Pulling a trailer with a Nomad

[nomadpilot]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I think 10% of the bike's weight (~80 lbs) is a little too much for the tongue weight. I've always read it should be 10% of the trailer weight (25-40 lbs or so). I bought a hanging 50 lb scale at Harbor Freight to check the tongue weight. It is checked at hitch height.

Really, once you get the trailer rolling from a dead stop, it isn't bad. You need to leave extra distance for stopping, stay in the center of your lane, and watch your turns, especially into driveways, etc. When it's moving you forget it's even back there. Bike trailers are easy to jack knife when backing, so I always try to pull through whenever possible, to minimize backing.

I managed a typo. You're right. I meant to say 10% of the TRAILER weight, NOT the bike weight. My bad. Thanx for the correction.

[Yellow Jacket]

Here are a couple of real good sources of information about towing a trailer with a motorcycle:

http://www.motorcycletrailerstore.com/trailer-guide/

The link below lists an excellent book anyone towing with a motorcycle might want to have. It's available on Amazon for about $17.

The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Travel

[chuckster131]

Here is my web site www.chucksterscustoms.com look in picture gallery

Regards Joe
Chuckster
517-474-2663

[zoom45]

I normally keep no less than 17 and normally about 23lbs tongue weight. I run 20 psi in my tires.
Zoom45

[macmac]

I know this pic is really big, but I really like the pic. I got 15,000 miles pulling that trailer, and it had room for a pack of clothing fit for 1805, plus a gun case mounted under the frame for a 52.5" Kentucky Rifle. And everything else modern riders would ever want.

The best way I know to inflate and test trailer tires is to tun them thru a puddle and see what treads hits in a dry area near by the puddle by hand.

I agree with Cj that down pressure at the hitch should be 25 to 35 pounds.

Another important thing to know is 'caster' which is an agle all trailers should have on any vehical.

That is the trailer should be almost level, but not quite and should run from the axle an angle down hill to the hitch which lake it follow instead of steer.

The front wheels on a shopping cart are made to follow, and all you cars have a similar angle, while it is harder to tell.

If the trailer steers the bike's rear wheel you won't be having a great day.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by macmac

I know this pic is really big, but I really like the pic. I got 15,000 miles pulling that trailer, and it had room for a pack of clothing fit for 1805, plus a gun case mounted under the frame for a 52.5" Kentucky Rifle. And everything else modern riders would ever want.

The best way I know to inflate and test trailer tires is to tun them thru a puddle and see what treads hits in a dry area near by the puddle by hand.

I agree with Cj that down pressure at the hitch should be 25 to 35 pounds.

Another important thing to know is 'caster' which is an agle all trailers should have on any vehical.

That is the trailer should be almost level, but not quite and should run from the axle an angle down hill to the hitch which lake it follow instead of steer.

The front wheels on a shopping cart are made to follow, and all you cars have a similar angle, while it is harder to tell.

If the trailer steers the bike's rear wheel you won't be having a great day.

Looks like the Midwest Mac... maybe Illinois, Iowa, or someplace similar?

[clayton]

So Mac
Basically the tounge of the trailer should be a bit lower then level...is that what I am reading?

[blowndodge]

Your Brilliant Greg! I was going to say Manhattan.. ::) ::)

[clayton]

Originally Posted by Yellow Jacket

Here are a couple of real good sources of information about towing a trailer with a motorcycle:

http://www.motorcycletrailerstore.com/trailer-guide/

The link below lists an excellent book anyone towing with a motorcycle might want to have. It's available on Amazon for about $17.

The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Travel

Thanks YJ

[coacha]

I use about 20lbs of tongue weight with either trailer and about 20-25 PSI in the tires. Get a fish scale from Wally World and hook it to the tongue, raise to ball height and get a reading.

[zoom45]

I have a kickstand on the tougue and just rest it on some bathroom scales to weigh it. I have towed it for several thousand miles and never had it wiggle. Can't tell it's behind me.

[garyo4]

Rule of thumb I understand is 20/20 out of the gate. Twenty pounds tongue weight at hitch height and twenty lbs air pressure in the tires. That's "out of the gate" from there you can adjust/modify to your individual trailer weight and towing arrangement. Normally 10~15% trailer weight should be on the tongue, so 20lbs is a good starting point.
Again, as mentioned here, the trailer’s tow bar should be tilting slightly downward towards the bike (keeps the trailer "bounce" from picking up your bike's rear wheel).

[wompus]

I've been towing a trailer with different bikes for well over 35 years.
Over 60,000 with my 99 Nomad and loaded is usually around 400 lbs.
( 35 lbs that are mine and 365 belonging to the wife!)<G> ....and I found the one thing more important then tongue weight is the length of the trail tongue.
The last thing you want is to have the trailer fishtailing behind your bike.
I always make sure the tongue is a lot longer then the width of the axle.

With a longer tongue you need a lot less weight on the ball it's hooked to.

I've been building trailers for over 40 years and I've seen way too many wrecks caused by trailer fishtailing. Have you ever seen a boat trailer fishtailing down the road? Not probably, because the trailer tongue is a lot longer then the width of the axle.

Also, keep in mind no matter how well your bike may pull the trailer, there is a bigger difference in how your bike will stop especially in an emergency.
Like towing a trailer with any vehicle, you have to be aware of your stopping distance!

.

[skeeter]

Thanks to all. Really enjoying this thread.

[Cajunrider]

Too much air pressure in the rear tire on the bike will also cause the trailer to sway. When I purchased my trailer, the stock Bridgestones were still on the Nomad. I pulled the trailer on short and fast runs to Baton Rouge and other local places just to get accustomed to it. Before leaving for the National Rally in Custer, I purchased an Avon Cobra rear tire. I sent Avon an email telling them how far I was traveling and how much weight I would be pulling including rider and passenger weight. I asked how much air pressure I should run in the new tire for the trip and he suggested 50 psi. I followed Avon's advise and noticed sway in the trailer not long after leaving home for Custer. I stopped and re-arranged the luggage adding more tounge weight and things improved a little. It still swayed any time I got over 70 mph. The tire only lasted 6,000 miles with the center wearing out well before the sides. The problem had to be too much air pressure. Since mounting the CT, I've pulled the trailer on 2 long trips and there is no sway at all, no matter how I load the trailer and how fast I pull it. On interstates, I cruise at 80 mph indicated which is closer to 70 mph actual. It's easy to forget the trailer is back there once you get moving. You will remember it's there when you start climbing a steep grade.