Anyone considered towing a Cargo Trailer with their Ryker?
Given the Ryker has limited storage capacity has anyone considered the possibility of towing a small cargo trailer with the Ryker? I suspect the hitch mount would be the main issue.
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Given the Ryker has limited storage capacity has anyone considered the possibility of towing a small cargo trailer with the Ryker? I suspect the hitch mount would be the main issue.
I don't know about Rykers specifically but you can certainly tow with a CVT in a car/SUV/truck. I have a 2019 Honda CR-V with a CVT. It's got a 1500# tow capacity.
CAN-AM ATV's with CVT are used to tow trailers, wood processors, logs etc. So I dont think the CVT is a limitation for any relatively light trailer.
If there is any way to safely attach a tow hitch is the main question.
Page 70 of the manual states
Do not tow anything with the vehicle, it is not designed for this application.
In addition, the VSS will not be effective, you will be more likely to lose control.
CAN-AM ATV's with CVT are used to tow trailers, wood processors, logs etc. So I dont think the CVT is a limitation for any relatively light trailer.
If there is any way to safely attach a tow hitch is the main question.
VSS and mounting issues aside I think a micro trailer like seen in this scooter vid might work: https://youtu.be/IK1UWY5Dj60 . Love all the Ryker ingenuity...
yes, that is exactly what I was thinking would be perfect. There is a good system they make here in Canada https://www.trailtail.com The mount would be the issue, and yes it could have an effect on the VSS, hard to say until it was tested.
Fabricating a hitch bracket to attach to the swing arm via the caliper mounting bolts is a possibility.
Vertical stress with two bolts may be OK with VERY light hitch weight.
Horizontal stress (turning) may be OK considering support from caliper plate.
Cracking the aluminum swing arm at the caliper mount could be expensive.
Bolts would need to be longer in accordance with the bracket thickness.
Stock bolts clear the caliper only by about one thread.
1/4" thick 6061 aluminum plate may do the job.
One vertical plate (shortest length practical) to the swing arm and one horizontal plate welded to the vertical, preferably with gussets.
Holes in the horizontal plate could be drilled if safety chain(s) should be required.
Fabricating a hitch bracket to attach to the swing arm via the caliper mounting bolts is a possibility.
Vertical stress with two bolts may be OK with VERY light hitch weight.
Horizontal stress (turning) may be OK considering support from caliper plate.
Cracking the aluminum swing arm at the caliper mount could be expensive.
Bolts would need to be longer in accordance with the bracket thickness.
Stock bolts clear the caliper only by about one thread.
1/4" thick 6061 aluminum plate may do the job.
One vertical plate (shortest length practical) to the swing arm and one horizontal plate welded to the vertical, preferably with gussets.
Holes in the horizontal plate could be drilled if safety chain(s) should be required.
Thanks for the input SportsDoc. The fender/caliper mount seems to be the only option. I thought perhaps coming off the frame in the area around/under the seat, but that would involve significant fabrication to bring it around both sides of the rear wheel and down to an appropriate height. May be easier (and less expensive!) to go the SlingMods top box/side box route.
I have thought about this as well, i was thinking about a hitch modification to the Max Mount under the passenger seat using a extended trailer neck with a articulated hitch like the coupling used on Unigo (unigo.com) or Cylope 2000 trailer (cylope.com) single wheel trailers.
I do not have fabrication skills or the tools etc , so i am going the speak to a fabrication specialist in the spring. I do not buy the vss thing, the weight would push through the seat bracket, these trailers are light weight if not overloaded and it is far lighter than riding two up and would have less weight than some of the big butt wives that i have seen on the back of these bikes.
Single wheel trailers follow the bike and are far lighter than 2 wheel trailers, create less stress than 2 wheel axel trailers. Having towed my bike trailer over 15,000 miles on my previous Kawasaki 900 Vulcan (which was not rated to pull a trailer )
I do not anticipate mechanical issues. The kicker with these types of trailers is the price, I'm just not sure if dropping around $2500 bucks installed, is worth the price of admission. Just my humble opinion.
