Trailer Hitch Project........

[narcop482]

Could not see paying someone else around $400 for a "store-bought" hitch so I decided to build my own. Just finishing up the mock-up. I think it's coming out great. Used 1/4" aluminum plate and 3/4" aluminum tubing. No welding, ALL S/S hardware. I've got about $20 bucks in it so far. I'm going to prime and paint it gloss black to match the rest of the tubing on the bike.

Next week.................finish my trailer, waiting on my Explorer by Sportrack cargo carrier.

I'll post more pics when the project is completely finished.

[G wizz]

Your hitch looks good... however ... although aluminum is ligh weight, and strong, it does have it faults.
Inspect your hitch OFTEN, as aluminum, used as you are doing, is prown to stress cracking and could break.
Check the areas around all the bolt holes closely, especilly where it mounts to the frame of your bike, as that is where it would most likely develop a crack.
You sure wouldn't want to be passed by your own trailer one day, as you're going down the road.

G wizz

[Mr. Guy]

Looks good to me, but if it were mine, I think I would make the hitch closer to the rear axle. It seems to me that long of a lever arm would exaggerate any sway from the trailer and make it a LOT more felt on the bike. Keeping the hitch point as close as you can will lessen that. Just my $.02.

Guy

[narcop482]

Here's some finished pics of the hitch. Two coats of primer and two coats of Rustolium's finest. Got to admit it.............looks like it was powder coated. I took a quick test drive, maybe 10 miles round trip. The trailer as is, weighs about 130 pounds (13 pounds of tongue weight). Trailer pulled straight as an arrow and after dropping the tire pressure from 45psi (from the factory) down to 30psi, smooth as silk. I get my Explorer by Sportrack cargo carrier on Friday and then I can finish the trailer. Looking forward to that first camping trip with it.

[Jeff in Ferndale WA]

Better job than I could have done!P^
I'm curious why you chose to extend it as far as you did,rather than shorten it and have the vertical supports more vertical?

[narcop482]

I think my pictures are exaggerating the distance between the rear axle and the ball. I've looked at the measurements on the ones out there made by the 3-4 companies that are out and I'm about 3/4" to a 1 1/2" longer. I'm sure I will be doing more testing and tweaking, if I need to shorten it up, I'll shorten it up. It still beats the $300-$400+ they want for them.

So far:

$146 - HF trailer
$ 60- 40"x48" piece of diamond plate
$119 - Explorer cargo carrier
$ 32- Hitch (material, hardware, primer and paint
$$375.00

[bigTom]

Quote by narcop482
$146 - HF trailer
$ 60- 40"x48" piece of diamond plate
$119 - Explorer cargo carrier
$ 32- Hitch (material, hardware, primer and paint
$$375.00

You got to like that price. That's my kind of project.

Nice Work

[les1234]

I think my pictures are exaggerating the distance between the rear axle and the ball. I've looked at the measurements on the ones out there made by the 3-4 companies that are out and I'm about 3/4" to a 1 1/2" longer.


What are the usual measuements for bike hitches? I'd like to build one too. I assume it shoule be about the same height as the axle, and probably as close at possibe to the rear wheel. Or would being too close cause handling problems? The only ones I have seen are on full dress Harleys or Goldwings, and on them it seems to be just a couple inches from the back fender.

[Flashdog]

I'm sure there are different thought processes on how far back the ball should be from the hub. I kinda like the idea of it further back because by doing so keeps the trailer from tracking as far to the inside of the turn. I also like the tongue of the trailer to be longer rather than shorter for more stability and less sway at higher speeds. This though does cause your trailer to track a bit more to the inside of your turns. I think it's a bit of give and take. Then, of cause, is load balancing.

[Ironheadziggy76]

I've got to quit hanging out here, you guys have me looking through my scrap steel stash for stuff to build a hitch! :p

Jim your hitch looks great! P^

les, I have to agree, axle height would be what I would shoot for. I'm guessing the Harley hitches are located where they are because of where they mount. Most of the ones I have seen are connected to the lower fender supports and the saddlebag's lower rail.

G wizz, what brand hitch are you running on your Glide? I was thinking of trying to build one similar to the hitch that Khrome Werks builds.

[G wizz]

I've got to quit hanging out here, you guys have me looking through my scrap steel stash for stuff to build a hitch! :p

Jim your hitch looks great! P^

les, I have to agree, axle height would be what I would shoot for. I'm guessing the Harley hitches are located where they are because of where they mount. Most of the ones I have seen are connected to the lower fender supports and the saddlebag's lower rail.

G wizz, what brand hitch are you running on your Glide? I was thinking of trying to build one similar to the hitch that Khrome Werks builds.

Ironheadziggy ...
Like Narcop482, I don't like paying for things I can do / make myself.
I made my own hitches for both my Electraglide, and my wifes Heritage Softail.
I kinda copyed the style of ones that "mchitch" sells on e-bay, or google "mchitch.com"
Check these out before you try to make a Kromeworks hitch, I think you'll like the way they're made. They are a removeable recever style, and easy to make, if you have a band saw and welder.


G wizz
P.S.
If you deside to go with this style, let me know, I've got a pattern around here someplace, if I can dig it up, I could send you a copy.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Thanks for the info G wizz! P^ I do like the looks of that hitch better than the Khrome Werks model. Looks like I have a winter project now, the wife will be thrilled! :p

[Blues Traveler]

Jim,

GREAT! JOB! I've been wanting to build my own trailer for sometime. The hitch is what seems to be holding me back from getting started. Finding a hitch for my 04' Adventurer seems to be the problem. Can't understand why they get so much for them. Your Adventurer is the 1st one i've actually seen pictures of a hitch on. And you made it yourself.

Could you possibly show a picture, close up of where you've tied it in at the rear of the bike. My bike has all the mounts for Jesse bags giving me a few more choices.

Once again, GREAT JOB!

[ImRubicon]

Looks highly functional but I like a cleaner look and aftger counting the hours plus supplies how much do you have in it . I bought mine for the ST1300 and couldnt be happier as it looks good and was a easy bolt on .
I do understand the fun of making something yourself but I lean more towards the geek side and not the builders side , I liked the trailer also

[narcop482]

OK...................about 99.8% complete. All I have left is to get the isolator and 5-4 converter for my trailer hook-ups and I'm good to go. I talked to the mechanic at Hap's BMW this week while I was in Sarasota dropping my daughter off at college. I was told that no matter what I did, I had to have the isolator due to the bike having ABS. Without it, I'm being told that the repair to the ABS system is about $2k. I think I'll spend the $66.00 on the isolator.

For those who where wondering; The ball is 24" back from my rear axle and the ball height is 12". The tongue weight right now is 17lbs, unloaded.

[narcop482]

Looks highly functional but I like a cleaner look and aftger counting the hours plus supplies how much do you have in it . I bought mine for the ST1300 and couldnt be happier as it looks good and was a easy bolt on .
I do understand the fun of making something yourself but I lean more towards the geek side and not the builders side , I liked the trailer also


"Cleaner Look".............WOW, I didn't think it got much cleaner then this? Well, I think it looks good anyway. I've got a total of about $32 in the hitch itself and about 6 hours of hanging out in my garage with my father making few cuts and drilling some holes. I got all the material for free at a local machine shop out of their aluminum scrap bin.

[Mellow]

It's a GS..... the dirtier the better .. LOL

Looks good to me. +1 on the isolator to keep the trailer electrical load off your bike's lighting system.

[Sharpie]

Nice work.P^