150 Most Recent Posts

Thread AuthorPostersPost AuthorForumThread/Post Link
Voo Doo Blue4hogmemberisoldNew Member Introduct...New Pacific North Wet member
Trampas4Rogue1Harley Tri GlideWas at my dealer today
skisnow8061skisnow806Champion Trike2002 goldwing w champion conversion...
Voo Doo Blue4trike ladyNew Member Introduct...New Pacific North Wet member
Oldman-TriGlide4jmhenrieHarley Tri GlideOpen or Closed Trailer for 2028 Tri...
Voo Doo Blue4rhino 2New Member Introduct...New Pacific North Wet member
Voo Doo Blue4Voo Doo BlueNew Member Introduct...New Pacific North Wet member
Mykneesbehurtin10rhino 2Harley Tri GlideTri Glide Reverse Motor
Geep20207trike ladyNew Member Introduct...New Member
Aging Gracefully5NotgrownupHarley Freewheeler /...switching Tri-Glide for Road Glide ...
Grandpot5GrandpotHonda TrikesFront tire?
Geep20207Marc HNew Member Introduct...New Member
Mykneesbehurtin1019jmanHarley Tri GlideTri Glide Reverse Motor
Geep20207Uncle FesterNew Member Introduct...New Member
Geep20207ZammyNew Member Introduct...New Member
Geep20207rhino 2New Member Introduct...New Member
Aging Gracefully5seniorsgtHarley Freewheeler /...switching Tri-Glide for Road Glide ...
Grandpot5NotgrownupHonda TrikesFront tire?
Grandpot53W-loneriderHonda TrikesFront tire?
Geep20207woodyNew Member Introduct...New Member
Trampas4PanheadSteveHarley Tri GlideWas at my dealer today
Trampas4SeaweedHarley Tri GlideWas at my dealer today
Grandpot5cycle7447Honda TrikesFront tire?
Grandpot5tourmanHonda TrikesFront tire?
ultrafxr5TrampasHarley Tri GlideFinished at last . . . well at leas...
Trampas4TrampasHarley Tri GlideWas at my dealer today
Grandpot5GrandpotHonda TrikesFront tire?
Geep20207Geep2020New Member Introduct...New Member
Oldman-TriGlide4NotgrownupHarley Tri GlideOpen or Closed Trailer for 2028 Tri...
Oldman-TriGlide4ultrafxrHarley Tri GlideOpen or Closed Trailer for 2028 Tri...
Noodles1073BrokenBackJackHarley Freewheeler /...Very Nice Gloves
Oldman-TriGlide4Oldman-TriGlideHarley Tri GlideOpen or Closed Trailer for 2028 Tri...
RedOregon13Papa ZookHarley Tri GlideUpgrades on '24 Triglide?
Bama boy4DragonStallion TrikesStallion fuel pump
Bama boy4DragonStallion TrikesStallion fuel pump
Bama boy4DragonStallion TrikesStallion fuel pump
Papa Zook239SullyNew Member Introduct...What Made You Join TrikeTalk Forum?
RedOregon13RedOregonHarley Tri GlideUpgrades on '24 Triglide?
RedOregon13NotgrownupHarley Tri GlideUpgrades on '24 Triglide?
phillipschuckann7NotgrownupHonda TrikesWho made my trike?
Papa Zook239ol' schoolNew Member Introduct...What Made You Join TrikeTalk Forum?
PKLGW2pawsHonda Trikes2007 gl1800 motor trike
ultrafxr5Papa ZookHarley Tri GlideFinished at last . . . well at leas...
Noodles1073NotgrownupHarley Freewheeler /...Very Nice Gloves
ultrafxr5NotgrownupHarley Tri GlideFinished at last . . . well at leas...
Papa Zook239rhino 2New Member Introduct...What Made You Join TrikeTalk Forum?
PKLGW2PKLGWHonda Trikes2007 gl1800 motor trike
Papa Zook239skisnow806New Member Introduct...What Made You Join TrikeTalk Forum?
Speedy Pete12JTJerseyNew Member Introduct...New member from Alberta, Canada
Just BOB2Just BOBStallion Trikesinfo
ultrafxr5Longbeard71Harley Tri GlideFinished at last . . . well at leas...
ultrafxr5ultrafxrHarley Tri GlideFinished at last . . . well at leas...
ultrafxr5TrampasHarley Tri GlideFinished at last . . . well at leas...
ultrafxr5ultrafxrHarley Tri GlideFinished at last . . . well at leas...
Noodles1073Noodles107Harley Freewheeler /...Very Nice Gloves
Speedy Pete12cycle7447New Member Introduct...New member from Alberta, Canada
RISal24!12cycle7447New Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
phillipschuckann7Papa ZookHonda TrikesWho made my trike?
RISal24!12ol' schoolNew Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
Bama boy4Grey_Ghost_27Stallion TrikesStallion fuel pump
phillipschuckann7trike ladyHonda TrikesWho made my trike?
RISal24!12trike ladyNew Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
Speedy Pete12RustyBNew Member Introduct...New member from Alberta, Canada
RISal24!12Marc HNew Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
Bowie11RustyBNew Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
RISal24!12RustyBNew Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
RISal24!12rhino 2New Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
RISal24!12hardwickbvNew Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
Bowie11hardwickbvNew Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
RISal24!12Uncle FesterNew Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
Bowie11ZammyNew Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
RISal24!12SullyNew Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
RISal24!12ZammyNew Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
Chief80138520fdHarley Tri GlideHow many miles on your Triglide?
