Enclosed Bike Trailer Mods

[biscuitsngravy]

I've had a 6 X 12 cargo trailer for years but have never modified it (other than a front wheel chock and floor tiedown rings.)

After seeing a few good examples of enclosed bike trailer modifications, I am wanting to dress up the interior of my trailer for my Nomad.

I've found some ideas for cabinets and hangers on the internet (I've good good woodworking skills), but what about floor and sidewall treatments?

Any ideas out there in Kawanow land? BnG

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Dave I would go for marble floors. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Just having a little fun with you. I would just put down a better grade of plywood I guess. Lots of things that could be done I guess.

[ringadingh]

Aluminium checkerplate is a real nice touch, both inside and outside the trailer.
Check out some trailer sites and see what they have done.

[cactusjack]

I've had a 6 X 12 cargo trailer for years but have never modified it (other than a front wheel chock and floor tiedown rings.)

After seeing a few good examples of enclosed bike trailer modifications, I am wanting to dress up the interior of my trailer for my Nomad.

I've found some ideas for cabinets and hangers on the internet (I've good good woodworking skills), but what about floor and sidewall treatments?

Any ideas out there in Kawanow land? BnG

A little shag carpet and maybe a bamboo parquet floor would be great. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[ringadingh]

Bamboo flooring is getting popular here, but can you still get shag carpet?

[cactusjack]

Bamboo flooring is getting popular here, but can you still get shag carpet?

Shag carpeting never goes out of style!

[ringadingh]

I think it has in Canada Scott. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif maybe some guys still line there minivans with the stuff. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[recumbentbob]

+ some nice choices here

http://www.caldwellcarpet.com/super-chic-shag-carpet.htm

[fish]

I think it has in Canada Scott. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif maybe some guys still line there minivans with the stuff. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif
Steve want to put shag carpeting in my minivan ::)

[ringadingh]

Larry; I could picture you with a shag lined van. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[markclark57]

On the serious side. . . Mine is a 7x14. I went with two Lock n Load plates (both bikes fit in one trailer), a 4x2 Rigid double lock gang box, and a 14 drawer Craftsman roller cabinet. It already came with 3/4" flooring and 3/8" side walls. All of the wood got Deck sealer previous to it's first official use. Added lots of D-rings for tie downs, and I'm a happy man.
(first two sig pix have tools/trailer in view or reflection)

[macmac]

I can tell one thng to NOT DO, and that is paint the floow with Rustoleum Aluminum paint! Man is that stuff slippery for a long time. It comes off on the soles of your boots too, and you will track it all over the place. (think home floors)

I got truck bed liner spray cans and marked off a runway, as wide as my feet need to be to fix that.

The tailgate on my trailer is a ramp, and I had painted that white with some any white latex wall paint. That isn't as slippery, but it got the run way treatment anyway.

The trailer had tie downs in it, but these were light duty. I bought flush mounted heavy duty mounts and inlaid them myself. I run 2 tie down from each point, not trusting just one.

That's 8 tie downs total. I forget the name, but it is something like soft ties, which are just figure 8 loops off the bike and this keeps the tie hooks away from the paint and chrome.

I learned to duct tape the lower end hooks to the mounts. It seems the bike suspention drops on bumps in the trailer and the lower hooks can come free of the mounts real easy.

I have a El Cheapo J C Whitnet ft wheel chock as well.

The walls are still un-treated luan, but I made stand out rails at 1 inch off the floor, another around 5 feet high, and one splitting the difference.

The rails stand off the wall apx 1 inch, so I can pass line behind them, and or use S hooks on them, and or have a foam camp pad piece I can use a kneeling pad.

Another trick I pulled was to run a by-pass off the trailer interior light, and end it with a ciggy butt socket. That can take anything with a male ciggy butt end.

My bike has a ciggy butt lighter, and I use either the lighter or a voltmeter mainly, but in the trailer I can use both with an adapter I made up of 2 male ends on a wire and charge the battery anytime the Van engine is running.

