looks like I'll be heading down Waz's way ( Figtree ) on the first monday in Feb, just bought an old bike trailer , that I can utilise as a camper come delivery kart.
It was originally an Ali lite camper by the looks of it, but now just has the base section .



looks a bit like the bottom half of Ricks camper.

Plans are to give it a coat of blue paint and some striking BMW grafix and adapt it for campouts,
 and seeing as the PO has already provided an access door in the rear for pooch, we might be able to take him along with us.
also roof racks , maybe get the Kayak on there too..........

only issue at this stage is getting the harness wired up before heading off to collect the trailer.
I purchased the towbar from Rendrag and he kindly drew up some diagrams for the wires , his explanation didn't quite match my light setup. 
any suggestions?
Waz , what is the road up to Mt Keira like?  is it best going up or down . I don't mind doing it with the trailer going up , on my way home.
might mount the camera to the roof racks for the trip through the twisties.
Ed.

Hey Ed,   That should look good with a coat of blue, and some K/art graphics . Good luck with it mate.

I've never towed a trailer with a bike before so a bit of careful riding coming home.
Smithy , I'll have more room for those extra bulky items now.

Looks like an Ali-Lite OK.  I had the NSW demo Ali-Lite camper in my possession for while, took it to rallies to show it off etc. 

Looks like a good K-Kourier service trailer.

Al

Waz , what is the road up to Mt Keira like? is it best going up or down . I don't mind doing it with the trailer going up , on my way home.

Good idea lots of twities going up or down, be a good idea to ride up the hill with all that weight.

"Rendrag"
Ahhh, you bought that one! I saw it on ebay and was thinking about it..
There's been a little tiny flat bed kinda trailer on the roundabout opposite bunnings every weekend for the last month, no price, but a 'make an offer, must go'..  Been seriously considering phoning the guy and offering him 200 bucks, would make a good start to a dedicated camper trailer 

"Grover"
very remenisce of a dog wash trailer with that door in the back end. maybe start up a sideline business for bike riding pooches.
and now you tell me there is something closer to home, send us a pic ,
 I'm still going to the Gong. any one up for coffee? I should be there around 8am.

"Rendrag"
Lol, I shoulda got the contact details today - will ask the missus to go down on saturday and get them!  All this packing this last week has got me thinking I should just bite the bullet and build a little camper..  If I can find an old canvas tent cheap, and ship it to dad in Ballarat, he can sew it into a new design for me on the old sewing machine he uses for leather.
I reckon that little 'float' would make a great camper with a few changes of the rear - set it up to have a fold out rear or something, and you sleep in there no problems   Dunno about the height though - seemed kinda high, not sure how that'd go around corners. Curious though, as I'd love to build a little camper trailer that has a winch-up tower on top for portable ham radio work when camping :-p

"Rick G"
My camper trailer is up for sale at a very reasonable price.
If you are interested PM me
I will deliver it anywhere on the east coast for fuel cost.

had a good run today , headed down to Woollongong to pick up the horsefloat   dog box. 
left home in the early cool hours of the morning. reaching the northern villages of W'gong around 7.30. 

the charming beachside arena of Coledale. couldn't resist stopping. Waz is in the midst of some fantastic beaches in the South coast region.


whilst scouring the many lookout points , I happened across this one , which is now my preferred retirement location.  The VIEWS are to ...............


finally made it into town to pick up my dog box , taking the road to the left to get me going right ended up being wrong. wheres that Rossko when you need him ?
some comments from the seller whilst I was handing over some legal tender, 
" they are not high pressure tyres , 20- 25 psi should do it.  Ali lite made it for me as a dog trailer, all mods including screen , rear door and roof racks are factory fitted. 
 there is a grease nipple on the hitch , may need some topping up. my first stop 10mins away proved it a definite, the swivel wouldn't budge much.
we travelled with our two german shepherds in that trailer, they loved it."

first thing I checked were the lights , hooked the harness up , all were operational except the left turn signal , proceeded to test the harness on the sellers car , same result.
so my efforts at wiring up yesterday were good. changed some globes around , no difference. so headed home with the least number of left turns possible , I decided the M7 link road back through Sydney to be the safest.
the seller suggested Mt Kiera lookout was closed from the direction I wanted to access it . So Mt Ousley Rd was the next option..
An uphill windy run proved effortless with the 55kg alloy trailer on board. I still remained cautious on my maiden towing voyage.



Mt Kiera lookout was inaccessible , and as it happened , heading up Appin Rd toward the Hume Hway,
 signage pointed me in the direction of this little cafe hanging over the side of the cliff.
guess what it is called ......?

you may notice the trailer in a slight up ward angle , it is fitted with a dropped axle , which I may rotate later to level the trailer . this will inevitably raise the centre weight of the trailer , what is best   lower  or raise?  remember  there is no load in the trailer as yet.  I may even lengthen the towbar hangers by 2 inches?


overlooking Thirroul to the left and the Gong to the right in the distance. 


with the morning heating up a bit , it was time to take the fastest road home.
the only concern whilst heading back to Newcastle , 
was on the downhill to the Mooney Mooney bridge , the bike developed a speed wobble at 110kmh, I steadily eased off the throttle and regained stability.
the K maintained  60kmh / 5th gear @ 2500rpm   , 100kmh @ 4000, and 110 @ 4300, so was running sweet. 

