| Author | Message | ||
     Joescrambled |
Hi folks, new to the forums, and not quite a Uly owner yet. Santa said she would bring me one... I need help finding or designing a ball hitch on a Uly. Currently i ride a Triumph Scrambler, and for the last 3 years have towed a 18 foot Hobie Tandem Island Kayak on a Trailex aluminum trailer behind it. I sail and fish alot. It sounds crazy, but it works really well. I rode a Ulysses recently and fell in love with it. So I am trying to find the perfect one for me. I need some ideas on either buying or building a trailer hitch that will tow my kayak. I dont own a car, and dont plan on buying one. For the Lovely Nebraska Winters, I hang a sidecar on the Scrambler. I know the Uly, will easily pull the kayak, I just need some hitch mounting ideas. Please help. Thanks, Joe | ||
| Nillaice |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/377226.html?1220125305 im sure there's a million ways to do it ... | ||
| Arry |
Hello Joe, Hope you end up with a good Uly. Maybe you can keep the Triumph for towing and sidecar, and have the Uly for sporting about..? | ||
| Joescrambled |
Definetly keeping the Triumph, but the purpose of the Uly will be more for long distance 2 up riding. However when we travel we try to camp at nice lakes and go kayak sailing as much as possible. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Has anyone ever tried connecting something through the tubular rear axle? I've seen people put axle sliders on there but what about a stout threaded rod hooked up to whatever leaf bagger/snowplow attachment? | ||
| Panhead_dan |
I would be looking for a beefier clutch before I invested anything in a hitch. I smoked the center few plates on mine just feeling out the friction zone one afternoon. That is the main reason I lowered the gearing- so I wouldn't smoke the clutch, slipping it while trying to go real slow. | ||
| Ourdee |
http://www.uni-go-trailers.com/Trailers.html The third wheel trailers have a sport hitch option that I like. Will mount on the XB axles. Uni-go and third-wheel both use 10 inch tires. 12" tires start to give good speed ratings. Kind of a disappointment for the price. But they are only really competing against each other at this point. | ||
| Uly_man |
My first job was in a glider repair shop. These gliders are broken down for transport in a custom made trailer you hitch to a car or other. One day a guy came in with a trailer hitched to a £30,000 (in 1976) Porsche 911 Turbo. Yes I was young and dumb but even then the phrase "using a race horse to pull a cart" was the first thing that came to mind. Yes you COULD use a Uly as you suggest but if you want a "cart horse" I think you would be better of with something more suitable. Do Volvo make bikes??????? (Message edited by uly_man on December 06, 2015) | ||
| Joescrambled |
Bought the uly, 2009XT that is just awesome! Thanks Fotoguzzi. Now I have 3 months to get the hitch designed and fabricated before I pick up the new Kayak. A 2016 Hobie Tandem Island, to replace my 2011 model. Still using a trailex aluminum trailer to keep the weight down. | ||
| Arry |
Panhead mentions lowering the gearing. If you haven't looked into this, it is usually done using XB9 primary (crank to clutch) gears and chain. I think this would be a good setup for most applications, and in your case towing, it seems like a real good idea. I think I would prefer the lower gearing, just for general riding, but have gotten by with stock gearing. | ||
| Arry |
P.S. Congratulations on your new Uly | ||
| Buellhusker |
Hi Joe Seen your Triumph & trailer rig in Lincoln, NE at one of the Euro nite Hay Market meetups, quite the set up you have there. | ||
| Joescrambled |
Thanks Buellhusker, the rig has worked flawlessly for the last 3 years. Now the next chapter begins. | ||
| Ourdee |
We need pictures. | ||
| Joescrambled |
 | ||
| Joescrambled |
 | ||
| Joescrambled |
this is riding through a blizzard to get to a bike show  | ||
| Ourdee |
Oh Ya! | ||
| Hoover_uly |
Joe, That Triumph is a good looking bike. How is it on the road with the Knobs? I did not see that anyone has mentioned a real weak point of the 06 through 09 Uly. That would be the rear wheel bearings. Seeing your bike backed into the water, I would strongly suggest you consider purchasing the 2010 version of Uly rear wheel and associated parts. My bearings were shot and borderline dangerous at 3,000 miles. There are several theories on the reason for failure but seeing the rust on mine as well as the corrosion on the axle itself inside the rear hub, my vote is on moisture as a main contributor. On the other hand, the rear axle on your bike is hollow which may make easier to install a hitch. The 2010 version may not be as compatible with a hitch. Good luck with your bike and project! | ||
| Joescrambled |
Hoover, The scrambler is awesome with knobbies. I rode it 500 miles to Arkansas, tore up the twisties riding 2 up, and rode it home. The knobbies give great traction in everything except wet pavement. In the rain, lean with caution. | ||
| Joescrambled |
I have an engineer looking at the bike to come up with some hitch ideas. I think attaching a hitch to the axle would be an epic fail based on the 350 pound weight of the kayak and trailer. maybe use some of the bolts under the seat, and the bolts on the backside of the passenger pegs. thoughts? | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Oh yeah! I didn't even think of that. Talk about unsprung weight! | ||
| Blakeaspencer |
I don't like the idea of attaching it to under the seat. That would cause wheelies. If there was a way to mount to something lower like the driver pegs and hang a hitch to the back, that is what I'd suggest. | ||
| Nillaice |
I'd just hitch it to the rear axle and call it done. It seemed like it worked for the other guys ... or a nice bumper hitch on your truck would probably work. If you're concerned about un-spring weight, leave the boat and trailer at home on track days. An other low attachment point is at the back of the frame where the foot pegs bolt on with 3 bolts each. That'd susppend the front of the trailer, but probably max out the bikes suspension with rider. It seems to be a compromise either way you go. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Aside from the wheel bearing concerns, that XT's under slung muffler should prove real interesting under water... | ||
| Joescrambled |
I once rode my sportster through a flooded road, the turnouts just burbled underwater and she kept on truckin. | ||
| Goodburbon |
I would fab up a plate to wrap around the right side of the swim arm with a pin through the axle. I'd probably replace the removable section for belt replacement in the process with that gusseted right side plate mount. A wraparound stinger rear of the tire with An integrated mud flap to round it out. | ||
| Joescrambled |
Well, I rode the Uly 2 up and fully loaded from Omaha to Marble Falls Arkansas. She did great, 2 wonderful days of riding, then 50 miles from the hotel, Bam! bearings went out. Limped it 50 miles back on 1 good bearing. Riding the Arkansas Twisties and switchbacks on 1 bearing is WAY more interesting than just normal riding. and yes I might have destroyed everything in the rear, but as long as she would move forward under her own power, I was not stranded on the side of the road. Threw it on a trailer,got it back to Omaha. So I am getting the upgraded 3 wheel bearing. No more worries for me!And I still need the hitch built, but now have one less future issue to worry about. |
