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Hacked, Conversions and Trailering"Harley Sidecar, Conversion Trikes and Motorcycle Pull Behind Trailering Enthusiasts"
A forum for the discussion of your sidecar, Conversion Trike or Pull Behind Motorcycle Trailer.
help me with that one, Joker .
I know pulling a trailer puts different stresses on the tow vehicle.
but would flags cause more drag than pushing a windshield?
thanks
..L.T.A.
I know dozens of PGR riders that have flown multiple large flags for 1000s of miles. No one has ever had a clutch or tranny issue from flying flags. As far as his comments on trailers, they are hypothetical.
Have pulled a camper trailer with a Fat Bob and also with an Ultra for thousands of miles over the years two up also. No issues at all.
Cant remember the weight of the camper but it was a fully loaded motorbike camper trailer with enough gear at times for two of us camping for 4-5 weeks at a time on the road.
Plenty do it and have done it. The ultra I could get a manufactured tow bar but the Bob I had to have one made at the time, they might be available now. Im sure if the dyna could do it the Softail would as easily, have seen many Softail a pulling trailers.
I've towed two different cargo trailers many miles behind my '92.and '95 Heritages (only difference is a windshield and bags) as well as my '00 Ultra Classic with no problems whatsoever and I've towed them up and down most every mountain range in the U.S. including Alaska
Taking your time, especially in hills, curves and on wet pavement goes a long way in preventing loss of control of both the bike and the trailer.
A "rule of thumb" in pulling any trailer is that it does not exceed half of the weight of the tow vehicle and this should include rider and passenger weight along with your luggage and riding gear and with a 325# trailer you would be pushing the limit, especially in hilly terrain.
I know that we broke this rule when we rode two-up while towing the trailer across Death Valley with one of the Heritages but there's not a lot of inclines on that long, hot piece of highway.
My biggest concern with a trailer is that it must be well maintained with new (or good) tires, "buddy bearings" and I also carry a small mini-grease gun (in a plastic bag) in order to make sure that they're well lubricated especially on long, freeway speed runs.
I've pulled trailers many many thousands of miles. From a Combi Camp camper, Tag Along cargo trailer and even had a smoker built many years ago that I pulled around.
I've pulled trailers with a 1986 Honda VT1100C Shadow, thousands of miles, Yamaha VStar 1100 Clasic, thousands of miles, 2018 Harley Heritage 114, several thousand miles, 2019 SGS, same thing.
Now I have a 2020 SGS and so far have pulled my camper 4,000 miles and use my Tag Along every weekend. I don't own a car so my bike does it all for me.
There is NO issue "pulling" a trailer. There is an issue stopping with a trailer. You have to be very familiar with your braking system and absolutely leave a greater space from the car ahead of you. Depending on your hitch, you may feel a push left or right, depending on which way you turn from a stand still, that is something you have to get used to and eventually you won't even notice it. If the trailer you are thinking about getting has less than 12" tires, you will be hard pressed to find an electric brake system for it.
08 Heritage on the Ferry crossing Lake Michigan.
2005 Ultra Classic with camper:
2018 Heritage:
Have many more pics but, you get the picture. I know what I'm talking about, not passing on old wives tales or what my neighbor's cousin's sister said.
It is not as complicated, dangerous or difficult as some would have you think. I have NEVER in all the miles I've traveled with bikes and trailers had an issue with the bike due to the trailer. Hell, only issue I've ever had is a flat tire on the rear of my Heritage as I pulled out of a gas station. Don't know how long the screw was in the tire but it went down while I was getting gas.
Good hitch, safety chains, very good lights, trailer properly set up so it is lever going down the road, trailer packed properly, I can and do run 80mph down the slab with no issues. Especially with the new M8 114.
Any specific questions, ask them, I'll help if at all possible.
Sorry, late to the party. I have the same bike, where did you get your hitch? I'm looking to get a trailer to bring my pup along with me.
edit: 2018 Deluxe
Last edited by Christian1977; May 22, 2024 at 07:57 PM.
Reason: Adding bike
