Rocket touring hitch

[Macrider]

I am in the planning stage of getting a trailer hitch made for my R3T.
I will be doing all the welding and taking measurments as I go along.
After having a good look at the mounting points I am going to go with 1/4 inch 2 1/2 inch angle iron.
It will look like this when I am done TRIUMPH ROCKET III TOURING TRAILER HITCH | eBay but will be a bit stronger with thicker uprights.
and will have a 1 2/2 inch receiver welded on so it would be a matter of slipping in a drawbar.
If anyone else has done this for the R3T any and all advice would be appreciated.
I will take pictures and detail what I have done as I go along in case anyone else wants to make their own too.

 

[TheKid]

Thanks a million. Though I haven't seen the pic,(I will), I think I have. It was on this site before. Very simple, or at least easier than a lot of them. Good luck, thanks for posting pics, can't wait to see it!!!!!!

 

[Macrider]

R3T hitch

Tonite I got all the pieces cut for the hitch and I am using 2 inch angle iron.
It was a little trickier than I thought getting the holes lined up with the rear exhaust hangers.
I finally figured out that the nuts under the exhaust hanger slide back and forth in a channel.
Tomorrow will start some of the welding.
Anyways its coming together and will have pictures soon.

 

[TheKid]

Cool!!!!!!

 

[Macrider]

The hitch

Just finished welding all the pieces together tonite.
Its not finished as I still need to clean it up and do some grinding so it looks decent.
Will do that tomorrow and give it a paint job.
I am not a welder by any means (just hobby welding) but I think it turned out ok.
Welds do look strong.
Also this is all trial and error.
Its all from a picture of a hitch I found on Ebay.


The side peices are 9 3/4 inches long with two holes drilled for the bolts that attach to the exhaust hangers.
It sldes between the exhaust hanger and the luggage frame.
When you you remove the hardbags you will see the 2 bolts.
The back cross piece is exactly 18 3/4 inches and is angled to clear the exhaust pipes.


The two tabs on the top of the hitch are for attaching the upright pieces to the bolts holding the fender on at the top.
The 2 upright peices will be bolted to the tabs so that I can swing them to line up.
This is not done yet


close up veiw of the receiver.
Its a 1 1/4 inch receiver you can get these already made and just weld it on,, and it will be hidden under the fender.
The drawbar I have is long enough to bring the hitch out about 4 inches past the rear fender
I had to drop it so it clears my rear fender trim.

 

[TheKid]

Hey Mac, looks great and thanks a million for posting
this info and pics. I replied to your question on chains.
That is just how I do it. To each their own, just saying.
Are you going to Eureka Springs?
Kid

 

[TheKid]

I forgot where you live, maybe not?

 

[Macrider]

Hitch

No, Eureka Springs is a bit too far for me.
I,m about 100 Kms north of Toronto.
Maybe if they plan for a Rocket meet next year a little closer to Ontario I would go for sure.
I have a trip planned to Canadas east coast in a couple weeks pulling a tent trailer.
Got to get this hitch and the wiring done!

 

[slidderhd]

I just put on the Bushtec Hitch. Very nice and stout. I looked at the old posts in here for wiring the trailer plug and decided to splice into the wires under the right side cover. I use a round 5-wire connector that DMC puts out. I bought two hitches from them in the past for my Harley's and kept the plug. Hopefully the electrical on the R3T can handle the trailer load without a sub harness.

 

[mport]

The electrical system will handle the load from trailer lights but you should use a 30 amp relay. Don't tap directly to your taillight wiring without a relay. You don't want any more load on your ignition switch. Run power wire direct from battery and use your taillight wire to trip the relay.