JIM'S TOW THINGY

This page is here because Jim Sickler of the Brothers Of The Third Wheel granted me permission to share his Tow Thingy with all that would like to have one.

A little history here.  Once upon a time we were going to go to our North West Triker's Campout in Moses Lake, WA.  Well, the week prior Jim's Tow Thingy was discussed on our  BTW Forum  and I thought it would be a good thing to build and carry with us on the trip over and back.  So I did build it.  On our way back from Moses Lake to Bremerton, WA.  coming into Vantage from George the front wheel bearings on my trike came loose and started screaming.  So I stopped and found that the nut had worked it's way loose on the axle.  I tightened it up and rode slowly on into Vantage, less than a mile, figuring that I would pull the front wheel and use my Tow Thingy on a friends trike to tow it back home.  I tried to remove the front axle and it wouldn't budge, so I decided to take the front leading links, shocks, etc., off and rig it up using just the forks.  When I built the front end I did something stupid.  I put two bolts in backwards and they wouldn't come out without pulling the tire off, which was impossible cause I couldn't get the axle off.  As fate had it, a stranger came up and started talking with us.  We told him what an idiot I was for putting the two bolts in backwards and as they were #8's they would be almost impossible to cut with a hacksaw.  As it turned out the stranger worked in a gem shop just down the road and he said if I could get it there he could cut the bolts with a diamond bladed cutter.  Well, we got it there and he cut it so now we could rig the Tow Thingy and get going.  We towed the trike over 200 miles without any problems.  So it does work, takes up little space and will work with any hitch.

TRIKE IN TOW

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN TOW THINGY

Parts list

1 - 3/4 in. hiem joint or Rod End Ball Joint

1 - 5" #8 bolt to fit into hiem joint

2 or 3 - 3/4 lock washers

2 nuts to fit bolt.

As many spacers (washers/whatever) as needed for a tight fit.

Put them all together so they look something like this

YOUR BASIC TOW THINGY

ADD THE HITCH AND THERE YA GO!!!!

What you do is remove the front tire/axle.  You can do one of two things here.  One you can place your forks between the hiem joint and then put your axle through the joint and add spacer/s so that there isn't any play between the forks when you tighten down the axle nuts.  Or you can purchase a #8 bolt that is long enough to go through the forks and the joint and is the same size as your axle and use it.

HERE YOU CAN SEE THE SPACERS ON EACH SIDE OF THE HIEM JOINT AND THE FORKS.  YOU DO NOT WANT IT TO SLIDE BACK AND FORTH.