KIWI RIDER 07 2019 VOL.1 | Page 81

O ver the past 35 years I have had several trailers for carrying motorcycles. From a three bike rail with 10-inch wheels (it suffered lots of punctures as it didn’t like long fast trips), old box trailers converted to a three bike trailer in a chariot style popular within the WMCC during the 80s and 90s (ended up stolen along with a bike and a gas welding set), common utility trailers, and two low-loading types that were handy... but only good for transporting bikes and no use at all at carrying gravel for my driveway. So, after lots of not-so-perfect trailers, I was attending the 2016 Fieldays and got talking with Tony Heads at the Kea Trailers stand. We chatted about KEA and what they do, so after a lengthy chat I left with an appointment to visit KEA HQ for them to get a handle on what I needed. A couple of weeks later I pulled up at KEA to be greeted by Tony, who got into working out exactly what I needed from a trailer. I told him I wasn’t after much really – just one which could carry my Ural sidecar outfit, is 1700mm wide, can carry three or four dirt bikes easily… and could carry at least half a cubic metre of gravel and firewood. He scratch his head and, after a bit of thinking, I was shown the 96ST model. It has a nine foot long by six foot wide deck, with the added attraction of the deck being a tipper, which has been handy a few times for the gravel and firewood I was talking about. After all this time struggling with borrowing one trailer for the sidecar and using my own for bikes and yet another for general duties around the property, there was one matching Simple but oh so handy SPECS All of KEA’s utility trailers come with the following specs: • 5 year warranty • Aluminium tread plate or hardwood marine ply deck • A heavy duty tipping mechanism to allow deck tilt • Fully hot dip galvanised • Quality components used throughout the trailer • Full RHS (Rectangular Hollow Section) chassis • Pressed steel mudguards • Fully welded frame construction • Mitred chassis corners • Wiring loom enclosed within drawbar and chassis through wiring grommets • Nyloc bushed suspension fitted in an anti-rattle hangar • Stainless steel D-shackles • Load rated safety chain • 12v LED lights fitted • Lamps fitted in the rear channel at full width of trailer for added safety • Tie points conveniently located under trailer Single wheel centred, its most common position KIWI RIDER 81