Overnighter with the trailer

I decided it would be a good idea to take a relatively short road trip towing the Shadow trailer with a full load of camping gear.  We decided on an overnight trip to a local small lake only 25 miles from home.  The Shadow trailer was fully loaded with camping gear, and the ice chest contained food and drink for three meals plus 20 lb of ice and a dozen bottles of drinking water.  I packed a number of items that were not essential for just an overnighter, but I was testing the S'wing trike's trailering abilities more so than planning a real extended camping trip.

How did it handle?  In a word, sweet!  It pulled easily and was quieter than when towed empty. (no bouncing on the suspension)

AS far as the S'wing?  Great!  No lugging down on takeoffs, no problems slowing and stopping, and absolutely no handling issues.  Engine RPM at 65 mph seems about the same.  I fueled up the trike yesterday, then drove around town about 12 miles running errands before hooking up the loaded trailer and putting another 50+ miles on it.  I'll go out in a little while and top off the tank again and calculate the gas mileage.






Based on this first experience, I have no reservations at all now on taking the trailer on longer trips farther from home.

Nice!!!!  I think the squirrel was looking for the SUV that carried all that stuff.

Quote :

Hi Yo wrote:

Nice!!!!  I think the squirrel was looking for the SUV that carried all that stuff.

The little bugger was fearless!  Of course, if my 'nads were that big, I'd be fearless too!  

Fuel mileage report:

Miles travelled w/o trailer: 13
Mile travelled with loaded trailer: 54

Gallons of fuel used: 1.67

approx. mileage: 40.6 mpg

That's not bad at all.  I was expecting a bit less.  Congrats on your new set up and it sounds like it will work great for you.

Again very nice set up. Now imagine how nice the swing would look in black (the fastest color) with that black trailer. Awesome. . 
 I remember our tenting days. Now we (she) wont go camping without the 27' camper with all of lifes luxuries including 200+ tv channels. I suggested selling it the other day so we could buy another bike (for me). She said it wasnt going to happen. So its not gonna happen 

Gyro,
Sounds like a fun shakedown cruise. Where did you get your trailer hitch?

phil29@windstream.net

Just can't help thinking, how long does a belt, clutch and brake pads last on a set-up like this?

Neat trailer setup. Good colour for the trailer, at least people won't think that you have tried to match it to the Silverwing and failed.

How did you get that benches and table in the trailer? 

Cheers,

That is a neat setup.

I have been thinking about keeping my trike setup and getting a trailer for long rides.

Since I enjoy the two wheel part so much I have been leaning toward selling sw and trike kit to get newer sw with ABS...

Now I am back to torturing myself again...

Why did you have to share dang nabbed it!!!

Of course it didn't help to discovering yesterday that harbor frieght has a small trailer that can be had for around $400.
About $200 in upgrades ands tweaks make it rock solid...

Oh buggers I'm thinking again...

Mike <><

tarmacburner2 wrote:

How did you get that benches and table in the trailer? 

Cheers,

Oh, we didn't try to pack it in the trailer. I just hooked a 2" log chain to it and dragged it behind!   

phil29 wrote:

Gyro,
Sounds like a fun shakedown cruise. Where did you get your trailer hitch?

phil29@windstream.net

The hitch is stock on the Danson conversion kit. The 1-7/8" receiver ball came from Walmart.