i have a line on a hack (very much like the one i have,) and i need to travel 600+ miles to get it. the car gets 25mpg and i'd have to install a trailer hitch and borrow the trailer, prob. have to register the trailer, and the cost just keeps getting higher! my question is this...has anyone ever piggy-backed a side-car on the rolling chassis of a side-car? i have a friend with carpenter skills and we could build a cradle, and i know the weight is not an issue, and i know the bulk and wind resistance is. but has anyone ever done this? thank you so much.
Shouldn't be a problem. take the body off of your sidecar and have your buddy build a platform out of lumber that is large enough to hold the new body. Fill it with disposable ballast, like rocks maybe. When you get to your destination, discard the rocks and tie on your new body.
This is a complete sidecar not just a body so a bit of Yankee ingenuity may be needed to build/fabricate a stable platform to mount the sidecar on. Your loaded sidecar will have to clear your sidecar wheel and yourself.
In some states you may have a problem if the rolling chassis doesn't have a legel ferder.
People have been known to carry motorcycles on a flatbed sidecar or a chassis with a rai (and fender)l, so weight isn't a problem.
Removing the wheel and (if possible) the fender will make it easier to load and tie down your new car.
Lonnie
I once had to transport a bed 30km/20mi that barely let me see to the right side. never would have passed by a cop without a bad ticket.
With some wood 2(3)"*3", 4 "nails and old carpet you will be able to make some provisional support. Take lots of ratchet type strapers with you. at least 2 of the stronger ones 1 1/2" - 2" wide and 4 of the 1" wide ones should do the trick.
Just in case stick a long load flag (red rag) or triangle on the back so people are warned ahead and don't run into your special transport.
Keep sight, legs and body free, and wrap the exposed bars and sharp corners with something for not to hurt yourself.
Every few miles check if all the strapers are tight and the load doesn't move.
(I still remember the head wash once upon the time, I recieved from my officer for a slipped loose tank mine on a full loaded army truck)
Sven
one-night - 5/28/2011 8:29 AM
i have a line on a hack (very much like the one i have,) and i need to travel 600+ miles to get it. the car gets 25mpg and i'd have to install a trailer hitch and borrow the trailer, prob. have to register the trailer, and the cost just keeps getting higher! my question is this...has anyone ever piggy-backed a side-car on the rolling chassis of a side-car? i have a friend with carpenter skills and we could build a cradle, and i know the weight is not an issue, and i know the bulk and wind resistance is. but has anyone ever done this? thank you so much.
Did you consider having a motorcycle freight company pick it up and deliver it to your home? It may work out to be less expensive than driving there and back. Around $1.00/mile based on my experience arranging shipping of a rig back and forth to Murray KY from Florida using Keyboard Motorcycle Shipping.
Balance of load is very important!!!!!
If not:
in a hard left bend the nose of the sidecar will dive and the back tire lift so sudden that you have nearly no change to react. and might flip over.
Keep the load's center of gravity close to the sidecar wheel!
Make a test ride with the load before taking of serious. and if you feel uncomfortable relocate the new sidecar a little more back ward.
You might have to ride slow for hours and better make frequent stops or eventually pass the night on your travel back , but this ride for sure will become an adventure for the eternal kid inside your soul and turn into an anecdote for your grand kids.
Best luck and enjoy it.
Sven
hey RogerE, thanks for the tip; that's an option i hadn't thought of. on one hand it would be a couple hundred dollars more than buying a trailer hitch, borrowing a trailer and going in the car, but on the other hand it would be someone else out there on the road taking chances and handling un-expecteds. again thanks
