Wheelie Bars

[pddgm]

Looking for a place to get a set of wheelie bars? More of a safety measure, when towing a trailer? Also does anyone tow a teardrop trailer with their trike?






Joe

[stinger608]

Like you, I too am looking into finding or fabbing up a set for mine. I have seen several with them on so I have to believe there is someone making them.

And towing a tear drop trailer would not be an issue I wouldn't think. You have to consider that a trike weighs a lot less that a standard bug so that is also a benefit to being able to tow. Of course tongue weight would have to be watched.

[Rsw]

Bottom of the page.


http://www.customtrikesinc.com/custom_trike_catalog2.html

[pddgm]

Bottom of the page.


http://www.customtrikesinc.com/custom_trike_catalog2.html

Thanks, I saw those. There is no price showing, so the alarm in the back of my head says
most likely over priced. I saw a set on ebay for a T bucket that included the measurements, went out and measured the trike and they were to wide, and would only mount on the cage around the motor, not sure if
it's strong enough for that. Will keep looking, might call the Trike Shop and ask them, they might have a set or know where I can get a set. Thanks for the input.

[tom w]

Looking for a place to get a set of wheelie bars? More of a safety measure, when towing a trailer? Also does anyone tow a teardrop trailer with their trike?






Joe

wow what a trike!!
check out your local car shows and drag strips. a lot of the older hot rod guys would build their own. might get some ideas, help, or a builder to do them on the cheep.

[Loner]

It pleases me to see another rider join us as a 3-wheeler, particularly as a VW trike rider since I have been honored with a dubious title of Tech Guru with a significant background in manufacturing VW trikes. When looking for wheelie bars for a VW trike, I hope everyone will keep in mind some very basic and mostly logical points.

First, when you encounter a wheelie, no matter the cause, you are out of control. If you do it on purpose, you have no control over your steering once the front tire leaves the ground. And to maintain it you must be pretty much in continued acceleration - a continued no-control situation. If your rear brakes are not precisely adjusted then when you end the wheelie you go down with one wheel pulling the whole vehicle decidedly to one side. If the wheelie wasn't planned, you are not only out of control (and shocked!) but also running with a wide-open throttle.

Second, the mechanical stress brought on your trike are significant, particularly the strong impact at touchdown.

Third, wheelie bars hanging out of the back make a statement. In my view the say either; 1) here's a person who's going to be driving quite aggressively and un predictable, or 2) here's a person who feels his/her driving is incompetent and has added a bandaid before leaving the garage. Either way, I don't find myself enticed to ride a long.

For other considerations, just bring you insurance agent out to look at your trike with wheelie bars hanging out the back (enough said).

Hey, I mean nothing personal here at all, I've built them on to many of my earlier trikes, and spent a lot of parking lot time riding with the two wheelie wheels touching the ground. These are just my offers as nuggets for thought.

Hey, I also drop in some of my biased thoughts when I read discussions about best length, width, weight, rake, etc. - and I also guarantee that the most bang for your buck with an aircooled VW trike is to first work on taller overall gearing (by gearing up the tranny/diff or adding some taller wheel diameters), not trying to find that magic combination of larger carburetor and straight pipes that will get you that 145 HP output touted as attainable by other VW enthusiasts.

Main thing - have maximum fun and be safe.

All opinions are offered with a money-back guarantee.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - - Updated - - -

Just reread this post to myself - I meant it all as duly lightweight comment. My lifestyle has roled over the hill with my age so I look more for the luxury of that new cupholder as opposed to gaining max power out of a street trike.

Well, not exactly honest since I've got in my shop enough parts accumulated to truly make a dual port growl.

As stated, everything in fun, and we know what my opinion's worth anyway.

[Rsw]

Thanks, I saw those. There is no price showing, so the alarm in the back of my head says
most likely over priced. I saw a set on ebay for a T bucket that included the measurements, went out and measured the trike and they were to wide, and would only mount on the cage around the motor, not sure if
it's strong enough for that. Will keep looking, might call the Trike Shop and ask them, they might have a set or know where I can get a set. Thanks for the input.

Just found their book and it looks like they are $150.00. Loner was right on the money with his post as always. You might go with some taller rear tires or check to see what gears you are running. I have 3.88 R&P, a stock 1600 DP and I think my tires are 26 inches tall. I have no problem with wheelies and have no need for wheelie bars.

[stinger608]

Bottom of the page.


http://www.customtrikesinc.com/custom_trike_catalog2.html

This outfit seems to have lost their web host?

Anyone else have any links for Wheelie bars? I am just shortly going to need a set of these!

[roadhawk]

I know this is an old thread, but just a note, when thinking about installing wheelie bars, check your local laws.
Illegal in CA. (as is just about everything else)

[Fowler]

A few years back when I first got the trike on the road I almost flipped it a few times.
Had the Ol'Lady on back once and she was not Happy
I'm sure a lot of it was my inexperience riding the trike. I had problems stopping on hills also and would avoid them

I made and put some wheelie bars on

Its been a few years now and most of the time I do not wheelie by accident but it does happen every now and then

[stinger608]

A few years back when I first got the trike on the road I almost flipped it a few times.
Had the Ol'Lady on back once and she was not Happy
I'm sure a lot of it was my inexperience riding the trike. I had problems stopping on hills also and would avoid them

I made and put some wheelie bars on

Its been a few years now and most of the time I do not wheelie by accident but it does happen every now and then

Fowler, do you have any drawings or pictures of these that you made? I'm seriously thinking of doing that to mine. Since I built the 1835 I have to be pretty careful not to do wheelies.

Thinking of doing that and installing a hitch. I could probably incorporate both int he same design.

[Fowler]

Mine are different and ridged
I'm not sure I would recommend them to anyone else But here you go

http://3fowlers.com/ass.html

[1dn5up]

Back in the day, I've made them out of auto leaf springs, cut to fit.

[stinger608]

I can see that you have them attached to the torsion tube and running down the wish bone frame. How did you attach them to the frame rails?

At any rate, that is about what I want to do. I see you incorporated the hitch much like I plan to do.

[Fowler]

How did you attach them to the frame rails?

I'm not sure what you are referring to as the frame rails
Basically they are as you stated welded to the torsion bar tubes and all the way down the wishbone.
I used thick steal and a few other welded supports in places I thought needed it.
I had to change their angle at a certain point to bring them to the correct height and level I wanted.
The wheels I picked up at a Tractor supply store. I do not remember the weight limit on them but I do remember they were way over rated for what I figured I needed

[stinger608]

I'm not sure what you are referring to as the frame rails

I was referring to the wishbone frame. Now I see what your referring to as you stated its welded down the wishbone.