Folding Trailer

[Mark H-W]

I’m looking at living out of a van for a year or so, using my bike as daily transport. However
I hate loading bike trailers, especially when it’s a 1150GSA. I usually end up trying to precariously load and unload single handed.
I’m looking for an easy load/unload folding bike trailer. That will then pack small enough to fit under the bed of my van.
Any suggestions especially on the easy load/unload?
Has anybody ever used a winch?
Or do I just get a lighter weight bike?
Or worst case scenario but a light weight car to tow
Regards
Mark

 

[doyle]

There might be a strong case for looking at a lighter bike ,and depending on which van you have and the Towbar nose weight limit,Putting a rack on. You should be able to get a light 500cc bike which you can carry.

 

[Mark H-W]

Thank you. I had looked into the possibilities of that. The TT600re looked a possible but a few KG’s over. Due to my height I struggle to get smaller cc light weight bike to fit
Thanks for the reply

 

[steadysteve]

Motolug.
There are videos online showing the assembly/ disassembly procedure and also the loading / unloading process.
Decent gear although the wiring is a pita. I’ve secured mine inside a conduit and clipped it to the main channel to keep it under control.

 

[Wapping]

The best, though pricey, fully collapsible trailer is made by Intertrade.

http://www.intertradeuk.co.uk/

I know this because I bought one, years ago. Fully dissembled, I can fit it into the back of a VW Golf, with the rear seats down.

Built to last, complete with a winch. Made in the UK (if such stuff is vital to you) and with an excellent after-sale service.

PS You might do better asking your question outside of the 1150 section, as it has as much to do with the model of bike as I have to flower pressing.

PPS Intertrade also make the A-frames, if you are thinking of towing a car instead.

 

[W900BMW]

Plus 1 for Motolug - loaded and unloaded the 1200GS several times single handed - tows well behind the MINI!

 

[buellzebub]

Another vote for Motolug
Loading the 1150GS the first time was a little nerve racking I must admit, but after a more times it's no longer a problem.

Sent from my SM-T970 using Tapatalk

 

[BrianGriffin]

There is another type of trailer that the bike loads onto sideways, so reducing the overall length. A friend of mine has one that he carries his Ducati race bike on and tows to race meetings behind his motorhome, very nice bit of kit. I was thinking of getting one to put the GS on when we go over to Spain in our motorhome, due to current travel restrictions, I've not yet bothered getting one. They are an extremely compact bike trailer and well worth taking a look at. Also UK made, just at the moment can't remember the manufacture's name.

 

[GADGET]

There is another type of trailer that the bike loads onto sideways, so reducing the overall length. A friend of mine has one that he carries his Ducati race bike on and tows to race meetings behind his motorhome, very nice bit of kit. I was thinking of getting one to put the GS on when we go over to Spain in our motorhome, due to current travel restrictions, I've not yet bothered getting one. They are an extremely compact bike trailer and well worth taking a look at. Also UK made, just at the moment can't remember the manufacture's name.

Armitages

 

[steadysteve]

Only drawback I could see with Armitage is that it would cause a lot of wind resistance/ drag.

When I pack my motolug in the car I only remove one pin and remove the axle complete with wheel units. The two big chunks ( axle/ wheels and the main channel/hitch then fit in the car (estate car) with the back seats down. It makes the whole process really easy.
Might be an option if you’re sliding them under your van bed.

 

[Udders]

Armitages

They’re good but a twat to reverse.

 

[Stevie4scoops]

Plus 1 for Motolug - loaded and unloaded the 1200GS several times single handed - tows well behind the MINI!

My Mini was fantastic at towing bikes and in the two years I drove it did many thousands of miles doing so.

It towed a trailer with seven mountain-bikes, a 390 Duke + all our kit in a roof box to Morzine and back.

Great fun driving around the mountains and had so much more character that my One Series.

 

[Vulpine2]

Motolug - good but not perfect

Got a older Motolug, well used, an all too useful bit of kit that you can break down as much or as little as you want.
Will load into most cars, I've had it in and out of an '08 Panda a few times, so under a bed in a van might well be possible and the more you disassemble it the easier it would be. I guess a lot depends on access and how much time you've got on your hands. It's not something I'd want to do too often - that central channel/hitch is pretty hefty and awkward to manage.
Couple of minor but annoying issues with mine, hopefully addressed on latest version:-
1.The cable run is a PITA. All too easy to catch the cable when un/folding, leading to non working electrics. Liking the suggestion of fitting a conduit.
2.Wear on the hole for the central locking pin. The pin rattles in the hole, the hole elongates, the pin rattles around even more, the hole gets bigger...

Bloomin' expensive - but mostly because it facilitates the purchase of all sorts of non-running junk ...

 

[HTB]

Got a older Motolug, well used, an all too useful bit of kit that you can break down as much or as little as you want.
Will load into most cars, I've had it in and out of an '08 Panda a few times, so under a bed in a van might well be possible and the more you disassemble it the easier it would be. I guess a lot depends on access and how much time you've got on your hands. It's not something I'd want to do too often - that central channel/hitch is pretty hefty and awkward to manage.
Couple of minor but annoying issues with mine, hopefully addressed on latest version:-
1.The cable run is a PITA. All too easy to catch the cable when un/folding, leading to non working electrics. Liking the suggestion of fitting a conduit.
2.Wear on the hole for the central locking pin. The pin rattles in the hole, the hole elongates, the pin rattles around even more, the hole gets bigger...

Bloomin' expensive - but mostly because it facilitates the purchase of all sorts of non-running junk ...

Yeah, I have a single / double and the hole in the middle does wear. Going to have to weld a gusset around it I think. Good bit of kit though - has seen us around europe a few times..

 

[steadysteve]

Wiring under control...

Some pics of my wiring set-up.
I tried to keep the number of drilled holes to a minimum and used a combination of P clips and cable ties. The only exposed bit is the wire that goes from the offside to the nearside. The wiring is two separate lengths, rather than a seven core wire signs splitter so rather than separating the wires at the front, and having to drill holes on each side, I decided it would be better to cross under the channel at the back end but slightly forward to stop it getting scrubbed on the ground when loading/unloading.
I've left plenty of slack in the middle to allow the channel to fold in half and also pre-twisted the conduit to take it away from the pinch point when folded in half.
It stands on its side against the wall and is easier than having four bits to deal with.