Trailers: Max load consensus?

I just saw this advertisement for a 275lb trailer with a tongue weight of 30lbs and a 325lb carry capacity.
They claim it could be pulled by a motorcycle.

http://www.gizmag.com/go-easy-ultralight-trailer-camper/33328/

It got me to thinking....

Since there is obviously no scientific testing, have we as a community come to a consensus on the following:

1.  Maximum recommended tongue weight?

2.  Maximum recommended weight of trailer and gear combined?


Dan

I suspect the British Regulations regarding towing trailers with motorcycles are the nearest anyone will get to scientific testing.

Dan, the better question is: Have we as a community come to a consensus on anything?      

Tell us about them Mike.

I posted a link quite recently, Dan.
I'll look it out.

The first is the Government one. The others are from other sites but add bits such as the speed-limit for towing which would be found elsewhere on the Government website.

https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-motorcycle

http://www.camperlands.co.uk/motorbike-towing-law/

http://www.mono-trail.co.uk/single-wheel-trailer-law.html

(This is what I Googled:- towing a trailer with a motorcycle uk)

Dan, i think that trailer in the link would be too heavy for a swing. It also looks physically big. I just made my own trailer (modified Harbor Freight) and it weighs around 150lbs. Any heavier than this i think the swing will struggle! Plus on a safety note, stopping that xtra weight is most important. I will do a post later on the forum with pics of the trailer/hitch and how it pulls! My wife and i have a 4 day tour planned for the bike/trailer starting today. Can you believe the weather crapped out today with record low temps and rain for the next 3 days!!!!!! Shes leaning towards taking the car. Im bike. Oh what to do..... Bike, car, bike, car.......

That would give a maximum of around 330lbs for the trailer weight including gear.

First SilverWing is not designed to pull or stop trailer!! How long will belt last?

I have over 75,000 mile trailer pulling experience with motorcycles. Dangerous at best=tail wagging dog. Camping trailer handy but you should look at dangers of bike pulling trailer

Had 3 camping trailers, pulled by Kawasaki Voyager (4 cyl) barge....did great job. Had Kawaski Concours---pulled trailer 20 miles---really scary!! Took Kwik Kamp to Alaska with Honda 750= ok, trailer maybe a little heavy.

2 wheel trailer has ever present thrill of dropping inside wheel off pavement.

Were I to pull trailer with SilverWing---Unigo, one wheel may be fairly safe and there is India made replica of earlier European design --one wheel---light enough to not put too much strain on drive train----or braking force. Additional dangers are---hitch ball should be below axle center line----otherwise force can jack rear wheel off ground on severe braking!!

hotwings wrote:

Shes leaning towards taking the car. Im bike. Oh what to do..... Bike, car, bike, car.......

Bike, car.. bike, car.. bike, car.. bike and car.. bike and car..

Saw a Harley pulling one of these a couple of weeks ago. Should pull nicely behind a Swing, but for $2600.00?

http://n-line.com/

We took the bike. Yep its cold and wet. On the plus side, trailer is pulling like a dream. Were overnighting at the hotel now.

Good Luck!   

We let mother nature win this round! We woke yesterday to rain coming down in biblical proportions. So we waited for a break in the weather and then boogied for home and swapped out for the family sedan! Forgot to mention we were in the US and we live 250klm away in Canada. Were back at the same hotel now and will soldier on with the car. God that thing is comfortable, radio, indash gps, no buffeting, no helmets required, wipers..........     

Back on topic- my wife and i agreed the trailer was two thumbs up, easy to pull, lots of storage for any upcoming tours (when summer returns).