Discussion
Anyone got experience of regular towing with only the front wheel raised on a sort of dolly arrangement, I read on some forum that it will wreck your bikes gearbox if done frequently?
I have a need to tow my bike ~30 miles each week, I got given a cheap trailer but I really struggle with loading it (some YT vids make it look so easy and I've binned it off the trailer already) so I'm looking at different options. The dolly system would do away with the trailer which makes it very attractive as I also have to lock up the trailer for a day on it's own away from the towing vehicle.
The alternative is an easier loading trailer but this is getting close to £2k so not my first choice.
I have a need to tow my bike ~30 miles each week, I got given a cheap trailer but I really struggle with loading it (some YT vids make it look so easy and I've binned it off the trailer already) so I'm looking at different options. The dolly system would do away with the trailer which makes it very attractive as I also have to lock up the trailer for a day on it's own away from the towing vehicle.
The alternative is an easier loading trailer but this is getting close to £2k so not my first choice.
srob said:
What's with the rolling eyes? If you're worried about knackering the gearbox diconnecting the wheel from the gearbox seems an easy fix...
I assumed you weren't serious, hence the big grin you added in the first place. To add context, once a week I need to load my bike, drive 15 miles, park up the trailer/bike, unload and ride back home and then at the end of the day do the reverse, It needs to be easy to do.
Mags said:
Anyone got experience of regular towing with only the front wheel raised on a sort of dolly arrangement, I read on some forum that it will wreck your bikes gearbox if done frequently?
I have a need to tow my bike ~30 miles each week, I got given a cheap trailer but I really struggle with loading it (some YT vids make it look so easy and I've binned it off the trailer already) so I'm looking at different options. The dolly system would do away with the trailer which makes it very attractive as I also have to lock up the trailer for a day on it's own away from the towing vehicle.
The alternative is an easier loading trailer but this is getting close to £2k so not my first choice.
I think towing the bike is a bad idea IMHO. Can you not get one of the really small single bike trailers instead? Much smaller than a regular trailer, so can be leant up against a wall when not in use.I have a need to tow my bike ~30 miles each week, I got given a cheap trailer but I really struggle with loading it (some YT vids make it look so easy and I've binned it off the trailer already) so I'm looking at different options. The dolly system would do away with the trailer which makes it very attractive as I also have to lock up the trailer for a day on it's own away from the towing vehicle.
The alternative is an easier loading trailer but this is getting close to £2k so not my first choice.
Other than that, get a hitch mounted carrier if your bike is light enough.
KTMsm said:
What bike ?
What dolly ?
I have only seen very dubious DIY dollys for sale
2015 KTM ADV1190, seen a few dollies, a couple of homemade ones on Ebay and the Hecasa one here:What dolly ?
I have only seen very dubious DIY dollys for sale
https://www.baglux.co.uk/motorcycle-maintenance-st...
I'd have to modify the tow bar on the tow vehicle anyway as it only has a tow ball and most of these need a class 2 hitch or something else. The reason one of these would be nice is it removes the need to store and lock a trailer during the day which means a small diversion on my route, not a big deal but helpful.
Mags said:
srob said:
What's with the rolling eyes? If you're worried about knackering the gearbox diconnecting the wheel from the gearbox seems an easy fix...
I assumed you weren't serious, hence the big grin you added in the first place. To add context, once a week I need to load my bike, drive 15 miles, park up the trailer/bike, unload and ride back home and then at the end of the day do the reverse, It needs to be easy to do.
Why not just ride it there?
Do you have to take a passenger who cannot ride pillion?
There must be a valid reason for needing to trailer it there, then ride back and there again but I'm really struggling to see it?
I honestly don't think I could put up with that much faff, I get annoyed zipping my textile jacket to my trousers and end up driving the car instead to avoid the faff, unless there's a decent traffic time saving to be had.
I honestly don't think I could put up with that much faff, I get annoyed zipping my textile jacket to my trousers and end up driving the car instead to avoid the faff, unless there's a decent traffic time saving to be had.
Bob_Defly said:
I think towing the bike is a bad idea IMHO. Can you not get one of the really small single bike trailers instead? Much smaller than a regular trailer, so can be leant up against a wall when not in use.
Other than that, get a hitch mounted carrier if your bike is light enough.
Yes, this is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking at, any idea if you can get these in the UK? One option at the moment is this: https://kenttowingsolutions.co.uk/debon-bike-trail... the Moto1 tilt bed.Other than that, get a hitch mounted carrier if your bike is light enough.
I'm not too ashamed to admit that the biggest problem I have with the existing trailer is as the bike starts to get up the ramp it's really hard to maintain it's balance whilst trying to step onto something and then again to step onto the trailer and hold the brake/clutch at arm stretch from the side. I'm tall but built to drive a computer, not getting a heavy bike up a narrow ramp trailer. I thought about getting a cheap 125 MX sort of bike that would be lighter but it's just more stuff to maintain, insure, MOT etc.
There are a couple of nice low entry folding trailers by Cochet and Lorries (look identical) they fold up to store away which is really nice but are over £2k.
Carl-H said:
There must be a valid reason for needing to trailer it there, then ride back and there again but I'm really struggling to see it?
