folding bike trailer project

[Jason Potts]

just finished my folding bike trailer. been working on this for the last few weeks after work in the shed. 
its been a bit of a rush and a chore really but im please with it. i'll be taking it out for a spin and a shakedown tomorrow. i'll let you know if it falls apart. 
hopefully now I can get back on my Enfield project. 

[Paul K]

Wow .  That's a really neat bit of kit. The tie-down mounts are well thought out.  I had to get rid of my trailer some years ago because it took up so much room, even on its' side, but your design is great.

How did you get the checker plate bent?  That wasn't done in your shed.

[Lee Sample]

Awesome work mate!

i really need to build something like that for carting my track bike around.  mind you, i need to actually finish the track bike first. and actually have time to do a trackday...... 

Lee

[Stephen Bailey]

Groovy.. 

[Stephen Bailey]

i really need to build something like that for carting my track bike around.  mind you, i need to actually finish the track bike first.

 

[David (tufty) White]

Jason,

I love your design.  It looks like a really great trailer.

My only concern would be with the axle width.  If you had to change direction quickly, to avert an incident or just taking a bend too quickly, that the bike's weight my provide enough leverage to topple the trailer over.

Obviously your road test will sort this out but it may be worth having someone looking out of the back window or following to see if either of the wheels pick up off the ground around bends.

But at the moment, I'm still in.  How much are they?   

[Stephen Bailey]

Jason,
I love your design.  It looks like a really great trailer.
How much are they?   

 

[Paul Wheatley (Wheaters)]

Looks like a good job but I hope those pivot bolts don't break; they'll be under a huge amount of shear with the weight of a bike bouncing on the trailer. 

[David (tufty) White]

But at the moment, I'm still in.  How much are they?   

You don't need a trailer with your bike 

You have a good point.  I do like the idea of having the option of a trailer.  Family in the car, bike on the back so I can nip off somewhere during the holiday. For example.
So I'm not totally antisocial by going everywhere on the bike.

I do need to get a towing hook on the car though.   

[Jason Potts]

done 100 miles with the bike on. very stable even round some of these twisty welsh roads. no bouncing around, very stable at 60mph and no tipping even round the tightest potholed corners. the pivot bolts are m10 grade 12.9 (hi tensile) so not your average B&Q fair.

i stuck a sliver of rubber in the joint so no metal to metal contact there.

the anti-loosy trailer tailgate things hold it all prety tight too and the weight of the bike under the tension of the straps stops any bouncing.

i took some better photos and it now includes another folding section (which needs painting) to which ive attached the number board and lights.

[Stephen Bailey]

stick a big lock connecting the bike to the trailer and the trailer to the tow vehicle....

[Stephen Bailey]

Just an observation: I figure there should be a safety chain on the Towball end of the trailer connected to the towing vehicle. Also a device which stops the towball end of the trailer digging into the ground should it become separated.... I.e a loop of steel lengthways under the tow arm... 

[Stephen Bailey]

Oh and I notice you have used the lighting board for the back of vehicles when they have an overhang which obscures the numberplate. I.e. a bike rack.

You need to have a couple of warning triangles on a trailer, one each side above the rear lights.

Hope this is useful information.

That is one neat trailer....

[Alastair Queen]

Doesn't appear to have trailer brakes.....so, loaded, does the weight fall under that ,above which trailer brakes need to be fitted?

If no brakes, then a breakaway cable really is a waste of time...

[Stephen Bailey]

Yep No brakes.... If so it would need a breakaway cable. Without brakes I think it needs a safety chain (Or safety Cable).