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Cruiser
Posts: 255
New Brunswick , Canada | gcarroll70 - 2009-12-20 8:09 PM
I posted some pictures of my harbor freight tagalong trailer on the Vision-rider gallery. See below for link
http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid...
I had a lot of fun outfitting my VV with the hitchdoc hitch and then building and modifying my trailer for my liking. I changed the color of the wheels from white to black to match the body. I removed one of the leaf springs to provide a better ride. It is rated for 600 lbs and I dont plan on anything close to that. This will allow it to track better without bouncing as much. I sprayed the interior with a rubberized plasticote, the kind you use to regrip your tools with. This will keep the contents from sliding around as much. Then I replaced the regular bolts that secures the body to the frame with eyebolts and installed a cargo net. I also replaced the chains with safety cables. This reduces weight and looks better and lessens noise. The holes on the hitch needed to be widened to accept the safety cable hooks. I also took a bike kick stand off one of my kids bikes, got a longer bolt and mounted the kickstand on the drawbar. I also replaced the tail lights that came with the kit with LED lights for longer life and brighter output. Mounted a few reflectors on the frame for better visibility. In the future, I may mount an LED light bar on the top part of the shell for addl visibility in traffic.
I probably wont stop tweaking it, it's just my nature to keep on improving things. Thanks to this website, I am never short of ideas.
Hi gcarroll70,
Looking at your pictures...very nice setup..the bike rocks...
Notice one thing,,,your rear tire looks more like a car !!!! is that what it is?
If not what kind is it...how those it handle in the curves... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 725
Reno County, KS | Hey Lojak, I looked at this trailer the other day when you mentioned it in the thread. I have to say that you have made it much better looking by painting the wheels. I see a lot of motorcycle trailers like this that are essentually small trailers under car totes, which is all I really need. Some of them advertise that you can use them for either/or. Did you paint the top too? The one they have listed shows a grey lid. I'm a little uneasy about the 55mph rating that the mfg offers but I think U-haul does the same thing. I'm think my enclosed motorcycle trailer warranty had that warning too... Anyway, good luck and have fun. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | gcarroll70 - 2009-12-20 6:09 PM
I also replaced the chains with safety cables. This reduces weight and looks better and lessens noise.
gcarroll70,
Where did you find the coated coiled cable? I have been looking for it, but can't find any around here. My chains are noisy. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Thx |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 725
Reno County, KS | You can find it at WalMart or the equivalent. I got some there next to where the locks and accessories were. I use it to keep my bags locked (loop it around my passenger backrest and through the handles) to my bike when I'm on the road.
Hope this helps,
-Will |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 28
Reston, Virginia | Yes, that is a car tire on the rear. It handles the twisties just fine and it rides well in the wet...long life also. It has about 10K miles on it already but it still looks like new. As for the trailer, I painted the wheels from white to black, then I ordered some golf car hub caps and installed them on top. Looks great. Will post pics tomorrow, weather dependent.
PS, the safety cables can be ordered online or can be obtained from a bunch of places. I got mine from a local trailer/RV place but I heard West Marine has them or other boating places. They are a lot lighter and dont rattle. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 28
Reston, Virginia | I provided some updated photos of the trailer with the hubcaps and other images here... http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 88
Billings, MT | Please post a little more info about rear tire.
Size, Brand, Tire pressure you run, is Mounted tire height similar to stock tire setup?
Looking to do this conversion soon.
to keep thread on track PM me
Thanks Brandon |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 28
Reston, Virginia | I would imagine the riding season is on hold for now in Montana. Good time to make the switch to the dark side. I sent you a PM on your questions.
As for my trailer, I finished another add on to make the trailer more visible by adding an LED light bar on the back. Will post some more pictures tomorrow when the sun is out. Very happy on how it turned out. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 28
Reston, Virginia | Posted some more pictures here... http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?msg=upd...
The new pics show the LED light bar mounted and how it was wired. It was a lot of fun doing this project over the Christmas break. Now I am ready for some touring in 2010. Thank you to all the great suggestions from the other members of this informative web site. Happy to reciprocate if needed. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 33
Myrtle Beach,SC. | I am a Hitch Doc dealer and if you have any questions please call me directly! i have pulled a 1000# pop up camper and a 200# home built trailer also I do installations and wiring. Please avoid all the hype reguarding the swivil and stationary reciever bars and get the facts 1st. My number is (843)602-4524
Thanks,Jamie @ GOODNEIGHBOR Services LLC. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 804
Perry Hall, MD | If anyone is interested in the trailer gcarroll70 picked up, Harbor Freight has it on sale through Feb 2 at $40 off. If you can find it in stock at one of their retail stores, a coupon out of Popular Mechanics or Popular Science is good for another 20% discount. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 28
Reston, Virginia | Both Harborfreight stores in my area did not have it in stock so I had to order it from the home office in CA...which added about 75 bucks shipping. If you can pick it up, all the better. About a week for shipping.
As Bar Hopper said, you cannot go wrong with the Hitchdoc hitch...a quality product. I wish I had known what Cruiser recommended prior to my order but I will know better next time. As I see it, I am still way ahead considering I was going to buy another trailer for 2500 or more but for me, this work just fine...no, better than fine. Happy touring and thanks for the help. |
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Hitch
