Tow Bar and Trailer.

I would imagine that with an 800cc engine an Intruder could actually pull that on the flat?

Hmmmm! whats the pulling power/torque on a 800? gor me thinking now

hawktheslayer wrote:

Hmmmm! whats the pulling power/torque on a 800? gor me thinking now

52 BHP at 6000rpm & 51.00lb.ft at 3200rpm, not really enough to pull a caravan without destroying the clutch.

Shame best let I know in case he serious

Looking good Mal, that trailer was a bargain, how does it feel when towing ? 

Hi doc
Just got back from maiden voyage... Me, Mrs bigmal, and assorted camping gear in the trailer. Went from Manchester to Jamie Oliver's festival in kingham... About 145 miles. 

Now and again I needed to change gear earlier to get up a hill, but overall you really couldn't sense it was there, even when cornering. 

Kept it to a max of 60 (as I think that's a general towing limit anyway).

Last night it rained, so we packed the tent in the rain, and loaded the bike in the rain.  By the time we were ready, hundreds of cars, camper vans etc had already left the "car park in a field" so it was a lovely combination of compacted slippy wet grass with big patches of mud for good measure.

I told Mrs  bigmal to walk across the field, as I didn't want a passenger if things got hairy. But by keeping the speed dead low and constant, and by carving out my own route... A straight line across the field, the trusty Intruder pulled me and the trailer to the exit!

The other hero of the day was Mrs bigmal, who has hardly ever been on a motorway on the bike, and did 145 miles today almost entirely in the rain. 

bigmal wrote:

Now and again I needed to change gear earlier to get up a hill, but overall you really couldn't sense it was there, even when cornering. 

That can only be expected, especially two up with a weekends worth of camping gear in the trailer 

Glad the maiden voyage went well Mal. Pity about the rain, but at least its fully tested now for the next outing.

Pleased to read your so happy with what was already looking so good. Well done Sir, many more will follow your lead here.

Cheers Ken. And if course if anyone does want a bash at something similar I'll happily post close up pics, dimensions etc of the towbar.

Ken1964 wrote:

Pleased to read your so happy with what was already looking so good. Well done Sir, many more will follow your lead here.

Yep!  I definitely think you've started something here Mal. Especially with those that have to take a pillion passenger on tour with them.

Skidalot wrote:

Ken1964 wrote:

Pleased to read your so happy with what was already looking so good. Well done Sir, many more will follow your lead here.

Yep!  I definitely think you've started something here Mal. Especially with those that have to take a pillion passenger on tour with them.

Is that a hint Skid? have you found a Lady (sheep) friend?      Mal, When's the colour co-ordination (spray job) happening? now the trailer's a success 

simbo wrote:

Is that a hint Skid? have you found a Lady (sheep) friend?   

What? and start all this again?!     No time for monogamy, all those ewe's and there's only one Skid! 

I think I may leave it silver! If I ever flogged it, I think that would be more saleable.

Funny, on the m6 today, a bloke went past with a bike towing a trailer in what can only be described as Man City blue. Hope he didn't pay too much!

Glad to hear it worked out well - brilliant !!!  Re leaving the slippy field - do you find that having the extra weight on the hitch would be pushing down on the bikes rear wheel & gives it more traction?

I think its a keeper Mal, go on, get it painted up to match the bike, you know you want to 

katsd wrote:

 - do you find that having the extra weight on the hitch would be pushing down on the bikes rear wheel & gives it more traction?

hadn't thought of that dave - you could be right...

Well done with the shake down run & congratulations to Mrs Big Mal for braving it out like that.
It's those kind of trips that cement trust in your driver & I should know about that one as I had a bad experience on my Pan European with Rosie on the back & she never batted an eyelid & just said you know what you're doing & I trust you. That means a lot to you & you now have it as well.

Good job there , and at a very reasonable cost. Quite fancy one myself ,save a fortune on b&bs if the good wife could take half her wardrobe with us ...
Did you need to pay extra on your insurance? I know I'm not covered to tow a trailer with my bike ,in fact I had to specify I needed pillion cover. Seems everything is extra these days ...

Im a late comer to this thread but I love it. The trailer looks great, the tow bar looks like its meant to be there and I think that the 360 swivel draw bar is an awesome idea. It looks quite magical how the trailer wheels stay firmly on the floor in the video. 

Thanks Keith... Appreciate your kind words. It tows beautifully, but then I guess it should...the people who make the trailer are part of Watsonian, of sidecar fame.

