Trailer Setup

[xlr8tn]

I have a Hallmark 6X12 and want to really hook it up this coming season.  Now is the time.  I am looking for any pics of what you guys have done inside your trailer (i.e. bike placement, cabinets, tie down hangers, and flooring).  I currently have an interior that is painted grey, but possibly want to put down the black and white checkered flooring.  I also have a cabinet up front, but think it is in the wrong place and adds to my overall tongue weight.  I intalled etrack on the left, middle, and right sides.  Anyone put this on the walls?  I always have the hardest time securing the rear of my motorcycle ... and tips here?  Oh, I also bought a bungie cord net that I put on the ceiling for sleeping bags and windshields.  How are you all hauling spare bodywork without ruining it?  I have a nice craftsman tool box stack with wheels...what's the best way to secure?  Sorry for the 50 questions, any suggestions are helpful.

Thanks,
Brent

[rotoboge]

I have the same size/type trailer (sold the big one to make life a little more simple). Anyways, I laid down diamond plate flooring for about $450 and located two (2) Bike-Pro wheel chalks towards the rear (keeps tonque weight lower). Now I load the generator and spare parts stuff through the side door. The Bike-Pro chalks are great and they secure the bikes without the danger of falling over, etc.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

     I have the checker board flooring in my trailer, diamond plate on both ramps (I have a V-nose trailer), and 2 rows of E-track on the floor and 2 rows on both of the walls as well. I don't mean to sound negative here, I am just telling you my experience, but I am not going to get any of those items in my next trailer.

     The checker board floor may look cool but it gets marked up really easily, gets stains from the oils in your tires, can be slick when wet, and can get deformed by shifting loads. What I mean by that is I use to bring a roll around toolbox along but stopped because the tool box wheels would be moving around slightly during transport and actually deformed the flooring and swelled it up around the wheels, kind of like a bubble.

     The aluminum diamond plate flooring is awesome, except for 1 thing, it's like driving on ice when it's wet. With both my ramps covered with it I have to be extremely careful when putting the bike in the trailer if the tires or ramp are wet at all, I don't know how many close calls I've had with almost dropping the bike when in a hurry and loading it in the rain. Other than that the stuff is pretty nice.

     The E-track I have in my trailer was all recess mounted in the walls and floor by the factory. I thought it would be realy cool but it's turned out to be kinda a pain. Whether you recess mount or surface mount it on the floor it's annoying to roll stuff around in the trailer over it. I found a type of track that is used in aircraft to secure cargo that a couple of the trailer manufacturers are starting to offer. The stuff can be surface, flush, or recess mounted and it's much smaller than E-track. Don't get me wrong though, E-track is strong and works well, I've just decided to go a different route now that I found something better for my application.

     Removable wheel chocks are the way to go, they really free up the floor space in the trailer when your at the track. Getting the weight correctly placed in the trailer is another issue you should consider since it will affect how well your trailer tracks behind you or if it's going to be weaving all over the place. You should shoot for 10% to 15% of the overall weight of the trailer, when loaded, to be on the ball. If you want to know how to get that weight just ask. Placement of your stuff in the trailer will quickly change it's handling characteristics, positioning the bikes for that proper weight bias will show you were to put the wheel chocks for the bikes. Proper tongue weight is something that will make towing alot less stressful, especially on a windy day or when passing semi's.

     The flooring I am looking at using is rubber and can be bought at Sears in the tools dept. (they sell it to be used in garages). It has round circles that stick up slightly and I believe you can get it in black or grey. This stuff is thicker than some of the similar stuff I saw on someone elses trailer. I have also seen a similar rubber flooring that uses the same diamond plate design as the aluminum tread plate, but you may have to order that directly from the trailer manufacturer at your local trailer sales business. The stuff at Sears comes 8' wide and in a few different lengths, all the way up to 30' I believe.

[Jeff]

http://www.cbr600rr.com/pages/trailer.htm

Since this, it's been painted, microwave & TV/VCR/DVD installed.  Heat/AC installed.  

FWIW, the layout of the trailer with weight distribution is important, but the tow vehicle is more important.  With my trailer fully loaded, it is not extremely tongue heavy.  Towing with my 1/2 ton conversion van, I can only do about 65 and it'll sway like mad in the wind.

With my 1 ton diesel van, I can tow it as fast as I want and it's ROCK solid no matter what the wind conditions are, or who's passing...

[Eric Kelcher]

Well just saw this here answered on the other board but I will post here as well.

Try this from STStands.com no tie downs required

[stumpy]

 Very Very nice looking stand ;) Got any more stand pics, I want some close ups, From the back too :P




Stumpy

[tshort]

I have a Hallmark 6X12 and want to really hook it up this coming season.  Now is the time.  possibly want to put down the black and white checkered flooring.  

Hey Brent - I went through this same exercise two years ago.  for the floor, I used green oil-based floor paint (I like green) with sand mixed in it (the paint store sells this).  This has held up well over two seasons - the sand provides some non-slip for when the floor is wet.  Just mix it up and slap it down with a roller on a pole.  One gallon should be more than enough.

I've got the etrack and like it - same set up as yours.  I built a tire rack at the front out of 2x4 with four slots - it holds four wheels/tires, and also has room for my generator.  Works well.  Haven't put a work bench on top of that yet, but could.

[tshort]

no tie downs required

I'd try em anyway.

[DragonSlayer]

I'd try em anyway.

No she stays back there & holds the bike.Personally I'd let her sit up front with me, ;D lol

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

     Being that I am a Tool & Die Maker I was designing something like that for myself when I ran into the guy making these (at Barber). I talked to him for awhile, he's also a machinist, so I spoke with him about what went into making these.

     He said that the girl is a friend of his, and she's a bartender down in Texas where this guy is from. Hmmm, come to think of it, Eric's in Texas too!  :o  ;)  ;D

[Eric Kelcher]

Yeah she is working tonight; actually bought one of Tiff's puppies from the last litter.


Oh by the way if you are thinking of E-Track try this instead uses same fastners but you can slip a regular tie into track if you need plus it is said to be stronger. http://sline.com/products/track.htm

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Whew, all this talk about proper load placement, tire racks, Keeping the bike up with a firm stand, being properly tied down, then that picture....man, I need a smoke! :o ;) (oh wait, I don't smoke  :))