swivel or not?

[Wizard765]

I know with all the knowledge here that someone can explain this for me. I have a utility trailer I want to modify to pull with my scoot and wanted to know if a swivel hitch is necessary or can I pull with just the standard hitch and ball. It seems that with the trailer on the ball there is enough side to side movement that a swivel is unnecessary but the idea seems right.
Any takers?

Wayne

[buddy]

I have the standard hitch on mine which is a Harbor freight with a diamond plate toolbox,have no troubles at all so far.I can turn just fine in town or on hwy.Later on I would like to get one only because if I lay the bike down the swivel hitch will save the frame work from bending but for now I'll keep on going which is around 1,250 mi on trailer,we will be taking it to Eureka Springs Ark. this weekend.

Buddy

[Ol' Erns]

I also have the standard hitch, well over 10,000 miles on the trailer. haven't had any issues yet. That includes getting things over pretty far in the mountain switchbacks. Matter of fact was just down to Branson, MO and Eureka Springs this past weekend. Just under 2000 miles. No problems. Lots of rain, but what a neat area.

Erns

[sarges46]

Trailer for the first gen...swivel hitch...no problems...never dropped bike to test.

Trailer for 2nd gen...no swivel....dumped bike...trailer hitch popped off the ball saving my frame.

I am looking at a swivel. I personally believe in them. Many don't have em and do just fine.

[Mean Dog]

Personally I don't run a swivel on my trailer. I did a lay down test were I laid the bike all the way over onto the foot boards and motor guards, still had room on the ball for it to go further. Of course if by some chance I were to get it completely horizontal I wouldn't be worried about the hitch anyway!

Dog

[Marcarl]

Scamper laid down this summer all on her own with the trailer attached, never worried about it until now that you asked, everything turned out fine, but I didn't stop to look to see if she could get more tired than she already was before she would come unhooked.

[Yammer Dan]

Installing hitch on "Black Beauty" Now something else to think about! Thanks Guys!!

[curt99rsv]

Personally, I run a swivel hitch because it was on the trailer when I bought it.
Here's a different angle to look at that I read on a different forum several months ago. They said they had a blowout at speed on a trailer without a swivel hitch and the violent thrashing caused them to crash the bike. They believed that a swivel might have saved them from going down.
Just a thought.:lightbulb:

Curt

[Monsta]

Not sure how a swivel hitch could prevent or reduce the weave that results from a flat tire on a trailer...

[allen]

We pull a camper trailer, I have pulled with both, I will not pull a trailer unless it has a swivel, thta is just the way I am.
enjoy the ride
allen & patti

[eagleeye]

I've never pulled a trailer, but, if in the future I do, how much does one of these swivel hitches cost?
BTW, I ride an 86VR.
Thanks,
Steve

[Wizard765]

I've seen them from $145.00 to $195.00.

I think I'm going to try without. There seems to be enough movement so I don't believe there will be a problem. Anything I've seen is that MAYBE if they had a swivel it WOULD have saved them. Nothing definite. Also I believe that when pulling a trailer I would be driving somewhat different or more conservative than without the trailer.

[James Ardrey]

I pull a trailor w\ a swivel hitch because it is just an added safey issue beyond the afore mentioned bending the frame issue. I have heard of riders w\ trailors that actually flipped upside down and were able to keep the bike under control and just scratched the top of the trailor. I'm afraid the outcome could have been disasterous if the trailor was not on a swivel and the hitch did not release. I followed a guy up the winding road to lake Tahoe who was riding a Goldwing and pulling a trailor and on every sharp curve you could hear the klunk of the hitch and ball at their limits. It seemed pretty scary to me. I've known people that have had a standard hitch for a long time and no problems as described here in previous posts so again it's a personal preference issue.Ride on!!!:cool10:

[Monsta]

I've seen them from $145.00 to $195.00.

$70.00 :D

http://www.neoshotrailers.com/options.html

[VTirelli]

I hit the limit on mine last year, winding road in the rain about 35 mph. Scared the living poop out of me and everyone behind me. Pushed me clear across into oncoming traffic. Somehow I was able to downshift and accelerate out of it. Don't ask me how. My buddy riding behind me saw it bottom out on the hitch.
That night I ordered the swivel from the hotel, it was waiting for me when I got home.
Won't pull a trailer without it again.

