Motorcycle Trailers

[kennyw]

When I need to haul a bike, I borrow a friends small tilt deck trailer. Loading and unloading is easy with no ramps to mess with, the whole deck pivots at the axle to drop the rear to the ground.

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[CIP57_imp]

Kendon trailers for me. I own the combo and it's a stand-up trailer where you just roll it off to the side in your garage standing up. It as torsion suspension and is real smooth. The model I own can carry up to 3 bikes but with a max weight of 1500 lbs, which I won't be exceeding.

The benefit of Ron's trailer is it can be kept inside away from the elements. Most trailers sit for long periods of time outside drying out or seizing bearings. Each time its used it needs to be lubricated unless its active. I have 3 trailer's with different weight classes. The larger 15,000 lb flatbed trailer does not get used that often, every few months get moved around and lubed.

[Ghis_imp]

I have had several trailers including an enclosed. The one I have now is a nice open motorcycle trailer. I have it set up with 3 wheel chocks so that I can haul one bike in the center, or two bikes, one on each side. It has a 3500 pound capacity, 15" wheels with buddy bearings and a fold down ride up tailgate. Its got heavy duty fenders and well protected tail lights.

With 13 members of the family that ride motorcycles, its convenient to have one around.

Over the years here is what I have discovered about trailers.... if you go with too small of a trailer it will not have much weight capacity and will have too small of wheels. I would go no smaller than 13" wheels. imo trailers with 8 and 10" wheels are for light duty in town trailering. The wheels bearings need to be maintained and on a small trailer that will mean pulling the wheels before each use to grease the bearings. Small wheels turn a lot more revolutions for the same speed than big wheels and are hard on bearings. No matter what, get bearing buddies installed to help with wheel bearing maintenance. Unprotected tail lights get knocked off easily...amazingly easy. Look at that situation on any potential trailer. Lifting a motorcycle onto a trailer bed is no fun. Storing ramps for a trailer is no fun. A decent motorcycle chock is worth its weight in gold. Good tie downs like Ancra brand are worth their weight in gold and you will need 4 per motorcycle. Soft loop style pieces that go over your motorcycle parts for the tie downs to hold onto are worth their weight in gold, you'll need 4 per motorcycle. For me, being able to see thru the trailer to the traffic behind me was important which is why I bought the open trailer and sold the enclosed even though the enclosed offered better protection for the bike. Also with the enclosed I had to move the truck to it. With the open, I can move it to the truck ( I hate backing up a trailer, and the worst arguments my wife and I have had in 40 years of marriage involved trying to get a trailer hitch lined up over a trailer ball...I swore if I heard " nope pull forward" after she gave me directions to back up, one more time.....grrrrrrr ). Also get a locking hitch pin, and a cable lock to lock your motorcycle frame to a trailer frame for security.

I would say one of those fold ups with the little wheels would do in an emergency, but that would be about it. Of course as soon as I say that someone will come on and say they have hauled their Harley Full Dresser across the country 10 times on a fold up trailer with 8" wheels no problem, so my opinion is just that and worth every penny that you paid for it.

On another note, trailers are like motorcycles in that all they cost you is, the difference between what you pay for them when you but one and what you sell it for.

The Ferret, I was reading your comment or piece somewhere about all the people in you family that ride. That was truly impressive. May I say how awesome that is. That's like the biker's dream family!

[ClassicVW_imp]

I too admit I can't back up a trailer for sh*t and enjoy being able to just pick up and roll my open trailer the last foot or so to the hitch ball on the back of my SUV. But that trailer Ack bought has had me drooling all day....

Just think, being able to go to camping rallies and not sleep on the ground in a leaky tent, not to mention not having to farkle up your CB with expensive and potentially paint damaging saddle bags and top cases.

Whenever someone shows a picture of their CB all duded up like a poor man's touring bike I can't help but think: "OH, the HUMANITY! .

*NOTE- I'm half joking and if it works for you, that's terrific!

[Motogeezer1949_imp]

Had a couple of these over the years. Quite good actually, light weight, easy to assemble, excellent price. Has a grease fitting right on the hub for easy maintenence.
The first one I had I used 3/4" marine plywood as a deck with a wheel chock from Cycle Gear. Also got the tri-fold ramp from HF as well. Stayed outside and I had to replace the plywood every couple of years.
The second one, I got a sheet of diamond mesh from a steel place and tack welded it on. Cost another $100.00 and worked great. Sold it to a friends dad who hauls a Gold Wing on it. I hauled everything from my Tuono, Moto Guzzi, Yamaha FZ1, RD400 and DR650 and pulled them with a 108hp Scion xB. Cruised easily at 80mph.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1720-lb-cap...94564.html
A friend bought the folding one at the same time I got my first one. He still has it.

[Stratus_imp]

I have the higher capacity folding Harbor Freight trailer and have found it to be a great addition to the garage. There are many threads on the web showing ways to strengthen and improve the construction. A key tip I found was to make sure you remove the wheel bearings and re-pack them before using the trailer the first time. They ship loaded with material that can't be considered a lubricant. Unfortunately, I found them difficult to remove. After more digging, I discovered a trick that worked and I've had many thousands of miles of travel without the hubs even heating up. Buy a spare tire and spare bearings in case something goes bad on the road as I don't believe the bearing races or wheel/tires are a standard size.

Folding and unfolding can be done by one person using tricks easily found on the internet. I can now easily fold the trailer from a fully stored configuration to hooked up to my 2 door Jeep JK in as little as 10 minutes. I've modded HF motorcycle ramps to allow me to bolt the ramp down on the top surface for travel and then bolt the lip to the trailer when loading a bike. It is all very secure and easy to use for very little investment.

[the Ferret]

Stratus I'm sure some pics of your trailer and mods would be most welcomed by the members.

[Chapomis_imp]

Best open trailer ever. DropTail, made in Texas, various sizes, 2,000 to 2,900 (for mine)

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When folded it has casters so that it can be stood up and rolled around. Folds to 40" deep and 8' tall.