3 Bike Trailers

[aus36]

Hi Guys

Me and a couple of mates are planning to get a customized 3 bike trailer to suit our sportsbikes. We were just about to buy one off the shelf (product list) when my mechanic told me to cancel the process and have one customized to suit 3 sportsbikes. After a bit of research and doing the measurements, we've decided to go 8ft long and 7 ft wide, which seems to accommodate the 3 sports bikes nicely, although I feel it is a tad to wide for the road. The trailer will have a flat checker plate surface, no side barriers (except for the front), rails, front wheel locks, and of course a ramp.

Just wondering if any of you guys out there have any experience in this area and could possibly offer some advice before we make our purchase.
Are our dimensions too big or small?
Are there other small details that we might miss?

Cheers

[Blurr]

mat I have an 8x6 trailer I so far I have found the following.
- The wheel arches stick out from the trailer effectively making it almost 8 foot wide
- lights are required on the whel arches as it if more than 6 foot wide
- Trailer size is great but Big so you should fit. Mine fits 2 across easily.
- Towing requires a bit more concentration as you have no room in the lane to sway adjust line.

hope this helps

[aus36]

mat I have an 8x6 trailer I so far I have found the following.
- The wheel arches stick out from the trailer effectively making it almost 8 foot wide
- lights are required on the whel arches as it if more than 6 foot wide
- Trailer size is great but Big so you should fit. Mine fits 2 across easily.
- Towing requires a bit more concentration as you have no room in the lane to sway adjust line.

hope this helps

helps a lot mate...cheers!!!

[Stereo]

I am in the process of buying a professionally made one, they are happy to adjust settings for me... and trust me, you cannot do it cheaper than this (under $700)

[Naked Twin]

Who is doing a custom made trailer for $700. Do you have to assemble, register and and supply the components? That is farking cheap.

3 bike trailers can be done in several ways, they don't have to be 3 abreast on the trailer, If you are going to go three abreast, raise the deck above the wheel arch to reduce the width. I have a 5 ft trailer and it is the same width as the car (give or take a bees dick) so it is much easier to judge when passing close to other vehicles and you will get 3 bikes across on 5ft (I have seen it done on a 5ft enclosed trailer with sports bike at PI, couldn't believe. If the idea of raising the deck doesn't appeal (which it doesn't to me) have it so that two bikes are side by side (facing the same direction as the travel) the third bike then gets put on perpendicular (right angles). The third bike is normally done at the front, however best to get advice on this as you should only have 2/3 of the total weight forward of the trailer axle. Note also that this trailer will be a dedicated bike trailer as you will not be able to put sides on it. With 8ft long and 5ft wide you could do the above 3 bike trailer (2 side by side and 1 perpendicular) off a standard 1 tonne chassis platform.

Nick

[scooby]

you would probably have another buyer here also for that price!

[Stereo]

http://www.victoriantrailers.com.au/
I am getting one like the one in the top right http://www.victoriantrailers.com.au/content/single.html
$680

I asked them if they could make some changes and basically they didnt have any problems. we didnt go into pricing changes

[Wardy]

http://www.victoriantrailers.com.au/
I am getting one like the one in the top right http://www.victoriantrailers.com.au/content/single.html
$680

I asked them if they could make some changes and basically they didnt have any problems. we didnt go into pricing changes

It doesn't look like you'd fit 3 road bikes in it to me. dirt bikes no problems though.

[Stereo]

http://www.victoriantrailers.com.au/
I am getting one like the one in the top right http://www.victoriantrailers.com.au/content/single.html
$680

I asked them if they could make some changes and basically they didnt have any problems. we didnt go into pricing changes

It doesn't look like you'd fit 3 road bikes in it to me. dirt bikes no problems though.

I have used similar trailers before and have had road bikes on them, the only thing I would be worried about would be the mudguards...

[Wardy]

The mudguards were my concern as well. I have seen guys have to remove their belly pans to get them to fit. But as already mentioned I would raise the deck a bit to get the clearance.

I would also recommend getting them to make up a wider loading ramp with the ability to secure it to the trailer. If your loading by yourself it is something you don't want to have to worry about.

Good price though. And a good idea to get all the mods done at once.

Galvanised trailers are a great thing also although the cost goes up somewhat.

[seiko1]

Just make sure any channel is big enough to accomodate the bloody rear tyre!

[Naked Twin]

Stereo, with the width would you not have to put the middle bike on backwards so that you had enough room?

The other issues I can see with that current set up - can't use the wheel tie downs as the suspension travel will be too much and the bikes will potentially hit each other. If you have bikes with twin exhausts that stick out a little bit you will most likely have to pull the outside bikes to the side to tie them down.

Nick

[Stereo]

Stereo, with the width would you not have to put the middle bike on backwards so that you had enough room?

The other issues I can see with that current set up - can't use the wheel tie downs as the suspension travel will be too much and the bikes will potentially hit each other. If you have bikes with twin exhausts that stick out a little bit you will most likely have to pull the outside bikes to the side to tie them down.

Nick

I am not anticipating ever using it for 3 bikes, either 1 in the middle or once each on the outsides...

[Naked Twin]

That doesn't help AUS36 then, nor answer the world saving question I have put forward.

For me it was more a curiosity thing as currently I can only take 2 bikes and with a couple of mates getting into track days a 3 bike trailer for road bikes could be worth looking at if it is cheap and simple.

Nick

[photomike666]

Buy a 2 tike trailer and tow it with a van. 3rd bike goes in the van.