Hi Mal

I hope it's ok to resurrect this thread.

My old S/S tube towbar looks all wrong on the new bike (and it doesn't fit anyway!) and I was going to take the liberty of sort of copying your design. What size bar did you use - I was thinking of 25mm x 5mm or 30mm x 5mm. And what size is the towball plate.
Did you use a standard 7 pin towbar socket and, if so, was it secured to the towball plate in any way?

Cheers
KeithW

Hi Keith
Feel free to copy away to your hearts content!

The design was knocked up by the brother of a friend who is a metal fabricator, but the design was my own from looking at various others.

I'll bob in the garage in daylight tomorrow and check the dimensions for you.

The kind of 'hockey stick' shape was the trickiest part.... he put the metal strip in a huge bending machine to create that gradual curve.

Re the electrics... I used a standard 7 pin trailer socket, and just connected taillight & number plate light, L & R indicators and brakes. I didn't connect the fog light (blue?).

I also upgraded the trailer lighting to all LED as I figured that would put far less strain on the bike's electrics, and enabled me to just tap into the various wires under the seat.

I removed the rear number plate and used this type of thing to fix the socket to that area of the bike...

Thanks for that Mal - that was a pretty swift reply!

I'm working on a plan for the number plate. Did you leave the number plate bracket fitted and use that to mount the trailer socket bracket?

All my trailer lights are LED. I don't supose Suzuki are different from anyone else in that the wiring and alternator are just about capable of delivering to the stock bike!

KeithW

On my m800 for some reason the stock number plate bracket was flimsy and snapped, so I'd already replaced with something homemade. But I did effectively trap the socket mounting plate between the number plate and it's bracket...

You can barely see the bracket but it is there. If you go back to page 1 of this thread there's a close up

Hey Keith
Just been to measure the towbar....

The metal bar it's made from is 30mm x "at least 5mm" 

Hard to be exact because of the powder coating.... it measures more like 7mm, so I would say use at least 5mm.

The flat plate that carries the towball is 320mm x 100mm

I used this kind of ball...



Even though the towbar is chunky and heavy there is still a little left or right springiness, but nothing to cause any handling issues.

Good luck!

Thanks for that, Mal. I wondered how rigid it would be so I'm going for 40mm x 6mm or 7mm and see how it works out. It increases the weight somewhat, though. My old towbar was absolutely solid, no movement at all.

KeithW

KeithW wrote:

Thanks for that, Mal. I wondered how rigid it would be so I'm going for 40mm x 6mm or 7mm and see how it works out. It increases the weight somewhat, though. My old towbar was absolutely solid, no movement at all.

KeithW

Careful when using words like "rigid" - Justin will be on you in a flash !!!!

No denial though !!!!  I rest my case

Was thinking that ball looked like something he would be more into as well mounted to a respectable surface....

Been having a rethink on this. I've spoken to three people who have towbars made with flat bar and they all say there is some minimal lateral movement. The heavier the gauge bar the less movement, and the longer the unsupported length of the bar the more movement. Obvious, I supose. I've also spoken to Freewheel, Norfolk, and a fabricator in Canterbury and both say they would only use tube steel for those reasons. Both also say that everything should be on the bike before having the bar fitted. Again, obvious, I would think. So that is all on hold till I've figured out how to fix the saddlebags. (I was going to say "mount" the saddlebags but that might be trundling off topic again!!)

KeithW

Now got the towbar done and I have to say it is rock solid and tows beautifully. We are now operational!










KeithW

Looks a very professional job Keith 

Spot on match for the swing arm etc. Looks great!

Looks great - will we see it in action in Wales Keith?

I am very pleased with it

It will be on the bike in Wales but I won't have the trailer on. I've got enough storage on the bike for hotelling it. It's camping I use the trailer for - and I do a lot of that. About 7 or 8 trips a year.

Keith

KeithW wrote:

I am very pleased with it

It will be on the bike in Wales but I won't have the trailer on. I've got enough storage on the bike for hotelling it. It's camping I use the trailer for - and I do a lot of that. About 7 or 8 trips a year.

Keith

Bring the trailer anyway - it'll be useful to hold Sims new flask (his last one sadly died earlier this year) and there may be room for wet weather gear for everyone else...Wales isn't famous for being particularly dry.

Very impressive!

Looks almost a factory part, very nicely done!

