SAFETY --  TRAILER TOWING -- SAFETY

Trailer Towing {Safety First} Plus Other Tid-bits of Info... It's a little long but hopefully you may pick up good piece of information that may help you...

1. Check all lights and tire pressure before trip and every few hundred miles...
2. Do a walk around at every gas stop... Both on Motorcycle and Trailer...
3. Check oil more frequent just to be safe... 
4. Check lug nuts periodically...
5. Grease bearings once a year or every three thousand miles or so... Bearing Buddies work well...
6. Maintain  20 pounds of tongue weight at ball... Can use a bathroom scale on solid surface same height as ball or a fish scale which you can pack with you... Pack trailer to achieve proper 20 lbs... If to much weight, counter balance heavier items in back... Keep cooler to minimum, It's best to load up cooler when you get at destination...
7. Don't overload trailer... Don't put heavy items on roof rack... Can make trailer top heavy...
8. Your bike is now twice as long... Be sure when passing you allow enough room to get back in...
9. Always signal... Hand signals work well, but finger signals don't... Respect others...
10. Allow more time to stop... Down shift to slow down... Remember, both brakes for fast stops...
11. Cargo trailers should have 20 pounds of air pressure... Campers 25 to 30... Tires will not get hot and gives a softer ride..
12. Remember a trailer may be a inch or two wider than handlebars... Watch curb at toll booths and when parking... Watch pot-holes...
13. Don't ride down center of your lane, with or without trailer, that's where the oil is..
14. Proper place to ride is half way between center of your lane and yellow line or center of your lane and pavement edge... Trailers are 38" to 44" average width, same as touring bikes handlebars width across to each outer edge...
15. On very windy days I find that a trailer may help to stabilize the bike... Don't get over confident, could change instantly...
16. Always decrease speeds when coming into a corner with trailer... 
17. It's easy to forget trailer is behind you... Allow 10% to 20% more to stop... Ride safe and be aware...
18. No trailer lane where posted also applies to motorcycles and trailers...
19. Use safety chains, most states require them... Proper chain length should be, if trailer becomes disconnected from ball, it should rest on crossed chains and not touch ground...
20. Always lock coupler on ball... Also if you have a receiver hitch, be sure pin is in and lock that also...
21. Remove some weight from saddlebags and trunk, that's what trailer is for...
22. Home made trailer info: Too short a tongue and not enough tongue weight can cause trailer to wig-wag at about 50 mph... Rule of thumb: ball to center of axle should be twice the distance as center to center on tire... Example: 3' tire to tire center needs 6' from axle to ball coupler... Longer doesn't effect it but shorter sure will, [wig-wag]...
23. Swivels for trailers are a nice option, can always be added... A coupler has 28 degree movement in every direction and will not bind...However if your bike tipped over when parked, a swivel is nice...
24. Tires wearing uneven. Check the following: 1-) Uneven air pressure... 2-) Torsion suspension may be out of square causing uneven wear... 3-) Bearing wear... 4-) Mismatched tires...
25. Do not overload manufactures recommended weight capacity... My rule of thumb is: 13 Lbs for each cubic feet of cargo space... So a trailer with 18 cubic feet of cargo space  the 13 LBS per cubic feet equals 234 Lbs...
26. Follow hitch companies weight recommendations... 40 pounds maximum tongue load, generally...
27. Tongue weight may never exceed 10% of the gross trailer weight including all contents...
28. To grease the ball or not... I've had trailers up to 36' on my trucks every year, 4 to 5 days a week since 1965 and motorcycle  Trailers on my bike since 1982 and have not had one problem... Grease of course is a lubricant and should be used if you feel the need... Be sure you have rags, you will touch the ball...
29. Animals in or on trailer I personally don't agree with. Exhaust fumes could go up and harm the animal..
30. Never leave home without a can of instant tire flat and a tire plug repair kit... Rubber bungee cords are handy also in various sizes...
31. Proceed over railroad tracks at ninety degree angle..
32. High on important list is a good working flashlight and first aid kit... Imagine on a dark moonless night, you or your passenger could bleed to death if you had neither and had a accident with a animal...
33. Always have pen and paper should you be involved in a minor accident... Will need to collect driver information and any witness information like name, address, and phone number...
34. Drinking or drugs while driving is stupid... While on a motorcycle will probably be fatal and you will not need number two or thirty three above...
35. Read prescription drugs and items like cough medicines, may cause side effects...
36. The duck walk... Many does the duck walk at very slow speeds like in a parking lot... They rely on the front brake... Sooner or later you will be on gavel and you will be in for a surprise... No the trailer will not keep bike from going over...
37. When fueling any vehicle, DON"T use or answer cell phone... Static charge and gas fumes don't mix... Also if fueling a vehicle and you are pumping, touch the vehicle metal with both hands before touching fuel nozzle static has caused flash fires and explosion... 
38. Practise with trailer sharp left circles 3 times than right 3 times than circle eights... Look where you want to go not down at the wheel, once you do you will lose your balance... This is good to practise anytime but really good when you bring out bike each year for the first time... Do panic stops also with the trailer... Get to know your trailer and bike well... The life you save may be your own...
39. Last for two up riders... You're tired, been riding all day, you're getting gas, your love one went in to get directions but you know you're not lost... Don't take off without her or him, will not make for a good day when she/he catches up with you...
40. Enjoy each others company... When you get to where your going, go visit the local area, maybe take a walk... Try private own restaurants...If you see a bunch of cars there, it's usually a good spot to eat... When you get to motel try leaving TV off, read or just talk and enjoy each others company...
41. If your going on a trip and going to charge items along the way, call your credit card company and let them know... Your card could be declined two states out until you call them to verify it is not stolen...
42. If you anticipate  a big purchase at your next motorcycle event, call the credit card company before you leave and let them know... About 25% will get declined upon purchase if you don't follow both 41 & 42 tips, the card company is only trying to protect you...

Note: I've read where group riding, trailer towers should ride in back because of accident risk... Think about this for a second...If you are riding staggered and 2 second intervals as we were trained, I see no problem with this regardless if your first, fifth or tenth... If a problem happens in the middle, it will take defensive driving from there back regardless if you have a trailer or not...E-mail me fred@fredstrailers.com  if I'm wrong and why...

The above safety items may be copied... Keep one in your trailer for reference... Make copies for your friends or club members...

If this is used on web sites, a reference to my sites  www.cyclematetrailers.com  www.fredstrailers.com would be appreciated... There over 975 photos on the first site and has all info, specifications and prices...

If you have any questions I might be able to help with, call Fred Burger "Trailers" 845-339-3390

Visit our historic Hudson valley and majestic Catskill Mountains both with beautiful picture taking views... Enjoy a riverboat cruise or tour any of four museums all within 30 minutes of Kingston NY. where we have the only city with four 19th century stone houses on each corner and many more in our area... There are many reasonably price motels, camping and fine dining establishments, not to mention fantastic touring area... Yes we have a great number of eagles... I personally seen 34 in a small area on ice on the Hudson River in the winter two years ago where I work...

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  Fred Burger "Trailers" LLC
• 30 Highland Road
• Ulster Park NY 12487
• 888-458-3390 <> 845-339-3390
• e-mail: fred@fredstrailers.com                  :