RISal24!12GorillaNew Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
RISal24!12RISal24!New Member Introduct...New member..new to trikes
woody19woodyHonda Trikes2019 Goldwing CSC
DK Custom Products362NotgrownupHarley Tri GlideWhat did you do to Your Tri-Glide T...
Bouncer10NotgrownupHarley Tri GlideDrive Belt Replacement Time
Bouncer10BouncerHarley Tri GlideDrive Belt Replacement Time
Bouncer10BouncerHarley Tri GlideDrive Belt Replacement Time
phillipschuckann7GorillaHonda TrikesWho made my trike?
rjd637brianlHonda Trikes1989 Honda Goldwing trike opinions
DeathBySnuSnu19GorillaVW Powered TrikesVolkswagen Kit Cars
DK Custom Products362520fdHarley Tri GlideWhat did you do to Your Tri-Glide T...
SHARKDIVER4DK Custom ProductsGeneral Harley Chatsuper shox
phillipschuckann7trike ladyHonda TrikesWho made my trike?
phillipschuckann7ol' schoolHonda TrikesWho made my trike?
phillipschuckann7rhino 2Honda TrikesWho made my trike?
phillipschuckann7phillipschuckannHonda TrikesWho made my trike?
Bowie11Uncle FesterNew Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
RedOregon13RedOregonHarley Tri GlideUpgrades on '24 Triglide?
DeathBySnuSnu19DeathBySnuSnuVW Powered TrikesVolkswagen Kit Cars
Bowie11woodyNew Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
Just BOB2GorillaStallion Trikesinfo
SHARKDIVER4WindyOneGeneral Harley Chatsuper shox
Bouncer10GorillaHarley Tri GlideDrive Belt Replacement Time
Just BOB2Just BOBStallion Trikesinfo
Chief80138CagmoHarley Tri GlideHow many miles on your Triglide?
PopPop13consitterNew Member Introduct...New Member
TxHarleyRider2Papa ZookHarley Trike Convers...Need help bad with conversion.
PopPop13Pegasus1300New Member Introduct...New Member
Bouncer10NotgrownupHarley Tri GlideDrive Belt Replacement Time
PopPop13ol' schoolNew Member Introduct...New Member
Bowie11ol' schoolNew Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
Chief80138DOKKHarley Tri GlideHow many miles on your Triglide?
Bouncer10BouncerHarley Tri GlideDrive Belt Replacement Time
Bowie11trike ladyNew Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
Bowie11GorillaNew Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
Bowie11rhino 2New Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
Bowie11Marc HNew Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
SaltBushBill11Marc HNew Member Introduct...New member
Bowie11BowieNew Member Introduct...New to trike, old time rider
Rick Sinacore9RawhidekenHarley Tri GlideTour pack reinforcement
SaltBushBill11Uncle FesterNew Member Introduct...New member
Burnerboy3tommyv333Harley Trike Convers...Hey Bozo (Andrew)
Old Aviator5Old AviatorHonda TrikesGreasing a Motortrike Coupe SA rear...
Old Aviator5Old AviatorHonda TrikesGreasing a Motortrike Coupe SA rear...
Noodles1073JTJerseyHarley Freewheeler /...Tobacco Fade
Noodles1073trike ladyHarley Freewheeler /...Tobacco Fade
Old Aviator5Phu CatHonda TrikesGreasing a Motortrike Coupe SA rear...
SaltBushBill11SullyNew Member Introduct...New member
ronc44242Papa ZookHarley Tri Glidequestion
TxHarleyRider2TxHarleyRiderHarley Trike Convers...Need help bad with conversion.
Chappy KC5StrelnikovFrankensteinFrankenstein Kit
jerry1@iw.net4StrelnikovFrankensteinFrankenstein owners
TxHarleyRider2Papa ZookHarley Trike Convers...Need help bad with conversion.
Skavoola14SkavoolaNew Member Introduct...New to Trike Talk
Old Aviator5GoldWingrGregHonda TrikesGreasing a Motortrike Coupe SA rear...
El Lobo10El LoboHarley Tri GlideBeen away for a while
SaltBushBill11GorillaNew Member Introduct...New member
cissywalton2GorillaCalifornia Sidecar T...how do I change out the reverse bel...
Noodles1073Noodles107Harley Freewheeler /...Tobacco Fade
Old Aviator5Old AviatorHonda TrikesGreasing a Motortrike Coupe SA rear...
SaltBushBill11trike ladyNew Member Introduct...New member
ronc44242ronc4424Harley Tri Glidequestion
Old Aviator5SkavoolaHonda TrikesGreasing a Motortrike Coupe SA rear...
Old Aviator5rhino 2Honda TrikesGreasing a Motortrike Coupe SA rear...
Old Aviator5Old AviatorHonda TrikesGreasing a Motortrike Coupe SA rear...
cissywalton2cissywaltonCalifornia Sidecar T...how do I change out the reverse bel...
Skavoola14PosseRiderNew Member Introduct...New to Trike Talk
Skavoola14woodyNew Member Introduct...New to Trike Talk
PopPop13woodyNew Member Introduct...New Member
Speedy Pete12woodyNew Member Introduct...New member from Alberta, Canada
Vulcanology10woodyNew Member Introduct...New member
SaltBushBill11woodyNew Member Introduct...New member
SaltBushBill11hardwickbvNew Member Introduct...New member
Vulcanology10hardwickbvNew Member Introduct...New member
Speedy Pete12hardwickbvNew Member Introduct...New member from Alberta, Canada
SaltBushBill11rhino 2New Member Introduct...New member
Likes Likes:  0
Thanks Thanks:  0
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: reece tow hitch

