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Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

  1. #1
    xxaarraa
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    Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Hey guys,

    I recently picked up a used 7x14 (or a mobile prison, as my friend calls it because of how its currently setup). It is mostly all there (previous owner and his 3 sons raced motocross so he put some thought into it). I think I have the storage situation all figured out, but need some ideas / validation on how to setup the actual bikes.

    Here are my primary objectives:

    • I want to set it up so that when I show up somewhere, I can just get in the trailer and go to bed. i.e., bikes and fold-out beds have to work together without having to pull out bike (s). This was my whole point of buying a biggish trailer.
    • It will carry 2 superbikes 95% of the time, but I do want the option to carry a third (maybe even a fourth?) on the rare occasions I need to. The two superbikes will be on pitbulls, the two other bikes will be on baxley chocks and tie-downs (don't want to drill holes or spend the $$ on pitbulls for the very rare ocassions that I will have more than 2 bikes).
    • Provide reasonable creature comforts - heat, AC, microwave, Keurig. This part is all figured out.


    Here is where I need some validation. If you have a completely different suggestion, please share that as well.

    • I was going to take out the fold-out beds on one side entirely, and setup that wall with e-tracks, then park one bike a little offset from that wall so I can still get to the stuff on the wall. Bike will be on a TRS.
    • On the other side, I was going to take out the bottom bunk, and park a bike underneath the top bunk. The bunk height is 43 inches, and the windshield of the bike won't clear, so I will move the nose of the bike far forward where the windshield sits in front of the bunk. The bed won't always be deployed, but the idea is that when I do want to go to bed, I can deploy the bed and sleep right on top of the bike. This bike will also be on a TRS.
    • If a and b above are true, the two bikes will be offset - one forward of the trailer's axles (towards the car), one behind (the bike on the door side, towards the ramp door). Is that a good idea?
    • In future, when I need to, I am hoping to put down two baxley chocks to load up two more bikes right down the middle. 14 ft should be enough to load two bikes end to end? I can run e-tracks on the floor to have something to tie down the middle bikes.


    Thoughts? Thanks a lot,

    How it came:





    My handiwork thus far:




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    Last edited by xxaarraa; 09-16-16 at 05:23 PM.

  2. #2
    Lifer
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    You're mostly beyond my experience here, but I can try to provide some thoughts.

    I've never used pit bulls; they don't support most of the bikes (dirt, SM) I load and I'd go broke buying adapter pins and plates. But from all I hear with those you can skip the front tie downs entirely and only drill & mount the plates. I need fore and aft tie downs on each bike to really keep mine secure.

    Generally you are looking to balance the load such that the tongue weight is reasonable. Tongue weight is basically everything. With a lighter trailer like mine I can bust out the bathroom scale and get an idea of how the tongue is loaded.

    I wound up with two bikes in my 6x12. The right most is all the way back as close to the tailgate as I can get it. The other a foot or so forward from that. I load my tool box behind the left-hand machine. Most of the machine and all of the tool chest weight is rear of the axle. In my case its offset by the house battery, fridge, spare tire and misc junk I have. Having the left hand machine forward helps offset the tool chest. I make a point of loading loose gear as far forward in the V as I can.

    Microwaves, AC and coffee makers are high-draw items. You're going to need a substantial electrical setup to drive that.

    There is a guy "pvangel" on ADVRider that has posted a couple cool trailer and van builds. I think he's done at least 3 by now. Lots of slick details. Although he's a motocross guy and builds accordingly.

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  3. #3
    Lifer isaac_'s Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    I'm just curious what you're doing for storage given where you live.

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  4. #4
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    So, nice thing with pitbulls, if they don't support the bike you have now, it's just a filled out form to fix. (I've got pins for a grey market 400 and a 1992 dirt donk...) It is SO nice to just wheel a bike into a trailer, let the trailing arm catch and done. No straps, your trailer pulls easier as the bike rides on it's own suspension, they're just good. You can pack bikes in tighter too. Talk to anyone who's actually bought the Pitbull TRS if they'd give it up after.

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  5. #5
    Senior Member BMMCBR's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Quote Originally Posted by Kurlon View Post
    So, nice thing with pitbulls, if they don't support the bike you have now, it's just a filled out form to fix. (I've got pins for a grey market 400 and a 1992 dirt donk...) It is SO nice to just wheel a bike into a trailer, let the trailing arm catch and done. No straps, your trailer pulls easier as the bike rides on it's own suspension, they're just good. You can pack bikes in tighter too. Talk to anyone who's actually bought the Pitbull TRS if they'd give it up after.
    Yep. Freaking things are solid. Best invention ever.

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  6. #6
    Lifer LuvDog's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Just be sure to not go too light on the tongue weight.

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  7. #7
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Quote Originally Posted by LuvDog View Post
    Just be sure to not go too light on the tongue weight.
    With the way his truck is sitting, I think he's alright.

    Looks like a pretty nice set-up. And I third (fourth?) the TRS system... love mine. Even if you don't have it for all your bikes and you want to take a different ride, you can still put the bike in the same spot (or close to it) and just use regular tie-down if you have provisions for them.