[jbabin]

Here is my 2 cents worth.
My trailer had a standard coupler when I purchased it, we did an 1800 mile trip around Superior last summer and noticed some binding on the tighter curves. This summer I added a swivel since then I have not noticed any binding at all, I would not pull without one now.

[Burninator]

I bought a camper and it came without a swivel hitch. I ordered and installed the swivel hitch before towing the trailer. On my first trip I didn't make a wide enough turn when entering a parking lot and the right trailer wheel caught the curb pulling the 86 Venture down quite hard. The swivel hitched worked as intended and neither the bike or camper suffered any damage. I like the piece of mind that comes from eliminating potential damage when a regular hitch is used. Spend the extra money and protect your investment. You will sleep better at night.

[longtrain59]

In '04, I went with other friends to load another friend's 04 Venture and Bushtec trailer, with a swivel hitch, that crashed on I-25 in Colorado. The bike low sided and then high sided and the trailer flipped on the deck lid and ground off the spoiler.

So much for swivel hitches. They may help to if a person drops a bike past the crash bars.

Swivel hitches are a great concept, but I don't think they are worth the cost.

[Thom]

if you want to make you own swivel hitch you can cut the draw bar behind the cuplar , weld in a plate 3/8 thick plate with a 1/2 in hole in each end , you need a 4 1/2 in. grade 8 bolt , 2 heavy washers , 1 valve spring from a auto head , at least 1/4 in thick urethane washer , i buy a cheap cutting board from the dollar store cut it to size drill a 1/2 hole in it , put bolt , heavy washer , spring through the 1st plate urethane washer 2nd plate heavy washer nut . tighten the nut down until the cuplar just stop moving , install a lock nut after done .
you can tighten the nut down to keep side to side bounce out .
i made one for customer 3 years ago and shortly after that he was selling them on ebay :rotfl::rotfl:

[LUCKY PHIL]

I Run Swivel And No Suspension On My Unit. Just Adjust Tyre Pressureto Compensate For Different Loads. Ran The Same Set Up Behind The Hyabusa At Close To 270kph And It Was Rock Steady.

Keep The Black Bits Down

Lucky Phil:225:

[Thom]

i have seen that in eur. , what size tires do you use ? i think i'll make a trailer with out springs and try it . can all ways add them later .

[LUCKY PHIL]

I Use 135 X 10 4ply Mounted On 10" Mag Wheels With A 5 Stud Center. At The Moment I Am In The Process Of Fitting Hydraulic Disc Brakes With Electric Acctuator As Fitted To Normal Caravans Over Here

[Thom]

i wish 10 in. tires where sold more up here , they are very rare up here . that disc brake sys. sounds great , what brand , size ? how about doing a write up and pics ?:thumbsup:

[LUCKY PHIL]

O.k. As Soon As I Get It Fully Sorted I Will Post A Complete How To With Pics And Parts List.

[Thom]

:sign kewl::sign outstanding::sign killer dude:

[Brake Pad]

Pulling a trailer on my first bike ( 79 Honda CB 750) while riding through Vermont, I was following a group of 12, I was the second to last bike, The last 4 of us had trailers.
I went into a hard right turn, the hitch bottomed out and the ball pushed me into on coming traffic, Just missing a very large farm tracker, I could fell the back of the bike straining, to stay upright. then started to hear, loud poping sounds. I kept the bike up, but pulled over, to check the bike, 3 of the 4 bolts holding the trailer hitch in place snapped under the strain.
From then on, the last 3 bikes, the trailer I owned all had swivels. I've learned my lesson the hard way.
God forbid you ever have to lay that bike down, I rather have the trailer up on two wheels, then rolling over with me., I think the trailer would keep the bike stable while sliding
I don't even want to think about it......:yikes:

[bigbob]

Had a swivel hitch. The bolt doing the swivel broke.
Will not use one again.

Bigbob

[Brake Pad]

Had a swivel hitch. The bolt doing the swivel broke.
Will not use one again.

