My homemade motorcycle camper
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 158
Likes: 41
From: Missouri
My homemade motorcycle camper
Hi Everyone,
I have been on this forum about a year, and usually just hang out in the classifieds looking for and selling parts, bikes etc... I got curious about what all else was on here, and started looking around. That brought me here. I had no idea this trailer section was here. Anyway, I thought you trailer guys might like the motorcycle camper I built last year. No plans for this I just started with some thin ply and winged it. Here are the specifics:
Height: Body 42 ground to top 48 not counting roof vent.
Length: 8 not including the 3 tounge.
Width: 4 not counting the fenders. 5 total.
Weight: 320 lbs empty with the storage box on. 296 lbs without storage box. Interior fully insulated but not finished.
Lighting: 4 dot approved 16 led bars 160 total leds, and a lighted plate holder/brake light. Bright as the sun at night.
Tires: 8 high speed 81mph rated. Got to keep the weight low.
Suspension. Adjustable, Independent flexride torsion axles mounted leading arm style. Combined 550lb rating.
Ground clearance: 7 but adjustable up or down.
Construction: Paint over canvas.
Wiring: 5 wire
Hitch: Standard 2 non swivel.
Tounge weight empty: 28 lbs Loaded 45-60. My Hitch is rated to 60lbs
I built this last summer prior to a fall Motorcycle trip to Canada. I have about 3000mi on it and it performs great. My wife and I are headed to Oak Island, Nova Scotia this June so should put another 4-5k on the trailer. My wife is learning to ride on the silver flhx and Im now riding an 09 root beer colored ultra. Im moving thru bikes right now looking for exactly what I want. When I settle on one I will repaint the stripe on the trailer to match. This turned into a long winded post, but I hope you enjoyed it.
-Chris
Last edited by HDman13; Mar 12, 2019 at 12:15 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 3,333
Likes: 1,280
From: Ky
Beautiful trailer!
Keep an eye on the struts running from the top to the bottom rear of the fender. Lots of leverage there. I have had to change some of that stuff while on the road.
maybe you have a better hitch, if so I would be interested.
Keep an eye on the struts running from the top to the bottom rear of the fender. Lots of leverage there. I have had to change some of that stuff while on the road.
maybe you have a better hitch, if so I would be interested.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 158
Likes: 41
From: Missouri
Thanks for the positive comments. I have been keeping an eye on the hitch hardware, and it’s holding up great. I recently removed the hitch from the flhx to install on the ultra, and inspected it carefully. I went back thru my iPad and couldn’t find any interior pics. The trailer is in storage now and it would be hard to get pics. When the weather warms up I’ll get it out and take some. The interior is just 1” foil faced insulation with all seams tyvek taped. It’s very air tight so I leave the vent open some always when sleeping. Sorry about the interior pics, but I did find a video of one of my trial, slow speed handling runs. I can’t attach here so I uploaded to YouTube. Here is the link.
I was taking it easy here. I done later tests and it will turn much tighter. The handling is surprisingly good. There are things I don’t like, but I will post later about those.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
Smart and skilled enough to build his own MC camper AND test it out in a parking lot first. Great job! 
What does she weigh all up and ready to travel?
What does she weigh all up and ready to travel?
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 158
Likes: 41
From: Missouri
Thanks Nomadmax. I done many tests thru the build. And changed lots of things as a result. For solo trips about 350lbs. That’s an air mattress and bedding, and a cooler and food in the storage box. I don’t pack many extra clothes. Things like tools, unused riding gear, and basically everything else goes on the bike. For long trips I put a modular helmet in the camper. Now this summer with the wife who knows. She packs pretty light though. I have done some tests 2 up pullling the camper, and I would like more power. The 96” flhx with stage one does ok, but figure me 200 wife 120 camper loaded 400. That’s 720 lbs plus the extra windage of the camper. Performance does suffer as does mpg. It’s ok for everything but interstate cruising. On the interstate loaded 2 up sometimes 5th is needed to maintain speed. My 09 ultra 96” will be the same but slightly heavier due to the tour pak etc.. The best option with a camper or trailer is keep it light, and let the wife ride her own bike if possible. Or leave the trailer home and use hotels when the wife is along. My wife at least, really appreciates a hotel room at the end of the riding day. I got long winded again, sorry.
