on my trailer and have toured many thousands of miles over the past 15 years with a 285lb bike around U.K. and Europe both on m/ways at 60 and doddling around minor roads. No problem at all. Never even had a puncture but I do take a spare wheel and tyre fixed on the trailer frame.
Tip:
I fix a small flag on a bamboo stick and attach it vertically to the back of the bike, otherwise the only time I see the bike is a glimpse when halfway round roundabouts.
View attachment 306283

Thats reassuring then I guess they must be ok or they would not fit them . My scooter won’t weigh anything like your bike but I will upgrade to 10 “ then at at least they look better .

 

[Howard H]

I’d av bought one with at least 12” wheels (keeps the heat in the tyres down

Just sayin

I knew you would be along with “you should have bought my trailer “ maybe you where right maybe you where wrong but didn’t fancy taking out another mortgage at my age

 

[Howard H]

I have a box trailer and a m/cycle trailer with 10" wheels. I think a straight swap for 8". Try Towsure.

Thanks for that just tried Towsure can get some 10inch for about £50 apiece so that’s what I will do

 

[Rob Hammond]

Not according to my wife

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[Foxy1956]

I've 8" wheels (tyres marked 4.00 x 8) on my trailer and have toured many thousands of miles over the past 15 years with a 285lb bike around U.K. and Europe both on m/ways at 60 and doddling around minor roads. No problem at all. Never even had a puncture but I do take a spare wheel and tyre fixed on the trailer frame.
Tip:
I fix a small flag on a bamboo stick and attach it vertically to the back of the bike, otherwise the only time I see the bike is a glimpse when halfway round roundabouts.
View attachment 306283

We fly 2 flags on the back of the trailer for peace of mind. I have a Scottish flag, a Union Jack and a smiley flag. I haven't yet gone for an EU flag or flown The Union flag on our trips to Scotland. Time will tell.

 

[David and Sally]

Thanks for that just tried Towsure can get some 10inch for about £50 apiece so that’s what I will do

Or maybe try a local trailer supplier. They may have some decent used ones.

 

[Crazylegs]

Been towing this Motolug trailer for years on 8” wheels without issue. This year before going away I greased the hubs and had two new tyres fitted. This preventative maintenance resulted in two blowouts, one new tyre and then the spare, so make of that what you will. I can confirm however that 8” tyres are seemingly quite available having purchased one in a rural Yorkshire village and another in Kendal.

 

[David and Sally]

I've got a Motolug. Great trailer

 

[tonyidle]

If they're 4" PCD BL Mini & Reliant 3W wheels will fit. Just watch offsets though not usually critical on a trailer.

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[Northernraider]

Minis had 10 inch wheels for years without probs so don't see why trailers with 8 inch wheels are much worse

 

[Lenny HB]

Minis had 10 inch wheels for years without probs so don't see why trailers with 8 inch wheels are much worse

A lot of 8" trailer wheels have a speed limit of 65mph.

 

[WESTY66]

I knew you would be along with “you should have bought my trailer “ maybe you where right maybe you where wrong but didn’t fancy taking out another mortgage at my age

Well you wouldn’t have had to set an account up at towsure to right all it’s wrongs that’s for sure, I’m sure they sell mudguards as well owt else???

 

[ChrisL]

@Spriddler is that Matchless a 350? If so i had one the same when i was 15 i wish i still had it, i had a lot of fun riding around the fields close to my house, happy days

 

[WESTY66]

Or maybe try a local trailer supplier. They may have some decent used ones.

Or even some off an old sack barrow!

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[Northernraider]

A lot of 8" trailer wheels have a speed limit of 65mph.

Quite right too , shouldn't be towing faster than that anyway

 

[Crazylegs]

 

[gus-lopez]

If they are 4" or 100mm pcd y0u could get some proper 13" ones.

 

[Spriddler]

@Spriddler is that Matchless a 350? If so i had one the same when i was 15 i wish i still had it, i had a lot of fun riding around the fields close to my house, happy days

Yes, it's a '54 Matchless G3LS. I've had it 15 years and covered 86,000 miles on it. Most of it around Europe from Finland to Greece, Alps, Pyrenees etc. with a tent and all countries in between.
I also had the same model at 15. I swapped it with a pal for a No.18 Ex army tx/rx but I came home from school one day to find that my mother had given it to the rag and bone man as it 'made the garden look untidy'. It took me nearly 40 years to get another (career, family, finances, time pressures - the well-known scenarios ).

I trailer it with the m/h to events that I help to organise as I have to carry a marquee, fire buckets, cones, Hobnobs.....
I also have a (one owner before me) 1947 AJS Model 18 500cc.

Getting back to the topic, literally dozens of my pals take their bikes far and wide o'er hill 'n dale, and almost all are from Dave Cooper trailers with 8" wheels.
http://www.davecooper.co.uk/

 

[TheBig1]

I personally dislike 8 inch trailer tyres having had problems over the years. 10 inch trailer rated tyres at a minimum. Trailers tend to stand in one spot for months on end, then get loaded up and driven at speed. Not great for any tyre, but worse with lightweight 8 inch x 4 tyres. The heat builds in the tyres and they can fail quickly

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[Howard H]

If they are 4" or 100mm pcd y0u could get some proper 13" ones.

They are 115 mm so I am guessing the 100 mm are no good for me .

 

[Lenny HB]

Quite right too , shouldn't be towing faster than that anyway

Nice to have a decent safety margin though.

In France if the towing vehicle is under 3500t the same speed limits apply as solo cars. Best to keep your distance from maniac Dutch towing their caravans on the Autoroute.

 

[mitzimad]

plenty of jap stuff is 4x114.3 pcd and would fit with wobble bolts

 

[Ridgeway]

13" on both our trailers, both 750kg un-braked.

The "jockey" type swivel wheel on the Yo Remorque buggy type trailers have smaller wheels but there are double wheel units (2 x twin wheels)

 

[tonyidle]

If they are 4" or 100mm pcd y0u could get some proper 13" ones.

There is a big difference between 100mm and 4" PCD. One does NOT fit t'other.

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