  1. #1
    Moderator - Aussie Forum blueystar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    perth wa australia
    Posts
    210
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default reece tow hitch

    hello you vdub riders with tow hitchs on your trike i need pics so i can get an idea how to knock one up thanks
    have a nice day
    bluey

  2. #2
    1000+ Posts Rsw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Little Hocking, Ohio
    Posts
    1,103
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: reece tow hitch

    Heres whats on my trike. It was on there when I bought it.

  3. #3
    Moderator - Aussie Forum blueystar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    perth wa australia
    Posts
    210
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: reece tow hitch

    thanks for the pic looks easey enought to knock one up

  4. #4
    Moderator - Aussie Forum blueystar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    perth wa australia
    Posts
    210
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: reece tow hitch

    well went to the wreakers today found a reece tow bar now with a bit of cutting and grinding and paint i will soon have a tow bar on the trike

  5. #5
    1000+ Posts Rsw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Little Hocking, Ohio
    Posts
    1,103
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: reece tow hitch

    Post a couple of pics when you get it done.

  6. #6
    200+ Posts ea81slush's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Strathbogie Victoria Australa
    Posts
    213
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: reece tow hitch

    Gidday blueystar. Having towed a number of trailers in the last 3 years with my Panther (Aussie) trike I thought I'd post a full story to cover all bases on the topic that I have experience with.

