I ya ever see my bike on a trailer call 911 cause it's stolen! Only trailer that gets near my RG is the one I pull behind it unless something is wrong with it.
Trailering Bikes
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 890
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
Trailering
I trailer my bike to Colorado every year.
I use a locking wheel to hold the bike's front wheel, then tire it down with six straps. Find solid places to tie to, never use the handlebars. They can bend under pressure. I bought some soft tie straps extenders to keep the hooks away from the bike. I check the straps every fuel stop.
I use a locking wheel to hold the bike's front wheel, then tire it down with six straps. Find solid places to tie to, never use the handlebars. They can bend under pressure. I bought some soft tie straps extenders to keep the hooks away from the bike. I check the straps every fuel stop.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
From: Carrabelle, Fl
Yes trailers are for boats.
They are also made for motorcycles too.
I just hope all you "superman" types,
, never get any physical impairment that just doesn't mesh with four or five hundred miles at a time on the scoot.
Believe it or not but some of us not so "supermanish" folks like to ride too...
Beware of Karma!!!
They are also made for motorcycles too.
I just hope all you "superman" types,
, never get any physical impairment that just doesn't mesh with four or five hundred miles at a time on the scoot.Believe it or not but some of us not so "supermanish" folks like to ride too...
Beware of Karma!!!
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Southern Maryland
I have an open trailer, a loadrite, galvanized and tow with an excursion with a/t tires and let me tell you my bike gets really dirty here in Md and Va towing in the rain or snow. The first thing on my list is one of the towable bike wrap covers. It's lined with fleece so you gotta have your bike clean before you wrap it but that thing is nuke proof! I like the open trailer for mileage, it doesn't change my mileage at all with the diesel Ex. The covers start at like $400 but it's on my list! I'm tired of finding rock nicks on my windsheild and front fender and big cleaning job after a rain tow!! Oh, and the comments about soft straps and locking up apply to me too, I don't wanna lose her at the truck stop or overnight at the hotel!!
Last edited by 2002Springer; Jan 9, 2009 at 08:13 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 923
Likes: 3
From: Southern Oregon
The only problem I can see is rock or debris flying up from the rear wheels of the truck (or tow vehicle) and hitting the front of the bike.
I have a flatbed trailer I use to haul my ATV's. Never had an issue in CA but when I moved to Oregon, instead of salting the roads, they "gravel" them. The first time I took my ATV's up to the snow, about 70 miles, I noticed that my truck had thrown this gravel and the very front of my trailer looked like it had been sand blasted and so did the front of the fenders.
The front of the trailer has about a 12 inch "lip" so the ATV's didn't get hit by the gravel. If I ever have to trailer my bikes, I think I will just add some plywood and brace it up about 3 feet high to avoid anything from hitting the front of the bike.
As far as dust, salt spray or anything "light", it can be washed off.
Back to the gravel on the roads in Oregon, if you are unlucky enough to get stuck in a snow storm and behind the gravel truck, this might be a huge problem. Usually the gravel has "blown off" the road within a few days on heavy traveled roads such as the freeway. I just think a few feet of plywood or even weld some fancy diamond plat across the front would solve this problem. I bet a welding shop could do it for a couple hundred bucks. Plywood and some braces would be even cheaper. But then you may have a wind drag issue...
I have a flatbed trailer I use to haul my ATV's. Never had an issue in CA but when I moved to Oregon, instead of salting the roads, they "gravel" them. The first time I took my ATV's up to the snow, about 70 miles, I noticed that my truck had thrown this gravel and the very front of my trailer looked like it had been sand blasted and so did the front of the fenders.
The front of the trailer has about a 12 inch "lip" so the ATV's didn't get hit by the gravel. If I ever have to trailer my bikes, I think I will just add some plywood and brace it up about 3 feet high to avoid anything from hitting the front of the bike.
As far as dust, salt spray or anything "light", it can be washed off.
Back to the gravel on the roads in Oregon, if you are unlucky enough to get stuck in a snow storm and behind the gravel truck, this might be a huge problem. Usually the gravel has "blown off" the road within a few days on heavy traveled roads such as the freeway. I just think a few feet of plywood or even weld some fancy diamond plat across the front would solve this problem. I bet a welding shop could do it for a couple hundred bucks. Plywood and some braces would be even cheaper. But then you may have a wind drag issue...
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
From: ohio
I've towed my sportbike from Dayton, Ohio to Daytona, Florida for Bike Week with this open trailer and didn't have any problems. As a matter of fact we got 19mpg during that trip.
I've only used my open trailer to tow the Harley locally,
I have this 16' tandem axle for long hauls, but with fuel cost in the stratosphere, I'd consider the open trailer again. I get 9mpg - 11mpg hauling this portable garage.
If we take the portable garage, I tend to get buddies to help out with fuel, hold four bikes, split the cost 4 ways and it ain't so bad.
I've only used my open trailer to tow the Harley locally,
I have this 16' tandem axle for long hauls, but with fuel cost in the stratosphere, I'd consider the open trailer again. I get 9mpg - 11mpg hauling this portable garage.
If we take the portable garage, I tend to get buddies to help out with fuel, hold four bikes, split the cost 4 ways and it ain't so bad.