How to Build Simple Motorcycle Trailers
Having a motorcycle can be blast for long road trips or just for buzzing around town. But if you are one of the long trip types, finding space for everything you need may be an issue. Home-built motorcycle trailers are an option for people who choose two wheels rather than four for greater fuel efficiency on longer trips. Mixing and matching equipment can provide you with an excellent trailer for your motorcycle.
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Things You'll Need
- Harbor Freight trailer
- Cargo carrier
- 4 inch-by-4 inch treated wood
- 1-inch water pipe (optional)
Instructions
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Getting the Equipment
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1
Purchase a Harbor Freight trailer. The one most commonly used for projects such as this is the 870 lbs. Capacity 40 inches-by-49 inches Heavy Duty Utility Trailer from Harbor Freight.
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2
Select a cargo carrier that will fit on top of the trailer while staying within the wheelbase.
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3
Find a 4 inch-by-4 inch piece of wood that will cross the trailer width-wise so that you will be able to bolt the cargo carrier to the trailer.
Assemble the Trailer
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4
Place the cargo carrier atop the trailer. If the trailer extends farther from the carrier than you'd like, cut the frame down to size using a chop saw or a sawzall; both will do a proper job.
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5
Reinforce the frame by inserting 1-inch water pipe into the frame's tubing, if you choose to cut it down. This way, even though the frame may be smaller, it will still be strong enough for most loads. The water pipe should be just large enough to fit snugly in the tubing.
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6
Paint the trailer if desired. Doing it now will cover everything that will be showing.
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7
Remove the second leaf spring from each set of springs. This is will enable a smoother ride for the trailer since it will usually carry less than the allotted amount and will be pulled from a lower tow hitch.
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8
Bolt both of the leaf springs to the frame of the trailer.
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9
Bolt the axle onto the frame of the trailer.
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10
Wire the lights to the trailer. Use the center tube to feed all the wires through; this will not allow the wires to stretch during turns.
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11
Bolt the coupler onto the tongue of the trailer. If there is extra room between the coupler and tongue, use washers to shim the extra space. This will prevent rattling from the coupler.
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12
Mount the wheels onto the trailer.
Mounting the Cargo Carrier
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13
Install the 4 inch-by-4 inch piece of wood crosswise above the leaf spring mounts. The ends of the wood may have to be trimmed depending on what kind of trailer you get. Bolt the ends of the wood in through the holes that are already in the trailer frame. Make sure that the wood rests on the main metal tubing in the center of the frame.
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14
Place the cargo carrier on top of the finished frame and use several bolts to lock it down into place. Drill the bolts directly into the wooden beams that were previously inserted.
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15
Hook up the trailer to the motorcycle and make sure all the lights are working. Check the air pressure of the trailer tires.
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1
Tips & Warnings
While mounting the cargo carrier, you may choose to also insert eyebolts into each corner to help tie down the cargo stored in the trailer.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