    Regular readers will know of my 'tweety' VW style trike and my youtube video. At the end of the youtube video is my latest trailer (called caravan here), a 'Guppy'. The Guppy weighs a whoppy 380 kgms dry 820lbs . Loaded likely around 500 (1100lbs).

    Compare that to my previous camper trailer (trailer with canvas sides) of 250kgms (550lbs) and you have a concern with tow hitches.

    Here are my thoughts.

    Trailer brakes

    I came close to a serious slow speed accident in Tasmania a year ago. We were towing the camper trailer (no brakes on it) down a steep bitumen road at 25mph. I was aware we were approaching a 'T' intersection at the bottom. There was debris in the middle of the lane and when I braked the front wheel locked up on the rubble. The trike began a 'fishtail' and I struggled to maintain control.

    Luckily when we arrived at the intersection I had enough grip to swerve into a car park on my left side and we were saved. I immediatley realised that any loss of grip of the front wheel with VW/rear engine trikes can be potentially fatal. I decided trailer brakes on any trailer weighing over 100kgms (240lbs) was mandatory. This was regardless of my trikes 55 kgms downforce on the front wheel when not towing and more when I'm sitting on it which it seems is a higher downforce than some VW trikes!!

    The camper trailer



    Types of trailer brakes

    There are two that I know of- electric and motion.

    Electric

    An electric controller can be mounted on the left side handlbers near your left hand. Set it correctly by allowing the trailer brakes to actuate just before your trike brakes come on. This will prevent the 'fishtail' event I experienced. You can control your brakes manually also and that can come in handy. You need to install two wires through to your trailer.

    Motion brakes

    This type, common in Australia on larger trailers. The inertia of the forward moving trailer applies the brakes from a hydraulic unit on the drawbar.

    This type is less suitable because your trike braking must be applied and the momentum slowing up before they activate. Not ideal.

    Manufacturers tow ball limit

    Manufacturers here in oz have these. For a Aussie Panther is is only 25kgms (55lbs). That is equivilent to a small box trailer without much load. Not enough for some people. My camper as seen above had 24 kgms. Trailers often have tow ball limits stamped on the drawbar but I havent seen any of low tare weight. My towbar is a cantilevered set up and most VW trikes I've seen differ in the design of their tow bar. In standard form it can still take my weight of 130kgms (290lbs) but what if it hit a bump in the road? I've towed my Guppy with the bar in standard form but I always worried about it. See pics below.

    My Guppy has a standard towball actual weight of 24 kgms, not bad for a trailer weighing 380kgms but after you load it up with a front toolbox, luggage and now water tank at the rear it has grown to 40kgms (90lb).

    Strengthening for peice of mind began.

    The plan was to run a 40mm square tube from the front of my ladder bars to the towball frame. One problem with this idea is that a front mount once made up should in my (non engineering background view), is that a second point should secure the bar prior to it being connected to the lower engine mounting points. I suggest this because a lot of VW trikes have "horns" as their only engine/transaxle hanging mount. Meaning any weight on the towball adds weight to the motor/trans and to those 'horn' mounts. Again not ideal. there is a serious risk in my view of losing the whole rig- engine and all, if the new bar isnt secured in two places.

    These pics when I did my Subaru conversion. Notice how the towbar mounts are not even in the picture? So the bar is cantilevered way back under the transaxle.





    This shows the original towbar hinged down.



    This pic shows the 'horn' mounts that take all the engine/transaxle weight AND!!! all the weight from the towball!!!! Such is the need for a stronger unit to assist this mount in carrying higher weighs.



    My Panther has a monocque chassis and is rather unique to the VW trike world as most are tubular chassis.

    Nevertheless the neccessity of two secure mounting points are the same. Two mounting points prior to the engine will all but assist in the whole chassis strength. My first mounting poit is at the front the second on the rear of the fuel tank and rear of the ladders bars.

    My strengthening tube

    The front of the bar was made into a 'T' piece and U bolt mounted.



