GyroRon
Former Gyro know it all
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2003
- Messages
- 16,888
- Location
- Fort Mill South Carolina
- Aircraft
- Vans RV4 / Dominator 582 Ultrawhite
- Total Flight Time
- ALOT
So I guess Im going through a midlife crisis or something and got a wild hair up my butt to buy one of these things today.... http://www.polaris.com/en-us/slingshot/slingshot-sl-le And no, I didn't pay that much for one! bought mine used for substantially less, probably won't keep it more than a few months either. But in the meantime I'd like to tow a small trailer with the thing, Id like to be able to haul my dirtbike on a small aluminum trailer behind this thing. Trailer and bike combined weight less than 500 pounds.
There are a few hitches now on the market for these machines. This one being the least invasive on installation and my wallet. http://www.slingmods.com/polaris-slingshot-trailer-hitch-modshop It attaches to a bracket between the rear shock and the swingarm.
What I don't like about it, is the distance from the mounting point and the way it bends around to the center of the tire. It makes for alot of flex and bending and likely alot of leverage on the swingarm itself. See this video from where a guy filmed the hitch pulling a very light trailer with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=219&v=7R0rVlWQTxQ
Here is a thread on this hitch and the installation if it isn't apparent how this hitch attaches and the loads imposed on the swingarm. http://www.slingshotforums.com/threads/slingshotmodshop-small-trailer-hitch-setup.1487/
Unfortunately, there isn't much else out there for sale. There is one new hitch that just came to market, but its ALOT more money and appears you need to cut up the bodywork to install. I don't want to cut up my bodywork because I would plan to resell this thing in a few months to a year and don't want holes or slots in the panels if I remove the hitch to sell it. http://rivcoproducts.com/shop-by-mo.../trailer-hitch-for-the-polaris-slingshot.html The advantage to this hitch though is it doesn't put the weight onto a suspension piece, it would be carried by the vehicles framework. This would give a smoother ride and also its a four arm design so it should be very strong and flex free. I would just use this hitch but I don't like the 600$ price or the cutting of the bodywork to install.
My question is this.... And I know this sounds weird..... But what if I made my own version of the first hitch I posted above, but instead of the long length and the L bend at the end to bring it centered behind the tire..... Why not make one thats shorter where the ball is maybe a inch or two closer to the swingarm and make it where the ball is centered with the mounting point on the swingarm and beside the tire instead of centered with the tire? I know this would have the trailer slightly off center of the vehicle, but the trailer is only like 4 feet wide and even wildly off center it would still be " behind " the slingshot if that makes sense. My thoughts are that with a hitch being slightly shorter in length and especially centered with the mounting pioints, there would be FAR less stress on everything and FAR less bending and flexing. And I would probably be able to fabricate and weld up something like this myself, saving me from having to spend 350$ to 600$ on a pre made hitch like these two options.
Thoughts?
There are a few hitches now on the market for these machines. This one being the least invasive on installation and my wallet. http://www.slingmods.com/polaris-slingshot-trailer-hitch-modshop It attaches to a bracket between the rear shock and the swingarm.
What I don't like about it, is the distance from the mounting point and the way it bends around to the center of the tire. It makes for alot of flex and bending and likely alot of leverage on the swingarm itself. See this video from where a guy filmed the hitch pulling a very light trailer with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=219&v=7R0rVlWQTxQ
Here is a thread on this hitch and the installation if it isn't apparent how this hitch attaches and the loads imposed on the swingarm. http://www.slingshotforums.com/threads/slingshotmodshop-small-trailer-hitch-setup.1487/
Unfortunately, there isn't much else out there for sale. There is one new hitch that just came to market, but its ALOT more money and appears you need to cut up the bodywork to install. I don't want to cut up my bodywork because I would plan to resell this thing in a few months to a year and don't want holes or slots in the panels if I remove the hitch to sell it. http://rivcoproducts.com/shop-by-mo.../trailer-hitch-for-the-polaris-slingshot.html The advantage to this hitch though is it doesn't put the weight onto a suspension piece, it would be carried by the vehicles framework. This would give a smoother ride and also its a four arm design so it should be very strong and flex free. I would just use this hitch but I don't like the 600$ price or the cutting of the bodywork to install.
My question is this.... And I know this sounds weird..... But what if I made my own version of the first hitch I posted above, but instead of the long length and the L bend at the end to bring it centered behind the tire..... Why not make one thats shorter where the ball is maybe a inch or two closer to the swingarm and make it where the ball is centered with the mounting point on the swingarm and beside the tire instead of centered with the tire? I know this would have the trailer slightly off center of the vehicle, but the trailer is only like 4 feet wide and even wildly off center it would still be " behind " the slingshot if that makes sense. My thoughts are that with a hitch being slightly shorter in length and especially centered with the mounting pioints, there would be FAR less stress on everything and FAR less bending and flexing. And I would probably be able to fabricate and weld up something like this myself, saving me from having to spend 350$ to 600$ on a pre made hitch like these two options.
Thoughts?
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