Trailer (non-enclosed)
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 675
Likes: 17
From: Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Your '15 Z-71 will pull a flatbed trailer thats large enough to haul 2 kings just fine and NO you don't need brakes. Brakes would be nice, but not necessary. You don't say where you are from so we don't have any idea how far you are talking about for your trip. But anything over several hours, you should get something that will handle the job easy. Less stress and worry on your part that way.
Take the advice from above and make sure your hitch is the right level (I see a lot of people get a hitch that is a "drop" hitch, when they really need to take that ball off and turn the hitch over and make it a raise up). Your trailer needs to run level or maybe just a little down towards the back.
If you insist on an open trailer (and your truck won't handle an enclosed trailer very well unless it is one of the aluminum trailers which = light), get one that is at least 7' wide and 12'-14' long. You will need to stagger the bikes a bit, like Frank spoke of. Make sure they are tied down well and check the tie downs every time you stop for fuel and such.
Take the advice from above and make sure your hitch is the right level (I see a lot of people get a hitch that is a "drop" hitch, when they really need to take that ball off and turn the hitch over and make it a raise up). Your trailer needs to run level or maybe just a little down towards the back.
If you insist on an open trailer (and your truck won't handle an enclosed trailer very well unless it is one of the aluminum trailers which = light), get one that is at least 7' wide and 12'-14' long. You will need to stagger the bikes a bit, like Frank spoke of. Make sure they are tied down well and check the tie downs every time you stop for fuel and such.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,086
Likes: 1,128
From:
*Brake requirements are determined by trailer weight.
Sometimes folks think trailer first when thinking about a trip to Florida for something like Daytona bike week or maybe the Leesburg, Florida bike festival. Both about 1 hour from Sanford, Florida.
Many times people that live within a few hours of Lorton, Virginia over look the Amtrak auto train to Sanford, Florida.
Ride to Lorton train station, load bike...get off in Sanford and ride..Plenty of you tube videos and such.
You avoid who is going to drive, tolls, gas, liability issue with trailer, acquiring a trailer/tag and paying for trailer parking.
Note that a tandem trailer increases toll expenses on toll roads when you enter Florida.
Alternatively, plenty of folks use an open single axle trailer as they weigh less and the bike is exposed to the same weather as those riding.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
I will be trailering the two Kings from St Louis Mo. I do want the trip to be low hassle and comfortable (that is why I was thinking tandem). I will probably be making the trip twice a year (4 one way trips). How about suggestion for "where to buy"?
Thanks
Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,072
Likes: 104
From: Prescott, AZ
Some what depends on your funds... but if funds are not an issue.. I would go inclosed - just make sure you know how to tie down and add doubles - inside can and will protect the bikes better - have a bike 'come loose' on an open trailer can be just a tad exciting to say the least - lots of people trailer bikes and do not have them come loose.
another issue - where to store the trailer when not in use??
comes down to $$$$$ and space.. If I had the space and someone else's credit card, I would go inclosed - built for motorcycles with a nice ramp..
another issue - where to store the trailer when not in use??
comes down to $$$$$ and space.. If I had the space and someone else's credit card, I would go inclosed - built for motorcycles with a nice ramp..
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 704
Likes: 45
From: Western Washington
I pulled two Electra Glides on a single axle steel trailer with motorcycle rails (5,000 lb. GVW) behind a 2007 Tahoe 2WD. No brakes on the trailer. It has 14" wheels, too. I bought a new ball mount that made the trailer ride level, and I carefully adjusted the tongue weight. It trailed like it wasn't even there. Proper balance/tongue weight is important.
I needed to stagger the bikes with one about 18" closer to the front than the other bike so they wouldn't touch at the handlebars. I put 2 carpet covered 4X4s under the frame of each bike, one fore and one aft, and then cinched them down with good quality ratchet straps. (Stress on "good quality" straps.) The 4X4s kept the bikes from bouncing up and down or bottoming out the suspension, as well as adding some lateral stability. Then I ran a strap from each front wheel to the front of the trailer, and from the rear wheels to the rear to keep them from moving forward and back. Total of 6 straps per bike. Pulled them for about 3,000 miles with no mishaps.
Check the straps every time you get fuel...or more often if you can. They WILL loosen up!
I needed to stagger the bikes with one about 18" closer to the front than the other bike so they wouldn't touch at the handlebars. I put 2 carpet covered 4X4s under the frame of each bike, one fore and one aft, and then cinched them down with good quality ratchet straps. (Stress on "good quality" straps.) The 4X4s kept the bikes from bouncing up and down or bottoming out the suspension, as well as adding some lateral stability. Then I ran a strap from each front wheel to the front of the trailer, and from the rear wheels to the rear to keep them from moving forward and back. Total of 6 straps per bike. Pulled them for about 3,000 miles with no mishaps.
Check the straps every time you get fuel...or more often if you can. They WILL loosen up!
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 982
From: Kansas
Here is a link to a page that has details on how to properly set up your trailer and vehicle for towing. The website has all sorts of help articles and videos if you take the time to navigate around. Their prices for stuff are pretty good, too.
http://www.etrailer.com/faq-trailertowtips.aspx
Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in Etrailers.com. I just found that it is a good business and thought I'd pass it along.
http://www.etrailer.com/faq-trailertowtips.aspx
Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in Etrailers.com. I just found that it is a good business and thought I'd pass it along.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 353
From: Ohio
Couple friends of mine trailered their bikes in an enclosed trailer. Unbeknownst to them, one of them came loose and fell against the other bike. The didn't see it, obviously, and it bounced around in there for 1,000 miles and tore up both bikes. Had it been an open trailer they would have seen it and minimized the damage.
I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.
I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,086
Likes: 1,128
From:
I have seen some Rampfree trailers at rallies.
They are single axle but look stable and are a neat concept.
Look at picture of double trailer with two police road kings.
http://www.rampfree-indiana.com/double---trikes.html
They are single axle but look stable and are a neat concept.
Look at picture of double trailer with two police road kings.
http://www.rampfree-indiana.com/double---trikes.html
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 56
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 982
From: Kansas
Flying road debris? No more likely to be on an open trailer and get whacked by something than riding the bike and getting whacked by something. In fact, probably less apt to get hit by debris since the towing vehicle would shield the bike on the trailer.
Bad weather? Don't know about your bike, but mine has been in lots of rain, thunderstorms, a little bit of snow, and I was even caught in a tornado once. No damage to the bike. If it gets dirty while being towed on a open trailer just take it to a car wash when ya arrive. (Re the tornado...I was in the middle of Nowhere KS and it sneaked up on me. Couldn't outrun it, so I beached it in front of a barn and huddled myself against the building. Saw a few trees fly by, but no direct hit to me. Needed clean underwear after it was over. The photo is of damage done to the house next to the barn where I was sheltering.)
Sorry...I got off topic.
Theft? Yeah, I'll give you that one. They can't steal it if they can't see it, but I've never had anything stolen off my bike...and I spend a lot of time on the road with it. Oops...I take that back. In 1971 I had the headlight assembly stolen off of my Honda 350 CB.
Last edited by Frank the Real Biker; Dec 18, 2015 at 11:30 AM.