Open Trailer size 5x10, 6x10 or 6x12
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 915
Likes: 29
From: SE FL & Black Hills SD
Open Trailer size 5x10, 6x10 or 6x12
Bud and I are buying a trailer to haul our scoots back'n'forth NJ to Florida. He has a Road King, I have a Road King and a Wide Glide. He won't be bringing his down for the next 2 years (until he retires), and I will be bringing both mine until at least then. Thinking at that point I may leave the WG down there for the summer. Be nice to have the option to haul all 3 on the 6x12.
We know we can fit the two RK's on the 6X10, maybe even the 5x10.
So has anyone put a 3rd bike on a 6 x 12?
The smaller the better for jackin it around and storing it.
Remember this is an open trailer..
We know we can fit the two RK's on the 6X10, maybe even the 5x10.
So has anyone put a 3rd bike on a 6 x 12?
The smaller the better for jackin it around and storing it.
Remember this is an open trailer..
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 623
Likes: 1
From: Carlin, Nevada
The Road Kings will use eight feet of length... If you buy as wide a trailer as you can find and remove the two road king saddlebags that face each other, the dyna's front end will fit in between the Road Kings rear ends... The dyna front end secured by a good quality wheel chock and strapped down at the rear.... This could get you down to the twelve foot length you seek...
Advanced
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 84
Likes: 2
From: Clarksville, TN
Just remember to get as heavy duty an axle as you can find. 3500lb axle would be great, be easier on the trailer and the bikes than a 2000 lb axle and make sure you don't get a new trailer with used tires! So many trailer builders do that!
Last edited by glide_n_around; Oct 6, 2010 at 11:34 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 5
From: Midwest
I have a 5X10 and it's perfect for a single bike. I wouldn't dream of putting 2 bikes side by side on it, possibly unless they were staggered. I would also be concerned about putting too much weight aft if there were a second row.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 372
From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
For some reason used snowmobile trailers around here are cheap. I bought an 8x10 (2 snowmobile) trailer for $125. It has plenty of room for 2 bikes, I could probably do 3 if I moved the chocks out wider and added one in the center.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
6 x 12 gives you the best ability to have the load 60% ahead of the axle as is required to keep the trailer from swaying at speed. That is if you are going to carry other stuff.
It can be done with as little as 8". Here is a shot of a 940 lb Rune on a 4x8 HF trailer that was loaded to the 60% ahead of the axle.
Dual axles must be 70% ahead of the axle.
You may notice that the wheel chock is a little ahead of the leading edge of the trailer and two spare tires add counter weight. took awhile to weigh and calculate where everything was to go. Worked perfect. You could not make the trailer sway at all. It was like it was on RR tracks.
It can be done with as little as 8". Here is a shot of a 940 lb Rune on a 4x8 HF trailer that was loaded to the 60% ahead of the axle.
Dual axles must be 70% ahead of the axle.
You may notice that the wheel chock is a little ahead of the leading edge of the trailer and two spare tires add counter weight. took awhile to weigh and calculate where everything was to go. Worked perfect. You could not make the trailer sway at all. It was like it was on RR tracks.
Last edited by lh4x4; Oct 6, 2010 at 03:08 PM.
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 817
Likes: 1
From: N.E. Ohio
Go with a 6x12. Its better to have extra room then not enough. I used to work partime at a bike shop and we would put three bikes on one. The middle one we would load backwards. I can't remeber what size the trailer was, but it was tight. It was a dual axle. Sure you could get away with a small cheap trailer. NJ to FLA is along ride. I would spend a little money and get a trailer that can do the job. Especially you said repeated trips.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,646
Likes: 40
From: Midtown Tulsa
6x12
Here is a photo of a trailer I've been working on for my brother. Still haven't installed all of the e-track, but coming along slowly.
6x12 tandem with a 48" rear gate. I think you might be able to get three bikes on it, but it would be a chore.
I did "engineer in" the right chock to move back on the trailer to make room if needed.
6x12 tandem with a 48" rear gate. I think you might be able to get three bikes on it, but it would be a chore.
I did "engineer in" the right chock to move back on the trailer to make room if needed.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,597
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
I have a 6 X 10 open landscape trailer. It's fits a Roadking and Softail easily. If I spread them farther apart I could fit another bike between them (facing backwards). But I wouldn't because it's only a single axle trailer. You might as well go the 2 extra feet and get the 6 X 12, definately dual axle and I would probably try and get one with trailer brakes as well. That's a lot of weight back there.
My friend picked up an open car trailer, I'm going to guess about 6 X 20 in size. It easily fits 4 bikes. Dual axle with trailer brakes for $2,200 in Florida. We bought it during bikeweek because A) he was looking for a trailer anyway, and B) the prices were way better in Florida than here in Jersey.
As far as size, When you park it somewhere on your property, 5 X 10 or 6 X 20 isn't a whole lot different. I live in South Jersey on a really small lot. I could easily fit either size trailer. If you lived in a Philly row home a couple of extra feet might be a big deal.
My friend picked up an open car trailer, I'm going to guess about 6 X 20 in size. It easily fits 4 bikes. Dual axle with trailer brakes for $2,200 in Florida. We bought it during bikeweek because A) he was looking for a trailer anyway, and B) the prices were way better in Florida than here in Jersey.
As far as size, When you park it somewhere on your property, 5 X 10 or 6 X 20 isn't a whole lot different. I live in South Jersey on a really small lot. I could easily fit either size trailer. If you lived in a Philly row home a couple of extra feet might be a big deal.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 1
From: LI, NY
I have a HF 4 x 8 trailer. Used it to bring home my son's new nightster home from the dealer. The dealer was going to deliver it home free in their truck. My son wanted to bring it home himself. As I had done when I brought home my new 1978 super glide from the the dealer in the back of my 1950 Ford pickup. He used the same 2 x 10 that I used for a ramp when I loaded my super glide for his nightster.
Any way after pulling home a load of topsoil with that trailer. Weighed 2,250 lbs. I was on side streets, able to limit speed, and the worse that could happen was to loose $25 worth of dirt.
However I would not want to pull two bikes on a trailer just big enough to get the job done. I would want dual axles if I was going to pull two to three touring bikes. Also better to buy a little bigger then you need because when the time comes an you need more space you won't have it.
I seen people get late model Haulmark trailers a year or two old on ebay for half the price of new. Better to wait for a deal on a closed trailer. Protected on the road and weather. Locked up when stopped at motol for the night, and meals.
And can use the trailer as a portable garage at home or in FL.
Any way after pulling home a load of topsoil with that trailer. Weighed 2,250 lbs. I was on side streets, able to limit speed, and the worse that could happen was to loose $25 worth of dirt.
However I would not want to pull two bikes on a trailer just big enough to get the job done. I would want dual axles if I was going to pull two to three touring bikes. Also better to buy a little bigger then you need because when the time comes an you need more space you won't have it.
I seen people get late model Haulmark trailers a year or two old on ebay for half the price of new. Better to wait for a deal on a closed trailer. Protected on the road and weather. Locked up when stopped at motol for the night, and meals.
And can use the trailer as a portable garage at home or in FL.