Couldn't help myself , I turned off the freeway ( now the M1 ) at Mt white for some enjoyment , twisties.
strapped the camera to the roof rack and gathered some video of the run through mooney mooney ck .

mind you the highway was abuzz with patrols for most of my trip home, .counted at least 12 using radars , at least 6 on the M7, so I behaved myself

Now to plan the kamper.
thanks for everyones help during wiring up , It made the trip so much easier.

A fresh coat of BMW / Forum graphics to start.
I'll try and keep it simple as , mind you Rendrag has given me some ideas.
will start with putting together 2x 1200 x 1100 boards , hinged , to fold out as a 1200 x 2200 bed base. temporary ply box lid for waterproofing
a couple of alloy adjustable poles for support leg struts for the bed.
stabilizer legs under the rear for when the trailer is parked and in use.
internal ply base with carpet for protection of floor and gear. done
tarp hold down hooks on outside panels for soft cover.done
something like this

I'll review some camping checklists similar to 92kk's suggestion and look for lightweight options .

I bet that retirement village is already full, but just the same a worthwhile spot to be planted.
Good effort on getting the float home safely, on the maiden voyage. Now you've got to apply yourself to have it ready for Karuah.

It is still being used , the excavator stays on site. but as you say could be all bought up. nice spot though. better than our locals.
I could bring the dog box to karuah for some constructive thinking, at least test the esky for ballast.

leave the esky at home, we'll full it up with beer & ice at Dungog and check the ballast on the way out to the rally site.

That trailer looks really good and if its 55kg that's not bad for unladen weight. I would keep the centre of gravity low as possible and the weight in the middle. You need to find out how it behaves in crosswinds [ie when you overtake a truck too] because it can tend to turn the bike.

I fancy a trailer too and 88KE went looking for one.

Funny thing then is I discovered a neighbour has one......he stores logs in it.....But getting a tow bar is the problem.

Olaf , the trailer handled extremely well against trucks in both directions, side winds no probs.
do you have any restrictions on the Isle regarding manufacturing and fitment of tow bars?
they are a simple contraption to make.

Ed

That's good that you have the handling issues checked. Next thing is the weight on the drawbar, too much and it can make the front end go light and give a wobble. No one wants a tank slapper at any speed but at least Ks are not known for them.

I haven't seen too much but 88KE investigated this quite a bit. Both of us had the idea of a trailer and the towbar is more of a problem than the trailer! We don't have any MOT or similar test for bikes here as the statistics collected by the police force don't suggest there is a maintenance issue with motorcycles or that maintenance is a cause of motorcycle crashes. There is nothing to stop someone making up a tow bar using standard steel sections/plates and a hitch. The ideal would be to have one to copy but I have not seen a K towbar anywhere here.

I'm a little surprised (but happy for ye!  ) that it doesn't have a problem with crosswinds, being that tall! The crosswinds we had between Mt Thorley and Denman, on the way to the FCR had me doing a somewhat terrifying countersteer-while-leaning-off-the-other-side-of-the-bike manoeuvre back and forward pretty much constantly with the buffeting hitting the trailer..  It was absolutely uncontrollable at 60k/h.  Was 'ok' at 90k/h.  Though the K is already somewhat of a brick, so they might be matched, resistance wise - I think that was my problem with the VFR, it's pretty streamlined so it wasn't being affected, then the wind hit the trailer and it all went to heck.   I'd never really had that issue when towing with the K100..

Speed wobbles downhill, yeah, I've found the ONLY stable option for downhill is to roll on throttle..  What's that saying? If in doubt, power out?  Gotta say it's spot on with a trailer - little bit of power on, and it all pulls into line

55kg empty, that's fantastic!  That's less than half mine!  It's going to be a beaut to tow!

yes all seems fairly good, regarding towing issues.
glad I didn't get to the slapping stage like you Damo.
the towbar is still not in the ideal location and would require a bit more mods to mount elsewhere.
it currently has a 1-2 inch sway at the ball.
92kk , I'm a bit behind in my offering of plans and sizes for a K100 towbar , I'll be working on the trailer this thursday in prep for Karuah. will try and draw something up then.

I enjoyed the trailer for the most part, didn't know it was there through most of the trip. at low speeds and speed humps it bangs and bounces a bit .

groverK wrote:the towbar is still not in the ideal location and would require a bit more mods to mount elsewhere.
it currently has a 1-2 inch sway at the ball.

