Trailer to pull Behind a m/c
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: laplace,la
Trailer to pull Behind a m/c
Hello,I was looking at a trailer to tow behind my HD and was wondering If anyone had any Feed Back on problems they had pulling a trailer behind there Bike. I have looked at road dog trailers, bushtech & Lengend trailers along with many more. I have heard that it very easy to jack knife pulling one of these m/c trailers if you have to hit your brakes in a emergency situation. and that they tend to bounch bad if you happen to hit rough road or a unseen pot hole. Looking to haul more items when I make runs to Sturgis, Daytona,ect ect. I see lot of trailer on the road behind bikes but have never had a chance to talk to anyone about how they like there m/c trailers. The people who sell these trailer all tell you How there the best. I wanted to find out from the people who use these trailer what they think. Thanks
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 8
From: MN
many a mile with a trailer behind my Ultra with no problems.
You need to remember you have a trailer. Only time I ever noticed it was during breaking situations. Slow down and leave more room to stop.
If you have too much air in the tires they will bounce. I ran a swivel hitch. Never noticed any movement from the trailer.
You need to remember you have a trailer. Only time I ever noticed it was during breaking situations. Slow down and leave more room to stop.
If you have too much air in the tires they will bounce. I ran a swivel hitch. Never noticed any movement from the trailer.
Advanced
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Rio Rancho, NM
I've pulled an Escapde trailer (http://www.utpr.com/roadrunner/escapade_classic.htm) behind my 98 RoadKing for many miles. Its been everywhere from Alaska to Mexico, good roads and bad.
Like pulling a trailer with a car or truck, it takes more gas and clutch work to get going and more brakes to stop. Because of this (and only having 2 tires controlling this type set up) youll obviously need to pay more attention in the rain. The trailer makes the bike feel heavier but once I get going I forget its back there.
Other things to be cautious about are start and stop in a straight line. If the trailer is angled behind you it will try to pull you down when you start. When I first got the trailer back in 98 I almost dumped the bike once because of this. The trailer was at an angle behind me and on the other side of a sidewalk I was straddling. When I went to leave the trailer caught the lip of the sidewalk and it really pulled to that side, enough for me to have to put my foot down to catch it.
Lesson learned there. Another issue was one time I turned around on a 2 lane road with a high crown and immediately pulled over to check my maps. The bike was parked parallel with the road but the trailer was angled out onto the road a little. Kick stand went down and I leaned the bike over onto it but again the road was crowned. Because the bike was not leaned onto the kick stand as much as normal and with gravity working on the trailer; the bike stayed up for a few seconds (enough time for me to get off and stretch) but then ever so slowly toppled over at me feet as I was opening the saddle bag lid!
Another lesson learned!
No bouncing except for a speed bump that was hidden in the shadows in Mexico that I hit faster then I should have. It threw the trailer into the air according to the guys behind me and while they got a kick out of it, I was mad about not seeing that damn speed bump (there are way too many speed bumps in that country
). No control issues, just a nice jolt for rider and machine. My trailer has air shocks and I run the tire pressure really low so that helps. Any trailer with just leaf springs and no shocks will bounce I imagine so choose wisely. That and filling tires to their max PSI rating even though they are really only carrying a couple of hundred pounds on them will add to that as well. I fill my trailer and using a piece of paper as a go/no go gauge, adjust my tire pressure down until the tread touches the ground across the width of the tire.
These are the incidents that come to mind after 10s of thousands of miles pulling it.
Hope this helps -
Like pulling a trailer with a car or truck, it takes more gas and clutch work to get going and more brakes to stop. Because of this (and only having 2 tires controlling this type set up) youll obviously need to pay more attention in the rain. The trailer makes the bike feel heavier but once I get going I forget its back there.
Other things to be cautious about are start and stop in a straight line. If the trailer is angled behind you it will try to pull you down when you start. When I first got the trailer back in 98 I almost dumped the bike once because of this. The trailer was at an angle behind me and on the other side of a sidewalk I was straddling. When I went to leave the trailer caught the lip of the sidewalk and it really pulled to that side, enough for me to have to put my foot down to catch it.
Lesson learned there. Another issue was one time I turned around on a 2 lane road with a high crown and immediately pulled over to check my maps. The bike was parked parallel with the road but the trailer was angled out onto the road a little. Kick stand went down and I leaned the bike over onto it but again the road was crowned. Because the bike was not leaned onto the kick stand as much as normal and with gravity working on the trailer; the bike stayed up for a few seconds (enough time for me to get off and stretch) but then ever so slowly toppled over at me feet as I was opening the saddle bag lid! Another lesson learned!No bouncing except for a speed bump that was hidden in the shadows in Mexico that I hit faster then I should have. It threw the trailer into the air according to the guys behind me and while they got a kick out of it, I was mad about not seeing that damn speed bump (there are way too many speed bumps in that country
). No control issues, just a nice jolt for rider and machine. My trailer has air shocks and I run the tire pressure really low so that helps. Any trailer with just leaf springs and no shocks will bounce I imagine so choose wisely. That and filling tires to their max PSI rating even though they are really only carrying a couple of hundred pounds on them will add to that as well. I fill my trailer and using a piece of paper as a go/no go gauge, adjust my tire pressure down until the tread touches the ground across the width of the tire.These are the incidents that come to mind after 10s of thousands of miles pulling it.
Hope this helps -
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: laplace,la
I've pulled an Escapde trailer (http://www.utpr.com/roadrunner/escapade_classic.htm) behind my 98 RoadKing for many miles. Its been everywhere from Alaska to Mexico, good roads and bad.
Like pulling a trailer with a car or truck, it takes more gas and clutch work to get going and more brakes to stop. Because of this (and only having 2 tires controlling this type set up) youll obviously need to pay more attention in the rain. The trailer makes the bike feel heavier but once I get going I forget its back there.
Other things to be cautious about are start and stop in a straight line. If the trailer is angled behind you it will try to pull you down when you start. When I first got the trailer back in 98 I almost dumped the bike once because of this. The trailer was at an angle behind me and on the other side of a sidewalk I was straddling. When I went to leave the trailer caught the lip of the sidewalk and it really pulled to that side, enough for me to have to put my foot down to catch it. Lesson learned there. Another issue was one time I turned around on a 2 lane road with a high crown and immediately pulled over to check my maps. The bike was parked parallel with the road but the trailer was angled out onto the road a little. Kick stand went down and I leaned the bike over onto it but again the road was crowned. Because the bike was not leaned onto the kick stand as much as normal and with gravity working on the trailer; the bike stayed up for a few seconds (enough time for me to get off and stretch) but then ever so slowly toppled over at me feet as I was opening the saddle bag lid! Another lesson learned!
No bouncing except for a speed bump that was hidden in the shadows in Mexico that I hit faster then I should have. It threw the trailer into the air according to the guys behind me and while they got a kick out of it, I was mad about not seeing that damn speed bump (there are way too many speed bumps in that country). No control issues, just a nice jolt for rider and machine. My trailer has air shocks and I run the tire pressure really low so that helps. Any trailer with just leaf springs and no shocks will bounce I imagine so choose wisely. That and filling tires to their max PSI rating even though they are really only carrying a couple of hundred pounds on them will add to that as well. I fill my trailer and using a piece of paper as a go/no go gauge, adjust my tire pressure down until the tread touches the ground across the width of the tire.
These are the incidents that come to mind after 10s of thousands of miles pulling it.
Hope this helps -
Like pulling a trailer with a car or truck, it takes more gas and clutch work to get going and more brakes to stop. Because of this (and only having 2 tires controlling this type set up) youll obviously need to pay more attention in the rain. The trailer makes the bike feel heavier but once I get going I forget its back there.
Other things to be cautious about are start and stop in a straight line. If the trailer is angled behind you it will try to pull you down when you start. When I first got the trailer back in 98 I almost dumped the bike once because of this. The trailer was at an angle behind me and on the other side of a sidewalk I was straddling. When I went to leave the trailer caught the lip of the sidewalk and it really pulled to that side, enough for me to have to put my foot down to catch it.
Lesson learned there. Another issue was one time I turned around on a 2 lane road with a high crown and immediately pulled over to check my maps. The bike was parked parallel with the road but the trailer was angled out onto the road a little. Kick stand went down and I leaned the bike over onto it but again the road was crowned. Because the bike was not leaned onto the kick stand as much as normal and with gravity working on the trailer; the bike stayed up for a few seconds (enough time for me to get off and stretch) but then ever so slowly toppled over at me feet as I was opening the saddle bag lid! Another lesson learned!No bouncing except for a speed bump that was hidden in the shadows in Mexico that I hit faster then I should have. It threw the trailer into the air according to the guys behind me and while they got a kick out of it, I was mad about not seeing that damn speed bump (there are way too many speed bumps in that country
). No control issues, just a nice jolt for rider and machine. My trailer has air shocks and I run the tire pressure really low so that helps. Any trailer with just leaf springs and no shocks will bounce I imagine so choose wisely. That and filling tires to their max PSI rating even though they are really only carrying a couple of hundred pounds on them will add to that as well. I fill my trailer and using a piece of paper as a go/no go gauge, adjust my tire pressure down until the tread touches the ground across the width of the tire.These are the incidents that come to mind after 10s of thousands of miles pulling it.
