Trail Gator Instructions...Giving me a headache.

[Treadmillmom]

Good Lord, I am a woman that can usually suss out instructions but seriously the Trail Gator fitting instructions are hurting my head.
I've boxed it up ready to return but I REALLY, REALLY want to use it.
I've started with the childs bike first as my concern was suitability, I just don't get though why the receiver bracket has lots of movement and the U bend bolts have so much length to spare, how can that be safe? After that the instructions just turn into absolute twaddle.
Can anyone translate?

We've got one.

I've consulted DH who agrees that the instructions, "aren't the best". He says that as long as the nuts beside the receiver bracket are done up "nice and tight" then it's fine - there shouldn't be any movement.

But IwishIwasmoreorganised, there is movement, the nuts do not go all the way down the thread of the U bolt they just tighten on the ends.

Gosh, I wish I could draw you a diagram.
The receiver with bolts intact is significantly wider than the stem of my childs bike.

It's years since we had one but I dontthink it matters if the u bend bolts have length to spare. As the adult's bike pulls away, it's like the slack is taken up, the child's bike will move to the back of the u bolt and then be pulled. The child's bike doesn't rattle about once moving.

Oh, okay, may try again. Thanks VivaLeBeaver and IwishIwasmoreorganised, can you or DH remember what the hell this means;
11 To install receiver shim (s) R loosen all nuts, Do Not Remove, insert shim (s) where needed, between receiver J and U clamp K, align and tighten to
specifications.
12 With child bike attached to tow bar, remove front wheel. Determine fork size and assembly needed.
7/8? Shim Set S, 1? Shim Set T, Oval Shim U, Small Fork Clamp V, Large Fork Clamp W.
Take another look at the instructions if you want.

DH has disappeared off to the garage to inspect..........

IwishIwasmoreorganised God bless ya.

DH says that there's no need to take the front wheel off, but it'll probably be more fiddly to fit the clamps if you don't.

The shims are just to get a better fit on the clamps due to variation in the sizes of the tubular frames on different bikes - just pick whichever one seems to fit the best.

Hope that helps!

Thanks IwishIwasmoreorganised and Mr. IwishIwasmoreorganised. I'll give it another try.

Dh can't remember, he says it's not that difficult . There's a clamp that fits on the seat post of the adult bike, another that fits on the handle bar post of the kids bike. Then something else that fits on the kids bike to stop the handlebars from turning when it's being towed.

VivaLeBeaver that is correct, in principle but the instructions are hellish, I'm the most confused sections 11 onwards.
Any other posters with suggestions, fitting tips are welcome to post, PLEASE.

We can do photos of it if that might help?

We got ours from a friend without instructions. DH and said friend fitted it onto ds2's bike together.

From 12 onwards it is just the bit on the fork to stop the handlebars turning, isn't it?

Is that the bit you have probs with?

The shim in 11 is to adjust the angle of the bracket if needed.

Yes please IwishIwasmoreorganised, some close up's of the child fitting and fork etc would be greatly appreciated.
Which bracket are you referring to Wallace? Is it really necessary to take the front wheel off?

Sorry, I wasn't very clear there. 11 is the shim for the main bracket that the trailgator attaches to.

12 is the wee bracket that attaches to the side of the fork.

IIRCC you do need to take the front wheel off.

Ds2 is 5 now so it was almost 3 years ago I fitted it so I could be confusing you more......

Some photos now on my profile - hope they help.

IwishIwasmoreorganised, I'm not gaining access to your profile. Do you have to go into your settings and change them or something?

Any luck?

Hiya Wallace, thanks for checking up on me, I'm doing it right now. I started with the adult bike first, a breeze, now onto childs bike the headache has started again.
See this image how the nuts go all the way down the screw to accomadate the brown protector nuts on the ends (top 2 screws)? Well my nuts are tightening at the very tips of the screws and will go no further!

What am I doing wrong?

Ignore my last post ...but please do keep checking on me.

Hmm, sorry about that.

I've made sure that they all say "visible to all Mumsnetters". Should I be changing anything else?

Good Mornong, finally fitted it last night, only took me 3 hours , thanks for your help ladies.
Maiden voyage tomorrow, DH has day off.

Yeah! Well done Treadmillmom! Hope the maiden voyage goes well!

Well done! Have fun :)