Bigbob

BigBob, I'd like to jump in here, If I may.
Upon pulling the trailer anywhere, Please inspect all parts of your trailer, wheels, greased?, swivels, nuts and bolts, lug nuts. safty chains, Ball & nut.
Its always safty first

[bigbob]

BigBob, I'd like to jump in here, If I may.
Upon pulling the trailer anywhere, Please inspect all parts of your trailer, wheels, greased?, swivels, nuts and bolts, lug nuts. safty chains, Ball & nut.
Its always safty first


My trailer is in v.good mechcanical shape. I do inspect often, and before every trip, But please tell me how to inspect a 1" grade 8 bolt inside a sivel hitch short of taking it apart. Last thing you would expect to snap is a 1" bolt on a light camper trailer hitch. Bob

[Brake Pad]

:whistling::confused24::think::ICcool::173:

[Monsta]

...please tell me how to inspect a 1" grade 8 bolt inside a swivel hitch short of taking it apart

Well Bob, best bet is to plunk down about $25,000 and score you an ultrasound or X-ray machine. That'll help you determine if that $3.00 bolt is still good. :hihi:

[Burninator]

I installed a swivel hitch on my trailer and wouldn't even consider towing without one. The added safety is worth the small investment. Last summer I caught a curb when turning into a parking lot and the loaded bike went completely down. Other than scuffing one of the rear crash bars and suffering some embarrasment there was absolutely no damage.

Neither I or any of my touring friends all of whom pull campers larger than mine would consider pulling a trailer without a swivel hitch.

Get one!!

[KeithR]

I have been reading through the postings on swivel hitch's and was wondering if anyone has used this style? Or have any opinions?

Thanks

Keith

http://cgi.ebay.ca/motorcycle-trailer-swivel-hitch-coupler-goldwing-harley_W0QQitemZ170298918664QQihZ007QQcategoryZ336 53QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?campid=5335830059&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.ca%2Fmotorcycle-trailer-swivel-hitch-coupler-goldwing-harley_W0QQitemZ170298918664QQihZ007QQcategoryZ336 53QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[Freebird]

I've seen something like that before but only pictures, never used one or seen one it action. I actually had to study it and think on it for a few minutes but to be honest, I don't see why it wouldn't work but don't know that it really offers any advantages over a regular fixed ball. Your coupler will allow the bike to lean as far as I've ever seen anybody lean. The only real advantage to the swivel couple I think is that if you were to actually go down, the trailer could stay upright and not flip over. I'm don't see where this setup would allow that to happen. You still have limited range, not 360 degrees.

I'm really just sort of thinking out loud here....maybe I'm wrong.

[Brake Pad]

and the major down side to using a swivel, is rolling the trailer over. But something, big and hard at high speed, would have to get under a tire to do this. Never herd anyone say they flipped a trailer.:hurts:

[Leadwolf56]

I have been reading through the postings on swivel hitch's and was wondering if anyone has used this style? Or have any opinions?

Thanks

Keith

http://cgi.ebay.ca/motorcycle-trailer-swivel-hitch-coupler-goldwing-harley_W0QQitemZ170298918664QQihZ007QQcategoryZ336 53QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?campid=5335830059&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F711-53200-19255-0%2F1%3Fcampid%3D5335830059%26amp%3Btoolid%3D10001 %26amp%3Bmpre%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcgi.ebay.ca%252 Fmotorcycle-trailer-swivel-hitch-coupler-goldwing-harley_W0QQitemZ170298918664QQihZ007QQcategoryZ336 53QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

I bought one of those, then someone had the pin come out on them. The guy selling them refunded our money and did not want the hitch back. I thought it was a neat idea and a lot cheaper nthan a regular swivel. Trying to see how I can fix it so I wouldn't have to worry about the pin coming out.

[royalstar59]

Hello outthere,
I just finished my winterproject: building a hitch on the bike and a rotating hook-up on the trailer.
The hitch i got from examples on this website. The hook-ip i made out of the rear brake drum from a Volkswagen Rabbit. Cut/grind off the drum, fix it in a piece of pipe and weld it to the frame of the trailer. The bearings are almost maintenance free and it is verry stable.
You don't even notice a trailer is hanging on the bike.
Greetings from the Netherlands.
royalstar59:thumbsup2:

[BNC173]

