Newbie in awe; Moving rig w/trailer

Single axle trailer will work fine. You'll have a wide load of over 1,200#. Check the total width of the rig and choose your trailer accordingly. A flatbed or shortside trailer is easier to load and tie down. The entry of a covered trailer is narrower than the listed trailer width and they can cause loading and tiedown problems.
With a 3,500# single axle trailer the weight bias won't be a problem.

Check with the Evergreen Safety Council for a training course nearest you.
If none available, download the books available here or buy the "Yellow Book" and start reading.

Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars

Thank you, I will probably rent a trailer from UHaul for this trip.
I'll check out site for training courses. I have 40+ yrs of riding solo, so from what I've read so far, I have a lot of habits to break. I noticed that there is a course in Washington State for about $255.00, is this the approximate rate for a course. I have zero experience on sidecars, but I have wanted one sense I saw my first Harley rig years ago. I'm looking at a 99 Goldwing SE with a Daytona car. Looks to be in Very Good condition. What recommendations would you have for a beginner. Any advise will be appreciated.

Originally written by smokeynal on 7/27/2008 6:14 PM

Thank you, I will probably rent a trailer from UHaul for this trip.
I'll check out site for training courses. What recommendations would you have for a beginner. Any advise will be appreciated.

Find a big empty parking lot and PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE! (and I'll practice my spelling).

SidecarMike, Thanks thats the best advise you could give. I really want to get out there and ride this thing, but I dont want to be an accident looking for a place to happen.
Roy

I'm in the same situation. I expect delivery of my first ever sidecar in a few days (1993 Goldwing w/ Champion Escort sidecar). Since the next Evergreen Safety Council (ESC) training course in my area isn't until October, I received some excellent advice from Tub Maxson (he's the one who handles the Louisville courses). His advice is shown below, as well as a reference to a book that many experienced sidecar folks recommend.

Good luck,
Gary
-----------------------------------------------------------
From Tub Maxson:

There is a “load triangle” that is inside the area outlined by the three wheels. Most of the weight should be inside the load triangle. Any weight outside the load triangle will contribute to instability. Since the driver sits directly on the triangle line, half of the driver’s weight is already outside the load triangle. Putting a passenger on the seat will add half of the passenger weight also outside potentially making the rig more unstable, primarily in right hand curves. The passenger should always be inside the triangle. Most sidecar accidents happen in right hand curves, taken too fast. Centrifugal force tends to cause the sidecar wheel to rise. New riders can panic when they feel this, and chop t1he throttle, thereby dropping the wheel back to the ground. Unfortunately, this also tends to cause the sidecar rig to move quickly to the left, across traffic. Very dangerous. Be sure to keep your speeds low until you have sufficient experience on three wheels to understand the load shift.

Ballast will contribute to stability and is recommended especially with new riders. You can use large water jugs, sand bags, lead shot bags, etc. I had two 12x12 lead plates made from old lead bullet castings, each weighing 30 lbs. I put them under the seat of the sidecar, as close to the sidecar wheel as possible. You can also find a tire changing place, and inquire about the left over wheel balance weights. Since scrap metal is expensive, you may have to pay scrap prices to get them. I still keep ballast in my sidecar most of the time.

Purchase the book, “Driving a Sidecar Outfit” written by David Hough. Available through Whitehorse Press. This book is the best novice sidecar material available to you.

I do not mean to scare you, as I love riding sidecars, but they are much different than two wheelers, and many inexperienced three wheelers will revert to their two wheel experience in tight situations. It would be best to get some solo experience with ballast before you put your family in the sidecar, and please drive slow until you really understand to the dynamics of the sidecar in curves and braking.

The width on the '99 Wing/Champion Sidecar is;
68" from edge of bike rear tire to edge of sidecar tire
the total width of rig is84" from left side mirror on bike to
fender trim around sidecar tire. Also if you do decide to go the
uhaul path, you may consider getting it at uhaul here and renting it
one-way if they will do that...also sounds like some excellent advice
on sidecar handling for a new rider that you have been receiving...

Gary, thanks for sharing, started reading some of the material on this site yesterday. Everyone is saying the same thing " go slow, learn the basics first.
Thanks
Roy

Jerry, I was about to email you for the diamensions of the rig, thank you. As you can see I'm really excited about this rig. My trailer is not going to be wide enough, so I will be going with the UHaul. Will deffenetly pick-up there and one way it home. This site and organization is a wealth of information, it is nice to know that people still share their hard won knowledge and love of cycles/sc. Be in touch in the next few days.
Thanks
Roy

Fyi: Regarding the $255.00 sidecar training fee in Washington State.
The State pays the first $100.00, trainee pays the balance.

Lonnie

Thats good info to have. I assume it applies to non-residents also? Currently trying to find one just a bit closer to home (Alabama).
Thanks
Roy

Here's an ESC training schedule. Looks like North Carolina or Louisville, KY will be closest to you. You may want to call ESC to see if there will be a session closer to you that's not listed on the schedule. Their phone # appears on the link.

http://www.esc.org/step_national_schedule.php

Hello,
As all the pros will tell you on this sight. Make sure a professional adjusts and checks the rig to ensure it is alligned properly. As Hack said, PRACTICE>>Practice>>>>Practice. In time, you will be able to do your own adjustments, and maintenance. My advice, DO NOT EVEN THINK OF GETTING ON A HIGHWAY UNTIL YOU HAVE AT LEAST A 100 HOURS OF RIDING ON BACKROADS AND HAVE ACQUIRED THE FEEL FOR TURNS, WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION,AND THE NUANCES OF RIDING A RIG!!!!!!!
My 2 cents!
Good Luck!!!!

Copied from a post by Joyce Canfield USCA President:

Click on the link below to read Hal Kendall's work. It's a big file, so be patient. If you have a dial up connection, you can also get this and all of Hal's books on a CD from him. Details are at the end of this message.

http://www.sidecar.com/Files/SC%20OP%20Manual.pdf

Hal Kendall, noted sidecar authority and founding member of the United Sidecar Association, has asked that we post the following books to the website in their entirety. When I asked Hal what prompted him to make such a generous offer, he replied as follows;

“The reason for giving the manuals to the USCA, and making them available at cost via CD-ROM from my home is that safety should NOT be something that needs to be BOUGHT if you can't afford it. If you believe in it, it must be freely shared.”

Thanks, I'll check it out.