Hopesy Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 OK guys and gals I've tried the search option over the past few days and can' t seem to get anything and i know this will have been discussed before but a bit of knowledge and experience requested. We're going to get a towbar fitted and tow our (my) motorcycle, a Triumph Speed triple 1050 weighing about 210kgs 420lbs ish. I live in Bristol but it seem i have to go to a fabrication specialist a little way away to fit a towbar (can't believe there isn't one in a city the size of Bristol but there we are) and it's going to cost about £500 to £600, is that about the right price for an Elddis 115 2007 Peugeot chassis? We're going to tow through Europe and use the bike to explore/have fun. I was looking at the RORO type but was wondering if anyone has experience of these or any recommendations. Trailers seem to come in at £400 for a new single carrier. The tariler will have to cover quite a few miles especially in a couple of years when we'll able to tour for much longer periods. So to recap whats the price of a professionally fitted towbar and any thought on the sort of trailer especially RORO.Thanks Rog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Hi Rog, Try giving Towtal at Stoke on Trent a call for a price for the towbar.They made the one for our AutoTrail and (other than the paint finish) it is an excellent piece of engineering. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 For reference, Watling, generally well regarded for towbars, give full details and a price list on their site (including for your vehicle).Useful for a comparison if nothing else.http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Newark Vehicle Bodies did something similar for us on a Autotrail Merc Scout. Solid job. But I built the trailer. Simple all aluminium job apart from the Indespension units, tow hitch and wheels. No brakes needed as the laden trailer was under 750 Kg. I had a simple folded up ally ramp for loading / unloading which stowed in the trailer alongside the bikes. Oh yes, there were two bikes! C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike88 Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 http://www.pwsacc.co.uk/ http://www.ezetow.co.uk/index.htm http://www.easylifter.co.uk/hydra-trail.htm http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/motorhome_towbars.html http://www.armitagetrailers.com/biketrailers.htm?gclid=COSh5ZD6zaYCFc0g3wodVSCJGw http://www.cmf-engineering.com/trail-rb.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjl Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Hi I have had a MOTOLUG trailer for about 20 months and covered about 13000 miles towing a Honda 600 - weight 200kgs. No problems thus far apart from a puncture but i bought a spare tyre when i bought the trailer so that was easily fixed. Trailer not a RORO but i bought the loading system that grips the front wheel so i can load single handed. I have to "drive" it up as i walk alongside although when it was demo'd to me at the Newbury show in 2009, the guy just pushed his bike (bigger than mine!) up - younger and stronger than i am! If you go on website there is more infohttp://www.bikelug.myzen.co.uk/home-1-0.html I purchased this trailer because it comes apart into 4 or 5 parts so i can carry it down side of house to store in shed at bottom of garden. It is expensive but for me it was important to be able to fold away. I like the idea of a RORO but i have nowhere to store it! Good luck Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B. Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 HiI had a towbar fitted at Armitages (See address in earler post) and tow the C1 on an A frame or the bike (Bandit) on a 2 wheel single bike trailer (Erdo-self assembly £350 delivered-could definitely recommend this) Have had no trouble whatsoever towing either all over UK and Europe.Although Armitages are a fair way from Bristol, I would check them out as their price might make the journey worth it. Certainly a lot less than £600 in my experience. Also you will need a ramp to get the bike on the trailer which Armitages supply ex stock to suit. They also do bike trailers but not sure of cost etc-bought mine on Ebay!!MikePS we are taking the bike up the Mosel at Easter if you fancy a rideout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snail Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Hi Rog, I had a towbar and scooter rack made to measure in Ross on wye, by a guy who is a motorcyclist and also makes trailers of all types, very strongly made out of 4x2 box, the cost for me was around £600 for the two products, very obliging and willing to make any personal add ons you may want, although he won't help you if he thinks the van is not up to it, when i first visited he was just turning some unhappy chappy away, you can contact CMF trailers 01989 769191, or www.cmftrailers.co.uk he does need the van to be left for a couple of days for the fabrication, then went back couple of weeks later for fitting after galvanising, all i had to do was the wiring as he normally gets someone in to do it at extra cost, hope this helpsbrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob b Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 I use a RoRo trailer to tow my Honda Deauville. Originally I used an 'ordinary' bike trailer, meaning that I had to walk alongside the bike as I ran it up onto the trailer using the engine. Quite frankly, it never completely safe loading the bike like this. I constantly thought, one slip and the bike will fall. On one occasion, the ramped 'kicked up' and I was stuck with the bike halfway up the trailer. As I was on a CC site, 10 minutes passed and I attracted the attention of a passerby and got help.With the RoRo trailer I can ride the bike up onto the trailer completely and then dismount and secure it singlehandedly. I towed the bike to Spain and Portugal last year and encountered no problems.There is a clip on Youtube demonstrating the loading of a Ro Ro trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 If you have the post 2007 Elddis they have teamed up with Witter regarding Tow-Bars"Only Elddis Autoquest has a type-approved towbar fitting optionElddis and Witter have worked together to create a type-approved towbar that is safe, secure and easy to fit to any new Elddis Autoquest model."http://www.elddis.co.uk/autoquest/towbar.htmlfor a video clip.For a compactfolding Trailer this may be off interest:-http://www.trealestrailers.co.uk/motorcycle_trailers.