trailer versus loading down the bike
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 892
Likes: 11
From: Northern NY
I've pulled a trlr with my '11 Ultra. Gas mileage dropped to 38 to 40 mpgs. It is easier to handle than piling all your gear on the back of the bike. I made certain to load the weight properly. I was able to run highway speeds without any handling issues. I do have a chrome reciever hitch with all the wiring for an '11 Ultra. Wouldn't fit the '14. It is a Hitch Doc setup if anyone is interested.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 142
From: Sioux Center, Iowa
+1 on HitchDoc. Good people. I've been pulling my Aluma since '03 for well over 100,000 miles. The thing we enjoy about the trailer is in the morning at the motel, while others are strapping their gear to the bike, we just take our bags, lift the lid, throw, and go. Mid day we start getting warm. Pull into a restaurant, throw the jackets and helmets into the trailer and not have to carry them in or worry about leaving them with the bike.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,814
Likes: 11
From: USA
I'll never understand why people think they have to spend so much on a trailer. It's not like you're going to enter them in a contest. Tag-a-long trailer from Harbor Freight goes on sale from time to time for $379. I threw a 20% off coupon on mine, shitcanned the lights and replaced them with quality LED's and I'm into it for well under $400.
It's an accessory, a tool for carrying stuff. I pull it to my destination and lock it up in the parking lot while I tour the local area and don't see it again until it's time to leave. I've got thousands of miles on this set up and it just plain works. Other than a little clatter from the hitch itself, I never know it's behind me. As has been mentioned, the only downside I've found is when your traveling with those that don't have a trailer you end up hauling everyone else's crap. If your thinking about a trailer I'd go this route to see if you like it, then you can always go out and spend a whole bunch more money on something you could enter in a trailer show.
It's an accessory, a tool for carrying stuff. I pull it to my destination and lock it up in the parking lot while I tour the local area and don't see it again until it's time to leave. I've got thousands of miles on this set up and it just plain works. Other than a little clatter from the hitch itself, I never know it's behind me. As has been mentioned, the only downside I've found is when your traveling with those that don't have a trailer you end up hauling everyone else's crap. If your thinking about a trailer I'd go this route to see if you like it, then you can always go out and spend a whole bunch more money on something you could enter in a trailer show.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,524
Likes: 57,076
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
I'll never understand why people think they have to spend so much on a trailer. It's not like you're going to enter them in a contest. Tag-a-long trailer from Harbor Freight goes on sale from time to time for $379. I threw a 20% off coupon on mine, shitcanned the lights and replaced them with quality LED's and I'm into it for well under $400.
It's an accessory, a tool for carrying stuff. I pull it to my destination and lock it up in the parking lot while I tour the local area and don't see it again until it's time to leave. I've got thousands of miles on this set up and it just plain works. Other than a little clatter from the hitch itself, I never know it's behind me. As has been mentioned, the only downside I've found is when your traveling with those that don't have a trailer you end up hauling everyone else's crap. If your thinking about a trailer I'd go this route to see if you like it, then you can always go out and spend a whole bunch more money on something you could enter in a trailer show.
It's an accessory, a tool for carrying stuff. I pull it to my destination and lock it up in the parking lot while I tour the local area and don't see it again until it's time to leave. I've got thousands of miles on this set up and it just plain works. Other than a little clatter from the hitch itself, I never know it's behind me. As has been mentioned, the only downside I've found is when your traveling with those that don't have a trailer you end up hauling everyone else's crap. If your thinking about a trailer I'd go this route to see if you like it, then you can always go out and spend a whole bunch more money on something you could enter in a trailer show.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,814
Likes: 11
From: USA
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,814
Likes: 11
From: USA
472Viper refers to the last F16 I crewed, tail number 85-1472 and F16's were Vipers before they were Falcons. The Ultra Classic could be a Sportster, but it's not, it's an Ultra Classic. As for my comment, if the purpose of a trailer is to haul "stuff" you can do it very well for under $400. If the purpose of the trailer is to make a statement, feel free to spend as much as you can afford.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
472Viper refers to the last F16 I crewed, tail number 85-1472 and F16's were Vipers before they were Falcons. The Ultra Classic could be a Sportster, but it's not, it's an Ultra Classic. As for my comment, if the purpose of a trailer is to haul "stuff" you can do it very well for under $400. If the purpose of the trailer is to make a statement, feel free to spend as much as you can afford.
Last edited by mike5511; Apr 25, 2015 at 03:37 AM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,814
Likes: 11
From: USA
Whenever you pull a trailer you end up taking more crap than what you really need, the flip side is that it allows you to bring home more crap that you don't need. A lot of it is effected by your touring style. We are flat landers, not a twisty or a hill in any direction for 350 miles. So we load the trailer, pull to a scenic destination (Eureka Springs, Branson, La Cross, Duluth, Rapid City, ect ect ect. It's usually long boring stretches of interstate until we get to a scenic destination. La Cross WI is actually my favourite. I can make it there in a day, and Wisconsin has some fantastic touring roads. But when we get there, like I say, the trailer is disconnected and I don't see it again until it's time to go back home. The way I use mine, $400 just makes a whole lot more sense than $3000.
Last edited by 472viper; Apr 24, 2015 at 08:24 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,806
Likes: 1,754
From: New Bern NC
Depends on the trip. Camping I take the trailer, chair,tent, stove, air mattress, cooking utensils, cooler, and and so on. It doesn't turn the bike into a trike ( no offence to three wheelers ) it still leans in the turns, I can scrape the floorboards without binding the hitch ball. Hotel trip I put the tour pack on and load what's needed. To me I think I notice a loaded tour pack at least as much as a trailer.
Do whatever suits you
Do whatever suits you