Talk to me about mono wheel trailers

[grumpybadger]

Whats the collective experience of these things in the UK


















They seem to still have a following in the states but have fallen out of favour elsewhere.

[ahebron]

They look cute and are a gauranteed way of collecting every pot hole you straddle with the car.
But are they classed as a trailer?

[redratbike]

only ever seen them behind motorbikes lpersonally

[crockpot]

My dad had one many years ago. It was called a "MiniMono Trailer". My dad loved it, he could reverse without any worries about where the trailer would go, it went where it was pointed. Because the wheel was mounted on a turntable you could turn as tight as you liked forward or backwards. It was used mainly for family camping holidays.

[Ratchet]

Used to be semi popular in aircooled vw circles, in the 90s and 00s, mainly with the restocal and accesoriesed vintage beetle guys, only ever seen them at shows though, and usualy tended to be the stylised pressed steel ones a lot of them appear to be Allstate ones, which was a Sears brand name. they were more often seen in the usa, which figures really.

I guess they were popular in the days before ball hitches being ubiquitous, as they seemed to all mount via some kind of brackets that bolt or clamp onto the rear bumper.

[devilishdesigner]

Had one briefly, they look cool but do terrible things for handling. Towed it once or twice then sold it on. Because they connect at 2 points rather than pivoting independently, they add to the body weight, increasing lean when cornering.

[crockpot]

Oct 4, 2024 21:17:51 GMT devilishdesigner said:

Had one briefly, they look cool but do terrible things for handling. Towed it once or twice then sold it on. Because they connect at 2 points rather than pivoting independently, they add to the body weight, increasing lean when cornering.

How do you have a one wheeled trailer pivoting independently? Gyroscopes?

[grumpybadger]

Sept 30, 2024 1:59:52 GMT ahebron said:

They look cute and are a gauranteed way of collecting every pot hole you straddle with the car.
But are they classed as a trailer?

I did wonder how they would be classed.
I'd imagine that if there's a charge involved then it's a trailer.

[ducklooker]

Oct 5, 2024 7:48:10 GMT crockpot said:

Oct 4, 2024 21:17:51 GMT devilishdesigner said:

Had one briefly, they look cool but do terrible things for handling. Towed it once or twice then sold it on. Because they connect at 2 points rather than pivoting independently, they add to the body weight, increasing lean when cornering.

How do you have a one wheeled trailer pivoting independently? Gyroscopes?

The only one of these I have ever seen was on a bike. It was connected like a cart or carriage with 2 points either side of the bike that could hinge and allow the trailer to swing up n down.
The rear wheel was a pneumatic tyre on a swivel. In practical terms the same as a shopping trolley wheel. Think of it as a rear mounted Jockey wheel. Able to spin freely on the road but also rotate as the tow car turns, rather than dragging, like you see a artic trailer wheel doing in tight turns.
Tried to find a photo on-line but no success yet.

[crockpot]

Oct 7, 2024 9:25:09 GMT ducklooker said:

Oct 5, 2024 7:48:10 GMT crockpot said:

How do you have a one wheeled trailer pivoting independently? Gyroscopes?

The only one of these I have ever seen was on a bike. It was connected like a cart or carriage with 2 points either side of the bike that could hinge and allow the trailer to swing up n down.
The rear wheel was a pneumatic tyre on a swivel. In practical terms the same as a shopping trolley wheel. Think of it as a rear mounted Jockey wheel. Able to spin freely on the road but also rotate as the tow car turns, rather than dragging, like you see a artic trailer wheel doing in tight turns.
Tried to find a photo on-line but no success yet.

I think you may have misunderstood my comment.