Homemade trike trailer

[85bigred00]

So where do all you guys stand on homemade trailers to pull behind your trikes? I have a beat up old bigred so I figure I might as well put it to work and build it a trailer, I still need to do some research but I am in shop in school this year and could get a credit for building it so I figure might as well. How many of you guys have built your own trailers and what do you find works the best? Like does it needs springs and what kind of tires are best? Any input is great, I will make sure to put of pictures as I get an idea and start to build.

[HairyJR]

Size and shape all depends on your use. I made one out of box tubing, plywood, sheet aluminum and aftermarket front 3 bolt ATC hubs. When built in '82 used by ATC110 to pull it. Carried ice chest and firewood to Comp Hill. Still have it and is used to collect firewood while at the desert. All my desert toys are set up so they can pull it. Would make it bigger if making it again.

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"HJ" 250072 :beer

[morgan]

Could you tell us more about the xr650 250r?

[85bigred00]

Well i want a true workhorse trailer i think. The 250es is fun to brap but it will be better for work horsing than my crappy Polaris quad that i have, I have looked at some pictures and seen the 4 wheel cantilever suspension. I will probably be hauling loads of wood out of the bush and carrying tools and maybe even dirt. I guess i shouldn't make it too big or else I will overload the old girl.

[3 Wheel Drive]

I missed out on buying this one for $40.00 on offer up. I want one for camping & taking the kids for a ride. This year I’m gonna let them start riding by themselves, but trailers are still cool.

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[Jd110]

Good for you!! There's a member here just wondering if there are shop classes still available. Can't wait to see what you build. I'm into little trailers. Our big red pulls 4 trailers around here. I've got one torn down and half of it is sand blasted. I can't say I've built any of them. Sounds like a great idea if you can use it (or not)

[HairyJR]

Here are several other ideas and or options.

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"HJ" 250102 :beer

[BarnBoy]

Bush Buggy trailers are awesome. Light and super tough. Also expensive though. But we have hauled almost anything imaginable with them....from welders, to firewood, garbage, people (grandkids), rocks, dirt, you name it.

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[85bigred00]

Ok thanks for the input guys. So big reds can haul pretty good loads but this trailer might get pulled other atvs in the future idk for sure. It looks like most trailers are pretty small with only 2 wheels. What do you guys do for suspension if any, like we talking some little leaf springs or like a small version of walking beam suspension because I kinda want to overdo it just for shop so i can get a few credits.

[Jd110]

Ok thanks for the input guys. So big reds can haul pretty good loads but this trailer might get pulled other atvs in the future idk for sure. It looks like most trailers are pretty small with only 2 wheels. What do you guys do for suspension if any, like we talking some little leaf springs or like a small version of walking beam suspension because I kinda want to overdo it just for shop so i can get a few credits.

Ok, now the walking beam suspension sounds great! It's challenging, to say the least, turning or side-hilling with a bunch of tongue weight. I was thinking 4 wheeler would be real nice, if it could maintain a lower center of gravity, depends on terrain and intended use I guess. I really like a low slung flat bed for moving all kinds of heavy items.
I think you're headed the right direction [emoji106]

[85bigred00]

I need it to be a little challenging because its a higher level credit so I need to do some engineering to make it worth while. Mine will most likely be used to haul wood out of tight areas and maybe haul salt and stuff out to the cows in the field. I just need to find a place to buy small trailer hubs so i dont go crazy over budget but I dont want those crappy garden trailer tires.

[hublake]

I made one for using around the yard and going in the woods to haul firewood. I suggest that if you are going to do much in the woods. make the width the same as the big red or what ever your tow vehicle is. If the tow vehicle can go between two trees so can the trailer.

[kevin]

I made a pretty nice one I'll see if I can find some pics but I had an old rotted small tow behind car trailer that I used the torsion axles and build my new trailer to the lengh and width dimensions the same size as the fiberglass top. Made up 2" wheel spacers so I can run atv tires also lifted the frame an extra 8" so I could tuck tires under the frame and not hang out at all also wanted a complete flat bottom tilting trailer. Sides are made of stainless steel and bottom uses coragated aluminum floor basically same pattern like in a truck box. Also tailgate is on hinges.
Has lots of ground clearance and is no wider than my quad I use to pull it with. Use it to haul wood, sand, coolers with our favourite beverages and more

[kevin]

250142 found a couple pics

[kevin]

Still can't figure out why some pics are upside down

[85bigred00]

Ok so same width definitely. So you guys mostly just used recycled axles and hubs kinda thing off old junk trailers?

[kevin]

You can buy brand new if you want just so happened that an old trailer that was rotted out had good torsion axles so it was one less thing I had to buy and the work great. Even pull people around and they say it's not bumpy at all.

[85bigred00]

Ok I think my uncle has an old trailer I am most likely going to take to class and rip apart to take the axle from I just need to figure out what kind of body to put on the trailer if it should just be box like or maybe if it should tilt im not totally sure on all that stuff yet.

[BarnBoy]

Here is one I built for my garden tractor. Still gotta put some sides on it.

http://www.mytractorforum.com/119-home-made-tractors-implements-accessories/1134865-small-homemade-utility-trailer.html

[85bigred00]

So plans have changed again. I am buying a 4 foot axle that will be a bit over rated but it might get used fo something else, with leaf springs and a dumping bed that will overhang the wheels and be 4 feet wide by a little over 2 tall, I drew up some plans and the teacher likes them so i will be good to go. Just need materials now.