Ouch, that's a lot! I'm sure the brains trust at the rally will come up with something simple to fix it I guess half the 'structural integrity' of it before was the fact that the two front mounts were far enough separated on two axes to make it somewhat of triangulation already - where as because you had to modify it for the ABS, it's taken that triangulation out?

smithy wrote:leave the esky at home, we'll full it up with beer & ice at Dungog and check the ballast on the way out to the rally site.

Love your work Smithy.
Saves the rest of us a trip to the pub.

I know you said you owe me a beer but.... I guess I can accept a trailer load. Might have to share with me mates tho.
Now if only I can find one.

like the way you guys think.
if I leave all the tarps and poles behind , and load up with beer, at least when it buckets down you can drown your sorrows.

three cheers for GroverK

Hip hip beer

Hip Hip beer

Hip Hip beer

I'll bring some little creatures rossco, you shouldn't have trouble finding mates to help devour them.

Here ya go Ed, i went past after work today - the guy has it permanently out there now..

Think it might be no good - the build plate says 140kg tare!  And up close, it's built like a brick shithouse!


It looks rather large in the photo, but it's maybe 2 feet between the wheel arches.  The toolbox is 4 inches deep at most.

And the bloke's contact details lol




Tare is 140kg, so a bit heavy as a base for any kind of bike trailer

think  I might stick to my Ali , that thing looks way too heavy , too much gal and ply , even that jockey wheel adds heaps of weight.
Yesterday I gave the dog box a quick lick of paint ,  hinge mounted the first layer of ply for the bed , and carpeted the floor to stop rattles inside.
have filled it with some sundries for the weekend, no beers yet.

found this article recently regarding buying a motorcycle trailer ,



 

might be of assistance if anyone else may be contemplating adding a trailer to their K.

wouldn't mind staying with the black base colour and applying contrasting blue graphix to blend with the bike.



the following is also worth a read, for first timers like myself.


BIKING WORLD MAGAZINE

Pulling a trailer with a motorcycle

by sam • July 19, 1993 • 5 Comments

Motorcycles by design are unable to carry copious amounts of luggage or cargo. Sidecars increase loading capacity and distribution of weight, but there is nothing better than a well manufactured trailer to alternatively load a motorcycle. The main problem with loading the back-seat of a motorcycle is improper weight distribution, wear and tear, and handling problems. With proper technique, design, and loading a trailer can be added to most motorcycles.

