Building a trike kit from scratch

[junglebear]

I have a small trailer that has leaf springs i want to make a kit out of it so i can convert back and forth from trike to bike , i am old and poor so the trike kits are out for me , can any one tell me weather the trailer i have will work , as i said it has leaf springs and small 5 lug trailer wheels on it , the frame is about 1/1/2 inch square tube frame , the size of the trailer is a 6x8, i could use any advice you might have , i am going to put it on a Yamaha Road Star

 

[junglebear]

well i guess all you people bought your Trikes , or your kits , no DIY people here :Shrug:

 

[saab9k]

well i guess all you people bought your Trikes , or your kits , no DIY people here :Shrug:

check the vw listed

 

[Marc H]

What you seem to be describing is what the the supertrike sold on ebay apparently started as.There are several you tube videos on it.The biggest problem I see in your plan is you have a solid axle trailer and that would put the wheels way too far behind center of the rear on the bike.I would think that would make it extremely hard to steer.Several of the outrigger type use the torsion type axles.There are several DIY here but not many DIY outrigger type kits.



Marc

 

[pcombe]

I have a small trailer that has leaf springs i want to make a kit out of it so i can convert back and forth from trike to bike , i am old and poor so the trike kits are out for me , can any one tell me weather the trailer i have will work , as i said it has leaf springs and small 5 lug trailer wheels on it , the frame is about 1/1/2 inch square tube frame , the size of the trailer is a 6x8, i could use any advice you might have , i am going to put it on a Yamaha Road Star

My friend, I suggest you look into the question of being able to insure it at all and what the cost would be if anyone would carry the policy for it? I imagine the vw builders may be able to enlighten you?

My insurance won't even discuss a home built trike unless it comes from a reputable kit manufacturer!

 

[pcombe]

There are other considerations such as a raked triple tree to assist in steering and the question of beefing up your motor mounts?

These may be a real life necessity for handling, Also a bike was never meant to be a trike so beefing up the motor mounts will help the engine from trying to twist in the frame when you take off or get on the throttle.

You're a do it yourselfer, why don't you look into buying axles and such independently from some one like Pauchco, It depends on what you want to do but changing it back and forth to a trike is more work than you have considered?

There is the trike swing arm etc. to consider.

They make bolt on easy connect bike to trike axle kits where you leave your rear wheel intact kinda like training wheels.

They have their drawbacks but some folks really like them and you will only be into it for $2-3,000.00

 

[Marc H]

The pints made by pcombe are all valid.If you still want to do it check this out.