I'm gonna get crucified for asking this, but....
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 19
From: Dayton
The hitch may be rated at 600lbs, but most cars on the road today would snap in half with the weight of a harley on the back.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I would suspect that the sideways position of the bike would be as much or more wind drag than mounted on a trailer. A tail gate lift on a truck would cost much more than most trailers. I used some at work that were Maxxon brand and were rated at around 1,200 lb load lift. They ran about $3K and that was 10 years ago. We only put them on 3/4 ton or heavier trucks.
I towed my 900 pound Rune 1,400 miles to the Dragon and back on a under $600 HF kit trailer with a V6 SUV. I normally got 27mpg average. Towing the trailer, I got 25.5 for the entire trip. So in my thinking a bike on a single trailer does not lower the mpg very much. The SUV was an 08 Toyota Highlander with a 3.5L 270 hp V6 6spd. auto. It did not even notice the weight of the trailer behind it.
I put the trailer together with overkill. the 6 D rings were bolted through the frame and rated for 9K lbs. The bed was 3/4" plywood. Two spares, foldaway front jack with wheel. Ramps carried under the frame. I am very experienced at measuring and loading a single axle trailer with 70% of the load ahead of the axle for very stable towing. Could not make the trailer sway at all. The trailer was rated for 1,740 lbs so there was good cushion with the final load weight.
When I got back, I put it on this forum for sale to the first person to show up with $300. A member from Joliet Il. jumped on it for the same reason that I used it for. His wife was not a rider and she wanted to go with him for a trip down south.
I towed my 900 pound Rune 1,400 miles to the Dragon and back on a under $600 HF kit trailer with a V6 SUV. I normally got 27mpg average. Towing the trailer, I got 25.5 for the entire trip. So in my thinking a bike on a single trailer does not lower the mpg very much. The SUV was an 08 Toyota Highlander with a 3.5L 270 hp V6 6spd. auto. It did not even notice the weight of the trailer behind it.
I put the trailer together with overkill. the 6 D rings were bolted through the frame and rated for 9K lbs. The bed was 3/4" plywood. Two spares, foldaway front jack with wheel. Ramps carried under the frame. I am very experienced at measuring and loading a single axle trailer with 70% of the load ahead of the axle for very stable towing. Could not make the trailer sway at all. The trailer was rated for 1,740 lbs so there was good cushion with the final load weight.
When I got back, I put it on this forum for sale to the first person to show up with $300. A member from Joliet Il. jumped on it for the same reason that I used it for. His wife was not a rider and she wanted to go with him for a trip down south.
Last edited by lh4x4; Jan 20, 2012 at 03:02 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 5
From: Hickory, NC
A friend of mine put one of these on the back of his fifth wheel to haul his Dyna. The weight ended up breaking the frame on the fifth wheel.
If you're going to take the bike, I'd ride or if you don't won't to pull a trailer get a Hog Hauler.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
From: Arlington and Shenandoah Co. Va.
I haul my Sportster in the back of a Quad Cab Dodge Dakota pickup. Family rides in the two seats in front and baggage is stowed with the bike in back.
A standard size pickup with a crew cab and bike ramps could be all you would need.
A standard size pickup with a crew cab and bike ramps could be all you would need.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
Rent a trailer to to haul the bike on. If you get the one mentioned earlier that has the rear wheel of the bike on the road, you are going to need to hook up the lights on the motorcycle to the vehicle to be in compliance. If you rent a 4x8 uhaul, I thing you can get the bike in it plus luggage to free up room in the vehicle. But hey, I think you're going to be crucified.
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Here is my recommendation. http://www.prohoists.com/shopping.idc?productid=35 or this one from Handy Hauler http://hhauler.com/FAQ.html
Best of both, no trailer, and the bike supports itself for the most part.
Best of both, no trailer, and the bike supports itself for the most part.
Last edited by djbiker; Jan 20, 2012 at 08:24 PM. Reason: Added a link
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: McKinney, Texas
A one ton truck with a 1000 lb hitch might handle it... That RV rig is pretty specialized and typically welded to the frames of the RV. A smaller vehicle does not sound like a good idea to me...
Good luck!
Good luck!