My Tow-Pac 14" InstaTrike Install on Ultra Classic Harley

[bknsaddle]

What a wonderful thread. THANK YOU HarleyBob for posting such a detailed account of your experiences!!! :clapping:

I have been considering adding Insta Trike or E-Trike to my Royal Star Venture. Getting older & now weaker due to the whole Cancer/Surgery/Chemo thing, and cannot afford a full blown trike.

I lowered my Venture to accommodate my short legs, and have spoken with Tow Pac about whether their systems with 14" wheels would fit on my bike as is, or whether I would have to raise it back up to stock height....which would negate (for me) the utility of being able to pull their system off to ride on 2 wheels. While Jeremy has been helpful on the phone so far, I'm waiting for confirmation that their system will work on my lowered bike.

I was very interested in having Reverse, but after reading this thread, I don't think that is a viable option....which may mean Tow Pac isn't a viable option to consider at all!

THANK YOU again HarleyBob!

Steve

 

[HarleyBob]

Steve

I'm glad this helps. I'm taking the time to do this to help others.

I'm a 70 Y.O. Vietnam Combat vet with a Big Harley and with the wife on the back it's getting to be a job to handle.

Especially in gravel or shells and uneven pavement. We live in south Louisiana were the terrain is flat.

I ride with the CVMA and have for over 12 years. To keep riding you mush have a motorcycle. So a trike outrigger is affordable for me. Did you read here where I did the test ride? Well it was better than even Harley's Trike.

The reverse as you see is junk!

As far as Tow-Pac they have always been friendly over the phone but that is as good as it gets.

You have to pay all the shipping charges on any returns and after 30 days a 20% restocking charge and the item has too look New with no scratches or scuffs. Although you will receive some of the parts scratched or scuffed.

Don't expect a step by step Manuel especially in your case where they don't know if it will even fit your bike!

If I Had to do it over I would find a dealer and let them install my kit for me. My nearest Tow-Pac dealer is 500 miles and Voyager is 150 miles.

Well I like Tow-Pac for the handling and high ground clearance.

Some of the others lack in these departments!

As far as E trike, that is different than my kit!

 

[bknsaddle]

"I'm a 70 Y.O. Vietnam Combat vet" - Me too: Jan '69 - Aug '70.

Riding and Ham Radio are my hobbies and I hate to give one up!

I am looking online at the Trip Trike (about 75 miles from me). I may just take a drive down there to check it out!

Thanks again. Your experiences are invaluable to anyone considering the Tow Pac!

Steve

 

[HarleyBob]

Glad to help. Welcome Home Brother! Vietnam 68-69 here.

I'm yet to see how Tow-Pac handles my return and the credit I get!

Also more testing and pictures will be in order as I finish the wiring for tail lights and put the fenders and other parts on!

I have not packed double yet.

Anyone who has ridden a trike knows there is a big difference from riding a 2 wheeler!

So with that said I will get more experience before going on those Early spring Sunday morning rides with my wife, down the Bayou's and then eating a big breakfast in town at a 50's style restaurant. We love doing that!

I will tell it like it is with out any sugar coating as I find out more about this kit and the Dealer!

 

[HarleyBob]

I can't believe Tow-Pac puts their reputation on the line and fools people out of their money with this sorry so called reverse. I'm disappointed to say the lease. With all this waste of my time and money. Well they fooled and screwed the wrong person this time! When I finish with them they will wish they had given me the shipping cost as I asked. They will wish they had give me the kit when I finish with them! I'm working on a YouTube video that will be on Google's first page, in a Tow-Pac search. It is going to take a little work and time to get it there, but I know how to get it where I want. Then it will be for sale or Not for the price I paid for the kit, the extras and all my trouble. Or Not!



Sorry folks for my rant, but I get mad when I think about what BS I'm getting from Tow-Pac!

They still can make things right. Once I go after them it will be with no mercy!

 

[HarleyBob]

My painter is having health problems. So my paint job is on hold! All that is left is pin-striping

and mounting the taillights.

Rainy and nasty here today!

I have two music Gigs to play before Christmas. I did two this month so far.

But I will have 10 days off work to work on the trike and other things.

I noticed one of my spot or passing lights is out. So I need to order some.

My head light is a bright daylight white.

Does anyone know what bulbs would shine white to match the headlight?

I don't need a lot of light as the daylight gives me more light now that I need.

So I just want something white and not yellow as the stock lights are.

***I just pulled it***!It's a sealed beam H4449 so I will have to change the whole light



Me working my in home bar a few years ago at Christmas!

I hope everyone enjoys the holidays!

 

[HarleyBob]

I just ordered these lights. I Added the 3 year protection for a couple of bucks!

I will have to change the light clips to get them to work, that's on a 2003 and 2004 ultra. On a

newer bike they plug right in!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013OVKT8E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[HarleyBob]

I also got my wiring right on the bike today.

Sub harness, Relay, Isolater and 5 to 4 converter!