Saw a yam today with trailer going to Donington. loaded to the gunnels it was & ugly as sin.

johnboss wrote:

KeithW wrote:

I am very pleased with it

It will be on the bike in Wales but I won't have the trailer on. I've got enough storage on the bike for hotelling it. It's camping I use the trailer for - and I do a lot of that. About 7 or 8 trips a year.

Keith

Bring the trailer anyway - it'll be useful to hold Sims new flask (his last one sadly died earlier this year) and there may be room for wet weather gear for everyone else...Wales isn't famous for being particularly dry.

I've been trying to work out whether this is some kind of spoof or a serious suggestion! And what kind of "flask" needs a trailer for transport, may I ask?
I know a German guy who rides a VTX1800  and takes the trailer everywhere. On rideouts everyone uses it for helmets and jackets when we stop for lunch.
I'm not averse to this idea if there is space at the hotel. If I take it I'll bring the "on road running repairs kit" for weight!

Keith

KeithW wrote:

what kind of "flask" needs a trailer for transport, may I ask?

Well Sim's flask started life off as a WW1 artillery shell, and as such got used to being transported around the place by trailer or cart.
It has to be this large because Sim gets very thirsty from all the manure he talks,  unfortunately though he finds it difficult to walk unaided for any length of time, this disability is known as "tired fecker" syndrome. In fact I once watched him dismount his bike and try to walk to a cafe about 50 yards down the road from him, but alas, he collapsed about a third of the way there. Hence the flask from there on........ SORTED!!! 

Me and Old Luner are OK and more than capable of travelling without all the trimmings, but we'll need room for VTwins numerous spare drive belts, Micks detailing kit, Justine's Tu Tu's and Evening Gowns and Skids lucky 'pulling' wellies. Yorkies of that age where a change of clothes is always handy to have to hand, Mal's satnav is suspect so he'll need room for maps, sextants and compasses etc and Peardrop will need room for his knives, just in case we see a nice looking lunch stood in a field waiting to be sorted.
You might be better getting a bigger trailer Keith.

Ere what you tryin to say yoof? LOL! I only need 1 x 6" boning knife I'll tell you, makes quick work of animals!

Skidalot wrote:

KeithW wrote:

what kind of "flask" needs a trailer for transport, may I ask?

Well Sim's flask started life off as a WW1 artillery shell, and as such got used to being transported around the place by trailer or cart.
It has to be this large because Sim gets very thirsty from all the manure he talks,  unfortunately though he finds it difficult to walk unaided for any length of time, this disability is known as "tired fecker" syndrome. In fact I once watched him dismount his bike and try to walk to a cafe about 50 yards down the road from him, but alas, he collapsed about a third of the way there. Hence the flask from there on........ SORTED!!! 

 Utter Bollocks! but    none the less    You'll be telling everyone I have an overwhelming desire to be Welsh next 

johnboss wrote:

Me and Old Luner are OK and more than capable of travelling without all the trimmings, but we'll  need room for VTwins numerous spare drive belts, Micks detailing kit, Justine's Tu Tu's and Evening Gowns and Skids lucky 'pulling' wellies.  Yorkies of that age where a change of clothes is always handy to have to hand, Mal's satnav is suspect so he'll need room for maps, sextants and compasses etc and  Peardrop will need room for his knives, just in case  we see a nice looking lunch stood in a field waiting to be sorted.
You might be better getting a bigger trailer Keith.

And extra room for Alan's commode remember JB ...... he can't hold it like he used to ya know !

simbo wrote:

Quote :

You'll be telling everyone I have an overwhelming desire to be Welsh next 

After the Cheddar trip, I've always known this to be the case. I was shocked to the very core of my being at what I saw and heard that day   Unfortunately though I don't have any witnesses as John and Justin had buggered off somewhere together to do only God knows what ?

Skidalot wrote:

simbo wrote:

Quote :

You'll be telling everyone I have an overwhelming desire to be Welsh next 

John and Justin had buggered off somewhere together to do only God knows what ?

No piccies - it didn't happen!

Anyway, where is Justine?  Not seen any post of his for a while.

Hi Guys, Last week I got a notification of a new post on this topic but I was in Europe touring/camping at the time. I did look at it on my phone and it said that the pictures of my towbar were no longer viewable. They are missing and I thought that was because I walked away from Photobucket when they were demanding money with menaces! Now I am back and I thought I would try and replace the pictures. But now there is no sign of the post that I read and I can't edit my original post (or, more likely, I just don't know how to do it!!) Is there a time limit on the ability to edit? Failing that I may just add another post.

KeithW