A quick perusal through most owners manuals will provide the famous words “Vehicle not manufactured for use with a sidecar or trailer” ” use of a sidecar/trailer can/will void warranty”. Obviously the addition of any accessory to a motorcycle must use caution, the manufacturers place these warning for reasons. The selection of a trailer would be an entire article by itself, what we will deal with here is the operation and techniques of trailering.
The hitch on the motorcycle should be sturdy (connected at least to four points on the bike). Hitches should not be connected to moving suspension components, swing-arms, shock-absorbers, or drive shafts for the obvious reasons. There should be no movement in the hitch. Hitch height should be at hub-level of the rear wheel. The distance between the rear wheel and the hitch should allow the rear wheel to move up and down unimpeded, but it should not be an excessive distance from the hub.
The best designs of trailers use the largest tire height possible and high speed bearings in the wheels. Beware the use of cheap lawn and garden tires on trailers. These types of tires are made soft and compliant so as not to damage lawns and are in no way recommended for highway use.
Trailers come in all shapes and sizes. A trailer should contain the following design features. A hitch assembly rated at a significant value higher than the gross vehicle weight of the trailer (total weight of the trailer). The trailer should have an axle width to tongue length of around 1 to 3 approximately. A significantly shorter trailer tongue will not track behind the motorcycle correctly, and a significantly longer trailer tongue will create cornering problems. There should be enough overhang to the rear of the trailer of the cargo area to allow proper loading. However, it should not be so great of overhang as to possibly drag the curb when leaving your favorite gas-stop.
A trailer is an alternative method of loading gear. A motorcycle has particular design characteristics that are being modified to allow the operator to carry more gear. As the operator you will have to decide how much is enough. A trailer is not a “blank check” to bring everything. Some simple rules for loading trailers is to take everything you would put on or in the bike and put it in the trailer instead. This is true alternative loading. Of course if you look down at the wide open maw of the emptiness of the trailer and start filling remember; the trailer total weight should be distributed over the axles so that the tongue weight is about 10 – 20 percent of the total weight of the trailer. Ideally ball weight around 10-15 kg ( 22 - 33lbs)  , not more than 20 kgs ( 44 lbs ) Figure the total allowance of weight for the bike by looking in your owners manual. Add all the gear weight on the bike including passengers and riders. Don’t forget to add the tongue weight of the trailer. If you are in the positive and not overweight your doing good. If the amounts are over start shedding gear. Motorcycles are very finicky on how much weight they are moving.
Remember all of the weight (trailer, motorcycle, rider) is still going to be stopped by those same brakes, and accelerated by the same drive train. Depending on the weight of the trailer you choose to tow, all of the components on the motorcycle are going to wear a lot faster. Brakes and tires may be the most effected component on the motorcycle. Proper loading is going be the most important part of trailering because its going to effect every other part of the handling of the motorcycle.
When starting out and stopping a trailer you want to be as straight as possible. The degree of difference at the hitch between the trailer and motorcycle is going to create side forces on the motorcycle as it begins to move. The resistance to moving of the trailer will pull the bike over in the direction the trailer is. For an example if the motorcyclist stops with the trailer “kicked out” to the right the motorcycle will be pulled to the right as it begins to move forward. With the motorcycle and trailer in line the resistance will not effect balance. If the hitch is to high, and is mounted significantly over the level of the hub a lever of force will be created when starting out lightening the front wheel of the motorcycle. The resistance of the trailer creates this effect and steering wobble is usually the result. The effect of the trailer on the bike can be very slight or so severe a hazardous riding condition will result. No matter how well the trailer or bike is setup and designed the trailer will have some of these effects.
When stopping a motorcycle trailer combination allow increased room to stop. Only experience will show how much, but the increased weight being stopped of the bike and trailer will require more brake effort over longer distances. When stopping the bike should be kept as upright and straight as possible. The surge of the trailer forward as the bike stops should be directed as straight as possible through the bike. If the bike is leaned over and turning during braking the surge will have a tendency to push the bike over in the opposite direction, or push the rear wheel to the side. This effect can be minimal or severe depending on the amount of braking and the weight of the trailer.
If the hitch is set up wrong another problem can occur. On hitches that are above the rear hub of the motorcycle when braking the weight shift normal to stopping lightens the rear wheel. This effect will be exaggerated even more by a high hitch. Some trailer manufacturers attempt to engineer methods that lessen or do away with this effect by the way their trailers are made.
Another frightening effect can be the front wheel lightening on braking. Excessively heavy trailers on low slung hitches can lighten the front wheel and create a wobble when slowing. A simplification of the problem would be a five hundred pound trailer with fifty to sixty pounds of tongue weight. Most of the weight of the trailer during braking is being transmitted to the hitch. Depending on the degree of difference between the hitch and hub that weight can transmitted in a downward direction on the hitch increasing tongue weight significantly. The effect would be similar to a five hundred pound giant standing on your hitch while you try to balance and stop.
Depending on the weight and design of a trailer in slow speed turns it will tend to pull the bike aside in the direction of the turn. This effect will be dependent on the weight of the trailer and the resistance to rolling. In high-speed (highway turns) the trailer can track on the outside of the turn pulling the bike up-right. This effect is usually minimal but can drastically effect the operation of the motorcycle if the trailer is overloaded.
Obviously the motorcycle trailer combination is going to operate easier if it is properly maintained. Most trailer manufacturers have excellent suggestions on tire inflation, bearing care, and care of hitches. The problem usually lays in the operator not doing the recommended service. Tires fail and so do bearings. The operator is the final inspector for safety when a trailer goes out on the road. Most manufacturers recommend at least seasonal maintenance on bearings and side-wall pressure ratings of tires for fully loaded trailers. As part of your pre-ride inspection of your bike include the trailer and inspect every item just like you do on your bike. Include the hitch assembly depending on the type of hitch check for obvious problems and wear. On hitches try and insure proper lubrication and fit to the bike.
Safety chains should be included on all trailers. We all have heard the excuses for improper safety chains. Some riders state they would rather have the trailer “break away” in case of accident or massive failure. Some riders think that safety chains are not required on motorcycles. Most states require safety chains or cables. If the trailer “breaks away” where is it going to go and who is it going to hurt. Ultimately the rider is responsible for any damage his vehicle or trailer causes.
Safety chains should come in pairs and be attached to the frame of the trailer and motorcycle. Some states allow appropriate cables to substitute for chains, but check your local police for verification. Chains or cables should not drag the ground and should cradle the tongue if the hitch fails. Insure that the chains or cables are long enough to allow the bike to turn.
Trailers allow a motorcyclist to include the extra gear desired and not pile the bike high with everything. A trailer may be the way to entice the significant other to come along, lured by the charms of an opulent camp sight. The trailer allows a motorcyclist to bring “real” luggage when checking into a hotel. With proper technique and set up a trailer allows more flexibility for touring/grocery getting. The signs of shock from check out staff at the local grocer are excellent.

NSW Road Regulations for Towing trailers , beware this is for all road vehicles.


Albys trailer plans are also worth a look if you are contemplating your own design.

finally took the time to empty out the contents of my Kart today,after a trip up to the Karuah rally.
before doing so , I thought I might grab some stats. So I did a "weigh in" on the tow ball hitch.

these are the results .

loaded weight ( moderate camping gear, no gas cylinders ) came in at  18kg ( 33lb) at the ball.

unladen weight ( once empty )   = 7.5kg ( 16lb ) at the ball. remember this is only a 55kg ( 121lb ) alloy trailer.

tried out some weights . using 5kg ( 11lb ) concrete pavers.