Here is something to think about & I would appreciate everyone's thoughts. I bought a trailer that came with the swivel ball that I installed on my bike. I thought it was the cats ass. I was bragging to all my other friends the benefits of this ball. We was on a trip when I had a rear tire go down on my bike. Still not sure if I hit something or it just blew out but it went down fast. The first thing that I had noticed was my bike going side to side, i looked in my mirror to see my trailer jumping from side to side far enough that it was in one mirror then in the other. I got the bike slowed down & under control at about 40 mph & thought the wild ride was over. When all of a sudden the bike took three last jerks from one side to the other auctually turning the bike sideways on the highway. The ride ended with the trailer jackknifed against the bike lifting the rear of the bike off the ground. I have a broken femur with a 12 inch rod & some road rash, my wife just had some bruising & road rash. From my buddies riding behind me said that the trailer wheels when going back & forth was lifting off the road over a foot each time. The damage to the trailer shows that at one time it did flip on its top bending down the top rail but no damage on the sides so it had to of jumped landed on the top & back over. The welded plate on the hitch broke off. So did that swivel help or hurt? Did the swivel give to much play to allow it to go fruther than a reg. old ball would have allowed it to? What is everyones thoughts? I haven't really decided when things are fixed what I will go back with.

[kenw]

I put a swivel on mine. I figured it would be cheap insuance. I'd be sad enough to drop it without having bent something to boot!

[VTirelli]

Here is something to think about & I would appreciate everyone's thoughts. I bought a trailer that came with the swivel ball that I installed on my bike. I thought it was the cats ass. I was bragging to all my other friends the benefits of this ball. We was on a trip when I had a rear tire go down on my bike. Still not sure if I hit something or it just blew out but it went down fast. The first thing that I had noticed was my bike going side to side, i looked in my mirror to see my trailer jumping from side to side far enough that it was in one mirror then in the other. I got the bike slowed down & under control at about 40 mph & thought the wild ride was over. When all of a sudden the bike took three last jerks from one side to the other auctually turning the bike sideways on the highway. The ride ended with the trailer jackknifed against the bike lifting the rear of the bike off the ground. I have a broken femur with a 12 inch rod & some road rash, my wife just had some bruising & road rash. From my buddies riding behind me said that the trailer wheels when going back & forth was lifting off the road over a foot each time. The damage to the trailer shows that at one time it did flip on its top bending down the top rail but no damage on the sides so it had to of jumped landed on the top & back over. The welded plate on the hitch broke off. So did that swivel help or hurt? Did the swivel give to much play to allow it to go fruther than a reg. old ball would have allowed it to? What is everyones thoughts? I haven't really decided when things are fixed what I will go back with.



My thoughts on this are that if you didn't have the swivel hitch on it, you probably would have gone down when the trailer flipped and probably at a much higher speed than when you finally DID go down. The swivel allowed the trailer to flip.. if there was no swivel, the hitch would have bottomed out and pushed you over. Not sure why the trailer bounced the way it did but I highly doubt that it was related to the swivel. I'm also not sure of the weight in the trailer or the speed you were going....but if the trailer bounced that much, I would assume that it was close to empty. Sorry to hear of your injuries, but my opinion is that the swivel actually prevented something more serious from happening.

[BuckShot]

My thoughts on this are that if you didn't have the swivel hitch on it, you probably would have gone down when the trailer flipped and probably at a much higher speed than when you finally DID go down. The swivel allowed the trailer to flip.. if there was no swivel, the hitch would have bottomed out and pushed you over. Not sure why the trailer bounced the way it did but I highly doubt that it was related to the swivel. I'm also not sure of the weight in the trailer or the speed you were going....but if the trailer bounced that much, I would assume that it was close to empty. Sorry to hear of your injuries, but my opinion is that the swivel actually prevented something more serious from happening.

:sign yeah that:

[Brake Pad]

Last summer, My wife & I were traveling back from St. Austine Florida.
We were on I-95 South bound, when going through a construction zone, the back of the bike started bouncing, we got a slap noise, about 3 or 4 times, then it stopped, then something, bounced off the trailer. (but the trailer was loaded, maybe 350 LBS)
We couldn't find anything wrong.
after arriving home 120 miles later, we found the rear Metzel chucked on us. about the size of a softball (5 inch circle) just off center tread
But now thinking about it, If the trailer wasn't there, I wonder what the outcome would have been?