angelaibbo Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Anyone know if it's possible and legal to tow a motorcycle trike with a motorhome? We are told that with the front wheel in a purpose made bracket on the tow bar and the rear wheels on the ground this is the easiest way to tow one. It will also have brake and light board so that lights work off the van. Don't want to put it on a trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 sounds ok to me, the front will be light so such a set up should be fine. Watling Engineers at St Albans will make you a bracket, they did a top job on our scooter rack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelaibbo Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 Thanks Charles Can't see a problem either but wasn't sure if it is legal especially as we go abroad and I know that there is all sorts of problems towing cars. Thanks too for the recommendation for the bracket but the guy who is building out trike is sorting that for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 What the eye does not see the heart does not grieve over. To avoid official or other unwanted interest build a light box easily removed structure complete with trailer board so it looks like a trailer not a motor vehicle. Done well it might help keep the trike clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 And don't forget the law states that if the trailer has brakes fitted then they MUST function at all times. So, as your trike will obviously have brakes, you will have to ensure that there is some means, be it electrical or mechanical, to apply those brakes in conjunction with the MH brakes. Why do you think A frame towing is so complicated, what with over run brakes and 'brake buddies' etc, etc. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancepar Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Are you thinking of something like this? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-TRAILER-TRIKE-MOTORCYCLE-SCOOTER-QUICK-RELEASE-TOWING-FRAME-/301752997483?hash=item4641e1566b "THIS DEVISE IS CLASSIFIED AS A RECOVERY DEVICE" from the sellers page. My mate has one but decided not to use it with his Dragstar (solo). He might want to sell it. Anyway my main concern is that most modern bikes rely on pump feed lubrication to the gearbox when the engine is running, the gearbox is not separate and using its own oil supply. Now if the bike is chain driven the chain could removed while towing but if it is shaft driven then while the rear wheel is rotating some of the gearbox internals will be rotating and if pump fed not getting all the oil they need. This is only my opinion, but you might want to investigate this point further depending on what trike you have and how far you want to tow it suspended. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Lance et al, Note the small print as the last line of the eBay advert "THIS DEVISE IS CLASSIFIED AS A RECOVERY DEVICE" My understanding of such a RECOVERY DEVICE is that it is limited to something like 20 mph and as it's name implies is to be used for recovery ONLY. I'm not sure how you would stand for long term use, perhaps worth discussing with your insurance company before buying. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancepar Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Hi Keith, I was adding the quote when our posts crossed. Not something I would do with my bike anyway. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leake Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Just a thought but with the right remote control you could use the trike to give a boost in performance when required. I'm full of bright ideas me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len Salisbury Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 These devices would be no good for my rig as I have an 1800 Goldwing and sidecar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepe63xnotuse Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 I would've thought that for dragging a hefty trike (or 'wing combo), some form of flat bed trailer would be the best approach? http://www.armitagetrailers.com/gentransporters.htm (*6th photo down) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 The daft part about trailer legislation is that below 750 kg the trailer can be unbraked but if it has brakes they must work. It will be a hefty trike that weighs more than that, I have seen a setup where lightweight 4 wheeled vehicle was towed using a conventional hitch fitted to a long bar that was connected well back on the chassis. If a shoe was fitted to the bar to locate the front it would apart from almost certainly illegal a very neat and practical solution and probably impossible to insure. Something about donkeys and the law springs to mind. As ever to be completely legal use a trailer that will push up GTW. On the continent trailer have to registered in their own right but its not necessary to keep records of which vehicle is towing it so If swiped by a vehicle and you get the trailer number the driver is untraceable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancepar Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 angelaibbo - 2015-10-12 2:26 PM Anyone know if it's possible and legal to tow a motorcycle trike with a motorhome? We are told that with the front wheel in a purpose made bracket on the tow bar and the rear wheels on the ground this is the easiest way to tow one. It will also have brake and light board so that lights work off the van. Don't want to put it on a trailer. You have a PM. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerC Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Len Salisbury - 2015-10-14 8:51 AMThese devices would be no good for my rig as I have an 1800 Goldwing and sidecar. And the relevance of your comment is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len Salisbury Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 The back and sidecar wheels are in a different position compared to a Trike. Try and go over sleeping policemen on the road. I took part in trials at the Road Research Laboratory at Crowthorne Berks in the late 90s with a BMW outfit. The Director of the trials came as a passenger in the sidecar and he thought that it was the most uncomfortable ride he had experienced during the trials because of the different position of the wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerC Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Len Salisbury - 2015-10-16 10:09 AMThe back and sidecar wheels are in a different position compared to a Trike. Try and go over sleeping policemen on the road.I took part in trials at the Road Research Laboratory at Crowthorne Berks in the late 90s with a BMW outfit. The Director of the trials came as a passenger in the sidecar and he thought that it was the most uncomfortable ride he had experienced during the trials because of the different position of the wheels. No sh1t Sherlock.....WOW I never knew a trike and sidecar outfit were different ( comment heavily laced with sarcasm) .....the point of my asking 'and your point is'? is that the OP was asking about towing a trike and you comment on the unsuitability of towing 'your' outfit which is an irrelevance with regard to the OP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Leake Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 I've seen someone around here towing a trike which I suspect he/she shows from the look of it with the rear wheels apparently fixed to a small obviously purpose made trailer and the front wheel fixed to a bracket on the back of his/her car. Rather suspect it is one made by the trikes owner but if I can I will try and find out more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.