    This shot shows the bar (with some heater hoses on each side) going towards the rear of the trike. Note the cross bar as the second mount on the left of the picture.



    Another critical pic. The transaxle mounting horns are clear on the top left of the pic. They are two tubes joined together. Under it is a square connecting tube. To that tube I used U bolts to mount another square tube and to that the new tube is bolted and welded to it. The new bar then runs as close to the sump as possible and you can see it change direction slightly to achieve the maximum ground clearance Such welds need to be very good.



    This pic depicts the rear tow bar. Notice the middle full length bar now.

    Where is changed direction to a 45 degree rise (just out of this picture under the exhaust connector) the welded area is webbed for strength. Under the tow ball I welded a section of U bolt on the end of the tube so the towball bolts it all up.

    Rear Vision when towing

    For those riders that desire to tow a trailer larger in size that restricts their rear mirror view I purchased a 4K wireless rear vision camera from the UK (on Google). The unit costs around $260 and I ordered a second camera for my Guppy van. Being wireless all you need is 12 volts for power. My trike has its lights hard wired eg they are on all the time I'm riding so I just hooked up the camera to the lights. A switch on the monitor (see pic below) switches cameras. easy solution, great for reversing...piece of mind. Its in colour I've yet to make my monitor waterproof. A plastic bag in used when needed.



    The rear vision camera.



    My Guppy





    Safe towing





    I'll post this also as a new thread.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXwh4z8d66o
    Subaru ea81 SPFI manifold, 32/36 carb, VW auto
    Trike talk trike of the month Jan 2012
    N3W (Aust) most outstanding trike 2012
    UKtriker trike of the month June 2012

  7. #7
    Moderator - Aussie Forum blueystar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    perth wa australia
    Posts
    210
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: reece tow hitch

    Rsw here a pic of what i knock up got a reece tow bar from the wreakers it came of a 1996 rav 4 toyota
    just 4 u bolts still need to tidy it up abit and paint it
    only towing a 60 kg trailer when loaded be 200 kg max

  8. #8
    Moderator - Aussie Forum blueystar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    perth wa australia
    Posts
    210
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: reece tow hitch

    ok what happing to the pics i uploaded them help

  9. #9
    200+ Posts ea81slush's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Strathbogie Victoria Australa
    Posts
    213
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: reece tow hitch

    Hey Blueystar.

    To upload pics you need to go to a web site like 'photobucket'
    Then once you log onto it you can browse your computer to select a pic and upload it to photobucket.

    Then on photobucket, where it is stored there will be a URL number under it. When you post a story you just copy that number onot the story and it should add the photo.

    give it a try.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXwh4z8d66o
    Subaru ea81 SPFI manifold, 32/36 carb, VW auto
    Trike talk trike of the month Jan 2012
    N3W (Aust) most outstanding trike 2012
    UKtriker trike of the month June 2012

  10. #10
    7250+ Posts Nana's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    7,267
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts

    Default Re: reece tow hitch

    Quote Originally Posted by blueystar View Post
    ok what happing to the pics i uploaded them help
    Hey bluey...... Most likely your pictures were too "large". The forum program won't accept high resolution photos because we have so many pictures here, and the high res ones REALLY slow the site down and would even lock it up for everyone.

    Go to this thread to get detailed instructions on loading pictures: http://www.triketalk.com/forum/forum...-pictures.html

  11. #11
    200+ Posts ea81slush's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Strathbogie Victoria Australa
    Posts
    213
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: reece tow hitch

    gee you are on the ball Nana.

    You are a valued person on this site and I for one thank you for your efforts.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXwh4z8d66o
    Subaru ea81 SPFI manifold, 32/36 carb, VW auto
    Trike talk trike of the month Jan 2012
    N3W (Aust) most outstanding trike 2012
    UKtriker trike of the month June 2012

Similar Threads

  1. Hitch
    By RRSCOTT in forum Honda Trikes
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 05-01-2012, 08:44 PM
  2. B&W 5th Wheel Hitch
    By R J REEVES in forum Trailers / Campers
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-01-2011, 08:59 AM
  3. Csc hitch
    By redneckray in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 06-03-2010, 06:02 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •