Boat tail project based on a single wheel trailer...

[freebeard]

You want 3/4 ton bucking and heaving against those snubbers and shocks you kept upgrading?

Once again: do you think it's better to have the load overhang the wheel or have the wheel clear to the back?

[BamZipPow]

It's a shopping thing fer swivel wheels since the technology I'm working with is from the 1990's and I wanted to see what else was out there fer possibilities.

[freebeard]

I still like the idea of a Vespa motor scooter front fork.

[BamZipPow]

Looks like the Texas Statute concerning the rear plate moved to a different reference number, 504.945.

Sec. 504.945. WRONG, FICTITIOUS, ALTERED, OR OBSCURED LICENSE PLATE. (a) A person commits an offense if the person attaches to or displays on a motor vehicle a license plate that:
(1) is issued for a different motor vehicle;
(2) is issued for the vehicle under any other motor vehicle law other than by the department;
(3) is assigned for a registration period other than the registration period in effect;
(4) is fictitious;
(5) has blurring or reflective matter that significantly impairs the readability of the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered or the letters or numbers of the license plate number at any time;
(6) has an attached illuminated device or sticker, decal, emblem, or other insignia that is not authorized by law and that interferes with the readability of the letters or numbers of the license plate number or the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered; or
(7) has a coating, covering, protective substance, or other material that:
(A) distorts angular visibility or detectability;
(B) alters or obscures one-half or more of the name of the state in which the vehicle is registered; or
(C) alters or obscures the letters or numbers of the license plate number or the color of the plate.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (e), an offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $200, unless it is shown at the trial of the offense that the owner knowingly altered or made illegible the letters, numbers, and other identification marks, in which case the offense is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c) Subsection (a)(7) may not be construed to apply to:
(1) a trailer hitch installed on a vehicle in a normal or customary manner;
(2) a transponder, as defined by Section 228.057, that is attached to a vehicle in the manner required by the issuing authority;
(3) a wheelchair lift or wheelchair carrier that is attached to a vehicle in a normal or customary manner;
(4) a trailer being towed by a vehicle; or
(5) a bicycle or motorcycle rack that is attached to a vehicle in a normal or customary manner.
(d) A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection (a)(3), (5), (6), or (7) if the defendant:
(1) remedies the defect before the defendant's first court appearance;
(2) pays an administrative fee not to exceed $10; and
(3) shows that the vehicle was issued a plate by the department that was attached to the vehicle, establishing that the vehicle was registered for the period during which the offense was committed.
(e) An offense under Subsection (a)(4) is a Class B misdemeanor.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1296 (H.B. 2357), Sec. 223, eff. January 1, 2012.
Amended by:
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1135 (H.B. 2741), Sec. 83, eff. September 1, 2013.

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Once again: do you think it's better to have the load overhang the wheel or have the wheel clear to the back?

I would have to say that one would want the swivel wheel as far back as possible so you would have a smoother ride aka longer wheelbase.

Although the Vespa front fork wheel setup might seem ideal, I don't believe that small shock will last as long as you might expect. You might need one with a bigger oil reserve so it can maintain a better range of dampening fer a longer period of time.

Also, I'm not gonna put a lot of faith in the bungee cord setup over time...at least from my experience.

[freebeard]

They really don't like anything that interferes with their license plate readers.

[bentring]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

Oh, this looks pretty fer $800! A 1800lb load capacity!


I wonder if the Flexiride torsion suspension could be mated to a swivel wheel setup.
http://www.ucfamerica.com/flexiride.html

I've scoured the net on and off for the last year researching these things ever since I decided to downgrade to a car for work A decision that was partially inspired by this thread I might add.

It's rated for 1300 lb rather than 1800 and I'm 99% positive I read somewhere on his site (or maybe saw on a video) during a brainstorming session that it does use a flexiride axle.

His setup certainly seems to be built well. The mounting plate is stated to be laser cut 3/8" steel and weighs 22 pounds. A little too much for my intended application and the wheels can be found for a bit less, but a good setup regardless.
I possibly would have gotten one of his axles already to start a trailer build but if I'm going to have that much load capacity I think I'd rather have two axle assemblies to spread the load and make it easier to dodge potholes/debris.

As far as making one from scratch, the Wayback Machine on archive.org has a partial list of northern tool products that the (as far as I can tell) former company, Double Hitch recommends which could be useful for ideas. It's a shame most of the pictures are dead, but from opinions I've seen online, their product wasn't, ahhh, as highly desirable as others available anyway.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

Although the Vespa front fork wheel setup might seem ideal, I don't believe that small shock will last as long as you might expect.

Since they do last long in those Indian tricycles, usually overloaded by the way, that single-wheel trailer might not be overkill for it.

[Xist]

I have seen many license plate covers that prevented me from reading them. I always wondered why they were not pulled over. My cousin drove without a plate for a while--he kept it out of sight inside.

[freebeard]

I drove a VW Beetle on Ft. Lewis base without bumper tags. I took the bumpers off and put them in the back seat.

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr -- If you start out light, you end up light.