Trailer hitch and electronics

[OverHillAndDale]

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything very definitive on this. Lots of posts where people already knew the issues.

It looks to me like there are two primary hitch vendors - Can-Am and Big Bike Parts (about $200 cheaper). Both look sound mechanically. I know the Can-Am comes with the wiring harness and electronics to mate to their own trailers. So, here are my questions:
- Am I missing something? Is one a better product mechanically than the other?
- If I buy the Can-Am, will I have to make a custom adapter to connect a normal 4-pin wiring harness?
- If I buy the Big-Bike Parts, will I have to make an adapter the other way? And, will I lose the ability to have the VSS controls if I should ever get a Can-Am trailer?

 

[finless]

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything very definitive on this. Lots of posts where people already knew the issues.

It looks to me like there are two primary hitch vendors - Can-Am and Big Bike Parts (about $200 cheaper). Both look sound mechanically. I know the Can-Am comes with the wiring harness and electronics to mate to their own trailers. So, here are my questions:
- Am I missing something? Is one a better product mechanically than the other?
- If I buy the Can-Am, will I have to make a custom adapter to connect a normal 4-pin wiring harness?
- If I buy the Big-Bike Parts, will I have to make an adapter the other way? And, will I lose the ability to have the VSS controls if I should ever get a Can-Am trailer?

Not missing anything

Yes you will need an adapter for standard 4 pin but it's not hard.

Big bike parts harness leaves you 5 output wires so you can wire your own plug style you need.

If your not comfortable making the adapter or using the big bike one and making your own, a trailer place will easily be able to do it for you.

Bob

 

[billybovine]

I bought the Show Chrome Hitch, that's the one Big Bike Parts sells. It was cheaper for me buying it from a Canadian supplier. I made a plug and play trailer harness. Bought a universal powered 5 to 4 converter from a auto parts supplier and the connectors from a supplier online. it cost me about $100 for the parts and that was more than I expected. The connector supplier shipped UPS instead of by mail and I got nailed $30 for brokerage fees. Here is a picture of the harness I ended up with.



I have not installed it yet. So I don't know how well it fits or works.

I understand the harness is available from BRP in 3 pieces with 3 part numbers. Someone I seem to remember said that costs about $250. I checked into buying the part that plugs into Spyder wiring and it was about $80 Canadian so should be about $60 US.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

THE TRAILER THING

:dontknow:....The amount you spend depends on How daring you want be , and little you want/need to spend ......Personally I don't feel the VSS issue is really an issue as far as your Trailer is concerned ......The Spyder's ( itself ) can handle the chore. I built my own Trailer ( and Hitch ) but even if you buy one ( non-BRP ) you can easily switch to a 5-wire plug and just add another wire to the trailer or buy a complete 5 -wire trl. harness, then change out the trl.tail lights for some LED tail lights that have SEPARATE TURN SIGNALS ( which is what your Spyder has ) I bought some on E-bay for $ 15.00 a pair......then you wire direct into the BRP harness without using any CONVERTOR AT ALL.....Ms.NANNY doesn't even know or care ......Yes BRP has THEIR cushioned HITCH...........well you don't/won't need it if you use a STIFF HITCH arrangement similar to what BUSHTEC uses on the Trailers they sell ................So the bottom line is I spent approx. $ 400 for a complete ....Trailer ( weighs 100 lbs.) , hitch , wiring harness etc for my 2014 RT.............Just a thought for the D.I.Y. minded .......Mike :thumbup:

 

[OverHillAndDale]

That's good to hear. I plan on trailering my Hobie kayak. It weights less than 200 lbs and the trailer is a converted jetski trailer which I also think weighs less than 200. My only concern is the 18 foot length of the boat.

The Showchrome hitch looks solid, and there is an available wiring kit that looks like it supports 4 and/or 5 pin connectors, so I'm leaning that way.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

YOUR SET-UP

That's good to hear. I plan on trailering my Hobie kayak. It weights less than 200 lbs and the trailer is a converted jetski trailer which I also think weighs less than 200. My only concern is the 18 foot length of the boat.

The Showchrome hitch looks solid, and there is an available wiring kit that looks like it supports 4 and/or 5 pin connectors, so I'm leaning that way.

:clap:.....I DIY everything I can......some advice DON'T Guess .....the trailer should have a sticker or plate that states it capacities , it will tell what it weighed before it was modified. So you will need to add the weight of the new TONGUE length (?) if there is any.....If the trl. is Aluminum you are probably OK but check it. If you want to have a Private conversation about this PM me ..........Mike :thumbup:

 

[Questions]

BRP adaptor

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything very definitive on this. Lots of posts where people already knew the issues.

It looks to me like there are two primary hitch vendors - Can-Am and Big Bike Parts (about $200 cheaper). Both look sound mechanically. I know the Can-Am comes with the wiring harness and electronics to mate to their own trailers. So, here are my questions:
- Am I missing something? Is one a better product mechanically than the other?
- If I buy the Can-Am, will I have to make a custom adapter to connect a normal 4-pin wiring harness?
- If I buy the Big-Bike Parts, will I have to make an adapter the other way? And, will I lose the ability to have the VSS controls if I should ever get a Can-Am trailer?

Can-Am has the adaptor to convert to a 4 wire flat, standard automotive connector. PART# 219400437

 

[OverHillAndDale]

I looked at that, but that part is to adapt a trailer with a square 6-wire connector to a car's flat, 4 wire connector. I would need to be the other way around.

Still, wouldn't take much to build one if the connector parts can be found.

