Tow Pac Mini Trike

First topic message reminder :

What a mother of a project!!!

The instructions are written 3/4 coherently and the photos are a tad confusing. Spent about an hour unwrapping & sorting all the parts. Almost wish I'd kept my mouth shut about being able to do it BUT so far it has only required the most basic of tools.

Mind you, this is quality workmanship and the 12" upgrade on the tires looks snazzy, can't wait to see it finished for her. Will start getting some good pics posted if anyone is considering this option.

My friend's wife has a Tow Pac on her Silver Wing. Another good friend of mine has a Danson kit on her Burgman 650. If I remember correctly, the cost for someone to install the Tow Pac is over $500. Good luck Jim.

And they would have earned every penny!!!

Now that I've done it once it seems a little easier but seeing all those pieces mounted to the shipping platform & parusing the instructions once over, my first remark is unable to be put here!!!! Wasn't a sailor but I sure learned the lingo!!

Anyone wanting this done, get with me & I'll make up a better instruction sheet, maybe even a pps. If your in Atlanta burbs, I can help out in person.

Did you put on a darkside tire on the rear of the SWing to extend tire life??

The jury is still out on the darkside issue for me. Still have PLENTY of rubber left anyhow, maybe by then I'll have cleared debates on the benefit/risks (if any).

Jim Cater wrote:

The jury is still out on the darkside issue for me. Still have PLENTY of rubber left anyhow, maybe by then I'll have cleared debates on the benefit/risks (if any).

The Tow-Pac has radial car tires

Jim Cater wrote:

The jury is still out on the darkside issue for me. Still have PLENTY of rubber left anyhow, maybe by then I'll have cleared debates on the benefit/risks (if any).

I have a Danson. The benefits of a car tire far outweigh the risks for a trike. You can't lean to turn, so both tires on the scooter act like car tires in any case.

I installed a 165/65 Bridgestone tire on the rear wheel as part of the trike conversion. As time goes by, I'll probably find a car tire for the front wheel as well.

My major problems were in getting the two new wheels aligned to the existing wheels. If they are not very close to equidistant (the new right wheel to middle of existing wheel = the new left wheel to middle of existing wheel) the resulting trike will not want to track correctly.

Thanks Jon, read that HIGHLIGHTED in the instructions. Spent an hour adjusting the bifocals and laying on belly to see tape. Got it to 1/16th of an inch tolerance & torqued tighter than Geronimo's cinch strap!!

I will say that if anyone is going to DIY this, have a power driver handy as well as SAE sockets/wrenches. Might stop by the pharmacy or class 6 for some pain therapy too!!

Here is a pic of Bracket "A" installed under the rear seat area to the two holes drilled in the frame:


https://servimg.com/view/15711565/1

"B" and "C" connected to "A" and the rear frame support on the towpac itself:

https://i.servimg.com/u/f21/15/71/15/65/brktsb10.jpg

Bracket "F" which is mounted in place of the center stand:

https://i.servimg.com/u/f21/15/71/15/65/brktf10.jpg

Brackets "E" to "G" ("D" to "H") is reversed on the right side. Note that the "F" bracket is parallel to the ground and the "Axle Bracket" is almost flush to the topside of the frame:

https://i.servimg.com/u/f21/15/71/15/65/brktse10.jpg

A closer look @ above comment:

https://i.servimg.com/u/f21/15/71/15/65/etogcl10.jpg

Rearview of completed frame ass'y:

https://i.servimg.com/u/f21/15/71/15/65/rearvi10.jpg

Jim,
You have all by yourself justified my choice of the Danson.

How are the trike wheels suspended? I don't see any sort of springs/dampers associated with them.

Here are a set of pictures that I posted about the Danson install, the broken fork seal that I experienced, etc.

http://gallery.me.com/joncallihan#100018

:flower: :flower:

Whoa there Jon, The suspension is NICE!! I put 40 miles on that thing last night & it handled like a dream...didn't even think of bottoming going over a speed breaker.

Not sure HOW they do it, I'm pretty positive it's a patent secret but the "springs" are contained in the housings the axle hubs are bolted to.

Wife won't be pulling anything for a good bit so I left the hitch out of the install, may find a way to put it on my wing.

All in all, for the price
• Trike Kit………………….……………….$4,995
• Paint to Match…………...……………….$495
• Light Set………………..……………………$195
• Trailer Hitch………….……………………$119
• Estimated Freight……………….………$395
(All kits are shipped in wooden crate,
total weight is 355 lbs.)
(Please note: Pricing subject to change without notice)

I spent considerably less than that & got the Givi bags as well.

The only difference I see aesthetically is the fiberglass around the rear frame & 15" tires vs. 12".

I'll take the difference & put it into comms, tunes, Givi windshield and a new 3/4 length jacket.

Works for what I (she) needs & with 4 ponies now in the stable I need to save some here & there.

Jim I think what you have is Torsion Bar suspension.You will find that in a all of your high end Toy Haulers Or as an upgrade To leaf springs I have a Wells Cargo and that is what it came with. I was a little leary about that type I was more springs the better type of guy. But I haul that trailer loaded 70 MPH all day. No bounce Tracks straight you forget it is back there. Tony

Tony,

While I accept that springing is probably by torsion bars, I still wonder where the damping (shock absorbers in American parlance) comes from.

I really doubt that any modern application would use only friction damping.

Jon if you had a real trike Kit like a Trinity Where the kit is a live axleThen you would need the shock and spring Where as the Danson and the Tow Pack are nothing but a large set of stablizers , or put a tung on it and you have a trailer. Your suspension is still on the drive wheel of the Swing. The benefit of a torsion bar axle are It is lighter,less parts, less Maint.and are specific for it's application. I am not saying it is better than shock and spring But for this type of Trike kit it is more than enough suspension And looking at the Tow pak pictures It looks like a Tourflex axle And they are one of the best in terms of Torsion suspension. But that is just my opinion. Tony

Tony,
It might be your opinion, but I beg to differ (at least concerning the Danson)

It has Progressive air shocks, and I can definitely tell when the "damping" is not firm enough -- the "trailer", as you refer to it, takes on a life of its own.

Also, a torsion bar is really nothing more than a straight coil spring -- both work exactly the same way. The primary advantage of the bar is that it can provide more "spring" is less length by being made thicker. They are not new, one of the major selling points of the mid '40s Jaguar sports cars were torsion bar suspension with bars going forward from the middle of the chassis to the frame end of the A arms. They still used telescopic dampers to control the "springiness".

I'm sure that there are many more earlier examples of torsion bar suspension (as well as later). One of the major disadvantages of this type of springing is the relatively massive anchor needed for the captive end of the bar. I suspect that the weight penalty is why the use of torsion bars has lost favor with the automotive racing crowd.

C heck out Tourflex I do not think it is the. Same type Jon enjoy your trike You paid for it Tony

Torsion bar suspension worked excellently in the front suspension of all the VW beetles until the so called 'Super Beetle' came out. As already mentioned torsion bar suspension is becoming very common in trailers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsion_bar_suspension

Torflex axle
http://dexteraxle.com/i/u/1080235/f/6-8K_cat_4-07/600-1100_lbs.pdf