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicka Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 If you want to reduce the trailer length & save a metre+ on ferry fares, have a look at these from a thread last yearhttp://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=21154&posts=13http://www.remorques-charnoud.fr/detail.php?ref=1800200&ph=0&menu=tracty&page=camping_car I also read somewhere that Easylifter now have a two wheel version of this:-www.easylifter.co.uk/hydra-trail.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopesy Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 Thanks for the information chaps, more homework to do!! Always excellent advice on here, well usually :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwaviation Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 As a fellow 115 owner who wants to tow a 260kg Burgman 650 I would be very interested in what you decide! There is a long thread here about the easylifter with pics of my Burgman towards the end of the thread http://www.motorhomefacts.com/ftoptitle-85106-new-easylifter-hydra-trail.html I like the RoRo, the Easylifter and the Motolug but the problem with all of them is how to tie down my bike... I have fitted airrides and uprated my rear axle to1750kgs through SVtech in anticipation of a towbar - Have you?? Payload might be a problem on the rear axle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 For bikes that have footrests I normally have two fixed supports on the trailer (bits of thick plywood) that just miss the underside of the footrests then ratchet straps back and front to pull the bike down onto them. The bike wheels running in a trough. Done many thousands of miles all over Europe like this. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Here is a piccy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopesy Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 Clive - 2011-01-23 10:48 PM Here is a piccy Where???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwaviation Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Indeed! ou est le fot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingpete Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Another route to consider is to get a covered trailer. That will enable you take additional items in some security within the trailer, like your bike clobber, and bits of camping essentials, such as gas for continental use, water barrels and waste containers, chairs etc. I use a Brian James Minno for my GoldWing, but there others made for bikes. Make sure, if you go for covered version, that there is enough room to get alongside the bike for when tieing down. Some leave no space for generous sized riders ! A covered trailer keeps sticky fingers off the bike as well. >:-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I will try again with the piccy, last time the system gave a fault andeven after several tries uploading would not work. Here goes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I will try again with the piccy, last time the system gave a fault andeven after several tries uploading would not work. Here goes Nope It says Sorry, the server encountered an internal error and was unable to process the page you requested. The webmaster has been informed of this error and will look into it as soon as possible. Please try again later - for now click here to return to our homepage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ips Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 What make / mod / cc. are your bikes they look quite cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Well, The bike in the foreground is a Honda APE with a big bore 115cc sooper dooper go faster kit, big carb, posh suspension etc. Standard 100cc. Its good for going almost anywhere but a tad slow for the motorway. The bike at the back is a classic Monkey bike with a 108cc electric start engine and a longer rear swinging arm to stop the Mrs doing wheelies and comming of the back. I sold the Ape to another nutter and you can see his transformation here http://www.monkeybikeonline.co.uk/ The Mrs still has the Monkey. I now have a CCM FT35S which is a water cooled 400cc bike. Now that is cooool! C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donna miller Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 Your towbar only needs to bolt on as an extension to the chassis. I had this problem when trying to find a towbar for both my last 2 Hymer A-class, got silly quotes of £500+, so bought the box section and angle, measured up and built the towbar myself, total cost was about £60 including ball and electrics, it's massively over-engineered because i used 6mm angle for the mounting and 100x50 box for the bar, its full width so acts as a bumper as well. If you are not a competant welder, then get someone in to do it, it will still be cheaper. Seriously, it's a lot easier than you think. We have now got a Bandit 1200, before that an ST 1100 and used a double bike trailer which was adapted so that the channel and front wheel holder was in the middle, we then boarded the platform to give a solid base. We now use a twin axle box trailer with built in ramp, so might put the bike trailer up for sale, i'll let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 These aren't to far away from you Hopesy (..they were mentioned to us by Highbridge when we bought our van). http://www.bridgwatertrailers.co.uk/motorhomeaccessories.html We ended up going to Towtal because they were closer.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopesy Posted January 24, 2011 Author Share Posted January 24, 2011 Thanks guys, Clive it was worth persevering with the piccy, i hadn't thought of a covered trailer but it does make sense for kit and gubbins. I've already spoken to the company in Bridgewater but thanks for the info. and thanks to Flicka for the links. Just waiting for some people to get back to me. Ta Rog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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