Towing a trailer

[Saltywheels]

Would any of you wisened trikers care to share some tips on towing a trailer behind a GL trike? Any dos & donts would be greatly appreciated How important is a swivel hitch for instance.

 

[katfish16]

We have a Escapade trailer we tow, it does not have the swivel hit on it. Have never had any probles with it. It has the air shocks that U can air up according to the weight in the trailer. Only suggestions is to remember it is back there when U start pulling in and out of places and around the gas stations... figure out what U are going to be putting into it so U can get the right one for U. I also lock my hitch so no one can mess with it..trailers are like everything else, just depends on how much money U want to spend on them..
Good luck...

 

[Gorilla]

Katfish covered it. The only other issue is be reasonable in what size trailer you tow. Most trailers do not have brakes so just be aware of the added weight when braking.

 

[c90 Jackal]

I have a Bushtec Roadstar trailer and I do not use a swivel hitch on my trike. It only weighs 125 lbs empty but has plenty of storage space. The only advise I could give is that you have to look behind you to know it is back there and be careful when you back-up.

 

[Boscoporp]

I have a little bit to add about pulling a trailer. Make sure that you put some grease on the hitch occaisionally or it might bind. Keep saftey chains on it all the time. Keep a lock on the tongue so that it isn't going to pop up or someone doesn't play a terrible trick on you. Make sure that your pigtail is in good condition. A trailer is also an additional reason to have convexed mirrors on your mirrors also.

 

[Ozarkryder]

We have a Bunkhouse camper trailer, no swivel and didn't get trailer brakes.
When loading the trailer, the tongue weight should be 10 to 15% of the total weight of the trailer and gear. If, say, the trailer weights 300lbs loaded, the tongue weight should be about 30 to 45 lbs. Too much or too little weight on the hitch will make for some ugly handling. Just pack accordingly and you won't even know it is back there.

Keeping the ball lubed is a good idea, prevents binding and wear. An old salt showed me years ago to use a few layers of wax paper on the ball. Keeps it slippery and doesn't attract dirt like grease does.

Trikes don't need a swivel hitch. They are so a 2 wheeler can lean over and the hitch won't bind in a turn, as (most) trikes don't lean, no need to spend the extra money.

Like learning to ride a trike itself, adding a trailer makes a slightly different ride. Takes longer to pass, stopping distance is increased depending on the weight of the trailer & gear, parking is more of a factor - in freeway rest stops I use the truck parking area, or some have slots for cars pulling trailers. For angle parking, sorry everyone else, I use 2 spaces. Pull in so the trailer is mostly straight in one space and the nose of the trike is into the other space. With some practice you can back out of a space without any trouble. Find an empty parking lot and practice. You'll be a real pro when you can do circles in reverse with the trailer hitched up.

 

[1550vt]

Good trick there with the wax-paper Ozark...I'll have to try that. Maybe my wife will stop complaining about getting dirty when I tell her to move it about by hand while I enjoy a cold beer in the motel room. Yes....that is a joke. I can't even get her to learn how to hook it up....smart girl I suppose.

 

[The Wolf]

I pull an Aliner cub with my 1800 Goldwing. It pulls very well and I have had it up and down the mountainns over here. I came down the hill in Wales 2years ago when the brakes failed luckily someone must have guided me as I managed to make it around the bend without wiping myself or anyone else out.