Trailer Help
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 72
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From: Spartanburg SC
Trailer Help
Have to begin trailering my RK for longer hauls due to health issues. Bought a 10' trailer, installed the wheel chock and attempted to get my bike up the ramp. As I got to the top of the ramp I scraped bottom. I immediately stopped and rolled it back down with no damage.
Anyone run into to this type of issue and what did you do to correct? The ground sloped away from the trailer which increased the incline, so I'm hoping that once I get on level ground it will make it past the apex of the ramp.
Anyone run into to this type of issue and what did you do to correct? The ground sloped away from the trailer which increased the incline, so I'm hoping that once I get on level ground it will make it past the apex of the ramp.
Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 12
From: Here
Does your Trailer have a tongue jack? If it does, you can decrease the angle by jacking the Tongue and rear end of your Truck slightly with it. I do this with my 7X16 Trailer I tow my Wifes SG Trike and my RK on. The ramps that came with the Trailer are too short and her Trike hit like you are talking about. I keep a short length of 4X4 in the Truck. I lay it under the tongue Jack and with it attached to the Hitch, I jack the rear of the Truck and Trailer Tongue up a few inches. It works!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 48
From: Eastern N.C.
Board under tailgate? Use lay of land to help with angle? Be careful you can easily knock the spring off the jiffy stand, then you need 2 people to put it back on unless you can use the the wheel stand to hold it for you. Knocked mine off and bent it beyound use. Had to ride 30 mi. to HD from a new spring using a piece of gauze for the vets. office to hold it up while I rode. Danged hard to do.
Kroozeabout.
Kroozeabout.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
It may be as simple as lifting your weight up off the seat as you near the point where it scrapes. "Walk" it up and over the hump. That's all what I have to do with my bike when loading into my toy hauler.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 455
Likes: 1
From: Deep River ON
As per other suggestions and/or increasing the air pressure in your shocks may be enough since it will raise the ride height. I have a 10 x 6 single axle trailer and I do not have a problem with my 03 Classic.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 241
From: Highlands, NJ
Are you using a ramp, or is the rear door of the trailer your ramp? If you're using a ramp, just get a longer one. First off, make sure you are on level ground. If you still have a problem, raise the nose of the trailer. This will decrease the angle.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Northern Alabama
Not to be one that mentions what should be obvious, but the trailer itself may be the root cause of your problem. All you really said about the trailer was that it was a 10 foot trailer. There are trailers, and there are motorcycle trailers. If yours is really a general cargo style, it may be designed with the bed higher than what would be best for a bike. Can you redesign/rebuild that part in any way?
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 211
Likes: 4
From: Florida
I have a 5X10 flatbed trailer and I keep a 2 X 10 board about a foot long with a angle cut on one end to place under the center of the tailgate when needed. It works well and I haven't had any problems with it slipping. Once the trailer is on the vehicle you could raise the hitch up and lower your angle. Haven't tried this but should work. You could lengthen the tailgate but that would be expensive. I had extra supports welded in the tailgate center area for my street glide since it's heavier than my old bike. Good luck.
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