I honestly don't think I could put up with that much faff, I get annoyed zipping my textile jacket to my trousers and end up driving the car instead to avoid the faff, unless there's a decent traffic time saving to be had.
Not that the reason matters but I'll explain. My wife does not drive (and never will be able to before some smartarse says just learn) but has a business that once a week sells at a local-ish market from her truck.I honestly don't think I could put up with that much faff, I get annoyed zipping my textile jacket to my trousers and end up driving the car instead to avoid the faff, unless there's a decent traffic time saving to be had.
I drive the truck there with the missus very early and travel back home, I then return at the end of the day to do the opposite, most weeks I get the train, it's less than an hour door to door and just under a tenner return but as everyone knows trains are s
te. They range from late/cancelled to bus replacement on some weekends and unless the weather is horrible it's a quick journey on the bike plus I can take the long way home if I fancy it on the ride home on the weekend, I wear protective jeans/boots and chuck my jacket in the back of the truck, my lid/gloves is in my topbox and its a doddle. The less fannying around I have to do with loading the bike on/off, strapping down etc is a bonus so in that respect the low entry trailers are great, ride on, strap it down etc. I can load the bike the night before as it sit's behind a gated drive so the morning is just jumping in and driving off. The downside is stumping up £2k vs lets say £10 a week on the train (that's about a 4 year + payback) It's a justified business investment but £2k is £2k, I want to be sure if I buy one I did the right thing.
I did this multiple times with the existing trailer but as I said above I find it really hard trying to balance the thing up onto the trailer and I've binned it more than once costing money in a mirror/bar end etc. I don't want to change my bike, I love mine and another bike is cost plus loads over stuff. I've looked at modifying the existing trailer, a really wide ramp would make a big difference as I could then safely drive or walk up but It's a load of work that I don't know will be ideal and cost me several days of doing it when it might be better to accept a decent trailer is the right investment.
I don't need other suggestions like find another business/market/wife etc, the business brings in an income that works and my wife has built up a reputation. It doesn't impact my job as the travel is outside my hours, only when the trains f' up which is more often than not.
I wanted to see if the dolly things were viable, in principle they are a great idea but I'm not sure about in practice. One of the home made Ebay job's needs a ramp to get the bike about a foot in the air for the front wheel to drop ito place, that sounds ok but trying to get it back out again could be fun and again this requires tow bar mods as the trucks tow bar isn't modern.
Mags said:
I've looked at modifying the existing trailer, a really wide ramp would make a big difference as I could then safely drive or walk up but It's a load of work that I don't know will be ideal and cost me several days of doing it when it might be better to accept a decent trailer is the right investment.
Get yourself a bike trailer like this where there's some room on the left side: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127046886973(In this case you'd have to move the loading ramp bracket onto the other side)
Then put a steel chequerplate deck on that you can walk up - that way you have a good, grippy surface to keep your footing.
Mags said:
Yes, this is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking at, any idea if you can get these in the UK? One option at the moment is this: https://kenttowingsolutions.co.uk/debon-bike-trail... the Moto1 tilt bed.
I'm not too ashamed to admit that the biggest problem I have with the existing trailer is as the bike starts to get up the ramp it's really hard to maintain it's balance whilst trying to step onto something and then again to step onto the trailer and hold the brake/clutch at arm stretch from the side. I'm tall but built to drive a computer, not getting a heavy bike up a narrow ramp trailer. I thought about getting a cheap 125 MX sort of bike that would be lighter but it's just more stuff to maintain, insure, MOT etc.
There are a couple of nice low entry folding trailers by Cochet and Lorries (look identical) they fold up to store away which is really nice but are over £2k.
No idea, I just googled motorcycle trailer, and a bunch of these came up. The trick with ramps is to always use two, one for you and one for the bike. Make sure they are strapped to the truck/trailer so they don't move. Then you can get bikes up quite high without any worries.I'm not too ashamed to admit that the biggest problem I have with the existing trailer is as the bike starts to get up the ramp it's really hard to maintain it's balance whilst trying to step onto something and then again to step onto the trailer and hold the brake/clutch at arm stretch from the side. I'm tall but built to drive a computer, not getting a heavy bike up a narrow ramp trailer. I thought about getting a cheap 125 MX sort of bike that would be lighter but it's just more stuff to maintain, insure, MOT etc.
There are a couple of nice low entry folding trailers by Cochet and Lorries (look identical) they fold up to store away which is really nice but are over £2k.
s p a c e m a n said:
That's probably the worse option, another bike, tow hitch and mod's to the tow bar but appreciate the help.Krikkit said:
Get yourself a bike trailer like this where there's some room on the left side: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/127046886973
(In this case you'd have to move the loading ramp bracket onto the other side)
Then put a steel chequerplate deck on that you can walk up - that way you have a good, grippy surface to keep your footing.
This is very similar to what I have now so as you say is lacking the ramp to walk up, I'll take a look at a 2nd ramp and how to attach and secure it, it's going to be a lot cheaper than a new trailer.(In this case you'd have to move the loading ramp bracket onto the other side)
Then put a steel chequerplate deck on that you can walk up - that way you have a good, grippy surface to keep your footing.
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