Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,726
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Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
After some years of riding with several long distance trips two-up, Ive decided to pull a trailer behind my Roadking and would like to hear from anyone with any experience with such. Ive visited the motorcycle tailer index on the web: http://www.aerobourne.com/motorcycletrailerindex9.htm and looked over the different manufacturers. From the cheap side of around $600-800 you get what is the equivalent of a travel trunk for a SUV, along with 8"wheels, and leafspring suspension, up to around $4000 for hand laid fiberglass, 16" aluminum spoke wheels, air-ride suspension, swivel trailer coupling, etc. I will probably only use a trailer on long trips around twice a year, so spending a large chunk of money is hard for me to justify, however I dont want something that looks bad either. My question or concerns would be would do you need, versus what is just excess if there is any. Do trailers with leafspring suspension work just fine, or is it really better to have torsion or air ride?
4th Gear
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8
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From:
RE: Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
We have used a Cyclemate Windraider to go to Milwaukee a couple of times.
Paid under 1400.00 unassembled (had to put the wheels and the box on the frame)
It is a 19 CU Ft and has a real nice shape to it (slopes to the front, opens at the rear)
When I pull it I can forget that it is there, pulls that nice.
Hope this helps
Paid under 1400.00 unassembled (had to put the wheels and the box on the frame)
It is a 19 CU Ft and has a real nice shape to it (slopes to the front, opens at the rear)
When I pull it I can forget that it is there, pulls that nice.
Hope this helps
RE: Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
Hey Apeking,
I pulled a popup camper behind a 91 Ultra for several years. Gotta keep the rear shocks a little stiff (add air if you got airshocks) and DON'T forget it's back there. Gotta watch you stopping distance and highway ramps. Otherwise other than a slight drop in gas milage you won't have a problem. I struts on mine and it handled fine.
[sm=biker2.gif]
I pulled a popup camper behind a 91 Ultra for several years. Gotta keep the rear shocks a little stiff (add air if you got airshocks) and DON'T forget it's back there. Gotta watch you stopping distance and highway ramps. Otherwise other than a slight drop in gas milage you won't have a problem. I struts on mine and it handled fine.
[sm=biker2.gif]
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,119
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From: USA
RE: Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
ORIGINAL: Sincecrazy
After some years of riding with several long distance trips two-up, Ive decided to pull a trailer behind my Roadking and would like to hear from anyone with any experience with such. Ive visited the motorcycle tailer index on the web: http://www.aerobourne.com/motorcycletrailerindex9.htm and looked over the different manufacturers. From the cheap side of around $600-800 you get what is the equivalent of a travel trunk for a SUV, along with 8"wheels, and leafspring suspension, up to around $4000 for hand laid fiberglass, 16" aluminum spoke wheels, air-ride suspension, swivel trailer coupling, etc. I will probably only use a trailer on long trips around twice a year, so spending a large chunk of money is hard for me to justify, however I dont want something that looks bad either. My question or concerns would be would do you need, versus what is just excess if there is any. Do trailers with leafspring suspension work just fine, or is it really better to have torsion or air ride?
After some years of riding with several long distance trips two-up, Ive decided to pull a trailer behind my Roadking and would like to hear from anyone with any experience with such. Ive visited the motorcycle tailer index on the web: http://www.aerobourne.com/motorcycletrailerindex9.htm and looked over the different manufacturers. From the cheap side of around $600-800 you get what is the equivalent of a travel trunk for a SUV, along with 8"wheels, and leafspring suspension, up to around $4000 for hand laid fiberglass, 16" aluminum spoke wheels, air-ride suspension, swivel trailer coupling, etc. I will probably only use a trailer on long trips around twice a year, so spending a large chunk of money is hard for me to justify, however I dont want something that looks bad either. My question or concerns would be would do you need, versus what is just excess if there is any. Do trailers with leafspring suspension work just fine, or is it really better to have torsion or air ride?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 851
Likes: 1
RE: Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
03 Heritage and Ive had a trailer for two years, went through Nova Scotia, PEI and back, went to Philly and back and up towards the Adirondaks and down to see OCC. I bought mine from Neosho trailers(on the Internet) and paid a total of 950.00. Like the other person before, had to put on the wheels and bolt up the trailer arm to the frame...No big Deal. it has leaf springs on it and NO swivel hitch, if your going that fast that you need a swivel hitch, you shouldnt be hauling a trailer.
I am using it like you want to, a couple times a year for those week long to 10 day long vacations. I have had NO problem with it whatsoever. I'm telling ya, it beats the hell out of just using the saddlebas and a luggage bad on yur luggage rack.
I love it and am so glad I bought it. Made my life easier...
Good Luck!!
I am using it like you want to, a couple times a year for those week long to 10 day long vacations. I have had NO problem with it whatsoever. I'm telling ya, it beats the hell out of just using the saddlebas and a luggage bad on yur luggage rack.
I love it and am so glad I bought it. Made my life easier...
Good Luck!!
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
RE: Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
For everyone that pulls a trailer behind their bike: I have an 06 Ultra Classic.
What did you have to do to aquire trailer brake lights? A special adapter from (???name of company) or did you splice into your harness, which I'd hate to do.
The sales guy at our HD shop said Harley doesn't sell an adapter because they don't believe anyone should pull a trailer with a motorcycle.
I want to build a trailer for a winter project and am wondering what's all involved with the wiring of the bike to the trailer and any special items/adapters I will need.
I will also be installing a rear turn signal conversion kit that changes rear turn signals into stop lights and turn signals. Anyone forsee a problem?
What did you have to do to aquire trailer brake lights? A special adapter from (???name of company) or did you splice into your harness, which I'd hate to do.
The sales guy at our HD shop said Harley doesn't sell an adapter because they don't believe anyone should pull a trailer with a motorcycle.
I want to build a trailer for a winter project and am wondering what's all involved with the wiring of the bike to the trailer and any special items/adapters I will need.
I will also be installing a rear turn signal conversion kit that changes rear turn signals into stop lights and turn signals. Anyone forsee a problem?
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 102
Likes: 1
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RE: Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
Seems like every time we take a trip it ends up being a short vacation and "SHE" wants to take more and more crap everytime, for this reason I have also considered a pull behind but have been afraid of making a $3k mistake for some of the same issue you mentioned. I have talked to a few folks about trailers and a lot of them have the opinion that from an engineering standpoint a single wheel trailer would make more sense and be safer, in terms of no pushing in corners and it would track better. Anyone have any experience with single wheel trailers???
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,726
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RE: Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
Mickeymax, for a trailer plug I have the turnsignal-taillight conversion from HD. I spliced the harness there.
SCBGR, I would think a single wheel trailer would be better all around. I was going to go with that style but after finding a great deal on a kromewerks hitch, it changed my mind to staying conventional. Youll have to use a universal joint style hitch for a single wheel, actually the trailer tongue has the universal in it, while the bike will have a receiver style tubing.
SCBGR, I would think a single wheel trailer would be better all around. I was going to go with that style but after finding a great deal on a kromewerks hitch, it changed my mind to staying conventional. Youll have to use a universal joint style hitch for a single wheel, actually the trailer tongue has the universal in it, while the bike will have a receiver style tubing.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
RE: Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
I would be interested to hear if anyone has any experience pulling a single wheel trailer?
I have seen the web sites for N-Line and Uni-Go. Are there any others?
The N-Line, with it's wheel behind the trailer looked kinda' funky. The Uni-Go looked like a better solution, but I have not seen either in person, or talked to anyone who has ever used one.
Any info would be appreciated.
I have seen the web sites for N-Line and Uni-Go. Are there any others?
The N-Line, with it's wheel behind the trailer looked kinda' funky. The Uni-Go looked like a better solution, but I have not seen either in person, or talked to anyone who has ever used one.
Any info would be appreciated.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 851
Likes: 1
RE: Pulling a trailer behind your motorcycle
As far as the lighting goes, in the J7P Cycle catalog there is a "splitter" that plugs under the seat between your front and rear harness. Piece of cake, NO SPLICING...its great, then what I did was buy at the harley dealership another wiring protecter thats under the rear fender now and put it beside that one to run the trailer wiring through it to my trailer connector which also came from J&P.
No Problem,
ALSO
no problem with my 2 wheel trailer, been hauling for 2 years and alot of miles. I love it
No Problem,
ALSO
no problem with my 2 wheel trailer, been hauling for 2 years and alot of miles. I love it