Hey friends

been awhile since I posted

I have been busy knocking up a tow bar hitch for the bike

I have finished the fabrication and just done the first fitting to make sure it all fits snug etc.

I still need to flapper disk it all off and give it a coat of paint (Powder Coat)

and still have to make the Hayman Reese style hitch for it.

I have attached MY plans in case anyone else wants to knock one up

Also the plans of my next endeavour (keep you posted)

Regards

Red

FLST_Softail_DIY_Tow_Bar_Plans.pdf

 

Trailer_Plans.pdf

 

 

Mate, a couple of drop down legs for the back of the trailer to avoid it tipping back could be put on you trailer plans

hahaha

I hadnt forgotten them

I did however forget to draw them in the plans

I am thinking more like the caravan wind down jacks

 

Thx for the reminder

You realise you will need to get the towbar Engineered to have tested to see what it can handle in Down force on the towball & pulling weight.

I have a Classic Ind towbar that was used for 6 weeks on a Lap of Oz, on my fxst. It fits/ bolts same as your home made Tow bar. ( which may I add, Yours does look pretty well made.)
Selling mine for $250. including a Kuryakyn Plug n Play wiring kit. plus postage.

 

I have been playing with the specs of the loads etc

I had looked at store bought but no way could I afford like $400 plus to buy

thats when I decided to make my own.... roughly $30 total in materials

I am sure that the home made jobby will still handle the stress and loads as well as the store bought

but it is still left to test.... will keep you all informed on the progress.

 

appreciate all the interests and responses

Red

 

Been thinking about towing a camper trailer.
Spoke to a bloke the other day who had a towbar on his bike to tow a camper trailer. His bike has a bought towbar and he said the biggest problem he had was side to side flexing of tow bar. He showed me all the mods he done to towbar. Which was strengthening up the tow bar with heavier steel rod thingies welded to towbar side rails and a extra towbar riser rails added.

I think I would do what your doing if I go ahead.

thx for the vote

I originally thought of using the round rod for the whole project

but firstly I do not have a bender capable of bending solid rod

and secondly, I know from talking to other riders that they have experienced the same thing.... sideways flexing

I decided the 20mm square tube should be strong enough to handle any load and rigid enough to hold the sideways flexing at bay...

as I said in the previous post

the proof will be in the testing

I still havent finished it off yet so still havent tested it either

Red

Looks good and looks much stronger than the classic. I had a classic and found it had too much flex and sideways movement, very un nerving. I ended up cutting it up and making a stonger set up with the parts from it. Its been on 3 bikes now, i just keep modifying it to fit whatever i'm riding at the time. WELL DONE.

I have read statements by Classic Industries and by USA based towbar manufacturers that a certain amount of flexing in a motorbike towbar is desirable in order to spread over time the forces imparted upon the bike by the tow bar.

That is to say... too rigid isn't good.

NB that's their opinion, I have no personal stake in this debate

to flex or not to flex
that is the question  lol

As it stands I have not eliminated all possible flex and movement
I have simply limited it
there is only about 5mm on either side of the guard that the whole thing can possibly travel without taking the whole guard with it..

so if the situation required it... I have no idea when... but all the same there is still a tiny leeway for travel.
Up and down however is pretty much rigid as.... I have it fitted tightly up against the bottom of the fender and the side straps give no vertical play at all.

I am still undecided as to what kind of hitch I will be using
I am thinking of either the old school neurothane block swivel style as below or the swivel below that

any suggestions and preferences welcome

 

Thanks Bal

a little taste of luxury when on those long weekends away 

all set up now....
I managed to score this for a couple of hundred
so saves me some time and money on building at this time
will possibly still build the camper later

That's a damn good buy at the price you paid!

Just had mine custom made by Wayne at Shadow trailers, they do have to have a compliance plate fitted to them now.

Thanks  LOFTYBOB

I will do that and possibly make an appointment for the next time I'm in Adelaide

Bob