Hope this helps -
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: laplace,la
many a mile with a trailer behind my Ultra with no problems.
You need to remember you have a trailer. Only time I ever noticed it was during breaking situations. Slow down and leave more room to stop.
If you have too much air in the tires they will bounce. I ran a swivel hitch. Never noticed any movement from the trailer.
You need to remember you have a trailer. Only time I ever noticed it was during breaking situations. Slow down and leave more room to stop.
If you have too much air in the tires they will bounce. I ran a swivel hitch. Never noticed any movement from the trailer.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 293
From: Too close, Pa
Bushtec
I Looked at a lot of different trailers, a friend of mine has a bushtec and loves it. I ended up with a bushtec turbo II model. Ordered the hitch and wiring harness from bushtec, took me about 30 minutes to install the hitch and the wire harness is just a plug in system. I really like the hitch reciever system as it is hard to see when the hitch is not on.
My first trip was about 260 miles up to my cabin with a fairly light load, the only thing I noticed was a little more on the throttle and brakes depending on the roads you ride and terrain. Did hit a few bumps and the trailer had no bounce at all, they have a great suspension system which makes the difference. Next trip was loaded to the top for 2 weeks into Canada and The UP of Michigan, no problems at all. The wife was happy she could bring more **** than she needed.
I ride an ultra with the 110SE upgrade plenty of power, cruising down the highway at 70 you have to look back to make sure it is still there. My only advice is pay attention to The tounge weight, I got a portable digital fish scale so I can get the tounge weight right.
If you like to travel two up the trailer makes it easier.
My first trip was about 260 miles up to my cabin with a fairly light load, the only thing I noticed was a little more on the throttle and brakes depending on the roads you ride and terrain. Did hit a few bumps and the trailer had no bounce at all, they have a great suspension system which makes the difference. Next trip was loaded to the top for 2 weeks into Canada and The UP of Michigan, no problems at all. The wife was happy she could bring more **** than she needed.
I ride an ultra with the 110SE upgrade plenty of power, cruising down the highway at 70 you have to look back to make sure it is still there. My only advice is pay attention to The tounge weight, I got a portable digital fish scale so I can get the tounge weight right.
If you like to travel two up the trailer makes it easier.
I have a 2008 Heritage and pull a Kompact Kamp Kadette. It has LED lights, water proof seal, locks, and holds quite a bit of stuff. Like the other guys on here you have to give yourself more room for breaking, and it's going to accelerate slower, but once you get going I have to keep reminding myself it's back there. Really easy around the turns and everything. Had it on Skyline Drive and no issues at all and don't even have the swivel coupler.
Here's a picture of the set up. Yes I know it's yellow, I got it used, but I like it cause I feel like people notice me more on the road and give me room. I did have to upgrade to the HD clutch spring due to slipping on a really hot day while towing. With the LED lights I just hard wired them in to the bike without any relays that some trailer outfits try and sell you. The hitch was a Khrome Works and seems to work well. I also adjusted the suspension to the stiffest setting and still rides good with a load on it.
The trailer is the best way to add cargo room, we love it and are planning on taking it from DC to California next summer. Mostly camping along the way too!!
Here's a picture of the set up. Yes I know it's yellow, I got it used, but I like it cause I feel like people notice me more on the road and give me room. I did have to upgrade to the HD clutch spring due to slipping on a really hot day while towing. With the LED lights I just hard wired them in to the bike without any relays that some trailer outfits try and sell you. The hitch was a Khrome Works and seems to work well. I also adjusted the suspension to the stiffest setting and still rides good with a load on it.
The trailer is the best way to add cargo room, we love it and are planning on taking it from DC to California next summer. Mostly camping along the way too!!
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I spent some time rebuilding a old trailer and came out money ahead. It would have been nice to have one new. The two things that I added that is very important to our traveling. A spare tire, (and the tools to change it), and a cooler.
All you really need as far as tools to change the tire ia a 1/2 drive ratchet and extension + socket. You can easily raise the trailer off of the wheel. The cooler was real handy to carry water, lunch stuff and, happily, beer, for the end of the day at the hotel. We ran across some dry counties driving through Arkansas.
All you really need as far as tools to change the tire ia a 1/2 drive ratchet and extension + socket. You can easily raise the trailer off of the wheel. The cooler was real handy to carry water, lunch stuff and, happily, beer, for the end of the day at the hotel. We ran across some dry counties driving through Arkansas.