Bike trailer (behind bike) = wife's suitcase

 

I've been yankin a trailer around for quite some time myself with a bike, but I sure as hell am not inclined to be passing a semi at 90mph with one. (If you got to get to 90mph to pass em, you're gonna stay at 90mph to keep ahead of em)
The main thing to remember with a trailer, and you see it all the time. "I hardly know it's back there"

Yup alot of folks "forget" it's back there right up until it's comes time to stop.

 

The uni-go is nice but look at the cost. You can disconnect it from the bike and wheel it right in to your motel room.You can build your own with a Harbor Freight trailer and a car top carrier for around $400. Got to ask yourself how much are you going to pull it and at what price. I had a Bushtec hitch on my Goldwing and its the best on the market as far as I'm concerned. Their trailers are top notch but run several thousand dollars.
I still have my trailer (no hitch yet on my UC) but haven't decided if I will ever use it anymore.

If you want a serious trailer look at a "Tailwind" very well put together but $$$$

 

I've pulled a home built trailer behind my old Goldwing for years. Never a problem. I made it from a Menard's trailer and car top carrier. Also never exceeded 70 mph while pulling due to the 12" tire'srating.

Check out www.mchithc.com for the hitch. They've got an under fender reciever type for $165. I just installed it on a buddy's Ultra last night. Very easy to do. They also have the isolator relay you'll need to isolate the trailer's wiring from the bike.

Will be putting this on my Ultra next spring. I like the reciever type because I have a rack for a 25 quart cooler for solo trips when the trailer is not needed. The cooler and rack can be found at www.trailmasterinc.com.

Ride safe.

 

I've been riding over 45 years...two-up for the last 37. We never used a trailer until about three years ago when we bought a Uni-Go (link already posted above). The trailer is just what the Dr. ordered for someone who doesn't want to pull a trailer. They have a universal joint at the hitch so they track perfectly behind the bike. I pulled one quite aggressively through the "Dragon" and couldn't see where it affected the bike's handling at all. I've put about 40K miles on it so far. Now, that was all behind a GL1800. As soon as I get my FLHT next month, I will be getting a mount and will be back using the Uni-Go. The thing is convenient as hell. Whenever we are at our destination, I usually just leave it attached to the bike...all the time. It makes for a really great storage place to stash your helmets, jackets, beer, whatever while you are traveling around any rally site...or wherever you are. The things will hold about 110 lbs of "stuff" so camping gear would be no problem. When you are home, it takes up very little space in the garage, and is so light that you can actually hang it up if you want. I would recommend a UN-Go. I don't ever plan on selling mine. I'll just keep getting different hitches for whatever bike)s) I have. Oh...I even saw one being pulled behind a small sports car!You might be able to find a used one on e-bay or on some of the Gold Wing sites. Good luck with whatever you finally get.

 

I've pulled trailers many a mile, including a couple of campers (Kwik Kamp & Windward). Right now I have a Bushtec Roadstar. It has to be the best pulling trailer I've owned. It's costly, but I hardly know it's back there. The Cycle Mate 2000LTD is also a good pulling trailer. It doesn't pull quite as smooth as the Bushtec, but it about $1K less. We pulled one for about 10K miles w/ no problems. When you get into the campers, then you get to talking alot more weight. Get a tent or stay in a motel & a cargo tralier... JMO..

 

Would the Harbor Freight trailer with the 8 inch wheels be good for a homemade.

 

Yeah, I'm thinking motel and cargo trailer with the tent in it for when we get to the campground. Those Bushtec's sure seem popular. I saw some on eBay in the $1500-2K range. That Un-go one looks good also and may fit my riding needs better. I could probably build either type of trailerfor around a grand or less, but ifthe cost differential is a few hundred, mayas well just buy a used one. Thatwould be about a 6 month project and Istill have to finish the car I've beenbuilding from scratch for the past 6 years. I'm really looking to take the weight and width off my bike. With all the stuff on it for the road, I'm about as wide as a trike as it is, and my wife gets all nervous it some of it is hanging over the line. Also, with all the stuff in and on the tour pack, the center of gravity is shifted up quite a bit. It takes me about 10-20 miles to get used to it each year. I've found that the 90-ish passing the 18 wheeler in the cross wind is pretty much a worst case scenerio out there on the road, so that's what I aim for.

Storing the trailer isn't much of an issue for me. I have a 30x46 ft shop in the middle of 10 acres.

 

I've seen a lot of homemade trailers and while they're ok and will do the job.....ya gets what ya pay fur!!

If money is a issue, look into the Neosho Star lite trailers, inexpensive ( around 1000 to 1400 depending on options).

They would serve you well, however if the home made route is the way you want to go, Harbor Fright, or TSC store trailer are a popular route....

I love my Bushtec, but any trailer is great.

check this sit out
http://www.aerobourne.com/motorcycletrailerindex9.htm

 

Those Bushtec's have around 25 cubic feet. Other trailers have 15 or so. The Uni-Go's have about 5. That's a big difference.I'm not convinced all my crap will fit in 5 cubic feet. If that will hold the sleeping bag, luggage bag, tent and some camping stuff like the itty-bitty stove, propane cylinder, towels, canteen, etc., and still have room for 2 helmets,I think that would be my best choice. My goal is to have no bungie cords holding stuff on my bike. I can (probably) continue to put the small cooler on the Sportster. It's a negotiation thing.

I think I'll just start budgeting for a used trailer. I saw a couple on eBay in Arkansas. There are a lot of bikes here. Those Bushtec's seem to hold their value.