Re: Cycle trailer mounts, pros and cons

bookieb wrote:
Chalo wrote:
I am trying to buy, build, or adapt a bike trailer for my
electric-assist bike. It will carry 60-80 lbs. of batteries at all
times and hopefully will have room for some groceries. I expect speeds
of 25mph or more, so the trailer's handling qualities at speed are my
greatest concern. I wish to solicit input from those who have used
trailers, in order to help me narrow my choices down to one general
mounting point and pivot location. The trailers I have seen to date
fall into one of three categories:

1) seatpost mount (e.g. CycleTote)
2) left chainstay and/or seatstay mount (e.g. Burley Flatbed)
3) axle mount, rear pivot (e.g. B.O.B. Yak)

<snip>
A seatpost hitch would allow the use of a single-wheel trailer, if that
is much preferable to a two-wheeled trailer handling-wise. I had even
considered stripping down a Trail-a-Bike or the like to just the frame
and wheel, and mounting my batteries on the frame. The drawback there
is that I would be left with little or no space for cargo.

I appreciate all relevant input.

Chalo

Hi Chalo,

two suggestions:

A minor advantage of a seatpost mount is that the draw-bar is at the
right height to be used as a handle when manouvering the trailer away
from the bike - it's effectively a hand-cart.

With a single wheel, located at the read of the trailer, the weight of
the trailer (say 80lbs batteries, 30lbs trailer, 30lbs other cargo)
will be split pretty evenly between the hitch and the wheel, so
nominally 70lbs on each, and this is not really tunable (though you
could change the length of the drawbar, or move the heavier part of the
load nearer the trailer wheel).

Conventional one wheel trailers (i.e. BOB) are, as you say, minimally tunable. With the payload of interest (batteries and groceries) and a custom designed trailer, I think you could tune the weight distribution. I don't know why you couldn't have the payload ahead, beside, and behind the wheel.

Additionally, when towing a boat with a car, it's normal to move
the wheel position so that the vertical load on the hitch is about
10-12% of the weight of he trailer + load - this amount tunes out
shimmy at most common speeds. This may also be applicable in the bike
+ trailer application.

Interesting idea. I've never experienced shimmy in a bike + trailer system, though, so I don't think it's worth the effort to optimize the load distribution.

--
Dave
dvt at psu dot edu
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Need opinions on small trailer vs small 5th wheel & tow vehicle
    ... The combination was very stable and we had no problems towing it from central New York to Florida. ... Something like a Dodge Dakota with the 4.7L V8 would be a good choice for a small 5th wheel. ... The 5th wheel pin weight will determine if you can tow a particular trailer, along with the gross combined weight rating of the truck. ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: Stabilizers for fifth wheel trailer
    ... my 34' fifth wheel. ... the underbody of the trailer except where the dump connection is located. ... Kingpin Stabilizer: ... You should also check your owners manual to see if it warns against using the stabilizing jacks as a lifting device. ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: moving 1-ton; first time trying
    ... if not hundreds of regulars on this group wringing their hands over the possibilities of you and your friends ending up in wheel chairs or worse over this one. ... The plywood will be pushed by the wheels wherever there is a joint and so the load will drop down below the level of the next sheet. ... I think I saw a disconnect between trailer capacity and stone size. ...
    (rec.crafts.metalworking)
  • Re: Trailer vs. fifth wheel
    ... What is the difference between towing a travel trailer versus a fifth wheel ... The Ford "1/2 ton" had a 9300 lb. tow rating, ... of upward move takes us to the 1500# pin wt. ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: Used ALICE packs - how usable are they?
    ... myself, so I'm slowly learning how to fix my bike, next is changing the chain, replacing a broken derailler, cables, etc. ... Satisfying to know you can fix your bicycle whereever you are. ... a design for a trailer to be integrated into a pack, you carry the trailer as a back pack and shoulder the bicycle. ... It pulls just fine but I try to use it as little as possible to avoid wearing out my rear wheel bearings. ...
    (misc.survivalism)