MOTORCYCLE CARGO TRAILERS - prologue 

Just found your video on trailer types and suspension and found it informative. Back in the late ninetys my partner and I wished to go to Phillip Island to watch the motogp and had a crazy thought to build a trailer to tow behind our gtr 1000. Found a design that looked practical, went to a local steel supplier and they cut out the panels and welded it together. After following a few trailers noticed that the springs where not flexing much but the tyres where so made a solid axle with 13 inch tyres 22 psi . Found it to stable at any speed even hitting potholes and kerbs on purpose and found no issues at all . Cheers Wayne

Much appreciate the info, specially the last part of the bike going back because the trailer did not have any breaks.

I have towed trailer’s behind my bike for thousands of kilometres with a standard fixed coupler. I have never had any issues of any kind. In one video it showed doing some extreme lean angles. In my opinion most people riding while towing don’t engage in that kind of riding. There is more than enough lean angle in the standard ball hitch. I believe that if you’re going to ride on aggressive curves you will not be towing. That would take all the fun out of the ride. In all of my years of riding, I have met maybe one or two people that have used the swivel hitch. Everyone else use the standard ball.

Great info and nice video, I adventure ride my R1150GSA with a trailer. Good tire psi tip. Old feller that fell rolling backwards should’ve Used rear brake or let the clutch out. Rookie mistake thinking a front tire works rolling backwards.

On a hill you could slip the clutch to keep from rolling backwards. You could even dump the clutch to kill the motor to hopefully keep from rolling backwards. The real lesson is to be aware of this scenario and practice dealing with it.

Outstanding, excellent post! Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for a great video and the series

The "Heim coupler" is by far the superior coupling system for your trailer as there is no slop in the connection like with a ball and you start to stop and then feel the clunk as the trailer pushes itself up on the ball hitch. I build trailers and ALWAYS use half torsion axles. I will not use a ball coupler, but I will build you a "male Heim" for your bike at no extra charge. The Heim uses a 3/4" (0.75") diameter pin that goes into the female Heim with an approximate .800" diameter hole for the pin to fit in. If you dont have some sort of swivel on your coupling, then you are basically on your knees begging the trailer GOD for a crash...and it will happen. You only need a swivel for 2 wheel bikes as trikes do not need this. One other thing and that is no matter who's trailer or what brand of a trailer...add some extra bright LED lights to the back of it to help you be seen. I am in Joshua, Texas and you can see my adventure videos here... ru-vid.com and if you have any questions...just ask.

Very informative, thank you !!!

Mate you sound like a proper ideas man.

Thanks for this. I'm currently towing a cargo trailer with my 3rd bike, a Honda CTX1300. But I may switch to an adventure bike and was curious about trailer hitches. This has helped me to get some ideas on what to do. I agree with the use of a swivel. If for no other reason, the swivel will prevent the bike from being pulled down if the trailer should flip. This happened to someone when the trailer was hit by a car and flipped upside down, but the bike kept rolling safely.

In South Australia, I recommend getting the hitch and electrics done by ShadowTrailers. He also makes custom trailers, but I’d make your own very from a Carlex Trailer base, which you can order from Victoria. Safe riding peoples!!!

Great video 🇨🇦

Good info thanks.

Awesome run down

The Performance trailers you reccomend are actually made in Coffs Harbour NSW. I agree with your comment about the Classic industries hitch, they allow far too much movement. I have towed a Performance trailer from Coffs Harbour to Mildura and back behind a TDM 900 and with a Classic hitch the wear on the rear tyre was extreme.

Would a swingarm mounted trailer be ok if it was designed to not only connect at the axle but brace to the shock pivot further forwards so that the ball/joint is solidly mounted. Would pintle hitch be ok on a motorcycle trailer!

Thank you

I live in Thailand. I have a Honda Forza 350. I would love to find a *very light* small utility trailer and the towing hardware/hitches, to make short trips to the golf course carrying my golf clubs and shoes. I dont need anythings to go camping, or those sorts of things. Just a small utility like trailer and rig setup. I have not been able to find anything really close to what I would like. Maybe your viewers would have a suggestion. Thanks.

I really like the Performance trailer at video's end. Are they only available in Australia or can you find them elsewhere. I'm US west coast. Thanks for your trailer review!

Richard should have used his back brake instead of locking the front and he wouldn't have fallen off.

Hey were can I find that trailer that u said was your old setup gray trailer with red bike!! They got a manufacturer name or website still???? !! Might go good with my harley

Why do you not recommend swingarm hitches? I want to build a trailer and use a swing arm attachment because it will only be used when riding 2 up, and the bike is at maximum preload/weight with me and my bf on the back. Same reason I dont want to just add saddlebags, because the rear bag luggage rack bag has a lot of weight in it. On the swing arm effectively removes any weight on the rear suspension, and the rear tire's braking helps with the trailer since all the weight of the trailer will load onto the rear tire. So now im wondering why I shouldnt use these.

would you agree with this statement? The hitch weight associated with towing a trailer will not have a major impact on the shock adjustment because, when towing down the road, the weight decreases downward force on the hitch itself and is lessened because of forward momentum?

What the brand of hitch shown at the 50sec point of the video?

I'm looking to get a 50/50 street legal dirt bike and trailer, I'm here in the U.S. East Coast... Great video! Any recommendations on motorcycle?

Why do you not recommend a swingarm mounted hitch?

I’m confused by the tire pressure comment at 8 minutes: What is “finder”? "If it’s got finder in the middle, your tire is over inflated”. I assume that means no chalk mark in the middle because the tire is too rounded from over inflation and wore the chalk away. Similarly, “Finder on the edges”...Am I miss-hearing? Did you say “finer” as in the chalk mark is thinner or “finer”? Sorry mate... but I do love and recommend your videos. And you helped me build a nice little trailer that trails most excellently.

Have you seen the pasq av1 it looks pretty good even though its the style you said to avoid lol

Did you try the Matchbox one?

Hey man, can you recommend a hook and a trailer for a CB500X?

Are there trailers with a seat for a passenger ?

It'd probably be better to make your own hitch. I can't even imagine how overpriced they'd be to buy.

Von solchen Anhängern können wir in Deutschland nur träumen. Würde gerne auch einen Anhänger mit meinem 350ccm Roller ziehen aber der deutsche TÜV macht sich in die Hose wenn der Roller schneller als 60km/h fährt, der Anhänger könnte ja umkippen.

I have a 200 CC scooter that I have a Harbor freight little 48 by 48 trailer that I'm trying to get a trailer hitch for Jess for just to do my RC boats boats I have the trailer made up for my truck but sometimes it's such a nice day I would like to take the scooter And have some fun going thank you for this video it was very helpful Please Comment back thank you again