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Old Jul 20, 2009 | 12:18 PM
  #1  
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Default trailer weight

How much weight can you safely tow with a 96 cui 6 speed trans? I'm thinking of getting a trailer to use with my wife.
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Old Jul 20, 2009 | 12:35 PM
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From: Houston, Texas
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Originally Posted by reeac
How much weight can you safely tow with a 96 cui 6 speed trans? I'm thinking of getting a trailer to use with my wife.
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You need a trailer for your wife? Can't she ride with you?

Just kidding... Having had a trailer, it isn't so much the pulling of the trailer as it is the stopping and handling around curves. Most trailer mfr's have the limit included in their product, and I wouldn't suggest exceeding that by much. On the other hand, I've seen some overloads that look like the Clampets going to Hollywood! I didn't particularly like the trailer-behind-a-bike set up, but that was just me. It is definitely different than pulling with a car.
 
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Old Jul 20, 2009 | 01:14 PM
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i have a Bushtec trailer, that I believe weighs 125 lbs, and can carry about 125 lbs in it. it handles like a dream, even in the twisties. like any trailer, the weight really makes a difference in starting and stopping.


 

Last edited by gman; Jul 21, 2009 at 07:51 PM.
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Old Jul 21, 2009 | 01:16 PM
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From: Hibbing,MN
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On my last trip last year , i pulled a friends Bunkhouse trailer. Awsome camper trailer......but loaded with stuff....300 lbs + at least. Gas milage suffered along with manuverabilty. I never got got comfortable pulling that much weight behind a bike. A bit unnerving even.

Good thing was it had electric over hydralic brakes , perhaps contrubuting to why my wife & i survived broadsiding a cager on Hwy 30 just outside of Kearney , NE on that same trip. Bike & trailer still did a 180 over top of car on impact landing facing opposite direction i was traveling . What ifs ,etc , would never pull that heavy of trailer again.

Mandatory Nebraska helmet law hepled much for survival too.
 

Last edited by bonzi88; Jul 21, 2009 at 01:20 PM.
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Old Jul 21, 2009 | 05:43 PM
  #5  
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dtmues
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From: Central Nebraska
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Originally Posted by bonzi88
On my last trip last year , i pulled a friends Bunkhouse trailer. Awsome camper trailer......but loaded with stuff....300 lbs + at least. Gas milage suffered along with manuverabilty. I never got got comfortable pulling that much weight behind a bike. A bit unnerving even.

Good thing was it had electric over hydralic brakes , perhaps contrubuting to why my wife & i survived broadsiding a cager on Hwy 30 just outside of Kearney , NE on that same trip. Bike & trailer still did a 180 over top of car on impact landing facing opposite direction i was traveling . What ifs ,etc , would never pull that heavy of trailer again.

Mandatory Nebraska helmet law hepled much for survival too.
Sorry to hear bout your accident. It happened less than 50 miles from here.

We (me & wife) pull a bushtec turbo plus two & love it. as stated before stopping is the only issue we've had. We're leaving on a 3000 mile trip @ the end of the week, and can't imagine not having it behind us. Gross weight will be around 250 fully packed.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2009 | 05:59 PM
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+1 on the turbo +2. Use it for everything from hauling groceries to going to the nursery for flowers and stuff for the yard. On trips maybe 250 lbs gross. plus both saddle bags and tour pack full. I bet the bike trailer wife and me is over 1500 lbs
Don't worry about the new Ultra mine is a 05 with 60k on it with the 95/203 jugs and cam. it should pull it fine.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2009 | 06:12 PM
  #7  
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From: Western Wisconsin
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Originally Posted by reeac
How much weight can you safely tow with a 96 cui 6 speed trans? I'm thinking of getting a trailer to use with my wife.
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I pull a "Breeze" trailer from Country Trailers (www.countrytrailers.net) with my '09 Road Glide.
Trailer weighs in at 170 pound net with 500 pounds max weight.... 320 pounds of stuff is alot of stuff.
I weighed what I always take...(2) lawn chairs, tent, air mattress, bedding, clothes for (2) & more......
everything comes in right around 150 pounds.
Loading a trailer is important to have the proper tongue weight.....I like 45 pounds.
 
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