First time trailering
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: O land O, FL
First time trailering
Hey guys, The mom-in-law is moving from Florida to MA at the end of the month. Since we are the only family on this end,we're going to pack her up and load the truck. I'm going to drive it to MA. What I want to know has anyone here ever rented a motorcycle trailer from U-Haul?
I have never trailered any bike I've had so this would be the first time for me to do that, I would love any tips from you guys on where to strap,what kind of straps...any info that would make this trip uneventful.
OH,, ya if we trailer the bike the wife and I get to take our sweet time coming home....think,skyline drive/blue-ridge parkway.
Thanks for your tips!
I have never trailered any bike I've had so this would be the first time for me to do that, I would love any tips from you guys on where to strap,what kind of straps...any info that would make this trip uneventful.
OH,, ya if we trailer the bike the wife and I get to take our sweet time coming home....think,skyline drive/blue-ridge parkway.
Thanks for your tips!
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 525
Likes: 2
From: Ottawa, Canada, summer, Daytona Beach Florida, winter
I trailer every year to Florida from Canada and back.
Never had a problem (YET)>
I looked at using a UHaul trailer the first time, they have an open model specific to motorcycles and it looked not bad. You can also rent an enclosed if you have a big enough vehicle to pull it.
As you can see from the attached picture my car is small and I chose to purchase a trailer to save money in the long run (UHaul was $425 for a one way).
I take the bags off, strap the back down on the rail above the bag, tighten to about half way down on the rear suspension, strap the front down from the handle bars to about 1/2 way down on the front suspension. I check the straps every time I stop.
With the exception of large hills I can easily drive the speed limits and most of the time not even know the rig is behind the car.
I have even looked in the rear view mirror and scared myself from time to time seeing the bike sitting so close to the car.
So far it has all been good.
Travel safe.
Never had a problem (YET)>
I looked at using a UHaul trailer the first time, they have an open model specific to motorcycles and it looked not bad. You can also rent an enclosed if you have a big enough vehicle to pull it.
As you can see from the attached picture my car is small and I chose to purchase a trailer to save money in the long run (UHaul was $425 for a one way).
I take the bags off, strap the back down on the rail above the bag, tighten to about half way down on the rear suspension, strap the front down from the handle bars to about 1/2 way down on the front suspension. I check the straps every time I stop.
With the exception of large hills I can easily drive the speed limits and most of the time not even know the rig is behind the car.
I have even looked in the rear view mirror and scared myself from time to time seeing the bike sitting so close to the car.
So far it has all been good.
Travel safe.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,582
Likes: 72
From: North East
My first trailering experience was with the open U-Haul motorcycle trailer. Works great. Just make sure you check the tires before you leave the U-Haul center. You'll take a lot of flack on this forum for trailering. Ignore it. I moved on from the U-Haul trailer to purchasing an enclosed trailer. One of the best investments I've made. The flexibility in travel plans it provides is worth every penny.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Uhaul trailer works well. But one way price is a killer. Its 15 bucks a day for local use. The tie down spots on the UHaul are many but did not work as well as you might suppose. I used soft straps at all mounting location on the bike and tied down from there. Two on handlebars two on rear supports. The tie down locations on the trailer make it difficult because they are so close to the bottom of the bike. I think you could put the bike in the truck and unload at a warehouse dock somewhere to save on costs. Skip the trailer or buy one and sell it on the other end. 425 one way is steep!
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Sorry to post again but sending the bike to Massachusetts by a bike shipper would be around the cost of the one way trailer rental. It would be there waiting for you that way. I just sold a bike and sent it from Maine to Houston and it was under 500 dollars.
The trailer will be fine with uhaul. Harley sells a horse collar type strap that has nice padding. You want to use that to secure around the frame neck just in front of the gas tank, under the handle bars. Do one for each side. I have trailered alot and found this is way more secure than from the handle bars. If some undue stress hits the straps the frame is less likely to bend than the bars, (makes sense right).
First use a tie down to secure the front tire to trailer, put down the kick stand and make sure your in gear. Now you can strap it down all by yourself. Put the two front straps around the frame neck and secure the opposite side of the kickstand first, pulling the bike staight upright, now you can secure the kickstand side, be sure to raise the kickstand and make sure the bike is perfectly staight upright once you have cranked down the tension equally on both sides. I have found once you get the front secured all you really need on the back is a tie down to pull the back suspension about half way down to prevent any bouncing.
One last tip is get at least 1k tie down rated tie downs for the front. Two for the front that attach to the two horse collar straps attached to the neck frame and one simple basic tie down for the rear suspension. The front straps look like way more than you need, but safe rather than sorry.
Good luck with the tailering and the mom-in-law. You will be fine..
First use a tie down to secure the front tire to trailer, put down the kick stand and make sure your in gear. Now you can strap it down all by yourself. Put the two front straps around the frame neck and secure the opposite side of the kickstand first, pulling the bike staight upright, now you can secure the kickstand side, be sure to raise the kickstand and make sure the bike is perfectly staight upright once you have cranked down the tension equally on both sides. I have found once you get the front secured all you really need on the back is a tie down to pull the back suspension about half way down to prevent any bouncing.
One last tip is get at least 1k tie down rated tie downs for the front. Two for the front that attach to the two horse collar straps attached to the neck frame and one simple basic tie down for the rear suspension. The front straps look like way more than you need, but safe rather than sorry.
Good luck with the tailering and the mom-in-law. You will be fine..
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
--- all good tips.
Just- never try to use a cover when trailering, it'll trash your paint job.
and if you stop over night, make sure the trailer is secured and the bike to the trailer
mike
Just- never try to use a cover when trailering, it'll trash your paint job.
and if you stop over night, make sure the trailer is secured and the bike to the trailer
mike
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