 

[Questions]

I looked at that, but that part is to adapt a trailer with a square 6-wire connector to a car's flat, 4 wire connector. I would need to be the other way around.

Still, wouldn't take much to build one if the connector parts can be found.

Got ya! My fault on the misunderstanding. I will definitely keep my eye on those parts. I will submit a case to BRP and see if they happen to know where to get them as well.

 

[billybovine]

- Am I missing something? Is one a better product mechanically than the other?

So far no one has reported a problem with the Show chrome hitch, so i would say no.

- If I buy the Can-Am, will I have to make a custom adapter to connect a normal 4-pin wiring harness?

Yes you will have to make a 4 square (Can_Am harness) to 4 flat (trailer) adapter

- If I buy the Big-Bike Parts, will I have to make an adapter the other way?

If you buy the Big Bike Harness you will have to convert the 5 wire harness to the 4 wire trailer.

And, will I lose the ability to have the VSS controls if I should ever get a Can-Am trailer?

There is no special interaction electrically between a BRP trailer and the Spyder. The VSS does not know if a trailer of any type is connected unless you manually choose Trailer Mode in settings.

 

[ursamajor35126]

4 wire square to 4 wire flat

Dale I bought an adapter from Amazon to convert the square plug to a flat plug for my Bushtec. Give it a look see next time we ride. Works great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004BE60ZU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[BrewerCycles]

I've searched the forum and couldn't find anything very definitive on this. Lots of posts where people already knew the issues.

It looks to me like there are two primary hitch vendors - Can-Am and Big Bike Parts (about $200 cheaper). Both look sound mechanically. I know the Can-Am comes with the wiring harness and electronics to mate to their own trailers. So, here are my questions:
- Am I missing something? Is one a better product mechanically than the other?
- If I buy the Can-Am, will I have to make a custom adapter to connect a normal 4-pin wiring harness?
- If I buy the Big-Bike Parts, will I have to make an adapter the other way? And, will I lose the ability to have the VSS controls if I should ever get a Can-Am trailer?

Feel free to give Ronnie Gilliam a call (252) 492-8553 (or you can reach him via our Brewer Cycles website. He's our Spyder and Accessory specialist here at Brewer Cycles. Even if you decide to go with a DIY project or something from Ebay, he'd be happy to offer some valuable info that may help you avoid trial and error. Good Luck with your trailer!!

 

[Questions]

BRP's Answer

"BRP doesn't recommend using an aftermarket trailer for the Spyder, so we do not offer such a harness.

Thanks!"

This is the reply we received from BRP when we submitted the case.

 

[SpikeH]

I just purchased the Show Chrome hitch for my RTS. Looks good, pulls with no problems, install was easy w/instructions from Show Chrome. Also, got the Show Chrome trailer wiring kit from Value Accessories (sponsor) and a 5 wire to 4 wire convertor from Amazon. About $115.00 worth of stuff, but easy to install and no "mickey-mouse" wiring involved:yes::roflblack::roflblack:

PM me if you need any specific information.
GL with it all.:clap::clap:

Roy

 

[OverHillAndDale]

Lots of great advice here. In summary, unless I plan on pulling a BRP trailer there's not a lot of use in spending the extra buck$ on a BRP hitch and wiring harness.

Turns out the trailer I was going to haul is about 450 lbs and 18' long, so I've got to decide if it's worth setting up the bike for it.

Thanks all.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Turns out the trailer I was going to haul is about 450 lbs and 18' long, so I've got to decide if it's worth setting up the bike for it.

That's pushing the upper limits + saftety factor, but if you don't add any additional weight to the trailer you'll probably be OK. My trailer with the tent on it, and all my traveling gear, is somewhere around 400 to 450 lbs. I can tell it when I'm braking, but nothing to get excited about.

 

[finless]

Just to add about after market hitches.

Previous after market hitches required you to use the rear axel bolts to hold it on.
Ask me how I know. I bought one over a year ago not realizing this. It only cost $50. I trashed it.

The BRP hitch does not require this and has a long bolt that goes through the hollow axel.

Now with the new Show Chrome hitch it bolts on the same way e.g. does not use the 36mm axel nuts. And in fact has a neat feature of removal without removing the long axel bolt! This is actually better in my opinion than the BRP hitch.

NO WAY can warranty be an issue with the Show Chrome hitch! It mounts the same as the BRP hitch!

So I think why BRP said this was because of previous cheap hitches that used the 36mm axel nuts to hold it on.

Bob

 

[Questions]

Max Capacity

Lots of great advice here. In summary, unless I plan on pulling a BRP trailer there's not a lot of use in spending the extra buck$ on a BRP hitch and wiring harness.

Turns out the trailer I was going to haul is about 450 lbs and 18' long, so I've got to decide if it's worth setting up the bike for it.

Thanks all.

Maximum weight on trailer tongue 18kg (40lb) Maximum towed weight (trailer and cargo) 181kg (400lb)

 

[OverHillAndDale]

If I strip down my boat with minimum stuff, it is down to 381 lbs with 12 lbs tongue weight. I will only be hauling 8 miles to a nearby lake to go fishing.

Now I need to decide on this quarter's farkling - trailer hitch and wiring harness, skid plate, or lights.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

If I strip down my boat with minimum stuff, it is down to 381 lbs with 12 lbs tongue weight. I will only be hauling 8 miles to a nearby lake to go fishing.

Try to shift some of the weight to get the tongue weight up a little. I'm not sure what happens if the tongue weight is too light but it can't be good considering all the advice given everywhere about the ideal tongue weight of a trailer is close to 10% of the total trailer weight.