90KG load spread 2/3 to the rear over the axle. didn't change the ball weight much.    
 ball weight 18kg.




60kg load ,   50/50  load spread  front and rear.
ball weight 20kg.
 note how much difference it makes removing weight from the trailers rear, without adding extra to the front


I removed the final balance of weights from the rear , leaving only the 30kg on the front, (no pic ) scales tipped in at 22kg ( 48lb ) at the ball.

next job will be to check some gear and rough weights per item , just as Damo did with his. I can't imagine I'll come up with as much , but it'll be handy to know.

still need to lengthen the towbar uprights by about 1.5 - 2 inches, to bring the hitch into a better horizontal plane. 
originally Damo had it mounted to the gearbox /frame bolt, it is currently down below the ABS.




looking forward to a few happy miles with the kart.

I will throw in my limited learnings here as well..  Grover has made it easily clear to see how the weight moved can change a lot of things.

The one thing Nicole and I found that made the best improvement to handleing was to have the line of push (as it were) from the tow hitch to tow bar on the same level as the centre of final drive/tow bar . This means when you use the engine or brakes to slow the force is pushing straight foward with the bike. not foward and up. Just as the extra 1.5 - 2 inches will do.

The small amount of height at the front of the trailer at rest is levelled out when the bike is loaded with our weight  (Goondiwindy on the way home after Narrrendarra/Dubbo)

Exactly right especially when braking so as not to lift weight from the rear wheel.

picture tells a thousand words alby ... good onya

exactly what I was thinking Alby.
when suggesting to lengthen the uprights, this means to drop the towball about 2 inches from its current position.
so as to agree with Rick , avoid lifting in the rear end. Also I travel solo most of the time , it may change ( if the kids get interested ).
it sits on an awkward angle at present as it was originally mounted forward on the gearbox/ frame mounts, which put it on a level plane.
sound advice guys , thanks heaps.

paid  a visit to my local antiques dealer today (Vinnies), and found a much sought after period style cabinet to utilize as a bathroom vanity.
I enjoy old style antiquities and the stories that surround them. and as our house is a 1920's  vintage , this piece will fit in well.

not sure of its manufacture date , but it is completely handbuilt .
 none of the drawers can be interchanged, due to their individual crafting. ( I think some one stuffed it up) but hey , it is unique, a one off like no other.
 all drawer carcasses are handcut dovetail both front and rear. 

the back panel is made of boarding that is lapped , unlike todays techniques.
very much characterises early 20th century Australia design, plain and simple lines.

with a bit of stripper, varnish and some sourcing out of a hand basin,drainpipe and tapware, it should provide for a neat addition to our bathroom.
might even try and add some tiling between the rear uprights.

I am starting to hear a few concerned voices , muttering what the hell has this anything to do with our enjoyment of K bikes......

well seeing as our troop carrier was otherwise indisposed , and collection was required ( actually , insisted upon ) today, a quick glance around  and what the heck ...
I've got a trailer  , and a method of towing it , why not the K 
 so now I have found further use for Ol Blue and the Kart. I don't know that I will ever go to the extremes of towing much bigger and cumbersome objects as we have witnessed here at times. but today it did get me out of trouble .
very much like our K's , this story brings to mind the desire we all have to secure the longevity of something we enjoy . 


BTW, towball weight came in at 12 kg, weight distribution wasn't at the premium .most of our camping gear still loaded inside .
 It was a short and slow trip thankfully.
cabinet timber is about the same weight construction as pine. and I placed the timber framed mirror inside the Kart.

Good pick up Ed, you don't often find good old pieces like that at Vinnies. Should make a good solid vanity unit.
I bet you got some looks picking it up on the bike trailer. 

Smithy,the old guys who brought it out of the store looked around, 
seeing only the K and trailer parked on the footpath outside the door, said where are we putting this? I was polite with my response.

Just as this piece of furniture has stood the test of time ,so have our K's, so why wouldn't you preserve them longer?
 a bit of a revamp, maybe remodel and life continues for many of them.

So when do you start French polishing the tank?

Al

soon as I buff the inside of the sump.

looking forward to heading off to Tassie in the early part of 2015 with a few of the Aussie Krew.
It will be a good testing time for the Kart.