    I'm not 100% sure if 14 feet is long enough to put two bikes end-to-end, but I'd think it should be. You'd have to break out the tape measure.

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    Last edited by OreoGaborio; 09-16-16 at 02:07 PM.
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  8. #8
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Im gonna follow this thread with the maybe of making the jump from 'The Van' to a trailer setup like this.

    Quick question, do those fold up beds come bigger? Like to be able to sleep 2 next to each other?

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  9. #9
    xxaarraa
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Quote Originally Posted by OreoGaborio View Post

    And I third (fourth?) the TRS system...

    I'm not 100% sure if 14 feet is long enough to put two bikes end-to-end, but I'd think it should be. You'd have to break out the tape measure.
    Yeah, I am believer in the TRS. I kept the pins for each bike from back when I had it for one of my open trailers knowing I will need them again.

    I just ran out and measured my bikes. Each of the superbikes is about 80 inches end to end, and one of the dirt bikes is 77 inches. I *think* I can squeeze two bikes end to end if needed. Only just. Yaay.

    Quote Originally Posted by jwm2k3 View Post
    Quick question, do those fold up beds come bigger? Like to be able to sleep 2 next to each other?
    I'd think you can make it wider. They are the width they are now because of the bottom bunk that needs to fold flat against the wall. If you just wanted one bunk, I would think you could make it much wider.

    Here's a few more photos of the trailer.



    PO built a system to haul up to 6 dirt bikes horizontally. I don't anticipate ever using it, but it's there.



    The lights and roof vent fan are wired into a marine battery. I plan to tap into the truck's trailer power line and run pig tails to charge the marine battery whenever I am towing. That way, I should always have the onboard battery charged up when I arrive somewhere. (and the truck battery completely dead when I am ready to leave since I would have forgotten to unplug it when I parked). PO setup a propane heater that runs off the 20 lb propane bottle in the tongue, which I imagine would come in handy for Spring and Fall weather up here.

    More of my handiwork (a trigger-happy man with a drill in his hand and access to the internet can be very dangerous....)

    Bottom bunk removed to make room for one bike..





    J-hooks. I ordered a dozen.....



    Plan on setting up the TRS and installing the e-tracks this weekend. Will post final results of the damage.

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    Last edited by xxaarraa; 09-16-16 at 06:01 PM.

  10. #10
    Lifer isaac_'s Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    I don't know too much about electronics, but I don't think the vehicle will be enough to charge the marine battery. Consider a battery tender with access to shore power.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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  11. #11
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Yeah I think you need a multi stage charger to refill the marine battery. The van crowd runs a small inverter off the truck that powers a battery charger for the house setup.

    Nice trailer!

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  12. #12
    Lifer
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    7-pin trailer harnesses have an "aux" circuit that may be able to charge a battery like that. I don't know. Should look into it.

    I would not charge off the running light circuit on a 4 or 5-pin setup.


    Can you show us details of the propane heater? Asking.. you know.. for a friend.

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  13. #13
    xxaarraa
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Quote Originally Posted by nhbubba View Post
    7-pin trailer harnesses have an "aux" circuit that may be able to charge a battery like that. I don't know. Should look into it.
    Interesting. My truck does have a 7 pin harness. I am running a Prodigy P3 brake controller too, so I need to research which of the 7 pins do what. I would love to just power from the harness if I can, that would be a seamless setup.

    Quote Originally Posted by isaac_ View Post
    I don't know too much about electronics, but I don't think the vehicle will be enough to charge the marine battery. Consider a battery tender with access to shore power.
    If I do have to just use shore power and battery tender, can I use a Deltran motorcycle battery charger, or do I need some kind of heavier duty tender? Sorry, my electrical skills are beneath rudimentary.

    Here is the battery.



    Quote Originally Posted by nhbubba View Post
    Can you show us details of the propane heater? Asking.. you know.. for a friend.
    Sure, here it is. I am told I can either use the hose he has run to the 20 lb bottle in the tongue, or just use a small liter bottle of propane you can get anywhere (the in line filter supposedly unscrews). He said it does have an O2 sensor (or CO sensor maybe?) and auto shutoff, and that he has "tested it" whatever that means.



    Found it on Amazon. Seems to have good reviews.

    Amazon.com: Mr. Heater F232000 MH9BX Buddy 4,000-9,000-BTU Indoor-Safe Portable Radiant Heater: Home & Kitchen

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    Last edited by xxaarraa; 09-16-16 at 08:38 PM.

  14. #14
    First name on the shit list.... SVRACER01's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    i would consider leaving the bed on the door side of the trailer instead. if you have 4 bikes in there then you wont have access to the bed because bikes will be in the way. putting the bed on the door side allows access to the bed regardless of how many bikes are in there. a nice little ladder that folds up to the bottom of the bed might be a nice touch too.

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  15. #15
    First name on the shit list.... SVRACER01's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    im also curious if there is a way to have the bed be supported by the wall instead of the floor to eliminate any interference of the bikes and legs of the bed. will you be able to deploy the bed if the bike is already in place? i would assume the legs wouldnt be able to clear the front and rear of the bike

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  16. #16
    Lifer isaac_'s Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    I am weary of using propane heater like that despite their indoor-safe claim.

