Has anyone on here had any experience towing a trailer with there Ten??

Reason I ask is I do alot of mountain biking, but I don't drive so I'm stuck fairly local, I'll cycle maybe a 30-40 mile loop if the weather's good. But I'd love to travel further a field but hate public transport and I don't drive.

Whilst out cycling before Xmas I was traveling over the footbridge over the top of the M62 and saw a goldwing towing a trailer.

BINGO. That's what I need as previous attempts to transport mountain on daisy where a little hap hazard ro say the least lol.





So I looked into it and found out the laws and started building

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-motorcycle

Here's where I am so far, I've added a extra rail to my pannier frames and a 5mm thick stainless plate with tow ball.




Quick mock up to check the length.



I Fitted tow hitch and moved the axle rear ward so I now have 10kg nose weight on the tow ball.



Added bracing as the tow hitch was a bit flexy plus there will be upwards of �2000 of.mountain bikes on there. So want to make sure it stays attached.



Then I took it for a little spin.



http://s607.photobucket.com/user/sta...zcwzj.mp4.html

Tbh you don't know it's there, so far it weighs 41 kg so Can legally carry 109kg in it. Much more than 2 mountain bikes weigh. I've since towed it round a friends farm and up and down his lane. Does well over the bumps and I've tried fast manoeuvres and emergency stops and it performs well. Even had it loaded up with 200 kg of.sand to make sure nothing would break.

Started with panels and mudguards, new number plate, lights and reflectors on the way, and a tub of yellow paint for the frame :-) juat need to splice into the rear lights and I'm laughing. The led lights I've ordered only use 0.08 amp so shouldnt over load the rear wiring, ( I hope) insurance were fine with it as long as the coupling were type approved for towing. The hitch and ball are rated to 3500kg for towing caravans lol.



Will post up some more when I get it done.

Thanks for looking.

__________________
To boldly go where no Tenere has gone before.

Unusual and interesting project for the Ten. Look forward to seeing the finished article and finding out how it performs.

Looking at the wheels, you could probably saved a good few kilos of unladen weight swapping to narrow lightweight trailer wheels and tyres, rather than the car type (Mini?) ones your using at the minute?? I take it, your running Indespension type hubs and trailing arms?

__________________

Blimey ...............or should i say "kin hell" thats a beast mate , how much does it weight ? looks to roll OK but what about braking ? looks like you could get half a ton in there

__________________
"I'm here for a good time, not a long time"

Hi Jon, I just love those first two photos man ha ha ha! Initiative eh? What we do to transport stuff???????? I remember once lugging 2 lengths of decking on the back of my XJR!! If the plod had only seen me!!!!!!!!!! Tony ps good luck with the trailer.........

Top marks Pleiades I am using Indespension units as a friend had them and the wheels knocking about, tbh the wheels and tireS are very light it's the Indespension units that are heavy.

Philinfrance : it weighs 41kg matey but I think this will be closer to 55kg when all paneled out with lights mudguards etc fitted, and ive had 200kg of sand in it and dragged it around a farm and up and down a rough lane, handles ok. braking as affected obviously but them two brembo stoppers up front do the job nicely, rear suspension acts a little differently but its towing so it's to be expected.
I need to get the lights etc fitted so I can take it out on the road and see what it's like at speed, not had it over 35 yet haha.

Never had anything as big as decking on lmao that must have WIDE. but the bike was pretty hairy, lmao

__________________
To boldly go where no Tenere has gone before.

Hopefully I'll have it ready so I can take it to the lakeland do this year. That way I can pack as much crap as I want lmao

__________________
To boldly go where no Tenere has gone before.

Surely it could do with a swivel couperling so it could swivel to all angles last thing you woul wantnis to hit its limit

__________________
Yamaha xt660x 2009 blue/gold mods= iridium plug, stage1+2, removed snorkel, blocked ais, akrapovric pipes, power commander pc3usb (pre made map), adjusted tps, dynojet 02 optimiser 30amp aux relay, smoked puig screen, oxford heated grips and brembo carbon ceramic pads, rfx 30mm bar raisers, puig long adjustable leavers, plus much more and a cheep �30 alarm which stopped it been stolen

Swivel coupling???? I can lie the bike down with the panniers on and not reach the limit of the towball, is this what you mean??

__________________
To boldly go where no Tenere has gone before.

Yep thats what I ment, thats fine

__________________
Yamaha xt660x 2009 blue/gold mods= iridium plug, stage1+2, removed snorkel, blocked ais, akrapovric pipes, power commander pc3usb (pre made map), adjusted tps, dynojet 02 optimiser 30amp aux relay, smoked puig screen, oxford heated grips and brembo carbon ceramic pads, rfx 30mm bar raisers, puig long adjustable leavers, plus much more and a cheep �30 alarm which stopped it been stolen

YEEESSS.....

Sorry, I just want to see SteveD's face when you unload more than he does !

__________________
>-------<

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.