trailers
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Joined: Mar 2006
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trailers
I am going to buy an enclosed trailer to haul two bikes. Will I have any problems pulling with a Nissan Maximum or a Saturn Aura? Or do I need to go with something bigger. I guess my question is what is the smallest vehicle I can safely use?
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: many many places
RE: trailers
An enclosed trailer has more wind drag & 2 bikes together are heavy. IMO the cars you list would be at their limits. Going is 1 thing, stopping safely is another. I tow my Springer Classic behind my Mustang Gt but my trailer is very light & I have piles of power & big brakes. I don't even know it's back there. I hauled 2 dressers behind a Jeep Cherokee & it did ok but got hot once going up in the mountains.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 966
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From: many many places
RE: trailers
Have I got a truck for you! link
I've hauled 2 bikes in it by have 1 face forward & 1 backward. Safe, dry, secure & ready to go anywhere!
It'll tow anything but a 5th wheel. Sorry to shamlessly post it here but I really need to sell it & it's great for houling a bike, (as long as you pop the windhield off first, lol.
I've hauled 2 bikes in it by have 1 face forward & 1 backward. Safe, dry, secure & ready to go anywhere!
It'll tow anything but a 5th wheel. Sorry to shamlessly post it here but I really need to sell it & it's great for houling a bike, (as long as you pop the windhield off first, lol.
RE: trailers
WELL I HAD A F150 4.6 V8 and it struggled to pull a all aluminuim 6x12' v nose trailer with a heritage and a sporty.got a f150 with 5.4 v8 and now i don't even feel likes there's a trailer behind me.now we have a streetglide and a deluxe,from NJ to NC no porblem
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 15
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RE: trailers
Wind resistance is your biggie here. You are probably looking at under 4000 lbs loaded, so most mid sized trucks and suv's can do that. But trying to maintain interstate speeds will be hard on them and fuel milage.
Pulling our aerodynamic two bike trailer EMPTY with my 8000 lb diesel truck costs about 30% of the fuel milage, and that's a lot on a diesel engine because they laugh at loads that tax a gas engine. In fact, the milage is similar to when I pull our 10,000 boat. So, get the shortest trailer you can if milage, and maintaining highway speeds are important. (Our trailer gets used for general cargo a lot more than it even hauls a motorcycle, and we seldom ever use the top half of the trailer).
If you can, get a walk through door near the front. Nice to access the load without dropping the rear door everytime.
Pulling our aerodynamic two bike trailer EMPTY with my 8000 lb diesel truck costs about 30% of the fuel milage, and that's a lot on a diesel engine because they laugh at loads that tax a gas engine. In fact, the milage is similar to when I pull our 10,000 boat. So, get the shortest trailer you can if milage, and maintaining highway speeds are important. (Our trailer gets used for general cargo a lot more than it even hauls a motorcycle, and we seldom ever use the top half of the trailer).
If you can, get a walk through door near the front. Nice to access the load without dropping the rear door everytime.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 351
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From:
RE: trailers
I have a Wells Cargo 5' x 10' "Cycle Wagon" and only tow one bike (Dyna FXDLI). I had a 3.0L V6 Ford Ranger and it struggled to pull the trailer w/bike. I traded to a 4.7L V8 Tundra and it has no trouble scooting down the road with the trailer/bike but you know it is back there. BTW, the trailer has the areodynamic bubble front which is suppost to help. Even with the Tundra, I wouldn't be comfortable pulling an enclosed two-bike trailer as I assume it would be tandom axle and at least 6' wide and 12' long.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,216
Likes: 6,131
From: Black Hills
RE: trailers
If you're looking for a covered trailer and not necessarily an enclosed trailer, try these guys. They make canvas enclosures for nearly everything. I will be getting one when the shovelhead is gone ....
http://www.canvasworksincmn.com/snocaps.html
http://www.canvasworksincmn.com/snocaps.html