I purchased the Kart for trips just like this , so I'll make the most of it on this one.
stuff I will have on board for comfort will be things such as,

some camp chairs with stubby holders for the Krew ,a 2 or 3kg gas cylinder with cooktop  to warm up our waffles and baked beans , cookware , dinnerware
some solar LED lighting to keep the bugs away from us.
not sure if the kitchen sink will fit , so I'll fit a fold out makeshift prep table/ sink to the trailer, of course , it's just to make the sKones on .

 tarps 2.7 x 4.3 and 2.4 x 3.0,plus a couple of poles , I'll try to source out some alloy ones , they are not as strong , but much lighter.
folding ( roll up)aluminium camp table , camera tripod, -5 degree sleeping bag, 
 essential wet weather gear , it rains like England in Tassie all year round.

 tent with camp stretcher and foam matress,or a tent bed or one like this  , weighs only 16 kg for a double size.   sorry, no shared rooms.
 much lighter than carrying one of these.   quicker than setting up a tent and bed, and keeps you high and dry ,sling a tarp over and you are set.
Esky , don't forget the esky.

some of these items may sound luxurious to some folk , but the possibility of spending 10 days exposed to the weather , I'd sooner be comfortable whilst touring.
for shorter trips just a sleeping bag , tent and mattress are fine .
Tassie weather in Jan - Feb ranges from -5 sleet to 40 degrees , who knows what will happen.

for piece of mind I'll carry some sundry repair items should there be the likelihood of breakdowns. such as starter brushes , relays , switchgear, globes and fuses ,
shockie bolt, shockie,  clutch cable, and as most mothers say " be sure to take plenty of clean underwear".
so just enough to keep us moving.

I had the privilige of a visit from an Ol Fart today . He came to relieve me of Ol Blue for the week . and rightly so , after the kind loan of his  1100LT  back in October last year.(   sold yesterday and gone to Sydney )  
 so if any folk in the Hunter see the Ol Fart around , give him a wave, mind you he probably won't recognise you. so be polite if he doesn't return the gesture.
It must be snowing up there in those Guyra hills , cause it is cold and windy down here . and it is coming from that direction.
My driveway felt more like one of those wind tunnels like they test vehicles in , only it was much cooler.  looks a bit like the bloke in the beanie.
btw , he much prefers the northern climate.

Anyway before releasing Blue into his care we did some mods on the towbar hitch, to help level it out.
this is how it went.


we dropped the ball end by about 50mm , and left the front mounts in place ,
 keeping with the 30mm x 3mm flat steel bar for the uprights.



this is before modifying the upright supports. as you can see the trailer appears to be pointing uphill so to speak.


this is after, which resulted in a more level line for the push / pull force on the drawbar.
hopefully this will have a positive effect on the braking and ride comfort.



Next weekend will be a good test run , as I take it down to Waz's with some parts.

despite the strong winds today , Blue made it back to Branxton without any issue.

Hey grover,
See that top box , what do I search for in looking for one of these, there bigger than the standard k1100 lt ones.

malcoops wrote:Hey grover,
See that top box , what do I search for in looking for one of these, there bigger than the standard k1100 lt ones.

my father in law calls them a "Suicide box"   as they have a tendency to open up unexpectedly. and Yes , I have experienced this on at least one occasion .  
this is the standard K  top box , anyone else able to clarify codes or name for this style.

Enjoyed a ride to Batemans Bay last weekend. stopping in at the Waz's on the way through.


The trip down was a solo effort on the bike. with some ballast in the trailer, including a car tyre and rim , a 3' solid steel axle , and some other miscellaneous parts .
the adjustment that we made to the hitch felt good , no uneasy moments were encountered.


the return trip from Batemans Bay included a pillion , an additional 15" tyre and rim , and a torsion axle  which gave us a feel of how the bike handled under weight.
the bike handled very well, had plenty of grunt even when engaging the uphill overtaking lanes at 100+ km/h.
so the trailer proved an ease during the whole trip. 

Gaz just watched in amazement as I negotiated the multi lanes without the assistance of the left hand trailer light. 
not sure what is going on there , as all other lights work , both on the trailer and the bike . I've changed globes - no difference?

as you can see the K has many followers.
 


looking across the mouth of Tomakin, this was our stayover for the night. nice spot. a fishermans haven.


A quick stop at Ulladulla waterfront on the ride home. 
as you can see , my daughter was enjoying herself. After 2 hours , and starting to get much cooler , she urged me to let her continue on further.
whilst the rest of the family were following in the warmth of the wagon. The car was very tempting as the temp dropped.
the breeze over the weekend felt as though it was blowing in from the nearby snowfields.



All up I'm guessing the trailer was weighing in at about 150kg or more. I'll do a towball weight measure over the next few days.
It held well to the road and managed the twisty bits very well at reasonable speeds.
It felt best when pulling uphill under load , no holding back on power. overtaking was so easy.

A very enjoyable run with the "plow".

godonya ed ...a good trip with some great company

glad it all came together

cheers

as all other lights work , both on the trailer and the bike . I've changed globes - no difference?

