Uni Go Trailers Quality questions

[mneblett]

Many thanks for the input folks.

I hate the idea of having to replace the brand-new DMC hitch for the Uni-Go version, but I will go there if I have to

One other thing I will be looking into is whether I can remove any slack between the receiver bar and the receiver tube (shims maybe?). The DMC hitch itself is very robust. I suspect the receiver bar's slack in the receiver tube is contributing some free play to the wobble.

[98288]

Many thanks for the input folks.

I hate the idea of having to replace the brand-new DMC hitch for the Uni-Go version, but I will go there if I have to

One other thing I will be looking into is whether I can remove any slack between the receiver bar and the receiver tube (shims maybe?). The DMC hitch itself is very robust. I suspect the receiver bar's slack in the receiver tube is contributing some free play to the wobble.

you may not want to "throw the baby out with the bathwater" on this. The whole assembly must be stiff and seemingly unmovable. You may possibly look into a way to further brace the hitch. I would have eliminated the lower extension part and brought the unit closer to the originating down piece from the bike frame. Seems easier to brace. I am also thinking that you have your bike on the center stand and thus the trailer looks like it is too high in the front. Cannot see how the hitch system is running on the bike. Should be NO flex here. I even had our Uni-go hitch reinforced because of some flexing and a hairline crack. Lot of twisting forces back there.

However, before going through all this just call Jay at Dauntless. He used to be a Uni-go dealer as well and is a pretty smart guy in fabrication. Maybe he can redo this for you and/or give some good advice. He was developing his own one wheel trailer back in 07 when we met up with him so maybe this hitch is part of that assembly. Keep us posted. - Bob

[mneblett]

you may not want to "throw the baby out with the bathwater" on this. The whole assembly must be stiff and seemingly unmovable. You may possibly look into a way to further brace the hitch. I would have eliminated the lower extension part and brought the unit closer to the originating down piece from the bike frame. Seems easier to brace. I am also thinking that you have your bike on the center stand and thus the trailer looks like it is too high in the front. Cannot see how the hitch system is running on the bike. Should be NO flex here. I even had our Uni-go hitch reinforced because of some flexing and a hairline crack. Lot of twisting forces back there.

However, before going through all this just call Jay at Dauntless. He used to be a Uni-go dealer as well and is a pretty smart guy in fabrication. Maybe he can redo this for you and/or give some good advice. He was developing his own one wheel trailer back in 07 when we met up with him so maybe this hitch is part of that assembly. Keep us posted. - Bob

Thanks for the further input, Bob.

I will be getting in contact with Jay -- in my dealings with him so far, I'd give him a thumbs-up, too.

BTW, I agree with shortening the receiver bar -- there is plenty of clearance under the rear fender to have the Uni-Go hitch plate be positions directly on/against the part of the bar which goes up into the receiver tube. I also think that drilling and tapping a couple holes for thumbscrews to lock down the receiver bar against the inside of the receiver tube would help eliminate slack between the bar and the tube as a source of lateral hitch plate motion.

[98288]

Thanks for the further input, Bob.

I will be getting in contact with Jay -- in my dealings with him so far, I'd give him a thumbs-up, too.

BTW, I agree with shortening the receiver bar -- there is plenty of clearance under the rear fender to have the Uni-Go hitch plate be positions directly on/against the part of the bar which goes up into the receiver tube. I also think that drilling and tapping a couple holes for thumbscrews to lock down the receiver bar against the inside of the receiver tube would help eliminate slack between the bar and the tube as a source of lateral hitch plate motion.

PM sent - Bob

[mneblett]

Thanks again to all for the suggestions. I now have a rock-solid hitch arrangement for my Uni-Go, with two modifications:

1. Shortening of the hitch receiver bar to bring the trailer closer to the bike:

Before:



After:



2. Drilling the receiver and the receiver bar to permit positive bolting of the bar to the receiver to eliminate the remaining small lateral and fore-aft play between the tubes. I used a pair of M8x1.25 thumbscrews and a coupling nut at the top, and a M8x1.25 Allen bolt at the bottom of the receiver. This arrangement makes removing/installing the receiver bar take more time, but it's worth the bother to have a no-slop set up:

[98288]

Excellent Mark. Enjoy the ride, the convenience and the reliability of your new setup. Now you can spend more time practicing backing the little rig Be careful of the 45 degree angle while backing because the sudden 'lock' can twist your balance dramatically. Outside of that.... enjoy! Glad that it all worked out for you. - Bob

[mneblett]

Excellent Mark. Enjoy the ride, the convenience and the reliability of your new setup. Now you can spend more time practicing backing the little rig Be careful of the 45 degree angle while backing because the sudden 'lock' can twist your balance dramatically. Outside of that.... enjoy! Glad that it all worked out for you. - Bob

Thanks, Bob, and thanks for the head's up -- I had not thought about the consequences of unexpectedly reaching the point of binding the universal joint! I never had that issue with my Bushtec, because I could see the trailer when I was backing, and the Bushtec hitch pin would let the trailer rotate all the way back to the saddlebag before there was a problem. I expect there will be more than one occassion when I just unhook the Uni-Go and set it aside while I maneuver out!

