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Post by nulldevice on Jan 9, 2016 19:53:17 GMT -5
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Post by nulldevice on Jan 9, 2016 21:54:57 GMT -5
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Post by JerryScript on May 26, 2016 13:46:50 GMT -5
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Post by spandi on May 28, 2016 0:28:50 GMT -5
Thank you Jerry! I've been wanting to build a camper trailer myself and I was looking around for trailer hitch ideas. (I saw one using a Vespa to tow averts by bolting the hitch to the rear housing using the existing bolts) |
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Post by nulldevice on Jan 20, 2017 22:44:00 GMT -5
This idea will probably work well for 150cc or less scooters, but unless the caster is really heavy duty and with no slop in it I fear there will be too much sway and bend in the joint to live with it over 30 MPH and 40 pounds or so. Every wiggle, every sway is magnified at the back of the trailer. I fearlessly go 70 plus with the traffic on the Interstates to get to a camp site where the Appalachian foothills and their fabulous roads are.
I found the lash-up I made was too rickety after several hundred miles because the bolt holes were beginning to elongate and I didn't want to put enough weight in the hitch to make it good. I now have a better way, and it only took me a half dozen prototypes to get it right(er). Who knows what I will see next riding season. The new hitch involves removing the passenger seat, a new trailer, and a sheet of 3/4 inch oak plywood and 1/4 inch floor underlay, a ball bearing, a lot of 5/8 inch nuts, flat washers, lock washers, some 5/8 inch ball joint ends and a few feet of 5/8 inch allthread.
After I get the air cleaners changed out (Good Lord what a PAIN!) I'll put up some pictures.
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Post by bandito2 on Jan 26, 2017 1:54:56 GMT -5
I have a single wheel trailer for my Honda Reflex that carries enough weight at high enough speeds that I would not trust a simple caster. Using a caster for a bicycle might be OK, but that would be about it... maybe. Casters are designed to bear the load imposed onto the bearing in compression. The problem with that is that often the load at the junction will be in tension or shear. Casters are designed for compression loads, not for being pulled apart or being forced on from the side. I have seen automotive U-joints being used; which seems like a much better idea. No slop at the pivot points there. One just needs to fabricate a good solid connection at each end of the hitch swivel. (bike - U-joint - trailer)
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