Wilsons Sandbox

For ideas on a hitch configuration for a single-wheel trailer, check out the BOB trailer (Beast Of Burden, and it has a few copycats) for bicycles. Stephen

--- On Tue, 7/22/08, Joe Tittiger wrote: > From: Joe Tittiger > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Need ideas for a home built Kayak trailer for my KLR > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2008, 2:03 PM > I may be asking for too much but I would like to design and > build a > simple motorcycle trailer for my 19 foot long ocean kayak, > for not > more than a total cost of $150 in materials. > > I have a universal rack on the KLR and would like to attach > it to the > 2 horizontal bars near the turn signals.(I can provide a > picture) > > For cost savings and to simplify the range of motion that > the hitch > must accommodate I am leaning towards a single wheel. > (Where on the > internet can I get a high speed wheel applicable to this > project?) > > For cost and ease of assembly 1/2" or 3/4" > bolted together EMT might > be a good way to go. > > I have no idea yet how I am going to build the hitch to > attach it to > the rack and also have it articulate left and right. > > Adding lights and getting it approved by the state will be > that last step. > > > If you have any ideas I would appreciate the groups input > as at this > point I am not convinced that I can do this on budget and > simply > enough to motivate me to try. > > > > Many thanks in advance, > > Joe > > > > ------------------------------------ > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: > www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650Yahoo! Groups > Links > > >

The laws regarding pulling a trailer are pretty much state laws. In Texas you could probably legally do this. You should check state laws. I have pulled trailers with Harleys with no particular problems. Don't know about one wheeled trailers. My recent experience with trying to fabricate things more cheaply than buying something have not worked out very well due to the cost of metal, wood, high speed wheels, etc. It would be critically important to get the geometry of the thing right to prevent things like high speed wobbles, and who knows what else. I have had the experience of getting the center of gravity off on a trailer and nearly losing control of a truck before and would not want to repeat the experience on a light motorcycle. Therefore, I, for one, would not try it. You may be smarter, more determined, and a better engineer than I. db ----- Original Message ---- From: Joe Tittiger To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 1:03:50 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Need ideas for a home built Kayak trailer for my KLR I may be asking for too much but I would like to design and build a simple motorcycle trailer for my 19 foot long ocean kayak, for not more than a total cost of $150 in materials. I have a universal rack on the KLR and would like to attach it to the 2 horizontal bars near the turn signals.(I can provide a picture) For cost savings and to simplify the range of motion that the hitch must accommodate I am leaning towards a single wheel. (Where on the internet can I get a high speed wheel applicable to this project?) For cost and ease of assembly 1/2" or 3/4" bolted together EMT might be a good way to go. I have no idea yet how I am going to build the hitch to attach it to the rack and also have it articulate left and right. Adding lights and getting it approved by the state will be that last step. If you have any ideas I would appreciate the groups input as at this point I am not convinced that I can do this on budget and simply enough to motivate me to try. Many thanks in advance, Joe [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Well plenty of Harley's have trailers. A friend who has a 1200 Bandit who had pulled a lot of bike trailers made a nifty one wheel trailer for his Bandit. I followed him down to South Padre Bike Fest a couple of years ago on my Concours and we got up to 90 mph on occasion. The thing pulled great and Harley guys (they are always at bike events in force) wanted to buy one. I asked him how he designed such a great bike trailer and he said "because I've pulled a lot of bad ones." But back on topic, there was a guy on this list a couple / few years ago that claimed he had a bike trailer for his KLR that he used to pull his folding kayak with sailing rig down to Baja from Arizona to sail around coves and drink beer. Sounded like an excellent plan being a sailor and ex kayaker. Criswell

