Mel Posted March 15, 2013 Share #1 Posted March 15, 2013 (edited) I know that in the past there has been some discussion about if Harbor Freight was still selling these trailers. This link is to an ad that came in my email yesterday, Thur. March 14, 2013. I have not checked to see if they have any at my local store, but that's where I got mine a couple years ago. They were more affordable (cheaper) then. I've had no problems with mine, added some lights and swapped some hardware for stainless steel. http://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-capacity-78-inch-tag-along-trailer-66771.html Yikes!!! I just noticed that in the item description they state there is a $89.95 oversize item shipping charge. Best to find one at a store Edited March 15, 2013 by Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latchkey Posted March 15, 2013 Share #2 Posted March 15, 2013 I bought one a couple years ago and painted to match bike. I like it a lot and would think for the money its one of the best deals if you only use a trailer two or three times a year. Not because its not a good product but i cant see spending a ton of money on a super cool one i use two or three times a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_wells Posted March 15, 2013 Share #3 Posted March 15, 2013 When I was looking at a trailer Harbor Freight here in Columbus told me If I order it and have it shipped to a store no shipping charge A friend owns on of those and likes It wont hurt to ask Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meach Posted March 15, 2013 Share #4 Posted March 15, 2013 Was thinking of getting one of these myself. Looking at options. Might just get the basic trailer and build a custom box in order to haul my RC planes in with the bike:). Bought a larger one years ago to pull behind a van. Can't beat them for the $. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyinfool Posted March 15, 2013 Share #5 Posted March 15, 2013 Was thinking of getting one of these myself. Looking at options. Might just get the basic trailer and build a custom box in order to haul my RC planes in with the bike:). Bought a larger one years ago to pull behind a van. Can't beat them for the $. I got the 40x49 flat trailer also. picked up a car topper from Craigs list for $20 that I talked down to free for the hauling ..... I am also designing a custom box to carry BIG RC planes. There is a member in our flying club that built a custom trailer from the ground up to haul models behind the bike. But he made his tongue to short and has a bad sway over 45mph behind the bike. He does not notice the sway behind his P/U truck. The tag along is close to the same trailer as as getting the small one and putting a car topper on it. IIRC the tag along is about 12 inches narrower than the standard. Many people get the standard and then cut it down to be narrower to match their car topper. I was not worried about the extra 6 inches on each side. Be sure to clean and grease the wheel bearings. The factory only puts in a rust preventative, not bearing grease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kantornado Posted March 15, 2013 Share #6 Posted March 15, 2013 We really like our HF trailer and we put a sears cartop carrier on it (check my pic's) Looks good and pulls great. Don't even know it's back there. Only problem I had was the fenders fell off (metal fatigue) due to road vibrations. First thing to do is reinforce the fenders...........Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dacheedah Posted March 16, 2013 Share #7 Posted March 16, 2013 They always seem to have coupons and HF is good about giving you a % off. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV1100SE Posted March 16, 2013 Share #8 Posted March 16, 2013 Based on recommendations on the Harbor Freight Tag-along...see my post on what I did with mine. http://venturerider.org/forum/showpost.php?p=707123&postcount=12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djh3 Posted March 16, 2013 Share #9 Posted March 16, 2013 Did I read somewhere in the HF trailer threads that quite a few add like 4" to tounge length and it helps stability pulling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV1100SE Posted March 16, 2013 Share #10 Posted March 16, 2013 I think people add to the tongue on the flat bed trailer that they add a car topper to. For the Tag Along, I've never experienced swaying and have added a cooler rack to it and still no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayceesfolly Posted March 16, 2013 Share #11 Posted March 16, 2013 Or, at least I think I do. I have just completed putting a Sears cartop unit on an old (1999) Grossman's Lumber trailer that I got for free from a guy moving to FL. It measured 40" x 49" and he told me he used it once and then parked it in his garage. It only has 150 miles on it. It was built in Taiwan by the Long Chih Industrial Co, for Grossman's. It is exactly the same as the HF trailer, even to the square slots punched in the frame. The frame is all bolted together, same as the HF. I think the Chinese copied it for HF. I took it apart and cut the frame width down to 34" to match the carrier. The carrier (which was also free) was from a friend of mine who used it for going to FL for the winter months. Anyway, I am in the process of updating to LED lights and repacking the wheel bearings. Also need to replace the tires because the date on them is 4599. 45th week of 1999. They look in perfect shape because of being stored indoors all these years, but I won't pull it with tires that old. So far, I have about $35 in lights and about $10 in rattle can paint, so it has been a cheap project so far. As soon as the weather warms up, I am going to paint it black. The first long ride with the trailer will be to the International in Galena, IL. I will take a few short trips before to check out how it pulls. May take it to the MD at Don's to check on fuel mileage. Does anyone know when the first 40" x 49" trailer was put on the market from HF? