New (to me) trailer

[Scott in IL]

I finally found a trailer at what I thought was a very good price, $200. An 83 Coleman Caboose in fairly good shape. It needs just a little bit of work, third brake light, bearing buddies, weather stripping, and new safety chains, and it should be good to go.
I would like to confirm some of what I have read here:
1) The hitch should be lower than the rear axle of the bike. It doesn't make the trailer tongue sit level but if that is the way it should be I'll do it.
2) The length of the trailer tongue should be 1.5 times the distance between the center of the tires. Is that length measured from the trailer axle to the tip of the tongue?

All input is appreciated. I need to start practicing.
If everything works out and holds up, I plan on pulling it to the rally.

Thanks,
Scott

[Chris near Kansas City]

1) Hadn't really ever heard of a preference (except to not have it too high), but I'd think you'd want it even. Too high and the trailer will push the back end around. Too low and the trailer will cause the front end to be loose or uneasy feeling. If I had to have it one way or the other, I suppose a hair low would be better than a hair high. That way, under braking, the front end of the bike would dive normally and level everything out. You just don't want it too low. Otherwise, the you'd lose traction on the front of the bike.

2) Yes, 1 1/2 times the axle width for tongue length is a good baseline. I measure from the axle to the ball, but it doesn't have to be exact.

[doug of so fla]

The idea of having the ball a hair below the axel (when you are on it) is to insure that if you use the rear brake that the trailer will push down and assist in braking by putting force & weight down on the rear of MC giving it more grip, rather than having it higher than axel the forward force of trailer may tend to lift weight off of braking force. Using the rear brake with a trailer attached properly can assist your stopping it with very good control. Set up properly pulling a trailer you do not even feel it behind you. (But you better remember it is there!!! Ride safe..

[34Mike]

A GREAT place for motorcycle trailer info..... http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.a ... ilertowing

[Chris near Kansas City]

I agree on the Delphi trailer forum.

[Scott in IL]

Yes, the Delphi forum is in my favorites.

I mounted the third brake light but now have to figure out how to wire it. Logic says that if I connect it to the taillight wire for the brake light, it would blink with the turn signal.
So do I run a separate wire up to the brake light on the bike? Or do I change from the 4 prong plug to a 5 or 6 prong plug?

As for the rally, I am not sure I will make it. The bike has been down for three weeks now and may not be back on the road for another week or two.
Plus that much time off at one time may be hard with the work schedule.

Scott

[1st one]

Never owned or even pulled a trailer behind a MC until Aug of 2012 13 cu/ft of cargo space torsion bar suspension LED lights. Pulls like its not even behind the bike