I’m thinking of getting a trailer for moving the bike to trackdays etc. I’m thinking a 2 bike trailer so that I can accommodate a friend’s bike when needed, but it would have to be a collapsible type so I can store it in the garage when not used.
Does anybody have any experience with them, and recommendations?
Also, any recommendations for towbar fitters in or around (SE) London?
Speak to Andy-Cr15 as he has recently done this.
Cheers.
Did Andy-cr15 change his username? I can’t seem to find him on the PM list.
Andycr15 … No dashes mees think
How much do you want to spend? How heavy is your bike? If it’s heavy, a collapsible trailer will be hard. The best ones new I found when I was looking were from Dave Cooper:
http://www.davecooper.co.uk/bike_trailers.asp
150kg capacity £299.00 inc. VAT, lightboard and loading ramp.
220kg capacity £349.00 inc. VAT, lightboard and loading ramp
You can try eBay but in my experience collapsible ones don’t come up too often.
In the end, I bought a solid trailer and am going to widen the side gate to get it in for storage. Paid £90 on gumtree, plus £35 for a 25L tin of Hammerite, and a few hours of my time to refurbish it.
-simon
And a scronful look when you spilt it on the drive 
I would prefer a solid trailer, but I just can’t fit it in anywhere.
Interesting, I looked at the davecooper trailers, but they look a bit “flimsy”, but it’s really hard to see on pictures on a website, that’s why I was wondering if anybody had any first hand experience.
The ones I think look best are the motolug: http://www.motolug.com/TE.php but at nearly £1000 for the twin trailer, it’s very pricey.
The other ones I was looking at are those sold by Lee Philips through his ebay shop: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/phillips-trailers-aframes-towpoles/motorcycle-trailers-/_i.html?_fsub=2654594012&_sid=72579062&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322
He does a version with adjustable wheel chock, which means it should be a 1 person job to load up, but I find it hard to see how one would strap down the rear of the bike. Again, it’s quite hard to figure out from the pictures.
The other thing I’m unsure about is that I think I should get a twin trailer so that I can pick a friend’s bike up, but then I assume you couldn’t drive it with just 1 bike, so you’d have to dis-assemble and re-assemble it to convert from a 1 to 2 bike trailer.
Sorry mate its AndyCr15. My mistake. Szymon has also done it recently… Although he pulls his trailer with a tractor :Whistling:
Mine will (in theory) take 3 bikes. General opinion of those that have seen it is I got it at a steal for just £150 as it’s very sturdy, suspension and everything.
My logic was a 3 bike trailer means use the middle runner for 1 bike, the two outer ones for two bikes. I’m not sure how comfortable I would be with two on there though, just because you really want something outside the bikes centre of gravity to stop it falling inwards and that’s not possible when they’re right on the edge. Any ideas people?
Also, are there any tips for loading single handed? I guess you can take the bike up, put it on it’s stand. Strap the right side, tighten to close to upright, then strap the second side and tighten. Then tight both, bit by bit, trying to keep it upright as possible?
Is it safe to strap a bike down on it’s stand?
As for Tow bar, I can look for the number of the guy that came out and did mine, £280 fitted. He told me it would be Witter (top brand) but I don’t see any branding on it now, so not sure. He did say it would cope with anything a regular car wanted to pull.
We took 3 bikes up in the back of a large transit type last trip to snetterton. All 3 were on their side stands and strapped down. No problems at all. Was very cramped in there!
Damn, that is a steal! Mine was cheaper but needed a lot of work doing to it, doesn’t look half as nice and would need to be converted to take two bikes (there’s certainly space for it though).
Is there any labelling on the trailer to state the max loading etc?
-simon
I’ve not really looked tbh. With the bike on the trailer and me bouncing up and down on it to get the straps tight I had no concerns at all though. I would only be careful on the wooden boards, they bend a fair bit when I stand on them.
Good picture … of an illegal trailer. Excuse me, but where are the mudguards?
I’ve towed all sorts of old $hit over the years from home built single bike trailers to things carrying very, very expensive race cars over Europe. Three things to watch for:
1: Has to be slightly nose heavy but not overload the cars tow ball when laden.
2: Has to be road legal. (I’m still “wanted” in Belgium for falling foul of that. Like I give a $hi…)
3: All the electrics work properly. (Got a tug in Park Lane for “pretending to be a Christmas tree”. But that was when coppers had a sense of humour.)
Just where you find your trailer? Pass. But if you buy 2nd hand, check items 2: and 3:
Yeah, someone else mentioned it should have mudguards. I’m guessing it’s not high on Police lists though as I was in traffic next to a Police car for around 15 minutes, on the M25.
Are there any specs required, or can I stick some Kelloggs boxes round the wheels and claim they’re mud guards? 
Don’t quote me but I seem to remember that the "Vehicle(Construction and Use) Regs used to required the wheel to be covered from level with the hub at the back to some where (?) beyond the top.
Hardly a motorcycle on the road that complies with that now so looks like almost anything will do. Oh. Once fitted you are supposed to have outboard red reflectors on them.
Seen any of them on a shop bought trailer recently?
Looking at your trailer, I’d just cut some aluminium sheet, bend the front and rear ends down a bit and pop rivet them to the side rails. Put a couple of bicycle reflectors on them and the old bill will be well impressed.
Don’t quote me but I seem to remember that the "Vehicle(Construction and Use) Regs used to required the wheel to be covered from level with the hub at the back to some where (?) beyond the top.
Hardly a motorcycle on the road that complies with that now so looks like almost anything will do. Oh. Once fitted you are supposed to have outboard red reflectors on them.
Seen any of them on a shop bought trailer recently?
Looking at your trailer, I’d just cut some aluminium sheet, bend the front and rear ends down a bit and pop rivet them to the side rails. Put a couple of bicycle reflectors on them and the old bill will be well impressed.
There you go. Told twice now.
How the … did that happen?
Trailer must also have a safety chain from the tow hitch to the trailer " that one can earn you a prohibition notice"
Was quit amused by AndyCr15’s trailer as it appears to have leaf springs.
Cheers Steve
Yeah, it has a safety, erm, bit of wire…