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dacheedah Posted March 16, 2013 Share #12 Posted March 16, 2013 I pulled the tongue off, put a longer tongue on and welded a cooler rack up. For the tongue I made a U shaped piece of steel by welding two pieces of angle together and putting a foot on it. Next task is to make a bike carrier so we can take the bicycle with us. I want it low and centered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djh3 Posted March 16, 2013 Share #13 Posted March 16, 2013 Bad part if I looked at buying a trailer is someone would think they then have to fill all the voids created in said trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted March 16, 2013 Share #14 Posted March 16, 2013 At my local HF I asked if there would be a shipping charge to deliver to the store and was told they have them in stock, just not on the floor. Now just trying to sell my GS 1100 so I can buy the trailer and some mandatory safety items like lights, chrome, and a stator and a regulator. And maybe some stainless exhaust pipe for adapting RK pipes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryAmish Posted March 19, 2013 Share #15 Posted March 19, 2013 I know that in the past there has been some discussion about if Harbor Freight was still selling these trailers. This link is to an ad that came in my email yesterday, Thur. March 14, 2013. I have not checked to see if they have any at my local store, but that's where I got mine a couple years ago. They were more affordable (cheaper) then. I've had no problems with mine, added some lights and swapped some hardware for stainless steel. http://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-capacity-78-inch-tag-along-trailer-66771.html Yikes!!! I just noticed that in the item description they state there is a $89.95 oversize item shipping charge. Best to find one at a store Do you know the length and width of the box ? Thanks ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryAmish Posted March 19, 2013 Share #16 Posted March 19, 2013 At my local HF I asked if there would be a shipping charge to deliver to the store and was told they have them in stock, just not on the floor. Now just trying to sell my GS 1100 so I can buy the trailer and some mandatory safety items like lights, chrome, and a stator and a regulator. And maybe some stainless exhaust pipe for adapting RK pipes. Maybe I should pick one up on my way to Montreal (I-81) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV1100SE Posted March 19, 2013 Share #17 Posted March 19, 2013 The box measures 38 1/2" wide by 47" long. Holds 18 cubic feet of "stuff". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryAmish Posted March 19, 2013 Share #18 Posted March 19, 2013 The box measures 38 1/2" wide by 47" long. Holds 18 cubic feet of "stuff". Thank you XV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV1100SE Posted March 20, 2013 Share #19 Posted March 20, 2013 Thank you XV No problem.... happen to have the lid in my living room taping it up to paint. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dano Posted March 20, 2013 Share #20 Posted March 20, 2013 You might want to think about moving the springs and the axle as far back as you can, that'll help balance out the weight from the car top carrier. Went through the same with mine, the first time I pulled it over 60 mph it started shakin'! That was interesting.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted March 20, 2013 Share #21 Posted March 20, 2013 Maybe I should pick one up on my way to Montreal (I-81) HF is only a block off Rt 81 on Arsenal St. Get off 81 and head West on Arsenal St. It will be on the right just before WalMart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV1100SE Posted March 20, 2013 Share #22 Posted March 20, 2013 You might want to think about moving the springs and the axle as far back as you can, that'll help balance out the weight from the car top carrier. Went through the same with mine, the first time I pulled it over 60 mph it started shakin'! That was interesting.... If you move the axle back, it makes it harder to control/adjust the tongue weight since more would be in front of the axle. Add a cooler rack to the tongue and you need as much behind the axle as you can get. With the design of the Tag Along there isn't much room behind the axle to begin with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyinfool Posted March 20, 2013 Share #23 Posted March 20, 2013 You might want to think about moving the springs and the axle as far back as you can, that'll help balance out the weight from the car top carrier. Went through the same with mine, the first time I pulled it over 60 mph it started shakin'! That was interesting.... Moving the axle back is the hard way of extending the tongue, and as mentioned it may make it difficult to get the proper tongue weight when loaded. If you have sway, and you have the correct tongue weight, it is usually easiest to extend the tongue. There are several ways of going about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share #24 Posted March 20, 2013 You might want to think about moving the springs and the axle as far back as you can, that'll help balance out the weight from the car top carrier. Went through the same with mine, the first time I pulled it over 60 mph it started shakin'! That was interesting.... I've had mine up to 90 MPH, have pulled it for lots of miles @ 70+ MPH, never had a problem with swaying. IF IT'S EMPTY or not properly loaded it might cause a problem. I used a bathroom scale, made sure tongue weight was around 20-25 pounds and weighed each wheel/tire to make sure the load was pretty much balanced side to side. After that I just made sure that the load was similar to that original test load. I have not altered the axle, springs, or tongue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billmac Posted March 21, 2013 Share #25 Posted March 21, 2013 I've had mine up to 90 MPH, have pulled it for lots of miles @ 70+ MPH, never had a problem with swaying. IF IT'S EMPTY or not properly loaded it might cause a problem. I used a bathroom scale, made sure tongue weight was around 20-25 pounds and weighed each wheel/tire to make sure the load was pretty much balanced side to side. After that I just made sure that the load was similar to that original test load. I have not altered the axle, springs, or tongue. What's the lightest load you've pulled? sometimes it's not the weight but the size and distance I'd like to use a trailer with the bike. I have a trailer bought back in the 60's from HF that's been sitting for 20 years. new tires lights and maybe a little paint would make it good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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