CroK,

You mean like sliding tandems on a tractor trailer? Nifty concept. I wonder though how much you'll actually move it..I'd be interested in seeing some pics when you get that done.

If you have the option, I'd suggest some independent torsion spindles instead of a leaf spring suspension. They do come in low # --on the order of #150 per side so you can get a reasonably supple ride without the buckboard effect of a leaf spring.
The most affordable one I've seen are on e-bay for around $60-$70 per side.

Alternatively, you could use a coil spring and shock setup like the old style boat trailers, or even fab up a swingarm suspension and use motorcycle shocks.

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Here is the setup I use. All aluminum, box is 5 ft. long and 28 in. wide. Wheel width is 42 in. to the outside and fender width is 48in. Weight is 175 lbs.

Can't tell it is behind the bike when pulling it.

Tim

 

Trailers just like garages are never big enough....

 

I have the Harbor Fright Haul Master Tag a Long. Nice little trailer. Pulls good and holds quite a big of stuff. Use the hell out of it. Only thing is I need to add some more lights on the back. I want them up a little higher and a 3rd brake light. Then it will be perfect.

 

Mr Cujo, yep, same concept. Similar to what PineyRider is doing, I have an axle with leaf springs from an older HF utility trailer that I am cutting down, and will mount 2"x2"x1/8" angle to. These will only be about 4" longer than the leaf springs, so that I have enough room to put the clamps on. Clamped onto the box frame, so that it will be able to slide. The main box frame will be 4'x3x" (width determined once I set the 36" center of wheel), with only one centered cross member. That should allow me to slide the axle forward or back roughly half the distance of the leaf spring length. The clamps will be set outside each end of the leaf springs to give the longest adjustable length. It will be heavy, I'm sure, but I will probably be carrying a jack and toolbox, plus whatever other gear needed for the planned trip, so it has to be stout.

Classic Eagle, yeh, that's the one I was talking about. How sturdy is that box? Looks bigger than what I was thinking from the picture on HF site.

PineyRider, I didn't mean to hi-jack the thread from ya! Chime in any time, since it IS your thread. Please accept my apologies.

 

I like the third brake light idea!! One of my worries is getting rear ended by a senoir citizen at a red light that can't see the attached trailer (because they usually can't see over the steering wheel). I've already gotten rear-ended once by a guy who was in his 90's at light.

 

Isn't "Tow Behind Trailer" redundant?

 

LOL! Not if the bike is broke and you gotta push the trailer!

dakota dj, that's a nice setup. Hope mine looks half as good as that! Did you fab that yourself? I looked at the second photo first. Man it looked HUGE, until I saw the first one with the bike.

 

CroK, I've been eyeing this trailer for awhile. It was $229 when I first thought about building it, It went for $259 by the time I got around to buying it. I went for the open trailer thinking I could make something neat for a box. I do a lot of welding and have a buddy who has a machine shop, he has a metal shear and bending brake. However right now the dilemma is safety (I'll worry about a NEAT box later). I figure today I'll go out and measure the width of the Roadking and ponder the measurements a little more. There is a site http://forums.delphiforums.com/MCTrailertowing/start That I've got a lot of information from. Kind of hard to navigate around but many guys there give a lot of specs on the HF trailer. This is where I originally got my measurements from. I guess in the end we have to decide between enough width to where it doesn't want to roll over on turns but yet narrow enough to where your not clipping oncoming traffic if you sway a little wide.

 

I hear ya, I was playing with the idea of using a cartop carrier for the box, but they are expensive and not large enough for my purposes. The one I posted like Classic Eagle has, I wasn't sure of the strength of the box, so I decided to build my own. Still kinda stuck with a wooden box since I'm short on funds atm. I'll just have to make sure the wood is sealed well.