Trailer, tow backwards or forwards

[minimutly]

With the trike coming along it seems time to address the trailer for towing behind the camper.
My previous experience suggests loading the trike backwards, positioning the trailer wheels further back. It'll be easier to reverse, and I plan to make a box that mounts onto it so I can get rid of my existing trip tip trailer.
However, if I load it pointing forwards, it means the trailer wheels, and therefore the axle can be narrower, I won't need runners the whole length of the trailer for the trike rear wheels, and probably, although I haven't verified this yet, the overall length might be shorter. Certainly it will need less steel and be lighter, I think.
The trike is a bike based hard tail, quite short, but full reliant axle width.
Huw

[Stix]

Hi Huw
are you making a full flatbed style trailer or a towing dolly?? with a car type trailer it is usual to but the car on front ways as it keeps the weight of the engine/box towards the front cos if most of the weight is at the back it is more likely to get a nasty shake and have the trailer going from side to side with some nasty results (ever seen a caravan badly loaded on it's side) but with a tow dolly just stick the front wheel on it secure it and off you go(but these it has been said are not legal unless it is being used for recovery of a broken down trike.

Stix

[Olds]

Loading forward would be the way I would go. One long channel from rear to hitch and two short from rear to axle, with triangulating frame from axle to hitch. Wheel position determined by the loaded nose weight.

[morrag]

Single 'bike trailer style is the way to go, as per Olds suggestion, Morrag