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  17. #17
    xxaarraa
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Quote Originally Posted by SVRACER01 View Post
    im also curious if there is a way to have the bed be supported by the wall instead of the floor to eliminate any interference of the bikes and legs of the bed. will you be able to deploy the bed if the bike is already in place? i would assume the legs wouldnt be able to clear the front and rear of the bike
    Awesome suggestion, and really good question. Yes, having feet to deploy would be awkward, and I have to solve the question of feet stability too, since the bottom bunk is what makes the whole thing rigid. If bottom bunk is removed, I have to find another way to keep the feet stable.

    This makes me think. What if I put up J-hooks on the top of the wall at the top and bottom of the bed right on the trailer wall's studds (I have to lookup weight ratings of J-hooks), then used galvanized steel cable to hold the bunk up to the J-hooks at each end? As illustrated by this auto cad diagram.

    Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...-trailer-bed-schematic-jpg

    By galvanized steel cable, I mean this. I have ferrules and crimper, the cable itself is cheap at Home Depot:


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    Last edited by xxaarraa; 09-16-16 at 09:12 PM.

  18. #18
    First name on the shit list.... SVRACER01's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    possibly the reverse? cables may impede entry and exit of bed.
    a couple of triangular fold out/up braces under the bed. may not interfere with the bike. you may also be able to move the bed up the wall a little and give a little more space under it for bike clearance.
    if the above is possible then the bed may not have to be foldable if you can maneuver the bike in and out under the bed
    ive seen people run e track up the walls and then a couple bars of sorts across the trailer hooked into the e track with a bed fashioned to it. allows bed to be moved up and out of the way when not in use but the set ups ive seen like this have the bed running across the trailer.

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  19. #19
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    You can use a regular Batt Tender Jr on that batt if you want. The only thing to bear in mind is the charge rate. If you're pulling lots of amps, the tender may not get you topped off in a short window, but give it long enough and it will.

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  20. #20
    xxaarraa
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Quote Originally Posted by SVRACER01 View Post
    im also curious if there is a way to have the bed be supported by the wall instead of the floor to eliminate any interference of the bikes and legs of the bed. will you be able to deploy the bed if the bike is already in place? i would assume the legs wouldnt be able to clear the front and rear of the bike
    OK svracer, the leg-less fold out bed is done.



    E-track up top, with redundant cables. Two different breakaway points at the bottom (bunk side). The ferrule at the top (E-track end) is crimped down, so even if one of the cables or its mount on the bunk end gives for whatever reason, the other cable will hold the bunk up.



    The turnbuckle helps to add or take up slack as necessary. I designed it to have one turnbuckle at each end of the bunk.



    When it's folded up, it's held securely against the wall, by another turnbuckle:



    Thanks svracer for your suggestion to do away with the legs completely - this cleans up the floor quite well, and I can mount the TRS and bikes with a lot more freedom. I also took inspiration from the way train "berths" in India are designed. They use the same principle of a bunk suspended by steel cables. Like so:


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    Last edited by xxaarraa; 09-17-16 at 02:48 PM.

  21. #21
    Wizard loudbeard's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Quote Originally Posted by isaac_ View Post
    I am weary of using propane heater like that despite their indoor-safe claim.
    I've run one many nights tent camping. Ease your mind, they're fine.

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  22. #22
    Lifer
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    I too worry about those heaters. Guess I need to read up more.

    Bitchin' bunk work. I dig it.

    If looking to upgrade the sleeping surface on those bunks, look at foam factory. Learnt about this place from the advrider builds. I bought "HD36-HQ" in 4", "long" twin size for my setup. Awesome. Awesome. $130-ish including the custom sized zip-on cover. I sleep fantastic on that mattress. Probably better than I do in my $$$ "memory foam" mattress at home.

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  23. #23
    First name on the shit list.... SVRACER01's Avatar
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    nice, looks like you moved it to the other side (door side) as well

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  24. #24
    xxaarraa
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Thanks for the tip about foam factory, I may check them out. I sleep quite well on the thermarest pad though.

    I too have used propane catalytic heaters while camping before, and not afraid to use them indoors. If you vent the side door and the roof, there should be more than enough fresh air flow.

    I have 3 of these bunks I don't need, legs included. If any of you want them, you are welcome to 'em. I plan to mount the TRS and bikes tomorrow, will post an update.

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  25. #25
    xxaarraa
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    Re: Need a pair of eyes on my trailer setup plans...

    Mounted the bikes today, and happy with the way things turned out. The extra foot in a 7 foot trailer makes a huge difference. Looking at it with two bikes in there, I think I can easily get two more right down the middle if/when needed.





    And here's the party piece. Having the ability to just pull up and go to bed is going to be awesome. Walmart parking lots, here I come.



    And having the ability to take two bikes with me without having to deal with the huge amount of packing and unpacking is going to be a welcome relief (the 848 goes everywhere as backup for when the Aprilias break down or blow up)

    Thanks for all the suggestions, appreciate the tips and ideas.

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    Last edited by xxaarraa; 09-18-16 at 12:46 PM.

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