So glad of your input on a Ryker pull behind trailer. I’m very familiar with the Unigo single wheel trailer as I have pulled with my Harley and BMW Adventure. I think maybe the Unigo hitch system is over kill as it is designed to lean with a motorcycle which is not needed on a Ryker IMHO. A simple hitch would suffice as there is minimal lean, as similar to a car. I think a fabricator could come up with a frame mounted hitch system. I hope we get some more ideas on this. cueman
I am pretty sure that with the right hitch, the Ryker could physically pull a trailer. Not to put a cloud on this discussion, but let me just throw out these two considerations. Since the manual clearly states "NOT TO", think about warranty and insurance. The warranty you could probably get around with a little work by disconnecting the hitch mount before you took it into the shop. But in the event of an accident, I'm just wondering if the insurance company could possibly use that as a legality to deny a claim. Not saying they would, but just something to think about.
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So glad of your input on a Ryker pull behind trailer. I’m very familiar with the Unigo single wheel trailer as I have pulled with my Harley and BMW Adventure. I think maybe the Unigo hitch system is over kill as it is designed to lean with a motorcycle which is not needed on a Ryker IMHO. A simple hitch would suffice as there is minimal lean, as similar to a car. I think a fabricator could come up with a frame mounted hitch system. I hope we get some more ideas on this. cueman
Its more the weight of the trailer and how loaded it can get, my pull behind trailer would weight in at around 300 lbs loaded.
...Since the manual clearly states "NOT TO", think about warranty and insurance....in the event of an accident, I'm just wondering if the insurance company could possibly use that as a legality to deny a claim. Not saying they would, but just something to think about.
I understand how you logically come to this concern and I certainly have nothing to prove they won't/can't deny the claim - but I will point out that many motorcycles tow trailers (and sadly have accidents) and they were not "designed" to pull a trailer or state they can pull a trailer in their owner's manual. So the Ryker wouldn't be at all unique in that category. I tow a trailer with my Spyder F3S which also states not to - and I have little to no concerns about any sort of insurance claim being denied.
As one who both tinkers and works on Spyders/Rykers - I'm watching this thread with great interest in hopes that someone will devise a hitch and tow a trailer with their Ryker.
Fabricating a hitch bracket to attach to the swing arm via the caliper mounting bolts is a possibility.
Vertical stress with two bolts may be OK with VERY light hitch weight.
Horizontal stress (turning) may be OK considering support from caliper plate.
Cracking the aluminum swing arm at the caliper mount could be expensive.
Bolts would need to be longer in accordance with the bracket thickness.
Stock bolts clear the caliper only by about one thread.
1/4" thick 6061 aluminum plate may do the job.
One vertical plate (shortest length practical) to the swing arm and one horizontal plate welded to the vertical, preferably with gussets.
Holes in the horizontal plate could be drilled if safety chain(s) should be required.
My first time posting here, and I do realize this is an old thread.
I am new to Rykers and thinking about buying a 600. I want to be able to tow a small trailer like I do with my motorcycles and scooters.
If I can't tow a trailer with say an ACE 600 then I will not buy one.
I use the small trailers here in the mountains of WNC and in SWF.
The trailer is a Aosom Bicycle Cargo Trailer, Two-Wheel Bike Luggage Wagon Trailer with Removable Cover, Wheel 20", Red https://www.aosom.com/ or Amazon Aosom Bicycle Cargo Trailer, Two-Wheel Bike Luggage Wagon Bicycle Trailer with Removable Cover
Light weight and I have been pulling them for over 15 years. I put pit bike wheels on the first ones but now just stick with good quality bicycle tires. Never towed them much over 60 MPH. Great for grocery runs, light camping equipment, etc.
Last edited by Peter Aawen; 08-18-2023 at 11:39 PM.
Reason: Removed post title - many can't see them & they mess with Searching... ;-)
Here is the trailer I sold to Jim Tom moonshiner that he pulled behind his liquor scooter. He pulled it for years as the small bikes/scooters were his only transportation.