We're looking at $130 or so for these Three items, to get the tail lights working properly.

Good news is you just plug them in and run the wires to the back of the bike. You will need

a male and a female 4-way connector. one for the trailer (Trike kit) and one for the bike just like a

car uses to hook up a trailer. That is if you plan on going back 2-wheel. If Not then you can just connect the wires together at the bikes back fender.

On my Harley there are two places to plug the sub harness in, one wrong and one right, see video!

 

[HarleyBob]

These are the three kits I got from Harley

for my taillights. They were not cheaper anywhere.

 

[HarleyBob]

These are the 2 light plugs I got on ebay.

 

[HarleyBob]

These are the plugs one on kit and one on bike. Note they are not pushed together. I wll tape them after pushing them together.

 

[HarleyBob]

This is the kit plug, not for the bike.

 

[HarleyBob]

This is the bike plug not for the kit.

 

[dadztoy]

Hey Bob,

Been out of town for a few days and see you have been busy... So I'm trying to decipher your posts - are you keeping the Tow Pac or sending the whole enchilada back???

I understand your frustration with Tow Pac and doing the videos but I would caution you not to open yourself to a liable or slander suit with the proposed video(s) - just a friendly caveat - wouldn't want to see you get sued on top of everything else...

Been cold and rainy here so no riding for me for a while... Hoping the weather breaks after the Holidays and we get a decent day so I can sneak in a little ride... I mounted the Tow Pac back up again and made a few changes so I want to test ride a bit...

Les

 

[HarleyBob]

Les

I'm keeping the Kit but sending back the reverse!

I sent the reverse back yesterday! Cost me $111.00 with $500.00 insurance.

So I'm out over $150.00 shipping plus $50.00 spacer and studs=Over $200.00

For their junk! And you know the time and work I had to do! On top of All that, there could be a $85.00 restocking charge!

If anyone gets Sued it will be Tow-pac LOL!

I see videos all the time with reviews that are putting down products.

The videos I have made tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help me God! LOL!

But thanks Les for your advise!

Weather here has been Nasty and can't even ride or wash and wax as I want to do before the parts are ready at the painter.

Between Christmas and New Years, looks like the painter will be able to finish the pin-striping and together he and I will install the taillights and put the fenders and frame cover on the bike! I HOPE!

I'm off for 10 days like I said, starting the end of this week. I may wash the bike in the rain and wax it in my shop. I still have to align the new Axle I put on to replace the reverse and check the other one to make sure it's still good. { pictures to follow } and Change the spot lights to LED's when they come in.

Then more testing and riding with the Trike all together!

Looks like I'm on Final Approach! :Trike1:

As I said, No good riding weather here but I want to be ready when it gets better and put my knees in the breeze!

 

[dadztoy]

Good deal Bob - OK on the videos and such... Just want you to be careful so you don't end up with a law suit or such - that would be the Pie'ce de re'sistance what with all the issues you have had...

Are you contemplating the internal reverse on the HD??? Kinda pricey, but I gotta tell ya - having reverse is really nice... One of the more outstanding features of the Goldwings IMO...

BTW, just an fyi but I use either a ty-rap or large piece of double sided velcro for a parking brake wrapped around right front hand brake... I'll snap a few pics next time I'm out in the garage and show you what they look like... The Ty-rap version is pretty neat because the ty-rap also fits nicely around my front brake master cylinder so that's where I store it... Same for the velcro - it lives on the front brake lever and my wife sewed a little loop at the end so all I do is slip it over the brake lever and wrap it a time or so around the right grip - pictures to follow...

Weather kind of crumby here too - cool and rainy - with more rain coming in tonight - blah!!! But the kids will be here in a few days for Christmas so that will liven the place up - will be good to see them again...

I'm going to have my bike and trike pin stripped up at Wingding next year in Knoxville... Already have talked to my stripper and made the appointment (Chickin Scratchin by Linus) he stripped my 93 for me in Albuquerque back in 94...

I see there was a rock slide on Moonshiner 28 a day or so ago as reported by "America Rides Maps" - the road is closed for the time being but should open up soon again...

Well, time to jump in the shower and then do something productive today... Later!

Les

 

[dadztoy]

double post - sorry - Internet issues here today... Can't delete the photos either!!

 

[dadztoy]

OK, so I had the dog out and ran to the garage to shoot the pics here they are...

Ty-rap version

View attachment 52525

View attachment 52526

Velcro Version

View attachment 52527

View attachment 52528

The little photocell in the 2nd photo is the sensor for my headlight modulator...

 

[HarleyBob]

Painter finally getting back to it! He is finding center to pinstripe.

 

[HarleyBob]

OK, so I had the dog out and ran to the garage to shoot the pics here they are...

Ty-rap version

View attachment 52525

View attachment 52526

Velcro Version

View attachment 52527

View attachment 52528

The little photocell in the 2nd photo is the sensor for my headlight modulator...

Thanks! It's not your computer. Look at my last post I can't remove the last picture!