Pull a trailer? Com'on, I know you do...
#111
#112
My brother pulled an Inline single wheel trailer 1000's of miles back when he had his 08 Ultra. I liked it so much that we purchased a used on and did a couple of trips with it. There are a lot of advantages to the Inline. They track and lean right with the bike. I never pulled it above interstate speeds and never had concerns for safety.
Sold it for what I paid for it and never looked back. My wife and I take week long rides that usually end up be 3 to 4K miles. She has her saddle bag, I have mine and we carry a nice piece of luggage on the tour pack. We leave the tour back open for helmets, etc. our rule now is if we cannot carry it we don't need it.
The deal with Harley and trailers from what the dealer told me was that Harley runs ball bearings in the wheels instead of taper roller bearings and belt drive instead of shaft drive like Honda. But I know a lot of folks that have pulled trailers for many miles with their Harley.
Sold it for what I paid for it and never looked back. My wife and I take week long rides that usually end up be 3 to 4K miles. She has her saddle bag, I have mine and we carry a nice piece of luggage on the tour pack. We leave the tour back open for helmets, etc. our rule now is if we cannot carry it we don't need it.
The deal with Harley and trailers from what the dealer told me was that Harley runs ball bearings in the wheels instead of taper roller bearings and belt drive instead of shaft drive like Honda. But I know a lot of folks that have pulled trailers for many miles with their Harley.
#113
#114
#115
This thread dates back to 2011. Cripes, that's five years. But not much has changed. We continue to pull our Bunkhouse camper with our TC88. Coming back from Sturgis on U.S. Hwy 14, going around a curve, over railroad tracks, we meet a guy passing a semi. Years of teaching MSF definitely kicked in, and I swerved over to the right, onto the shoulder, cussed over my shoulder at the frickin' idiot that just about did us in, swerved back to the left onto the highway, and only then realized that I had swerved at 60 mph, totally off the highway onto the shoulder, and back on to the highway, on a curve, and never even felt the effect of the Bunkhouse camper.
Don't over think it, guys. It ain't that hard to pull a trailer. Just make sure you have a few pounds of positive downforce hitch weight.
Don't over think it, guys. It ain't that hard to pull a trailer. Just make sure you have a few pounds of positive downforce hitch weight.
#116
I've owned two (still have one) trailers.
Extremely valuable for two-up riding.
I took mine to AK in 2000, pulled it through the Rockies, the Smokies, the Tetons, etc. and across Death Valley without a serious incident but I have discovered a few things that I will share:
Maintain proper tongue weight and do not overload the trailer.
Keep good tires (check inflation daily on trip).
Bearing 'Buddies" are a must (and a small grease gun) for lubrication.
(A blowout or a seized bearing can ruin your day or perhaps worse).
Remember that you are pulling a trailer.
Allow for more braking/stopping distance.
Never pull into a place that you can't out of (or through).
Never park on a steep hill (the weight of the trailer could push your bike).
Try to avoid driving on roads that are wet, sandy or slippery.
In mountains or in curves, slow down and avoid heavy braking.
As in pulling a trailer with a car or truck, make wider turns.
No "lane splitting or side-by-side riding with another bike.
Extremely valuable for two-up riding.
I took mine to AK in 2000, pulled it through the Rockies, the Smokies, the Tetons, etc. and across Death Valley without a serious incident but I have discovered a few things that I will share:
Maintain proper tongue weight and do not overload the trailer.
Keep good tires (check inflation daily on trip).
Bearing 'Buddies" are a must (and a small grease gun) for lubrication.
(A blowout or a seized bearing can ruin your day or perhaps worse).
Remember that you are pulling a trailer.
Allow for more braking/stopping distance.
Never pull into a place that you can't out of (or through).
Never park on a steep hill (the weight of the trailer could push your bike).
Try to avoid driving on roads that are wet, sandy or slippery.
In mountains or in curves, slow down and avoid heavy braking.
As in pulling a trailer with a car or truck, make wider turns.
No "lane splitting or side-by-side riding with another bike.
#117
#118
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