Ed I will tell you now that after 25 years in the trailer game I have come to the conclusion that there are 3 types of trailer tail lights

1. Cheap and nasty crappy lights
2. Medium priced crappy lights
3. Really expensive crappy lights

I used to give my customers a choice and most took the expensive ones.
Get some LED lights for it they are worth having and dont upset the BMU or flash rate.

thanks Rick , 
unless I do a full re wire of the trailer it currently has me bemused. 
Leds are worth investigating ,if anything, more for a power and brightness upgrade .
There was a mention from my wife , that I should add more to the trailer for better visibilty, maybe a large forum sticker will help?

I did a weigh in on the towball from last weekends trip,  it came in at 15kg. which I feel happy with , as it gave us the advantage to carry a pillion.

Gaz was kind enough to post me his thoughts of camping gear, 

Enlarge this image


mine at this stage is a bit more extensive. I don't mind going to the effort of packing some luxuries to make the conditions a bit more comfortable.
The young fellow has been helping to compile this list , I've just edited it for him


                                            Camping gear check list
Thing’s  to take to Tassie.
This list is designed to cater for one large size adult and one medium size child for a period of 12 days on the road.  
We will be tenting all the time , with the occassional overnight stay at powered sites, to replenish our souls and equipment.           
We will also be crossing state borders , fresh produce  is not permitted to cross these borders, so fresh food will be obtained in each state. 



         Riding gear summer/winter 
           weather conditions in Tassie vary quite significantly , and requires both summer and winter gear.
          all riding gear will be either worn or carried in the panniers.
          equipment per rider/pillion
·         1 x Helmet 
·         2 pr Gloves ( 1 pr summer , 1 pr winter)
·         1 pr boots
·         1 pr pants- dri rider
·          1 x summer jacket 
          1 x winter jacket , carried in left side pannier
·         1 x rainsuit carried in right side pannier for easy access on the run.
       
        Camping gear
·          4 man tent+ h/duty pegs and ropes
          1 x 3.05 x 2.30 tarp, 
          1 x tarp-ground sheet
·         2 x Sleeping bag’s and pillows
·         2 x Stretchers and mattresses( self inflating).
·         2 x solar shed LED lights one will be mounted in the lid of the Kart.
          2 x wind up dynamo LED Torches 
           2 x folding camp chairs
·         Sun shelter pop up, can be used for quick rain shelter, and added as a vestibule with tent. 
·         Umbrella beach, attached to drawbar for quick shelter in sun or rain.
·         Umbrella personal 
          I don't carry blow up mattresses , due to their high disaster rate. I've slept on cold and punctured air mattresses. not good.
          1 x 4 outlet surge protected powerboard 
          1 x 5m H/duty extension cord
        
        Cooking  gear
·         Bowls,plates,cups,knife,fork,spoon,spork
·         Can opener,strainer/server/ladle.  Egg lifter
·         cigarette  lighter
·         Pots,  kettle ( in Oz, we boil the billy),  toaster,fry pan
·         3kg Gas  cylinder , plus screw on cooktop burner
          In Australia , 9kg cylinders are the common size used, it will be interesting to see what it will cost me for filling a 3kg bottle.
·         Peeler
·         Tongs
·         Spatula
·         Tupperware container
·         wash bowl, sponge/scourer, dish liquid        
·         plastic bags / garbage bags    
·         cutting board  
·         cooking oil
·         paper towel     
·         foil/cling wrap 
          10L esky/ cooler 
          thermos , to carry hot water during riding. never know when a cuppa is needed. my son enjoys a tea, as do I.
          2x 1L water bottles (personal drinking ) 
          5L and 10L water container

        Toiletries
·          toiletry bag
         Toothbrush,toothpaste,
·         comb,
·         deodorant,
·         razor/shave cream- for me , not the young fellow.
·         Mirror,
·         lip balm.                                                                                                                                           
·         Insect repellent[aerogard]
·         first aid kit - always carried in right side glove box
·                 face washer
·         hand / tea towel x 2
·         sunscreen
·         toilet paper, porta loo ( stool type), National Parks don't like you leaving call cards. 
·          elasticised clothes line, pegs
       
        Food
          local grocer shops will be accessible at the end of each day. Tinned items will be consumed immediately.
·         Baked beans
·         Rice cream/ desserts
·         flavoured pastas/rice 
·         cup a soup
·         Biscuits.
·          1 ltr Long life milk.
·         Tea bags
·         Block chocolate
·         Fruit/ muesli  bars
·         Crackers/rice cakes
·         Sugar
·         Shaker pancake mix - just add water
·         Eggs ( max 6 per purchase)
·         Spreads - Jam     peanut butter   sprinkles  promite
·         Cordial
·         marshmallows and sticks 
 
         Clothing 
          Not knowing how long between wash sessions, we'll plan for 3-4 days of clean gear.
          Per person
·         5 x Undies
·         2 x Boxers - sleepwear
          1 pr Onesie's ( for the young chap only)
·         3 x Singlets
·         5 x Socks
·         3 x T shirts
·         2 x long pants
·         1 x Raincoat/poncho
·         Sneakers , crocs ( lightweight, closed in, foam shoe , comfy and good for in water), thongs
·         Sun hat
·         1 pr boardshorts / swimmers
·         1 x Beach towel
·         sunglasses
          2 x beanies


          Maintenance/ tools
         Tyre repair kit, wheel brace, 12v compressor,   screwdrivers - flat / phillips , assorted open/ring spanners, adj shift spanner, allen keys,
          blade fuses 15- 20 amp, asst'd globes including headlight , tail and turn, multimeter, test light, electrical wire , elec tape , duct tape,                   jump leads, stanley knife, pliers/cutters, 1m heavy fence wire, hi-viz mesh vest ( kept in glove box with FA kit),
          If it takes more than this to fix it , it will be towed.

