Enclosed trailer shopping
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 267
Likes: 6
From: Bear Creek PA
Enclosed trailer shopping
Considering an enclosed trailer for transporting my SG and the wife's 883 Iron. The must haves include dual torsion axles with brakes, 15" wheels, a front cargo door, e-track and tie downs, rear stab jacks, exterior LED lights and interior lighting, and a spring assist cargo door. My big question is, what size would be appropriate for this use? I'm thinking at least 7' wide, and 12', 14', or 16' length--thoughts? Also, any other must haves that anyone else can think of? Thanks in advance.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 75
From: CA
Considering an enclosed trailer for transporting my SG and the wife's 883 Iron. The must haves include dual torsion axles with brakes, 15" wheels, a front cargo door, e-track and tie downs, rear stab jacks, exterior LED lights and interior lighting, and a spring assist cargo door. My big question is, what size would be appropriate for this use? I'm thinking at least 7' wide, and 12', 14', or 16' length--thoughts? Also, any other must haves that anyone else can think of? Thanks in advance.
Depending on what you're towing the trailer with--I would recommend a dual axle trailer with electric brakes and get a weight distribution hitch with anti-sway bars to keep the trailer the most safe, stable, and versatile as possible.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,921
Likes: 33
From: Lewisberry PA
I would go to the 7*14. I have a 7*12 and get an ultra and an X in it. But if I had more room I could get my riding gear in it. I stared out looking for the 14 foot, but got a good deal on the 12.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 756
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
I have 7x12 plenty big enough but 8' would be nice if you ever wanted to haul 2 touring bikes. I've only had a bike in mine 3 times in 11 years. I did use it for work or it would have been just sitting around. They are nice to have I did go pickup a compact tractor in it once also.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
My recomendation
1: How big of a yard do you have to put it in?
2: The lighter the better because it pulls easier.
3: No matter how long you get it, you will always wish you had another 2 foot.
4: What size vehicle do you have and what will it pull up and down a mountain?
5: Brakes & a spare.
6: V-Nose and 7' of headroom if you are going to use it for anything more than towing a bike(s).
7: an 8'-6" wide trailer has more wind resistance than a narrower trailer. Take the extra cost in fuel and divide that by the comfort and convenience that a wider trailer will provide you especially if ever thinking about camping out in it.
8: A flat deck trailer will get your two bikes there with the least amount of initial capital outlay and is cheaper on fuel. Sucks for camping out on except if it rains real hard & the ground floods out.
I have 3 different trailers. Two of which I made.
The least expensive LINK: How To Fabricate an Inexpensive Motorcycle Trailer Using an Unwanted Boat Trailer PDF Download
I used a longer home made boat trailer with 3" channel & converted it to a flat deck using 1/4: aluminum plate. It can haul 5 bikes with twin axles & I have pulled it with all of my show material & 3 HD's from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Sturgis SD & back with a mini-van getting somewhat good fuel miliage.
I have a Featherlite 4926 24' Car hauler and it is slowly morphing from this into this undone project still in progress. It is first a mobile empty full service shop that everything wheels/carried in or out of once the destination is reached.
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I would imagine your choice may lie somewhere between the three unless you want to go bigger.
2: The lighter the better because it pulls easier.
3: No matter how long you get it, you will always wish you had another 2 foot.
4: What size vehicle do you have and what will it pull up and down a mountain?
5: Brakes & a spare.
6: V-Nose and 7' of headroom if you are going to use it for anything more than towing a bike(s).
7: an 8'-6" wide trailer has more wind resistance than a narrower trailer. Take the extra cost in fuel and divide that by the comfort and convenience that a wider trailer will provide you especially if ever thinking about camping out in it.
8: A flat deck trailer will get your two bikes there with the least amount of initial capital outlay and is cheaper on fuel. Sucks for camping out on except if it rains real hard & the ground floods out.
I have 3 different trailers. Two of which I made.
The least expensive LINK: How To Fabricate an Inexpensive Motorcycle Trailer Using an Unwanted Boat Trailer PDF Download
I used a longer home made boat trailer with 3" channel & converted it to a flat deck using 1/4: aluminum plate. It can haul 5 bikes with twin axles & I have pulled it with all of my show material & 3 HD's from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Sturgis SD & back with a mini-van getting somewhat good fuel miliage.
I have a Featherlite 4926 24' Car hauler and it is slowly morphing from this into this undone project still in progress. It is first a mobile empty full service shop that everything wheels/carried in or out of once the destination is reached.
I would imagine your choice may lie somewhere between the three unless you want to go bigger.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,388
Likes: 5
From: Wisconsin
A friend of mine has a 14' shark nose trailer for two bikes. He thinks the shark nose cuts the wind a bit better. If you don't want a shark nose then 12' should be good.
I do remember others saying "damn,I should have gone bigger".
You never know what you might want to haul a few years from now.
