Should a Harley pull a trailer?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,130
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From: Tampa
Should a Harley pull a trailer?
Wife and I were thinking of adding a trailer hitch and light tow to the bike. After reading through the owner's manual, it states that the bike should not pull a trailer. It might cause "injury or result in death."
However, there are pictures all over these forums of folks that haul trailers with their bikes. This got me to thinking... Harley Davidson tries to capitalize on every type of custom option and upgrade they can sell from little chrome skulls to actual mechanical parts to cup holders. If they could sell trailer hitches and build trailers for bikes, then they certainly would? Why is it that they are specifying "no trailers" and not into selling hitches or custom trailers to pull behind the motorcycles?
Seems like they would if they could. Any thoughts? Should I pull a trailer or follow the MOCO suggestions?
However, there are pictures all over these forums of folks that haul trailers with their bikes. This got me to thinking... Harley Davidson tries to capitalize on every type of custom option and upgrade they can sell from little chrome skulls to actual mechanical parts to cup holders. If they could sell trailer hitches and build trailers for bikes, then they certainly would? Why is it that they are specifying "no trailers" and not into selling hitches or custom trailers to pull behind the motorcycles?
Seems like they would if they could. Any thoughts? Should I pull a trailer or follow the MOCO suggestions?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,923
Likes: 266
From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
When I first started to notice guys with trailers I was getting the itch to get one. Thought about building one vs buying one. You do hear alot of warning from the Harley camp as far as causing injury or death can happen if something goes wrong while towing. Then a short while later a member of our Polar Bear group and his wife had a wreck while towing coming back from Harley's 100th annth. From what I know they were towing their trailer and something went wrong,. He lost control of his bike, hit the center divider killing his wife. He lost a leg up to the hip. I never found out what actually a caused the wreck whether it seized a wheel, lost a wheel, or the trailer came unhitched. After that I lost interest in towing with the bike. I know there are losts of guys that tow without incident, but I gave up on the idea. I would feel better about towing with a trike then a two wheeled bike.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 50
From: Gilbert, AZ
"Harley Davidson tries to capitalize on every type of custom option and upgrade they can sell from little chrome skulls to actual mechanical parts to cup holders. If they could sell trailer hitches and build trailers for bikes, then they certainly would? Why is it that they are specifying "no trailers" and not into selling hitches or custom trailers to pull behind the motorcycles?"
One word - liability.
I towed a trailer to the Black Hills and back in 2009 on my previous bike. I don't think towing a trailer is any more dangerous than riding a motorcycle in general. I have no need for a trailer with my new bike, so I will never pull one with my Harley, but lots of people do and do it safely.
One word - liability.
I towed a trailer to the Black Hills and back in 2009 on my previous bike. I don't think towing a trailer is any more dangerous than riding a motorcycle in general. I have no need for a trailer with my new bike, so I will never pull one with my Harley, but lots of people do and do it safely.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 9
From: Colorado Springs CO
Don't read your owners manual about your car then. Yes trailers are danerous but so is bike riding in general. Like everything else, use at your own risk but they sure do make for enoyable times with the wife on extended road trips especially if you like to camp and enjoy taking a few extra things with on the trip.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 14
From: Fla
Check the internet...
There are tons of aftermarket sites selling gear for towing, and trailers of all types. One wheel, two wheel, utility, camper, and even accessories which will couple up to the receiver to carry coolers or extra baggage space. They make plenty from sales, but didn't make anything off of me...
I built my own, including the hitch. My trailer weighs 120lbs. and I've pulled at least as much as another hundred on it. As with all things, there is a learning curve. You've got to be aware at all times the trailer is back there, because sometimes you can't feel it behind you. Allow plenty of time for braking. Make wider turns, staying well off any curb. If you forget, you can be caught in a fix you may not have room get out of...
Some of the hitches are made on a swivel, I guess to allow the trailer enough rotation just in case it was to overturn. Mine is just a straight coupling. I have no problem laying my bike over, in a tight turn. I've even scraped my foot board a couple times.
There is one hitch, or ball for the hitch I should say, that the ball swivels on the hitch. I didn't like that idea, and saw sites that say those are dangerous because they add one more link in the movement at the tongue. Seemed to make sense to me, so I just went with a conventional setup just like any common vehicle pulling a trailer.
It does everything I could have hoped for...
As for Harley building/selling trailers and accessories...
Aside from the fact that they build nothing, (they assemble what is now built in china),
it's the same reason they stopped 'building'/selling side cars... LIABILITY!
There are tons of aftermarket sites selling gear for towing, and trailers of all types. One wheel, two wheel, utility, camper, and even accessories which will couple up to the receiver to carry coolers or extra baggage space. They make plenty from sales, but didn't make anything off of me...
I built my own, including the hitch. My trailer weighs 120lbs. and I've pulled at least as much as another hundred on it. As with all things, there is a learning curve. You've got to be aware at all times the trailer is back there, because sometimes you can't feel it behind you. Allow plenty of time for braking. Make wider turns, staying well off any curb. If you forget, you can be caught in a fix you may not have room get out of...
Some of the hitches are made on a swivel, I guess to allow the trailer enough rotation just in case it was to overturn. Mine is just a straight coupling. I have no problem laying my bike over, in a tight turn. I've even scraped my foot board a couple times.
There is one hitch, or ball for the hitch I should say, that the ball swivels on the hitch. I didn't like that idea, and saw sites that say those are dangerous because they add one more link in the movement at the tongue. Seemed to make sense to me, so I just went with a conventional setup just like any common vehicle pulling a trailer.
It does everything I could have hoped for...
As for Harley building/selling trailers and accessories...
Aside from the fact that they build nothing, (they assemble what is now built in china),
it's the same reason they stopped 'building'/selling side cars... LIABILITY!
Last edited by Def Mute; Mar 4, 2013 at 09:47 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
I towed a trailer for a while back in the 80's behind my Softail. Never gave me any problems and actually came in pretty handy. I made it myself with a trailer kit I bought at K-Mart, a piece of 1/2" plywood and a used RV rooftop carrier I bought at an RV repair shop. I think it cost me a total of about $200.00.
On a few occasions, I went on weekend trips with a small groups of other people, usually five or six bikes and vividly remember the others giving me **** at the beginning about pulling a trailer behind my bike.
Invariably, once we would get to where we were going to camp and everybody started setting up, I would get guys coming up and asking if their OL could change in my tent (I had a 10'X13' two room tent) or if they could use my three burner stove to cook on? I also had one of those lil fold up picnic tables and an old surplus Army Cot that I hauled around with me.
Below is a pic of me and my Softail taken when I was getting ready to pull out to go to Sturgis back in 1987. Note the small Propane tank on the tongue.
On a few occasions, I went on weekend trips with a small groups of other people, usually five or six bikes and vividly remember the others giving me **** at the beginning about pulling a trailer behind my bike.
Invariably, once we would get to where we were going to camp and everybody started setting up, I would get guys coming up and asking if their OL could change in my tent (I had a 10'X13' two room tent) or if they could use my three burner stove to cook on? I also had one of those lil fold up picnic tables and an old surplus Army Cot that I hauled around with me.
Below is a pic of me and my Softail taken when I was getting ready to pull out to go to Sturgis back in 1987. Note the small Propane tank on the tongue.
Last edited by IronAss; Mar 4, 2013 at 09:49 AM.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,078
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From: Michigan
From what I understand, just installing a trailer hitch voids your warranty. I don't think it's dangerous as long as you allow for the fact that you are towing something that will affect braking distance and handling in curves.