over here the rubber axle is expensive(about 2 1/2 times that of a spring and axle.) I pesonally have a single 8mm slipper leaf spring and works fine
10" wheels go st8 on a std trailer hub so bearing rating is fine

I have been thinking about getting a trailer. My main concern is will this hurt the motor or transmission on my bike. I have a 2005 Road Glide with 104,000 miles on it.

Back in my Early days my first ride was 250 Suzuki 24 hp. I dropped a tooth on drive sprocket and could have increased wheel sprocket. Actually increased fuel milage as I was running full throttle most time. Is that still available ? I have a shaft but no lack of power.

I hear that Harley does not like it.  Will invalidate your warranty.  I pull one and feel it is much better than piling things high on the bike.  I have not had any bad issues and hardly know it is there except the fuel milage goes down.  Mine is a very big, cheap one.  Wind does not seem to bother it much.  I have had it in South Dakota with some strong winds and I don't think I was bothered anymore than others with me without a trailer.

Jeff
it wont be as bad than loading the back

Thanks everyone for the great input.  I have decided to go with the plans that Pete posted early on.  But I am going to make the following changes from all the otehr suggestions.

Replace the leaf springs with torsion - will allow me to use the 10" wheels without moving the center of gravity up
Use 10" wheels
Include a swivel hitch

all on this basic pan... http://www.intergate.com/~brianb/bike/MotorcycleCargoTrailer.htm

Hey Lucky, you ever get that trailer built?  Pictures?

we manufacture trailers and I tow a trailer behind Viagra .Standards in Australia state 5-10% ball weight . Most towbars /hitches will have on there what manufacturer of them stipulate again 5-10%

I don't know if this forum is still active but I've been pulling both cargo and camper trailers for about ten years now and have seen some good and not so good advice on here. Experience is still the best teacher...

To JeffHD asking about hurting the engine and trans... I've got a '05 Glide with the same mileage as yours and after at least 25,000 miles pulling a fully loaded trailer and some times riding two up, it hasn't hurt a thing. It hurts gas mileage and back tires if it's not loaded right but it hasn't hurt the bike yet. Still has the original clutch in it to.

thx for the grt tips!

I have been thinking of building a trailer... I would get a lot more riding time in if I had a trailer that could hold two guitars, and some extra gear... it would eliminate the need of taking a car to gigs

I have towed a trailer back and forth across the country, and can say it was the best investment I have made. As for the original question about handling - let me tell you having the weight in the trailer vs up high on a luggage rack is MUCH easier.

To bring up an old topic, just got back from a trip to GNP in MT and area.  My buddy and wife had a trailer.  The cooler full of beer and meat to grill finally sold me on the whole package.

Talking to guys on the road, there seemed to be a consensus on the tires.  Many seemed to prefer the larger thinner tires for less drag.  They said it pulled better and did little to the bikes efficiency.

Any thoughts or experiences on this topic?

Kind of what I heard from most I talked to. The taller tires also make for a lot less bouncing around.

Not sure if you have been looking at used trailers, but their are some killer deals out there right now, at least in our area.

You are subject to different challenges on the hghway if you tow a trailer. Hauling a substantial amount of anything takes time, fuel, and effort. Whenever you have stuff to haul, deciding how to haul it could be a calculation that involves considerable cost. Article source: Doing the math of towing a trailer.
 

Who needs a trailer? LOL

     

My granddad and i have rode motorcycles together for 20 years now, when i was younger and rode with him he would pull his trailer and it always seemed fine as a passenger, but when i was older and fallowing him during a ride and he had his trailer, i can remember seeing him go around a curve a little fast and the trailer pulled him to the outside in a bouncing fasion. and i can remember him saying about stopping your bike with a heavy trailer, it will push your bike through an intersection if you are not paying attention.....

O.K. is a passenger suppose to sit somewhere on that bike?  If not, that's sure a lot of gear for one person.  But I whole-heartedly agree, "who needs a trailer".


Peace