Another new trailer to haul the Spyder

[bushrat]

Here's what I'm using...

Not to hijack EvilTwin's thread, but since others have chimed in about alternate trailer choices, and some have asked questions re measurements (minimum requirements), I thought maybe I would post some pics and comments about my own little rig. This trailer was designed by a friend to haul his Spyder RT to FL and back (ON); it has made about a half-dozen round trips over the past 5 years, all without incident. The trailer is welded aluminum throughout, and was built at a fabricating shop to his custom order. It is officially registered as 'home-made' with a weight of 350 lbs. Overall length is 12'; bed length is 96" and bed width between wheel wells is 66". Tires are 13". Rides on a 3500 lb. drop axle with leaf springs. Bed height is about 12" above ground level. In short, a strong, light weight trailer; doesn't have full floor or nose guard. A sort of 'minimalist' trailer. An RT will load with 2" clearance either side; my F3 has 3-1/2" either side, and I use a 'finished' 4"x4" block on the outside of each front wheel to prevent sideways creep. The front wheels ride against the short plates at front of bed, meaning that the nose (frunk) of the Spyder is somewhat over the spare and just misses the tongue jack. Photos show the tri-fold (hinged) side ramps which fold onto the side planks of the trailer; the third ramp for rear wheel lifts off and is bolted to the frame below the Spyder when travelling. Handles well at Interstate speeds. I went south last fall without a cover and had torrential rains. Coming north, I used a BRP trailering cover, and found I got lots of dust collecting underneath; nothing a good bath won't fix. No other issues so far. Load-wise (with Spyder on-board), I'm hauling less than 1400 lbs. total, well within the capacity of both the trailer axle weight and my vehicle's towing ability. Could probably even tow it with my Spyder if I had a hitch. Very light to move around when storing.

 

[Eviltwin]

Not to hijack EvilTwin's thread, but since others have chimed in about alternate trailer choices, and some have asked questions re measurements (minimum requirements), I thought maybe I would post some pics and comments about my own little rig. This trailer was designed by a friend to haul his Spyder RT to FL and back (ON); it has made about a half-dozen round trips over the past 5 years, all without incident. The trailer is welded aluminum throughout, and was built at a fabricating shop to his custom order. It is officially registered as 'home-made' with a weight of 350 lbs. Overall length is 12'; bed length is 96" and bed width between wheel wells is 66". Tires are 13". In short, it is a strong, light weight trailer; doesn't have full floor or nose guard. A sort of 'minimalist' trailer. An RT will load with 2" clearance either side; my F3 has 3-1/2" either side, and I use a 'finished' 4"x4" block on the outside of each front wheel to prevent sideways creep. The front wheels ride against the short plates at front of bed, meaning that the nose (frunk) of the Spyder is somewhat over the spare and just misses the tongue jack. Photos show the tri-fold (hinged) side ramps which fold onto the side planks of the trailer; the third ramp for rear wheel lifts off and is bolted to the frame below the Spyder when travelling. Handles well at Interstate speeds. I went south last fall without a cover and had torrential rains. Coming north, I used a BRP trailering cover, and found I got lots of dust collecting underneath; nothing a good bath won't fix. No other issues so far. Load-wise (with Spyder on-board), I'm hauling less than 1400 lbs. total, well within the capacity of both the trailer axle weight and my vehicle's towing ability. Could probably even tow it with my Spyder if I had a hitch. Very light to move around when storing.
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That is a very cool little trailer. Kinda minimal in some ways, but it keeps the weight way down. Whoever designed it was very clever.

 

[Eviltwin]

I'd like to get a trailer for myself, but I've been hesitant because I'm not sure how wide I have to get. I don't have a lot of extra space and I don't want a trailer that's overly wide. Elsewhere I thought I'd read that you needed a 7' trailer to fit the Spyder, and there are videos on YouTube where a company advertises a 6.5' x 12' trailer set up for the Spyder. Yours sounds great if it'll work, but is 6' wide enough? My understanding is that the Spyder is 63" wide (5'-3") and you'd need a couple of inches maneuvering room. Obviously 6' exceeds that, but how is the 6' wide measured? Is that the interior of the trailer or the overall width of the trailer, including the wheels and fenders? And, do the fenders intrude into the interior of the trailer?

6' or 72" should be plenty wide. Mine is 78" which is really a bit wider than I would have liked, but it is what was available for a good price. As long as that dimension is what is between the wheel wells, you're fine. My space going into the garage is very tight, a couple of inches on either side and I've not had any problems. I would think 12' is on the long side, 10' is plenty for my RT, and depending on how the ramp is configured, 8 might work too.

 

[bushrat]

That is a very cool little trailer. Kinda minimal in some ways, but it keeps the weight way down. Whoever designed it was very clever.

Design credit goes to fellow Spyder owner Allan Irish, Belleville, ON, and constructor credit to Excel Welding & Fabrication. Allan was kind enough to let me buy the trailer when he moved up to a toy hauler.