On Jul 22, 2008, at 1:28 PM, Richard Bessey wrote: > I had to chime in on this. > > Is a trailer on a KLR legal? Since there is no hitch on it from the > factory like a gold wing, I am assuming trailers behind a KLR are a > big N.O. > > Regards, > > Richard Bessey > System Administrator > Vivio Technologies > > Joe Tittiger wrote: > > > > I may be asking for too much but I would like to design and build a > > simple motorcycle trailer for my 19 foot long ocean kayak, for not > > more than a total cost of $150 in materials. > > > > I have a universal rack on the KLR and would like to attach it to > the > > 2 horizontal bars near the turn signals.(I can provide a picture) > > > > For cost savings and to simplify the range of motion that the hitch > > must accommodate I am leaning towards a single wheel. (Where on the > > internet can I get a high speed wheel applicable to this project?) > > > > For cost and ease of assembly 1/2" or 3/4" bolted together EMT might > > be a good way to go. > > > > I have no idea yet how I am going to build the hitch to attach it to > > the rack and also have it articulate left and right. > > > > Adding lights and getting it approved by the state will be that > last step. > > > > If you have any ideas I would appreciate the groups input as at this > > point I am not convinced that I can do this on budget and simply > > enough to motivate me to try. > > > > Many thanks in advance, > > > > Joe > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Don't forget this option: www.trailtail.com - no recommendation is expressed or implied 8~) I've only ever towed a trailer behind a Wing, and only 100 miles or so. It's not that big a deal as long as you remember it's there. __Arden --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "roncriswell@..." wrote:

> > Well plenty of Harley's have trailers. A friend who has a 1200

Bandit

> who had pulled a lot of bike trailers made a nifty one wheel

trailer

> for his Bandit. I followed him down to South Padre Bike Fest a

couple

> of years ago on my Concours and we got up to 90 mph on occasion.

The

> thing pulled great and Harley guys (they are always at bike events

in

> force) wanted to buy one. I asked him how he designed such a great > bike trailer and he said "because I've pulled a lot of bad ones." > > But back on topic, there was a guy on this list a couple / few

years

> ago that claimed he had a bike trailer for his KLR that he used to > pull his folding kayak with sailing rig down to Baja from Arizona

to

> sail around coves and drink beer. Sounded like an excellent plan > being a sailor and ex kayaker. > > Criswell > On Jul 22, 2008, at 1:28 PM, Richard Bessey wrote: > > > I had to chime in on this. > > > > Is a trailer on a KLR legal? Since there is no hitch on it from

the

> > factory like a gold wing, I am assuming trailers behind a KLR are

a

> > big N.O. > > > > Regards, > > > > Richard Bessey > > System Administrator > > Vivio Technologies > > > > Joe Tittiger wrote: > > > > > > I may be asking for too much but I would like to design and

build a

> > > simple motorcycle trailer for my 19 foot long ocean kayak, for

not

> > > more than a total cost of $150 in materials. > > > > > > I have a universal rack on the KLR and would like to attach it

to

> > the > > > 2 horizontal bars near the turn signals.(I can provide a

picture)

> > > > > > For cost savings and to simplify the range of motion that the

hitch

> > > must accommodate I am leaning towards a single wheel. (Where on

the

> > > internet can I get a high speed wheel applicable to this

project?)

> > > > > > For cost and ease of assembly 1/2" or 3/4" bolted together EMT

might

> > > be a good way to go. > > > > > > I have no idea yet how I am going to build the hitch to attach

it to

> > > the rack and also have it articulate left and right. > > > > > > Adding lights and getting it approved by the state will be

that

> > last step. > > > > > > If you have any ideas I would appreciate the groups input as at

this

> > > point I am not convinced that I can do this on budget and simply > > > enough to motivate me to try. > > > > > > Many thanks in advance, > > > > > > Joe > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

Joe, You might be able to come up with a good solution using a combination of ideas from http://www.trailtail.com and http://www.bikesatwork.com Lars

>Need ideas for a home built Kayak trailer for my KLR >Posted by: "Joe Tittiger" tittiger@... jtittiger >Date: Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:03 am ((PDT)) > >I may be asking for too much but I would like to design and build a >simple motorcycle trailer for my 19 foot long ocean kayak, for not >more than a total cost of $150 in materials. >Many thanks in advance, > >Joe