If the day were to come again to use this trailer like I did, I might add folding bunks above the bike, or they might be adjustable, in the event the bike wasn't in the trailer and in this way the trailer could serve as a tent.

The only reason I have the van and the van's trailer, is I hit winter in Arkansas, and needed a rolling bed room. I had already crossed the USA from NH to cal, to fla, to ok, to ar, then needed a winter camp set up. Since I don't know how to drive a van and ride a bike at the same time the trailer seemed to be the thing to do.

Another thing I will likey do is add a deck just behind the trailer jack, and place the spare there, with a tool box or a cooler. My trailer has the spare mounted on the leftside wall at the rear by the ramp now.

[Top Cat]

You never cease to amaze me Mac.
What do you do in your spare time? ;)

[glwilson]

Dave... one thing I do like about my trailer is the E-Track "rail-system" for tying-down the bike. It is only toward the front on mine; but I wish there would have been some toward the rear also. They are strong and easily adjustable for multiple positions for tie-down.

I am putting them toward the rear of the trailer sometime. Not hard to install and not that expensive.

Scroll-down on this site for the idea:

http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-Straps-Tie-Downs/Motorcycle-Tie-Down-Accessories

I used outdoor carpet on the floor that is taped-down (not glued so I can replace it easier later); which helps on wet-days to prevent slipping. This is on the ramp-door also, but I did leave a strip down the middle for the tire. That area is painted with some reasonably durable paint that has sand in it for traction on wet-days.

If money is not object... then there are plenty of flooring choices online. My worry with these are slipping when wet.

The only other thing I'll add is a small tool-box of some sort.

With the size of your trailer, you could make it into a toy-hauler/camper.

Good luck and have fun. ;)

[chainsaw]

If anyone is interested, with the bad weather around the country and with the hail damage, you can pick up a hail damaged trailer for a good price. I picked up a 6x10 V nose completely done inside, Halmark brand, minimal hail damage, for $1,450.00. Included a one year warranty. Got it at Nite's Equipment in Peckatonica,
Illinois. Near Rockford.

[waterman]

Geez, nobody has said this. A Wet Bar for when you come to rallies. Fully stocked of course. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[macmac]

TC dream about young girls weedin my garden. Usually while I am weedin the garden. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Chainsaw great deal that was.

[glwilson]

Attached is a nice customized trailer... although designed for a car. But just a few changes and it would work fine for a bike. ;)

Oh yeah... forgot to mention... the asking price is $14,500 http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif

[biscuitsngravy]

Thanks for the ideas! I was afraid for awhile that only shag carpet was used by my KawaNOW friends!

Hopefully by next years' North Central Regional Rally, I'll have something to show off!

Again, thanks for the ideas! BnG

[ringadingh]

Thats a great price for a trailer, even if it does have a bit of hail damage. You couldn't come close to buying the parts to make your own at that price..

[markclark57]

Just think of it as "custom textured paint" rather than 'Hail damaged". . . http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[macmac]

There is just something about trailers that just never impresses me. Maybe I hung around too many horsey people with matching paints on trucks and trailers fer hosses.

I have seen hotel trailers for cars too, and bikes, as well as horses, and you never get the stink of spent fuel http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif out of either one.

[markclark57]

I needed a way to get both bikes, my pick up, and tools to Phoenix then be able to rebuild several properties out of it.
A 6x10 would be a nice bike/travel trailer. Add another motercycle and tools, it takes a 7x14. . . Otherwise it would take at least 3 trips with return flights. I'd rather spend my time and $$$ building equity.

[Top Cat]

I needed a way to get both bikes, my pick up, and tools to Phoenix then be able to rebuild several properties out of it.
A 6x10 would be a nice bike/travel trailer. Add another motercycle and tools, it takes a 7x14. . . Otherwise it would take at least 3 trips with return flights. I'd rather spend my time and $$$ building equity.

