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What trailer to look for?

4K views 42 replies 29 participants last post by  Tom Finch 
#1 ·
I'm new to this game and have never pulled a trailer. What trailer should I look for being a virgin? :shrug:
 
#27 ·
Jason caps makes another model sold under another name. i believe it was whereyuogotrailers or something close. I bought one with front bra, cooler rack upgrade to 13" mag, spare tire etc for 2400 some odd dollars shipped to a location with fork lift. i think its like 22 cubic feet. haven't used it much yet seem good for price.
 
#28 ·
I have been very busy and I haven't been on the board for a few weeks and just came upon the confusion of my post.

I bought a torsion axle trailer because of budget. I took it to Americade last year had a lantern break. I ran the 13in tires at 20 PSI I didn't feel every bump but I felt enough to bother me. I got lucky I found a Tailwind for sale and bought it. Knowing what I know now and having pulled both a torsion axle and hydraulic shock I would never recommend or pull a torsion axle again.

With the torsion axle I only pulled it as needed on trips only, with the Tailwind it honestly is never felt behind the bike and I don't think twice about pulling it everywhere. If you are pulling with a trike maybe it doesn't matter but if you are pulling with a two wheeler do your self and your bike a favor and spend the extra for a trailer with air or hydraulic shocks you will not regret the decision. If you buy a torsion axle you will feel it, maybe not all of the time but you will feel it.

Those of you that have had a torsion axle and now have upgraded you know exactly what I mean.
Kind regards,

Dale
 
#29 ·
Dale

I did not know that you had found a Tailwind. Congratulations!!

I followed your quest for months as you researched trailers. I had been on the same roads you were traveling as I too was educating myself about trailers. I saw that you were leaning toward the Tailwind. I remembered those feelings so well!

I knew you had "settled" for something other than the Tailwind. I too came close a time or two before I closed my eyes and wrote the check. However, once I got my Tailwind I am glad I didn't settle for 2nd best. The Tailwind suspension and build quality is incomparable.

My final question is, how did you find someone willing to sell a Tailwind?
:shock:
Glen
 
#30 ·
I would like to thank U-all for the useful information. I am bidding on a trailer on E-Bay, Americas best. I will be retiring soon and am also interested in building one. Will have spare time on my hands and would like to create something that will put a smile on peoples faces as I travel my. Was thinking of a tool box on a platform panted with HD colors and a sign that said" Mobile Harley Repair station" The only problem with that idea idea that there are so many HD riders in this area, they might take me seriously and want me to work on there ride.
 
#31 ·
I have the Large Americas Best that there is a link to on the home page here. I love it. Holds a ton, easy to pull and well made. I only have one complaint. It needs better/more tail lights. Mine is the all diamond plate.
 
#32 ·
Glen,

I know of two owners of your type trailer that stopped riding and changed over to sailing. I feel that everyone should be able to pursue their desires, otherwise we might all be driving black model T's.

For me, I do not know how to get one of those floating craft to the top of Mt. Evans without hauling it. I must confess that I am a hopeless addict to motorcycle riding. Hence the trailer always on. I do not want to give up a mile of motorcycle riding to get in a cage to go shopping. I gave my Cadillac to the Kidney Foundation almost a decade ago, and have not had a car since.

This addiction has its downsides. By the end of this year I will have another Wing with over 200,000 on it and it is hard to find a buyer when I want to get a new one, even though they are not half used up at that point.


Dale,

You my not have considered that you did not go all the way around the board, stop at Boardwalk or other detour when you went from one trailer to the other. You went the maximum distance in one big step!

I hope that you get a chance to pull some other trailers with purposeful suspensions on rough roads. If you do, you will see that there is also matters of degree in trailers that have hydraulic damping, although, like you say, they are all vastly better than the rubber block or leaf spring systems.

Those with air over are usually limited in vertical travel and the designers make it possible for the rider to be able to raise or lower the trailer with air pressure and allow the suspension to be in the best position to absorb rough roads within that travel range. There is also one that must be adjusted to keep the wheels' camber correct.

Non linear and highly compliant large travel suspension is hard to achieve but is needed if you want to avoid having to always adjust the suspension with varying loads and still get the class A ride over bad roads. Non linear suspension changes its spring rate with position, so that as the trailer is loaded more, the suspension stiffens automatically. Your trailer is about 60 pounds per inch empty, gradually increasing to about 200 pounds per inch at full load.

Those trailers that have the top of the suspension cartridge mounted to the fender can drive it right out through the top of the fender if the rider does not pay attention to the adjustment and carries a heavy load on a rough road.

For those with air over suspension, the pressure gages are only beneficial if the suspension is all the way out. If the suspension is in mid stroke, the pressure is applied by the load at any particular height, less the load carried by the spring at that height.

For those with air only suspension, the same is true but the height has almost no influence on pressure.

In both cases, it is position that the rider is seeking when adjusting the air, not a pressure.

I am sure there are several readers that enjoy reading about your lengthy effort in selecting your trailer. It heightens awareness that there is much to consider when selecting a trailer, besides its appearance.
 