[98288]

Thanks, Bob, and thanks for the head's up -- I had not thought about the consequences of unexpectedly reaching the point of binding the universal joint! I never had that issue with my Bushtec, because I could see the trailer when I was backing, and the Bushtec hitch pin would let the trailer rotate all the way back to the saddlebag before there was a problem. I expect there will be more than one occassion when I just unhook the Uni-Go and set it aside while I maneuver out!

you'll get used to it. Unhooking is a PITA. Two hints: 1) use mirrors only and get used to the turning angles and 2) sometimes it is useful to just put the sidestand down... get off... and go to the back and lift the trailer to a much better angle (lift point on body on each side of wheel (down low). Have fun. - Bob

[mneblett]

you'll get used to it. Unhooking is a PITA. Two hints: 1) use mirrors only and get used to the turning angles and 2) sometimes it is useful to just put the sidestand down... get off... and go to the back and lift the trailer to a much better angle (lift point on body on each side of wheel (down low). Have fun. - Bob

Today I had a chance to take the Uni-Go out with the modified hitch receiver and receiver bar. I drove it to work (No. VA suburbs to downtown DC), including congested crawling and 65-70 mph highway time.

I'm pleased to report the rig is considerably more stable than my first couple of test rides -- quite satisfactory. Next test is in a couple weeks, heading to the MOA Gettysburg event.

And Bob, thanks again for the heads-up on the turning angles -- I was surprised how quickly the u-joint reaches its limits. Also, this --

2) sometimes it is useful to just put the sidestand down... get off... and go to the back and lift the trailer to a much better angle (lift point on body on each side of wheel (down low)

is *exactly* what I did this morning -- much more efficient than waddling back-n-forth on the bike with short legs!

[GSAddict]

you'll get used to it. Unhooking is a PITA. Two hints: 1) use mirrors only and get used to the turning angles and 2) sometimes it is useful to just put the sidestand down... get off... and go to the back and lift the trailer to a much better angle (lift point on body on each side of wheel (down low). Have fun. - Bob

Thats what I have Her for!

[98288]

Thats what I have Her for!

As part of the co pilot duties, Mary is very good at readjusting the trailer as needed. I get us into difficulties and she gets us out. We work quite well together - Bob

[GSAddict]

As part of the co pilot duties, Mary is very good at readjusting the trailer as needed. I get us into difficulties and she gets us out. We work quite well together - Bob

I would have to say Jo and I share the same system!

[bullet]

I've just read a fair number of posts both on the MOA and STOC forums about Unigo trailers and have seen about a 50-50 split between owners who have had their bad experiences and those who have nothing but praise for the little unit.
Most of the fixes suggested seem to be related to either loading of the trailer/bike combo and hitch set-ups. A fair number of the posts I've read we're from several years ago.
I am seriously considering the purchase of a Unigo and am wondering if the manufacture's quality issues have been addressed both with the trailer and the hitch.
I too like to ride long and far and cannot abide issues of poor quality or issues regarding high speed wobbles.
So the questions I will put forward are 1: have the quality/stability issues been resolved on new Unigos, 2: how much $ do they cost and 3: where is the nearest distributor? (the City of Kawartha Lakes is in southern Ontario)

[cehlbeck]

I've just read a fair number of posts both on the MOA and STOC forums about Unigo trailers and have seen about a 50-50 split between owners who have had their bad experiences and those who have nothing but praise for the little unit.
Most of the fixes suggested seem to be related to either loading of the trailer/bike combo and hitch set-ups. A fair number of the posts I've read we're from several years ago.
I am seriously considering the purchase of a Unigo and am wondering if the manufacture's quality issues have been addressed both with the trailer and the hitch.
I too like to ride long and far and cannot abide issues of poor quality or issues regarding high speed wobbles.
So the questions I will put forward are 1: have the quality/stability issues been resolved on new Unigos, 2: how much $ do they cost and 3: where is the nearest distributor? (the City of Kawartha Lakes is in southern Ontario)

I too am becoming interested in just those very questions. We are beginning to look at them too. Luckily for me there's a dealer in Jacksonville, FL. We stop in while heading to my parents further south, get the trailer, hitch & wiring installed while we wait and then head on.

[mneblett]

I am seriously considering the purchase of a Unigo and am wondering if the manufacture's quality issues have been addressed both with the trailer and the hitch.
I too like to ride long and far and cannot abide issues of poor quality or issues regarding high speed wobbles.
So the questions I will put forward are 1: have the quality/stability issues been resolved on new Unigos, 2: how much $ do they cost and 3: where is the nearest distributor? (the City of Kawartha Lakes is in southern Ontario)

I can't help with all your Qs. The used UniGo I picked up last year is a 2007 model with no significant quality issues noted. With regard to wobble, I don't notice any until I'm up in the 70+ range. If the trailer is lightly loaded, it gets pretty "hoppy"/wags about pretty easy. The more the load, the more it resists moving around. All in all, not as stable as my previous Bushtec 2-wheel trailer, but the smaller size/footprint of the UniGo is much better suited to my needs at this point in my life, with acceptable handling.