Isn't retirement great http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[waterman]

I needed a way to get both bikes, my pick up, and tools to Phoenix then be able to rebuild several properties out of it.
A 6x10 would be a nice bike/travel trailer. Add another motercycle and tools, it takes a 7x14. . . Otherwise it would take at least 3 trips with return flights. I'd rather spend my time and $$$ building equity.

Isn't retirement great http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

TC, shut up. :'(

[Top Cat]

http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif Sorry http://s2.images.proboards.com/lipsrsealed.gif

[fish]

http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[markclark57]

Eh, doing the "retire to work for myself" thing is nice, but I'm getting lazy at it. We head to Phoenix for house shopping on Saturday and I haven't gotten this one ready for market yet. . .

[Bdog]

Weird that this topic came up. I'm in the process of getting a trailer myself. 7x16 is the right size for me. I'll be able to haul both bikes, set up a small machine shop inside and also be able to camp in it. I want to be able to haul the unit south into warm weather during the winter. Bdog

[macmac]

Weird that this topic came up. I'm in the process of getting a trailer myself. 7x16 is the right size for me. I'll be able to haul both bikes, set up a small machine shop inside and also be able to camp in it. I want to be able to haul the unit south into warm weather during the winter. Bdog

Oh sure, just so you can drill holes in metals and show off the parts you made for the Nomad ::) making it bright and shiney http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[markclark57]

Weird that this topic came up. I'm in the process of getting a trailer myself. 7x16 is the right size for me. I'll be able to haul both bikes, set up a small machine shop inside and also be able to camp in it. I want to be able to haul the unit south into warm weather during the winter. Bdog

Then you can be SBdog (Snow Bird Dog). . . http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[glwilson]

Two more things I just remembered seeing once in a trailer at the drag-race track; and it made sense to me since you'll have the added room to carry them.

1st: A real good first-aid kit hung on the wall. Hopefully it will be the worst investment you'll ever make... but if it turns out you need it; then it will be the best-investment. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

2nd: A good, and fairly big fire extinguisher.

I know... not really exciting stuff nor "cool-looking"; but they are practical. ;) http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[biscuitsngravy]

Great ideas! I'll do it.

I got my new (old) m/c today. When I get home on Thurs, I'll post pictures. BnG

[glwilson]

Great ideas! I'll do it.

I got my new (old) m/c today. When I get home on Thurs, I'll post pictures. BnG

I, and a bunch of others, are interested in finding out what the bike is BnG!! Just a hint?

[markclark57]

Two more things I just remembered seeing once in a trailer at the drag-race track; and it made sense to me since you'll have the added room to carry them.

1st: A real good first-aid kit hung on the wall. Hopefully it will be the worst investment you'll ever make... but if it turns out you need it; then it will be the best-investment. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

2nd: A good, and fairly big fire extinguisher.

I know... not really exciting stuff nor "cool-looking"; but they are practical. ;) http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

Thanks for the tip. I'll be getting both of them before the move.

[macmac]

I hate packing first aid kits, but I do....... So far just once was it worthy. Water should be a part of one too. Cleaning up a mess is hard with out water, like flushing sand from wounds.

[biscuitsngravy]

Good idea, Mac. I could have used that last month!!

[macmac]

Good idea, Mac. I could have used that last month!!

Oh yeah? Tried the 2 grit huh http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Hope it wasn't real bad.

[biscuitsngravy]

I lived. No, it wasn't too bad. All healed up now.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

You never did mention your little accident Dave. Maybe you did but no real details or damage to bike and to you.

[Top Cat]

The Dragon got him http://s2.images.proboards.com/lipsrsealed.gif

[macmac]

The Dragon got him http://s2.images.proboards.com/lipsrsealed.gif

Dragon smaggen..... Oh Hell I rode that round trip 3 times starting at the top and coming back.....

Not a problem.......

I had my training wheels on each time http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[biscuitsngravy]

That's what I should have done! If there is a next time, I'll steal the training wheels off a little girls little pink bicycle and put them on the Nomad with duct tape.

[macmac]

Geeze man you got the shifter workin'? Or for looks?