I'm still pondering this sidecar idea and am scheduled to take the local 3 wheeler class (local community college) in mid March. If we get one, we will likely trailer it behind our motorhome at times. I would think loading the rig on a trailer is straight-forward...drive it on. However, with no reverse gear, can you easily roll these things backward down a ramp using the brakes to control descent? I've done that with a two wheeler (feet down, of course) but am curious how well it works with the SC.
According to David Hough, you should use two ramps for a SC. I don't remember what Hal had to say about that. AS far as backing out goes, get your mother-in-law to "catch" the rig as it rolls back. She'll love the opportunity to help, and you'll love how nicely buffed out the rear of the rig ends up. Win-win !
Yes you can roll it off ... try to set up the ramps so they are not very steep is best. You can block up the lower ends of the ramps if need be. (Some of those small ramps they make that you run a car up on may work well for this). Also it is a lot easier to get the rig off if the trailer bed is not angled down at the front but more level. Common sense really.
Park the motorhome in the backyard, forget the ramps, put an ad in the paper/ebay to sell the motorhome. Now that your ready get on the rig and go where ever it is you want to go.... LOL You'll have lots of extra money for travel.
If you can load and unload it now with two wheels, you'll find it a lot easier with three.
Just remember to park with your front facing up hill, and your rear facing down, and gravity will take care of reverse. This also applies to parking spaces, just use gravity to back in, if the space slopes to the curb. It becomes easy to remember after you pull the rig uphill a couple times out of a space you should have backed into.
Originally written by tkpinsc on 2/5/2007 4:35 PM
If you can load and unload it now with two wheels, you'll find it a lot easier with three.
Just remember to park with your front facing up hill, and your rear facing down, and gravity will take care of reverse. This also applies to parking spaces, just use gravity to back in, if the space slopes to the curb. It becomes easy to remember after you pull the rig uphill a couple times out of a space you should have backed into.
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Just a comment on rolling backwards into a parking space. One time on a one way street I backed in and got a ticket for it. These were those angled type parking spaces. I was in my truck. Asked a coupe of cops about if it was leagal if I had been on the sidecar rig and neither of them coudl give me an answer other than : If you do get ticketed it seems like you would have a good chance of having a good case if you wnet to court". Not a good answer as who wants all the hassle. If I had th etime it would probably be owrht persueing before hand but there are only 24 hours in a day for some reason.
Putting a sidecar rig into or onto most trailers is a tight fit. I've an extra wide dovetail trailer and riding up can still be a little hard on my paint and or clutch. I picked up a low cost boat wench at Wallyworld and crank my rigs up. Loading is now easy and always well under control. Just a thought and one more option. Danny
Danny,
My low cost wench (the marriage license cost $7.50 in 1961) got cranky and tired of helping push our rigs onto the trailer so I built a lowboy sidecar hauler with a 13" high deck and a 5' tailgate/ramp and drive on and off easily.
Just kiddin', I really built it to pickup and deliver clients rigs and rescue brokedown hack rigs.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecar
My Dnepr has a reverse, but I didn't use it the only time I had it on a trailer, it was when I first brought it home.
U-Haul didn't have a 72" wide short trailer with ramps, the Dnepr is 68" wide. They had a utility trailer with a 72" opening at the back and no ramps. The trailer deck was 8" off the ground. I brought a couple of 2X8 boards to use as ramps.
I bought it at RAMCO in Seattle. Steppan, RAMCO's mechanic, looked at the trailer and said that he didn't need the ramps, he just drove the rig up to the back of the trailer, bumped the front tire up to the deck, revved the engine, dropped the clutch and the rig hopped right up into the trailer! I was impressed!
When I unloaded it, I just pushed it off the trailer without using my boards. It just bumped down with no problem.
Mind you, the Dnepr has 19" wheels and 9" of ground clearance.
Dave