          Items in Blue are now packed, Ball weight currently sits at 16kg. I'll try to stay at 20kg or below.


As you can see , it is a massive list of items , but look at the somewhat in effect it has on the ball weight.

Also received some help over the last few weeks in preparation for our upcoming trip.
we tested the trailer lights once more , seems to have a bad earth on the common Yellow left turn wire, maybe due to it being rubbed through somewhere .
we bypassed it by using the spare Blue wire. all is now OK.
It seams that most auto shops are converting over to selling LED lighting , so it may be a matter taking Ricks suggestion of upgrading in the future.
New trailer tyres are next on the list.

Well I have to say , the Kart is still proving its worth . 
With school holidays currently in progress , we ( family) are taking advantage of Kamping at our usual location just north of Gloucester ,
 on the edge of the Barrington Tops National Park.

The view from Carsons Lookout , a popular vantage point for many local riders on the Thunderbolts Way, 
and a regular stopover for many of the Aussie Krew as they venture to meet up for gatherings.


Kamping , back to basics . 


The Kampground is bounded by two rivers , providing for the occasional refreshing bath / dip, and water for cooking , washing etc .
Due to the regular flooding of the area , firewood is usually easily skavenged , and the Kart makes for the ideal pickup.


On Friday morning , prior to heading down to meetup with the Krew and Paul ( BAE) , sKones were prepared in the Kamp oven , served fresh and warm with Kream and jam. 
Sadly Smithy missed out on the leftovers ,as he was about 15mins behind me , as he also travelled down the same day. 


Arrived home last night after a very enjoyable weekend during Pauls visit to see the rain we encountered in the late afternoon would be playing havok in the local region . Including the kampsite , where my family are still spending time . So today it will be a quick jaunt back up there to retrieve everyone , as the grounds are prone to flooding as previously mentioned. It usually takes a couple of days for the rivers to rise after heavy rain , and with the tidal effect from the coastal end , you never know what the outcome will be. But we will play it safe and pack up early .Hopefully home today.

Awesome Ed. Reminds me of a past life when we used to take the kids camping on the Turon River in the hills around Hill End/Sofala and also at Dunn's Swamp (Wollemi NP). Cooking damper in the hot coals of a campfire, served with lashings of butter and Golden Syrup, was a highlight and a memory the kids still talk about 20 years on.
They were sunny days

G'day Ed, the Bretti reserve looks its usually fine self, have fun mate. I just tried to enlarge the camping equipment pic in post 43 allit does is open my PM inbox????? is that where it came from mate?????

Can't complain about bush cooking when the results are like this . 
Like yourself Nigel , our kids have many great memories of this campground , simple and easy , even spent time tinkering on the K.
Keith , I hit the enlarge button , and came up with the inbox as well. Not sure what is happening there. Possibly due to Gaz having PM'd it to me , and I copied it from there.

Although not required for Pauls visit , as Rosskko and the Krew did an excellent job in getting the Naked on the road for the weekend gathering .
But still has some promise on the local scene .............   

Born Again Eccentric wrote:

TacKler wrote:

GroverK wrote:Maybe I should put a taxi sign above the Kart , and give the poor bloke a free lift.

Uber K?

GroverK & TacKler, I like your thinking....


Reduce this image

(apologies for the wilful cloning of one of your Tassie pics Ed!)

Might still be something in this concept after all.....     Uber in Newcastle



Spotted this roadside bacon n eggs kitchen on our ride with Paul to the Grey Gum Cafe.
After hearing the background history of this place , it was good I only stopped for the pic .
A burnt out Roadhouse , which once served as a "Halfway House" , not named as such because it is halfway along the Putty Road either.




It was great to find the Koffee Run  mobile shack on my way back up to the campsite , serving up some excellent bacon n egg rolls . Well worth the stop.
If you are travelling along the Bucketts way , they are located opposite the Booral School.



the loaded roll krammed with all the good stuff.

That's some haul of logs   - hope you had a chainsaw in the Kart. Right..I'm off to cook some bacon (can't think why I'm hungry)

Will, my "StihlnotworKing" was not available , so I opted for the "he'sKnutsKutter" to get the job done.
The low torque of the K had no issues with getting the load back to the tent site.