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Thread: Trailer Towing?

  1. #1
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    Default Trailer Towing?

    Hi Folks,
    A question to those that tow small trailers.
    We have an R/TL with the trailer hitch. Since the hitch attachement point is a hard point to the swing arm/rear axle and not like a conventional bike hitch attached to the bike body. Does this lack of softening by the suspension cause any problems when towing? To the trailer that is connected.

    Thank's in advance,
    Johnny Canuck

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    Very Active Member Ex-Rocket's Avatar
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    I just recently pulled a Aluma cargo trailer on a trip out west and pulled the trailer 8000 + miles. I didn't even know the trailer was back there. My 2015 RTS pulled it with no problems to either the Spyder or the trailer.



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    Active Member fjray's Avatar
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    The trailer takes a beating. some worse than others. The tounge mounts broke on my Bushtec and the bottles in the cooler broke. The Spyder will tow it just fine but put sensitive stuff as far back in the trailer as you can. A proper frame mount hitch is the answer but nobody is building one at this time. I built one and it's a time consuming pain in the ass but it works.

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    Very Active Member Fatcycledaddy's Avatar
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    Towed a Bunkhouse for 3, 2 week trips of about 5,000 miles each.

    I have a tongue mounted cooler that I carry all sorts of things in including some glass bottles and I have never had any problem. I would think that those would have broken if there was a major issue with how the hitch is mounted. I don't notice any jarring unless I hit a BIG pothole and that would take place with either style of trailer hitch mounting. I felt the same thing on my Yamaha Venture Royale when I towed the Bunkhouse.

    I get more bounce out of the torsion suspension on the trailer. either way the 2015 RT towed the trailer without a problem for a lot of miles!
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    Default Freedom trailer

    Quote Originally Posted by johnny canuck View Post
    Hi Folks,
    A question to those that tow small trailers.
    We have an R/TL with the trailer hitch. Since the hitch attachement point is a hard point to the swing arm/rear axle and not like a conventional bike hitch attached to the bike body. Does this lack of softening by the suspension cause any problems when towing? To the trailer that is connected.

    Thank's in advance,
    Johnny Canuck

    I have the factory Canam Freedom trailer and it tracks perfectly with my RT S and don't really know I am towing it. It's so smooth that when I forget its there I take turns and all of the sudden am conscious that I have it and have come close to hooking things lol. The air ride suspension is in no way affected by towing a trailer as long as you stay within the factory weight ratings for a trailer.
    IMG_20160515_1646407.jpg IMG_20160515_1128039.jpg

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    Default Safety chains with safety latches

    Also be sure that your safety chains have the safety latches so they can't jump off the hitch eyes...Last year on my first trip with my trailer I had the safety chains with the S hooks and they jumped off frequently. One of the first things I did when returning home was visit etrailer and purchased a set of C81266 hooks...https://www.etrailer.com/comparison....66&pc2=RKY1085

    larryd

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    Very Active Member canamjhb's Avatar
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    Pack soft unbreakable stuff (cloths, boots, etc.) in the front. Items that are more likely to break or go "fizz" should go further towards the rear. Just don't overload (it's easy to do) and keep tongue weight at 30 to a maximum of 40 lbs. I towed my RT622 trailer almost 6,000 miles this summer with no issues. It takes a little extra space to pass vehicles and some getting use to backing up. Other than that, It's a breeze. The trailer probably has very minimal feel on the Spyder because the hitch is attached to the unsprung swing arm. I would personally not attach more weight, such as a cooler, to the tongue. I know others do and may not have a problem. But I think trailers with coolers on the tongue were built/designed for hitches that were part of the sprung vehicle.
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    Active Member rudym's Avatar
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    Default Hannigan has suspension

    Quote Originally Posted by fjray View Post
    The trailer takes a beating. some worse than others. The tounge mounts broke on my Bushtec and the bottles in the cooler broke. The Spyder will tow it just fine but put sensitive stuff as far back in the trailer as you can. A proper frame mount hitch is the answer but nobody is building one at this time. I built one and it's a time consuming pain in the ass but it works.
    http://www.hannigantrikes.com/product-type/trailers/

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    Active Member fjray's Avatar
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    And this means What????

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    Very Active Member BLUEKNIGHT911's Avatar
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    Default WHAT -WHAT

    Quote Originally Posted by fjray View Post
    And this means What????
    They look like trailers to me ........ and at a D*MN good price , considering the suspension & overall LOOK of them ..... Mike

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    Active Member fjray's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BLUEKNIGHT911 View Post
    They look like trailers to me ........ and at a D*MN good price , considering the suspension & overall LOOK of them ..... Mike
    Gotta love a keen sense of the obvious

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    My RT 622 has around 160,000 miles on it. I haven't had any issues with cargo or the trailer taking a beating.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BLUEKNIGHT911 View Post
    They look like trailers to me ........ and at a D*MN good price , considering the suspension & overall LOOK of them ..... Mike
    Price looks good.....Until you realize the price quoted is for an unpainted plain shell with wheels and lights. After getting it painted ($1,000+) and adding features that you want, the price becomes premium. But, they are good looking when finished.
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    Very Active Member BLUEKNIGHT911's Avatar
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    Default Painting

    Quote Originally Posted by canamjhb View Post
    Price looks good.....Until you realize the price quoted is for an unpainted plain shell with wheels and lights. After getting it painted ($1,000+) and adding features that you want, the price becomes premium. But, they are good looking when finished.
    Look on U-Tube for DIY painting ..... there are some very nice video's of what people have discovered about Paints and painting ........... Mike

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