Tow behind steerable caddy trailer
View Patent ↗A steerable caddy trailer is provided that has an improved structure including a main frame assembly, spindle assemblies attached to each end of the main frame for attachment of a wheel, a pair of swinging arms forwardly extending from the main frame and pivotally attached to the main frame, and tie rods connecting the swinging arms with the spindle assembly such that pivoting of the swinging arms steers the wheels.
1. A method for steering a trailer comprising:
providing a main frame assembly having opposite ends with pivotally attached wheels, rearward ends of a pair of swinging arms attached to the main frame assembly at respective pivot points, and each wheel connected to the adjacent swinging arm by a tie rod;
attaching forward ends of the swinging arms to a towing implement;
translating turning forces from the towing implement through the pair of swinging arms to the main frame assembly;
steering the wheels by shifting the main frame assembly forward and rearward in opposite directions at the pivot points using turning forces from the towing implement; and
narrowing the turning radius by positioning the swinging arms generally parallel to each other.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising widening the turning radius by moving forward ends of the swinging arms generally closer together.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting a length of each tie rod to align the wheels generally perpendicular to the main frame assembly.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising steering the trailer to the right by shifting the left side swinging arm rearward and the right side swinging arm forward.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising steering the trailer to the left by shifting the left side swinging arm forward and the right side swinging arm rearward.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the attaching step comprises attaching forward ends of the pair of swinging arms to the towing implement in spaced relation to each other to fix the turning radius.
7. A method for adjusting steering of a trailer comprising:
providing a pair of swinging arms each having a forward and rearward end, a main frame assembly having opposite ends with pivotally attached wheels, a pair of swinging arm pivot points on the main frame assembly, the rearward end of each swinging arm attached to the main frame assembly adjacent a wheel at respective swinging arm pivot points, and each wheel connected to the adjacent swinging arm by a tie rod;
establishing a turning radius for the trailer by adjusting the forward ends of the swinging arms together or apart;
attaching the forward ends of the swinging arms to a towing implement in the adjusted position; and
widening the turning radius by adjusting the forward ends of the swinging arms closer together.
8. The method of claim 7 further comprising narrowing the turning radius by adjusting the forward ends of the swinging arms so the arms are generally parallel to each other.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising aligning the wheels perpendicular to the main frame assembly by lengthening or shortening the tie rods.
10. The method of claim 7 further comprising increasing or decreasing shifting of the main frame assembly forward and rearward in opposite directions at the swinging arm pivot points by adjusting position of the forward ends of the swinging arms.
11. A method for steering a caddy trailer comprising:
providing a main frame assembly having opposite ends with pivotally attached wheels, a pair of swinging arms, rearward ends of each swinging arm attached to the main frame assembly at respective pivot points, and each wheel connected to the adjacent swinging arm by a tie rod;
attaching forward ends of the swinging arms to a towing implement;
steering the wheels left and right by shifting the main frame assembly forward and rearward in opposite directions at the pivot points using turning forces from the towing implement; and
narrowing the turning radius by positioning the swinging arms generally parallel to each other.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising steering the wheels to the right by shifting the left side swinging arm rearward and the right side swinging arm forward.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising steering the wheels to the left by shifting the left side swinging arm forward and the right side swinging arm rearward.