Utility Trailer?
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 141
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From:
Utility Trailer?
Thinking of getting a utility trailer so I can bring the bike along on some family camping trips this summer. Anyway there's a guy nearby that's getting rid of one for nothing. 4x8. Only thing good is the frame. I'd have to replace all the wood and lighting and tires.
My biggest concern is it has 4.80x8 inch tires and I just can't see these things spinning at 70 mph on the highway. I'm thinking you probably need at least 12 inch tires. Any thoughts? Thanks, Shane
My biggest concern is it has 4.80x8 inch tires and I just can't see these things spinning at 70 mph on the highway. I'm thinking you probably need at least 12 inch tires. Any thoughts? Thanks, Shane
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
RE: Utility Trailer?
Those tires sound pretty small to me. I'd check on how much the trailer is rated to carry. My trailer (which my bike has NEVER been on) has regular 15" tires. It's rated capacity is 3,500 lbs.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
RE: Utility Trailer?
8" is probably ok if you're hauling to the local stealer/indy for service but for interstate I would want 12" min. Keeps the RPMs down on the bearings. Nothing worse than sitting on the side of the interstate 300 miles from home. 12" tires & wheels are fairly cheap. I saw 12" tires & rims ready to go in wal-mart for like $45 a couple of weeks ago.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
RE: Utility Trailer?
In the days I had one of those foldup trailers. I put other tires on it. Had a buddy in the junk yard business. So I was able to get other rims and tires for it. The rims were off of a vega car ( us old timers know of that car).Had to put the rim on backwards.Did a little filing on the center hole and it fit like a glove. Had washers on the stud between the rim and the hub.You could use any rim as long as the hub hole and studs line up and the tire doesnot rub.. I used that trailer for hauling firewood. I know sometimes i over loaded it.
Hope this helps you.
Hope this helps you.
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 666
Likes: 1
From: Cavendish, Pei
RE: Utility Trailer?
Most older snowmobile trailers had that size tires . not a problem unless you overload them..check on the tires for the weight rating . Check the springs for any cracks . What type of axle does it have ?If it has a full axle, I am sure it can take the wieght . If you are going to put your bike on it ,check all the welds for cracks . buy new wheel bearings and install them. You can probably still find the bearing size written on the rubber seal. Trailers are great ,they keep a lot of extra stuff out of the car.. , and you get to bring your scoot. May cost you a couple of hundered bucks to fix up, but you can't buy a good utility tariler for under $700.00..Mark...
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 980
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, Florida
RE: Utility Trailer?
Check to see if the tires have a warning on them: not for highway use. Some are OK, some are not. I see a lot of 8-inchers on the highway that seem to do alright, but too I often see them parked along the road with an obvious bearing failure -- which may have more to do with the owners' maintenance practices (or lack of it). I found the 12 inch wheels off a Geo Metro bolted upto a buddy's trailer that had 8 inch wheels. If you're not traveling coast-to-coast with it, and you don't overload and do check bearing temperatures/tire pressuresevery once in a while, it might work out just fine.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 868
Likes: 6
From: Kentucky
RE: Utility Trailer?
but you can't buy a good utility tariler for under $700.00
Barry