#33 ·
Jason caps makes another model sold under another name. i believe it was whereyuogotrailers or something close. I bought one with front bra, cooler rack upgrade to 13" mag, spare tire etc for 2400 some odd dollars shipped to a location with fork lift. i think its like 22 cubic feet. haven't used it much yet seem good for price.
I saw that on ebay also. The trailer is called a "Bullit". The ebay name is whenugotrailers. Has something like 25 cu. ft. It's fiberglass and looks like a nice trailer. Not a bad price, either. 1699.00
 
#34 ·
I got the ION, I picked it up slightly used 2008from a fellow board member. No tailwind but for my first trailer (and someone who said they would never need a trailer) I'm extremely pleased.

Tires are hardly used, mag wheels including mag spare, chrome tongue, chrome bumper carpeted and carpeted divider(piece of wood with carpet glued to it), euro lights,bra and color matches my titanium wing.

All for $1,000.

very, very pleased

dean
 
#37 ·
I have a 2006 Triked HD Ultra Classic (don’t hold that against me) and when I decided to go with a trailer I did some serious research because to be honest I knew nothing about trailers. Another true statement here is while I was shopping around I didn’t even think about suspension. Initially I looked at price and looks only; which is always an open door to disaster. During my travels across the Web to find and look at trailers I came across the Tailwind and Tom Finch. It was the most expensive trailer I had looked at thus far so I quickly turned away from it but not before reading everything there was about it. Granted all the facts collected about the Tailwind was from the Tailwind site and initially I felt some of the information was a marketing ploy only; kinda like the Sham-Wow and Oxy-Clean stuff that you see advertised on TV. You know the type advertisement I’m talking about; the announcer on the TV has that very obnoxious voice. Some salesmen and sales firms expand the truth a bit when discussing their product. But I read it all anyway and I’m glad I did. The information on the suspension sparked my interest and thereafter every trailer I looked at I compared to the Tailwind. I don’t recall the trailers I looked at but suffice it to say none came up to the Tailwind standard. I contacted Tom via email (I was stationed in Iraq at the time) and to make a long story short (I’m sure some of you are glad about that) I decided to go with the Tailwind even though it was the highest price trailer on the market. I was a little nervous about it because I had never actually seen one other than pictures. Fact is it was Tom’s sincerity that sold me the trailer more so than the trailer data. Like I say, I knew nothing about trailers (some would say I still don’t) so I took a leap, took Tom at his word and ordered one sight unseen. Hands down the purchase of a Tailwind was the best decision I ever made; other than my decision to ask a wonderful lady to marry me. Everything Tom said on his site, in his emails and in subsequent phone conversations about the trailer was true; no exaggeration, no hype, no un-kept promises. Fact is I am currently talking with Tom Finch now to build me a trailer with no body which will be used by the Patriot Guard and the US Emergency Services Chaplain’s Corp to haul a damaged flag that was flying on a building next to the Twin Towers on Sep 11, 2001. The suspension and aerodynamics cannot be matched. Yep, it is costly but it was worth EVERY penny; no regrets here. If you want something to haul your stuff and haul only then you can get just about anything and serve your purpose but if you want a trailer that will last longer than you, tool down the highway at any speed with no bounce or side shuffle, is stylish, durable and spacious then you want the Tailwind. This trailer is so well built and so finely designed my gas mileage is the same whether I pull the trailer or not and even if the trailer is packed full I get no drop in fuel consumption. Across the board the Tailwind is better than any other trailer on the market today. I figure if a guy can design a plane or redesign a plane and make it better then designing a superb trailer is childsplay.
In case you are wondering; that wonderful woman said yes.
 
#38 ·
Steve,

I am definitely one of those red shirt on every Friday guys. I am very proud to know you and anyone else that has served for our country and was in harms way.

I am also keenly interested in getting something going on the Patriot Guard banner carrier.

I am sick and in tears from seeing the video yesterday of the girl in Teheran. I have daughters, grand daughters, great grand daughters, young lady friends, and in each I see the risk of this kind of thing. Young women are Gods gift to the world and no one has the right to take one out. I have to go now.
 
#39 ·
I have been researching cargo trailers lately. I just ordered a new Roll-A-Home camper to upgrade my Kwik Kamp and and looking to upgrade my 'lil Starlight cargo trailer. It was what I could afford at the time and has actually served me well, all things considered.

Since I have a CSC trike kit, I am drawn to the Escapade Elite. However, I have been reading up and researching the Tailwind as well.

Obviously I have spend a chunk of change on the a CSC Trike conversion, and the Roll-A-Home, and the Escapade Elite is not inexpensive, either, but can someone give me an idea of the price on the Tailwind? I could not find anything on their website about prices, maybe I missed it? I emailed the Tailwind company a few days ago about a price list, but I have not had a reply.

Thanks!
 
#40 ·
Found it!

Thanks
 
#42 ·
I too sent Tom an email, to which I have not had a reply.
Thinking now, he may not have got it. Maybe will try again?
 
#43 ·
Tazmun

Still have not found your eMail, and do not actually know what eMail address to be watching for. Mine is tomsr@texelent.com

Here is a Tailwind in Menomonie owned by Joe Feeney, retired fireman, and a very nice guy. I will be glad to pass contact info to you when I get your eMail

 
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