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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
This is a trailer question. I was recently looking for a trailer to haul my bike and while at the dealer he told me I needed 14 in. wheels to haul, and of course this cost more.

I will be traveling about 1500 miles round trip. I want something that will be able to maintain a speed of at least 60 mph.

Any advice!!
 

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The trick with the trailer wheels is weight and heat. With 12" wheels and 60+ MPH your trailer wheels will have to turn up to 1.5 (approximate guess but you can figure it out with the circumference of your tires) times per tire rotation on your truck or car and the trailer hubs get hot as they are smaller as well. Too hot and they seize, they seize and you stop....not good. 14" will run a little cooler and handle the weight better especially over all the bumps and holes in our highways. I also use "bearing buddies" on my trailer so I can make sure they are lube'd and running well. Carry a spare, seems cubersome until you need it. You could probably get by with 12" wheels, and I've seen some who have, just check your hub's every stop. I pulled 2 4wheelers in my trailer up and over the Smokies, about a 1200mi road trip at Thanksgiving and not a hitch. Have only hauled my bike once but it was fine. Also make sure your trailer is strong enough to have strap holds to keep your bike down. You'll have to strap it down almost to the limit of the forks/springs to keep it from bouncing, not good. I've seen some of the cheaper trailers crack and break welds (thankfully made it but some frantics reenforcement needed) from the tension of strapping a 700lb bike and the bouncing around on the roads.
 

· RIP Deron Harden :-(
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just to add to flynsouth. i am pretty sure the wheels on my trailer are only 12" and i have had no problems, but we are talking a trailer that i pull behind the bike. i also have the bearing buddies and they are a cheap insurance for your bearings. i believe that most two place snowmobile trailers only run 12" wheels and loaded up we have pulled one of them for almost 6 hours with very little stop time. i don't see a problem at all with sticking with the 12" ones, but if the 14" ones are not much more, i personally would go with them. less rotation, less heat, less chance for problems.
 

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Discussion Starter · #10 ·
I think I am gonna bite the bullet:twisted: and get the trailer with the 14 in. tires.

Thanks guys for all the help!:)
 

· the "fun" guy
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Sorry Boss...I mis-read your post (at work) and thought you wanted info about pulling a trailer behind your cycle. DOH! :shock:

I have a trailer that I hauled my bike 400 miles when I bought it which has 14 inch wheels. Hauls like a dream.
 

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My .02 cents worth. Ive pulled a few trailers in my day and have found that trailers with smaller tires tend to sway more as well as heat up faster. When i bought my bike trailer i went for the 14 inch wheels with bearing buddies and never feel the trailer at all.
 

· RIP Deron Harden :-(
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bikeaholic said:
with the trucks you and speed drive you would'nt feel 20 bikes behind you :grin: :wink:
well that's the point, right ? hehe :grin:
 

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1600v-twin said:
My .02 cents worth. Ive pulled a few trailers in my day and have found that trailers with smaller tires tend to sway more as well as heat up faster. When i bought my bike trailer i went for the 14 inch wheels with bearing buddies and never feel the trailer at all.
Good point, about swaying. Be careful of guys selling homemade trailers. If the axles aren't aligned just right you'll see a horrifying sight in the rear view mirror. If you're going to buy it from somone other than a dealer or somone who makes and sells a lot take it for a drive, try and hit some bumps and see what it does. It's always worse when loaded . Not to scare you, just forewarned is forearmed.
 
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