riding 2 up with a freedom trailer question

[Peter Aawen]

After having little success by changing the angle or length of the OE Exhaust tips, & failing miserably by fitting a/mkt exhausts, I fitted the 'Rivco luggage rack' version of Vertika trykes rear deck spoiler (I think it's the Rivco RT Extendable Luggage Rack) that resolved the tendency for the pillion passenger to get gassed by the exhaust AND stopped the way ryding in the rain or on wet roads sucked water/mist up so it ran ffown the back of her neck.... AND the back of the RT no longer gets anywhere near as dirty, dusty, &/or mud covered where it used to in the past due to the turbulence created by the trunk & saddle bags!! :2thumbs:

So I reckon that fiddling around with re-aiming or extending the exhaust tips really won't do a heap to resolve the problem, but fitting a rear deck spoiler or the Rivco Extendable Luggage rack & changing the air flow around the rear will, by significantly reducing the turbulence behind the Spyder & almost stopping it from sucking up the exhaust - it's gotta be far a better solution than extending & re-aiming the exhaust tips!! It might even help keep your trailer cleaner/virtually dust free up front, & it could possibly also be beneficial to your fuel economy while towing, but you'd probably need to keep careful records to see those changes! :thumbup:

 

[PMK]

we thought we had fixed the problem. Put the stock windshield back on, took the trailer out a couple times for day trips and had no issues. Then last sept we took our usual 18 day ride which includes the Norcal rally in California, and as soon as we left, we exhaust problem was back.
The theory now is that when we did the day rides, the trailer was empty, and once full ( or nearly) the bike is working just that much harder, so the exhaust output is more.
Unfortunatly, after the sept trip, our riding season is over up her in the great white north, and the bike has been put to bed for a couple months already, and will be away until some time in april .

Once out of storage, my first plan is to cut off the 2 pipes that are the final exhaust, and rotate them so they are pointing outwards. I will load the trailer up and take for a spin to see if this improves the issue. If it doesn't, I will fabricate up two that are longer, and gets the exhaust further out into the airstream.

Sorry I couldn't help more. but winter is here, and I don't have a garage.

If you find a solution, please post it here.

Ray

Earlier in this topic I made a couple of posts then stepped back based on differences between our RZtS and others. Sorry to read your problems returned.

Granted, we have the 622 trailer, adjustable Can Am side vents, smaller mirrors that I installed, and the F4 windscreen, so certainly differences.

Two things mentioned continue to catch my attention.

First, I did trim a short amount from our stock mufflers exhaust tips. Essentially, I never liked the oem look with the tips protruding.

Second, the mudflap. Curious about your mudflap setup. With the oem Can Am hitch, and the oem hitch mudflap, we without doubt had airflow issues pulling air and water spray upward and forward onto the passengers back and neck. Because of this, I fabricated a mudflap extension for the Spyders oem setup. My extension extends a fair amount below the hitch frame and ball, plus is fairly wide, almost touching the hitch frame. With the mudflap extension installed, and the oem hitch mudflap still installed, this eliminated water spray onto the passengers back and neck.

No doubt, aerodynamically our setup is different. The mudflap extension though was easily fabricated from Kydex material that is inexpensive and basically matches the oem Spyder mudflap finish.

All the best with it, sorry to read the issue returned.

 

[bcer960]

After having little success by changing the angle or length of the OE Exhaust tips, & failing miserably by fitting a/mkt exhausts, I fitted the 'Rivco luggage rack' version of Vertika trykes rear deck spoiler (I think it's the Rivco RT Extendable Luggage Rack) that resolved the tendency for the pillion passenger to get gassed by the exhaust AND stopped the way ryding in the rain or on wet roads sucked water/mist up so it ran ffown the back of her neck.... AND the back of the RT no longer gets anywhere near as dirty, dusty, &/or mud covered where it used to in the past due to the turbulence created by the trunk & saddle bags!! :2thumbs:

So I reckon that fiddling around with re-aiming or extending the exhaust tips really won't do a heap to resolve the problem, but fitting a rear deck spoiler or the Rivco Extendable Luggage rack & changing the air flow around the rear will, by significantly reducing the turbulence behind the Spyder & almost stopping it from sucking up the exhaust - it's gotta be far a better solution than extending & re-aiming the exhaust tips!! It might even help keep your trailer cleaner/virtually dust free up front, & it could possibly also be beneficial to your fuel economy while towing, but you'd probably need to keep careful records to see those changes! :thumbup:

Thanks for all the info. I guess it will save me some work. I have been reluctant to purchase a luggage rack for the back, as i really don't like the looks of them. BUT if it fixes the problem, then i guess it's how I will have to go.

Thanks again
Ray

 

[bcer960]

Curious about your mudflap setup. With the oem Can Am hitch, and the oem hitch mudflap, we without doubt had airflow issues pulling air and water spray upward and forward onto the passengers back and neck. Because of this, I fabricated a mudflap extension for the Spyders oem setup. My extension extends a fair amount below the hitch frame and ball, plus is fairly wide, almost touching the hitch frame. With the mudflap extension installed, and the oem hitch mudflap still installed, this eliminated water spray onto the passengers back and neck.

No doubt, aerodynamically our setup is different. The mudflap extension though was easily fabricated from Kydex material that is inexpensive and basically matches the oem Spyder mudflap finish.

All the best with it, sorry to read the issue returned.

I made a longer mud flap for the bike two years ago, when I first got the bike. My wife got soaked in the rain, and I saw what others were doing. I do not have exact measurements, but it a rubber mud flap that I modified to extend about 4" - 5" lower than the hard OEM one. When the trailer hitch was installed, the one I installed is lower than the hitch.
Earlier this year, on our first trip with the trailer, I did try a couple different things to reduce the exhaust including removing the mud flap I installed, and lifting it over the hitch ( this caused it to snap the screws and I lost the flap) But made a new one when I got home. Neither of these experiments cause any noticeable difference.

Ray

 

[PMK]

If it helps.
At the center of the oem mudflap on the Spyder itself, ours is 10 1/4" below the little center point V shape. Almost as low as the hitch mudflap.

Notice also, the exhaust tips are cut basically flush with the mufflers bolted on cap.

 

[bcer960]

Ok, I guess mine is lower than 5" - 6". it looks very much like yours.
Thanks for posting

Ray