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Ok so I have the design of my trailer down, but I'm not sure what to do about the hitch/arm system. I am thinking that this quick disconnect ball-joint system is probably going to be the easiest, having a 90 degree arm coming up from the A-frame with the receiver mounted to it, and the ball affixed to the rear rack.
But is 35 degrees of movement going to be enough? I was considering heim joints, but those don't seem to offer any more rotation, maybe less. U-Joints, name brand ones anyway, are insanely fucking expensive. These QA1 ball joints are like 12 bucks shipped off ebay. McMaster Carr doesn't seem to have them anymore.
I'm going to have to weld a plate, or just sandwich two plates on the rack and having the ability to remove the ball would be good. A plate welded with a nut so that it sits flush with the top platform of the rack seems like a good idea, but where should the ball hitch even be in relation to the bike? Should it be over the rear axle or closer like a fifth wheel hitch system?
Also what would be a good location for the rear axle, keeping the wheelbase long enough to be balanced but not so far back that there is too much load on the hitch? I haven't welded anything yet, I just have the main frame cut, and that is going to determine where I put the center brace since that is where the axle and axle tube will mount.
