So now the problem was finding a trailer. I wanted it to be as light as possible to make the least about of strain on the car. After searching around, I decided to ask my good buddy Big Mike if he would make me a trailer. Mike has made several trailers already, and he is a great fabricator of metal stuff. He recently acquired the ability to weld aluminum, which was just what I needed.
After the Spring and Summer of texting back and forth with ideas and specifications, Mike came up with a design that looked like it would be perfect. I bought parts he needed and had them shipped to his house up in Blaine, Washington. He bought metal and aluminum from local suppliers up there and began assembly last month. Meanwhile, I ordered a trailer hitch for the car and installed it and the wiring loom on the car.
Carolyn and I did a week long hiking vacation on the Olympic Peninsula around the time of her birthday, and I used the opportunity to ride my bike up to Blaine so that we could do some measurements and fit the trailer to the bike. I also hoped to help him put it together, and maybe even haul my bike home on it. Unfortunately, the day we arrived at his house, he sprained his ankle and couldn't really do much work on the trailer. We tried, and this was the state of construction at that point (note Mike's ankle brace):
It has the loading ramp hinged so that it remains on the trailer and is in the raised position in this picture. The tie-down holding it in place will be changed to a different method, yet to be figured out.
This shows the wheel chock and the front tie-down points for the motorcycle.
Annie is checking to make sure the bottom of the motorcycle will clear the hump between the loading ramp and the trailer deck, based on measurements I sent.
This shows how the complete aluminum deck and the channel for the bike's tires are completely coated with a non-skid adhesive tape. It not only looks good, but will provide better footing and keep the aluminum from oxidizing. Those are also the rear tie-down points. Since the only goal for the rear of the bike is to keep the tire from bouncing out of the channel, the tie-down can be minimal.
Mike plans to bring the trailer down this weekend and I am looking forward to the next steps of getting a title and license for it. This may open a whole new chapter for Carolyn and I to take trips where I get a chance to ride and she can visit gardens or friends and relatives, while we also stay together in the evenings.