If you're going to build your own trailer for this, and use it out on your 1st trip w/ o a bunch of testing (like all of us home mechanics), I would strongly advise a few of things. I say these based on my own experience as a home-shop mechanic who has built Jeeps & Trailers, and also as an engineer with ~20 years of experience designing & shipping products. (remember: rarely does the 1st design look anything like the successful design!) 1) Base the design off of something else that's known to work. The BOB & TrailTail both look like decent concepts. Clearly the TrailTail is meant for faster speeds & rougher operation. Get an up-close look if you can. 2) Also look for similar ideas in other ways that can be copied...for example, surfboard trailers for bicycles are meant to take longer objects (like your Kayak): http://muletransportsystems.com/news_page.html http://www.comfortchannel.com/prod.itml/icOid/7431 http://www.letsplay.net/josday/photo.cfm?p=4 Better still are small Kayak trailers already out there you can use for inspiration, or even buy & modify for motorcycle attachment? http://www.outdoorplay.com/store/Product.asp?CID=KL&SKU=ARR_MADPB http://www.outdoorplay.com/store/Product.asp?CID=KL&SKU=EOU_PBFLY http://1stdirect.stores.yahoo.net/eccakatr.html http://www.canoekayaktrailer.com/ Or even other trailers meant to pull behind a motorcycle. You may get good hitch ideas off of those. 3) Don't underestimate the forces at play on the trailer (and hitch) at speed when you hit a pothole or other bump. So I would steer clear of bolts through EMT (I can bend that stuff with my hands!!). I'd consider bolts through UniStrut or something like that. But even still, I'd only use this for prototyping & want a real welded steel (or aluminum) frame for the real deal. I'm not a kayaker, but I wouldn't think it would be a cool thing to lose one down the highway behind you, and I'm sure the guy following you would agree. If you design out what you want, you may be able to get a welder to weld it up for pretty cheap. 4) There are lots of places out there that sell high speed wheels (and spindles, axles, etc). Two I've personally bought from & been satisfied are: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category_6970_166839 http://www.trailerpart.com/ Also try e-trailer.com And remember - smaller wheels & tires spin faster on the highway than 'normal' size tires = more wear on bearings, etc. Think also about your trailer spare, especially if you don't have a patch kit appropriate for that type of tire. One slick setup would be to use two front KLR wheels for tires.... 5) You may want to buy a set of trailer plans for a small trailer that is close to what you want. They can be had for like $15 or $25. They will give you all sorts of ideas you may not have thought about. 6) If you plan to take it on a long trip, OR if you plan to take it offroad, do some testing of your final design before heading out. Try to get yourself in similar situations (speed / terrain) while you're close to home & then can go back & modify the trailer - and even leave the Kayak, go home & get your pickup to go rescue both Kayak & failed trailer. Consider having someone follow you if you have doubt or are unwilling to leave Kayak/trailer until you can come back for it. Hope that helps! Jeff Layton Austin, TX [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joe wrote: I have a universal rack on the KLR and would like to attach it to the 2 horizontal bars near the turn signals.(I can provide a picture) --------------------- Joe, I have one comment - as I did build a trailer and hitch years ago that worked well -but it had 2 wheels so it supported itself in a roll axis... I'd advise you to build a hitch that attaches to the rear subframe and has a low attach point for the hitch from the trailer. I would be wary of having accel/decel loads coming in high on the bike, if you're in a corner and really have to use the brakes suddenly (which you know will happen some day), I would think the tounge forces would try to pitch the bike right over. You'd like those forces to enter the bike as low as possible as the "pivot point" is the tire contact patch. This way the trailer won't 'tow' YOU! Bill Watson Phoenix, AZ www.xanga.com/watt_man [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Pics; http://photos.robdiesel.com/viewer.php? ... imgid=2112 and this; http://photos.robdiesel.com/viewer.php? ... imgid=2111 The only thing needed is the valve itself and perhaps two hose-clamps. All I did was cut the hose, slip the hose onto the valve on each side and re-install the hose. That's it. I did it when I just got the bike with 2900 miles, and only have little over 1000 miles on it since. It doesn't seem to use any oil but I have no reference point from before. I can't seem to hear it rattle, but with the bike being a thumper, I don't think I could hear it if I tried. //Reverend - hosed in Denver

> -----Original Message----- > From: Wayne Blackburn [mailto:wayne_blckbrn@...] > What else is needed to make the mod work. > You know, fittings and such. > Did it help with the oil blowby. > And how is the noise level, > reports have said that some pcv valves were noisy. > This one in the picture looks like all you > need is a couple of hose clamps. > Do you have any pics of the completed mod? > > > Thanks Wayne > > --- On Wed, 7/23/08, Reverend wrote: > > From: Reverend > > http://photos. robdiesel. com/viewer. php?albid= 89&stage= 3&imgid=2110 > > I used the AutoZone part "PCV1175 PC272" on mine, as seen in the > picture > above.