I do remember others saying "damn,I should have gone bigger".
You never know what you might want to haul a few years from now.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 267
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From: Bear Creek PA
Thanks for all the replies so far.
Fast: I had considered doing what you did with the boat trailer, as I have an old pop-up camper that's no longer useful for that purpose, so I started taking it apart. But the small single axle and no brakes worried me as far as load carrying capacity and the blowout factor. Storage space in the yard isn't an issue, but the tow vehicle is--my wife's Range Rover Sport is the desired TV, and it has a towing capacity of 7k# for a braked trailer and only 1700# for a non braked trailer. Of course my Cummins Ram can pull any trailer we're talking about, but the idea is for the truck to pull the camper and her Rover to pull the bikes. I know, get a toy hauler...but wife really likes the camper we have and doesn't want to lose living space for garage space. So it's either super-lightweight open trailer like your boat conversion or enclosed with brakes. Or maybe order up a 3500# axle with brakes and use that on the pop-up frame? Decisions, decisions.
Fast: I had considered doing what you did with the boat trailer, as I have an old pop-up camper that's no longer useful for that purpose, so I started taking it apart. But the small single axle and no brakes worried me as far as load carrying capacity and the blowout factor. Storage space in the yard isn't an issue, but the tow vehicle is--my wife's Range Rover Sport is the desired TV, and it has a towing capacity of 7k# for a braked trailer and only 1700# for a non braked trailer. Of course my Cummins Ram can pull any trailer we're talking about, but the idea is for the truck to pull the camper and her Rover to pull the bikes. I know, get a toy hauler...but wife really likes the camper we have and doesn't want to lose living space for garage space. So it's either super-lightweight open trailer like your boat conversion or enclosed with brakes. Or maybe order up a 3500# axle with brakes and use that on the pop-up frame? Decisions, decisions.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,120
Likes: 17
From: Indiana
I will never tow with a single axle again. Tandems are just so solid and the singles seem to wander more than I like. You're asking for an expensive trailer to come with all that. Look into prolinetrailers.com. I got my 7x14 V-nose for $3700. The trailer is actually made in Indiana by Covenant (the one I bought). But it was a great trailer, so great someone just traded me a $8k dump trailer for it...lol! I bought mine in 2007 and LED wasn't a thing yet, but their new ones all come with LEDs. I swapped them out and went to auto zone and got 2 12" led stripes for the inside and that was bright as hell. You can add the tie downs and stuff yourself and save some money IMO. Here's what it looks like with my Dyna and a BMW GS1150. This trailer has springs not torsion axles, but was smooth as hell.
As you can see the extra 4 feet make a big difference (7x12 vs 7x16)
As you can see the extra 4 feet make a big difference (7x12 vs 7x16)
Last edited by JaronB; Jan 26, 2014 at 10:19 AM.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
Boat Trailer
Thanks for all the replies so far.
Fast: I had considered doing what you did with the boat trailer, as I have an old pop-up camper that's no longer useful for that purpose, so I started taking it apart. But the small single axle and no brakes worried me as far as load carrying capacity and the blowout factor. Storage space in the yard isn't an issue, but the tow vehicle is--my wife's Range Rover Sport is the desired TV, and it has a towing capacity of 7k# for a braked trailer and only 1700# for a non braked trailer. Of course my Cummins Ram can pull any trailer we're talking about, but the idea is for the truck to pull the camper and her Rover to pull the bikes. I know, get a toy hauler...but wife really likes the camper we have and doesn't want to lose living space for garage space. So it's either super-lightweight open trailer like your boat conversion or enclosed with brakes. Or maybe order up a 3500# axle with brakes and use that on the pop-up frame? Decisions, decisions.
Fast: I had considered doing what you did with the boat trailer, as I have an old pop-up camper that's no longer useful for that purpose, so I started taking it apart. But the small single axle and no brakes worried me as far as load carrying capacity and the blowout factor. Storage space in the yard isn't an issue, but the tow vehicle is--my wife's Range Rover Sport is the desired TV, and it has a towing capacity of 7k# for a braked trailer and only 1700# for a non braked trailer. Of course my Cummins Ram can pull any trailer we're talking about, but the idea is for the truck to pull the camper and her Rover to pull the bikes. I know, get a toy hauler...but wife really likes the camper we have and doesn't want to lose living space for garage space. So it's either super-lightweight open trailer like your boat conversion or enclosed with brakes. Or maybe order up a 3500# axle with brakes and use that on the pop-up frame? Decisions, decisions.
With a wide trailer and both bikes already loaded on you should have enough room to put one of these waterproof roof carriers between the bike, bolt it down, than load it it. One that the top lifts off is better than one that hinges. They make long & narrow ones for skis. Get your stuff out of the car and into the trailer. I use the same welded on the bottom nuts with through bolts to mount my wheel chocks so I can move them around as needed and use the same mounting for this storage solution.