Bike trailers (possibly) for sale
 

This is just a general enquiry at the moment, but would anyone be interested in buying a bike trailer, built from scratch...CONSIDERABLY cheaper than other currently on the market.

I'm considering knocking up some single and double bike trailers for sale, complete with indespension units and light boards.

They would go for around £155 for a single and £180 for a double.

These will be 100% safe, and reliable, built from quality components, and assembled by myself and a colleague, both of us with years engineering and fabrication experience.

We have currently done one, and it has turned out very good indeed. If anyone is interested, I can email photos and details etc.

For those of you who have bought one of my ride height tools in the past, you'll know I have a problem paying what is sometimes silly money for items that can be manufactured and produced for a fraction of their retail price often seen elsewhere.

Why pay silly money, when you can have a superior purpose built product for halve the price!

Is this the kind of thing that anyone would be interested in, absolutely no commitment whatsoever...and no, this is not a trade advert!

Just some thoughts:

Be good if the double can be converted to a single, just gives you more flexibilty.

Nice if its easy to tip on its side for storage.

Built in loading ramp or facility to carry a ramp on the trailer.

Able to load bike single handed.

Jocky wheel so you can move the fully loaded trailer around - some people find reversing almost impossible so they un hitch and push the trailer into position.

Paul makes some very god points Harv. I know where one would go if you could handle a few of those questions.

They are really just my thoughts based on three years of using two different types of trailer. Actually its supprising the number of times it gets used, not just for trackdays but for getting the bike to Nelly to be fixed, taking it for MOT when its raining etc!!

Probably the most important feature (for me) is the ability to be able to load and unload the bike on my own. All it needs is some chequer plate so you can put the side stand down or alternativly a good front wheel support.

If I have your personal guarantee I'd be interested :smug:

Can you take me through your public liability first though mate - I'll need about £10,000,000 cover :D

btw A belated Happy New Year !

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If I have your personal guarantee I'd be interested :smug:

Can you take me through your public liability first though mate - I'll need about £10,000,000 cover :D

btw A belated Happy New Year ! [/quote]

Actually Dave...you can't have one...I'm all sold out:lol::P

Good points Paul, and points which will be considered when we make the decision to go ahead with this or not.

The benifit of making your own is just this, any problems you've experienced in the past can be addressed, and resolved in a new improved model!!!!

Some interest already...anyone else???

If I have your personal guarantee I'd be interested :smug:

Can you take me through your public liability first though mate - I'll need about £10,000,000 cover :D

btw A belated Happy New Year ! [/quote]

Actually Dave...you can't have one...I'm all sold out:lol::P [/quote]

Not me then ... if you're all sold out :P:P

Loading the bike single handed would be crucial I reckon, best having one of those front wheel stand thingy's built in. Like Dickie's trailer maybe?

Think I'll wait for the improved model then Harv:lol:

You need to be able to walk the bike off the trailer by standing beside it on the trailer. Standing on the ground makes you too low and its easy for the bike to fall away from you. Even at 6'2" tall that happens. Some of these skeleton type trailers are very hard (like the Dave Hindle (sp?) types) plus i've seen some designs that take three people to get the bike off.

I can move the channels around on mine to carry either one or two bikes, the loading ramp takes up the vacant third position, either in the middle or on the right.

Built in lighting is a much neater solution than a trailer board.

I think if you can do all that for £180 then your onto a winner!

All above points taken into consideration I might be interested!:)

I'll have one!

as long as the double can be used for one bike as well you can put me down for one
Butch

OK guys...been looking a bit more into this and to make it viable, the design will probably be so that you can alternate between it being a one or two bike design, i.e. the ramps will be fixed in such a way as to me 'moveable' when required.

Still working on it...but keep the interest coming...

Email on the way Harv.

Would be interested ... Can I take it that "proper wheels" will be used rather than the onces you find on wheel barrows ?

I would definatly be interested in a single bike trailer!!!

Was going to get one this spring, but will hang on for a bit.
Any idea when you will be putting them together???:)

HARV, would you be using 500 or 750 KG indispension units?

the reason i ask is i have towed with both, and found that the 750kg units are more robust
but the suspension effect works better on the 500kg ones

the 250kg ones are crap!
whats your thought mate?

mav

Gaz...at the moment I am trying to guage if there is enough interest to get this going. As with all ventures like this, it comes down to demand...if enough people show interest then the cost of production becomes less, and the better the savings etc etc...

At the moment I have about 7 or 8 people interested, if I can get that upto double figures then it should be a goer...although it does still very much depend on the final spec and the ability to obtain the parts at good prices.

I'm meeting with my mate over the weekend to hammer out the details and put some designs/figures together. Therefore I should be able to get back to eveyone next week with a plan or not!

Mav...I think due to trying to keep a limit on costs, and because they will be fine, we would go for the 500Kg units. I have a trailer with 350 units on, and its been working fine for several years...with no issues whatsoever. I see no reason to use heavier rated and more expensive units on a tailer designed for a max of two bikes (max weight 400Kg)...so it will probably be 500Kg units.

As I say...details to follow.

Sounds good!!:cool:

put me down for one Harv:cool:

Harv- when speccing the suspension units, don't forget to account for the weight of the trailer!
I know someone who did that ( cough! :o ) got a good supplier though & he took them back.

Harvey,

U2U sent. Not sure what type of finish you are considering but hot dip galvanze would be the way to go.

Have you thought about fabricating sub assemblies that could be hot dipped galvanized in bulk and then bolted together along with the lighting, tow hitch and suspension.

Even better, fabricate the sub assemblies and have them galvanized then sell them in kit form with advice on what suspension and tow hitch to buy and fit.

or get the dimensions of Dickieducati
as the trailer i saw him with at JHP was the dog's

mav:D