building my own hitch

[playboy]

Going to build a hitch for my 07rsv new trailer on the way ! Does everyone's trailer set level when hitched to bike and is there any advantage other than appearance for it to do so. Trailer will have 12'' wheels and i just don't want it to look like its doing a nose dive going down the rode I'm a little OCD about these things. Will be installing leveling links before I build the hitch so that should help any comments or pics would be appreciated.

[MiCarl]

Having it level maximizes your ground clearance. It also makes the cargo floor level.

 

Remember, you want it level when the bike is loaded.

[Ozlander]

X2 on level. Level with everything unloaded is close enough. :cool10:

[dacheedah]

Post pictures please, I am looking to weld up a hitch also and have seen three different styles, all basically end up the same.

[Flyinfool]

I made my own receiver hitch for my '88 because no one else is currently making one.

As long as you plan well ahead it is not hard to do.

[54chevybelair]

This is a hitch I made for my 04 RSV. The dimensions are not complete, I used them for verification only.

[Flyinfool]

Here is the link to my build thread

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=52757

[BOO]

From my experience you are going to want the load as level as possible. If the hitch is to high when you brake it will have tendency lift the rear of the bike and if the hitch is low it will have tendency to push down on the bike during braking. Ideally you want good tongue weight and a level trailer. Of course it will look good too.

BOO

[twigg]

Trailers should always be level or very slightly nose-down while running. If they are at all "nose-up" they will wreck the handling of the bike, and possibly cause a dangerous situation. Mainly that is because the air moving underneath will be trying to lift the back of the bike.

 

For maximum stability they should have a positive tongue weight of around 10% of the trailer weight. This is often too high for the hitch, but on a motorcycle trailer I would be looking for about 25 to 30 pounds (measure it with bathroom scles and a piece of 2x4.)

 

If your loaded rig is level, with a tongue weight in that region, when loaded and ready to go, you should be fine.

 

Unless the "nose-down" attitude is excessive, then the downward push under braking is quite small, and it actually helps. I am talking maybe 1/2" to 1" maximum. Any more and you might have the stability problems mentioned above.

 

It's worth going to some trouble to get this right because the result is trouble free motoring, and if it's not right the result can be extremely painful.

 

Never try to use the load in the trailer to correct a nose height that is too low. If you do that you will compromise the tongue weight and introduce instability. The correct way is to load the trailer so that the nose weight is right, then raise or lower the hitch height to achieve the correct attitude.

 

Once you get this right the first time, it quickly becomes second nature to do it the same way everytime.

 

Hope this helps.

[playboy]

As promised finished the hitch today and got it on the bike paint sure drys slow this time of year. Thanks for all the design tips from others I cant take credit for that.

 

 

http://http://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=63686&stc=1&d=1327618807http://http://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=63687&stc=1&d=1327618807http://http://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=63688&stc=1&d=1327618807http://http://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=63689&stc=1&d=1327618807http://http://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=63690&stc=1&d=1327618807http://http://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=63691&stc=1&d=1327618807http://http://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=63692&stc=1&d=1327618807http://http://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=63693&stc=1&d=1327618807

[Condor]

As promised finished the hitch today and got it on the bike paint sure drys slow this time of year. Thanks for all the design tips from others I cant take credit for that.

 

Nice job.....

[TDunc]

I could do that...:rotf:.......If I only knew how to weld.....

 

 

Nice looking job!

[BradT]

I am sure your happy with how it came out and you should be. Good job.

 

Brad

[Flyinfool]

Looks good.

 

Nice work.

[pickinfred]

Fantastic job on the hitch Playboy:thumbsup:..... nice bell and the reflection in the chrome shows a pretty good camera too.......which finally brings me to the question......What Brand of Windshield???.............................. Did you win?....

 

 

 

Fred

[playboy]

Fantastic job on the hitch Playboy:thumbsup:..... nice bell and the reflection in the chrome shows a pretty good camera too.......which finally brings me to the question......What Brand of Windshield???.............................. Did you win?....

 

 

 

Fred

Hey I thought you won it

[tazmocycle]

looks great, as soon as you get yours done start on mine! LOL! i sold mine to wes and haven't had much time to make me another. a couple weeks before xmas some dumb butt came by and stole all my drop cords going to my xmas decorations in the yard. they also cut the cords off all my drills, saws, batterry chargers, bench gringer and all the cables off my welder. also took 2-30ft extra welding calbe i had got to extend it out of the shop so i could weld on trailer and other large jobs. 1 good think was my wire welder was covered up and they didn't see it or they would have ruined it too. i have a $1000 deduct on my ins. so it'll come out of my pocket. slowly getting them fix.

[dacheedah]

looks awesome