the rear light assembly. The tow ball mounting plate was welded to a frame made of scraps of angle iron. When the ball was attached , this frame was held in place at the correct height, 19 inches, while I positioned the four fixing arms, or disused water pipes as they are more commonly known. It was all welded up, painted black and bolted to the bike, the tow ball now sits over the mud flap just below the number plate. I tested it for strength by jumping up and down on it with all my weight, nothing moved.
Next came the electrics, obviously the trailer must have lights, indicators and a brake light. The normal light circuit was simply tapped into but the indicators are sensitive to bulb current and have to be isolated using two 12volt relays, one for each side.

I also put a relay on the brake light circuit so as not to overload the break light switches. All this was connected to a standard, weather proof, caravan socket, taking care to get the

pin numbers right.
At last, just a week after I had place my order, VAS Kent phoned to say that my trailer was ready. When I went to pick it up I was staggered by how big it looked, I know we had talked a length about its dimensions but looking at the finished article was quite different. I thought that the tow arm was very long but the chap VAS nodded knowingly, it’s meant to be.
The trailer is what is known a “Tradesman’s”, that is it is made of wooden panels with an angle iron frame. It was made 2 ft high but if I wanted it lowered then all I have to do is remove one set of panels and hack off the excess frame. There was no lid but, since the top measured 4ft buy 2ft 6in, it just happened to match the dimensions of a standard cut of plywood or m.d.f. We duly rolled it to the waiting bike and hitched it up, it settled nice and level so the tow ball was the right height. Next the electrics were connected and fingers crossed I tried the lights. They all worked OK, I even got the indicators the correct way round.

Having settled all the paperwork and paid off the balance it was time to set off home. At first I thought that the load at the back would try to pull the bike all over the place but in fact, apart from moving off and stopping, it was hardly noticeable. I also remembered not to cut corners on mini roundabouts or any tight turns. Once on the motorway I settled down to s steady 55 m.p.h. and it all felt OK, in fact I kept looking round to make sure it was still attached to the bike. I took it up to 60 mph, legal maximum when towing, and still no problem. I waggled the handle-bars and the bike began to wobble a little but this settled down, a little more slowly than normal, but quite acceptable. The only thing that kept my speed down to 50/55 mph was the tendency for the trailer to bounce around over the rough road surface, it was after all the M25.

Once home the trailer was repainted black, to match my bike, and a lid made from m.d.f., this was grooved to look like the side panelling and similarly painted and varnished.

At last a camping weekend arrived and Patricia and I got every thing together for packing.