Motorcycle carrier/trailer

[wheelwatcher]

Can anyone recommend a brand of trailer for a motorcycle to tow it behind a car. If you know who carries these, let me know that too. I looked into renting one from Uhaul, but they want over $100 for a day. Thought that I might just invest in buying one and have it for the future. Thanks for the help.

[Todd]

It depends upon if you want the trailer for anything else. I bought a utility trailer at Home Depot that has some type of "bear" in its name. The trailer tilts, the front, side, and rear rails can be removed (so the trailer could be a flat trailer) and it pulls well.

I bolt a sheet of 3/4" plywood to the bottom of the trailer that has a wheel chock. The bolting is with eye bolts so I've got something solid to tie the bike down to. I've hauled a large cruiser from Massachusetts to South Carolina with this setup and it gives me a utility trailer for hauling stuff local at other times.

[Strom-meister]

I bought the same type of trailer from home depot, very versatile, but will run you about a G note in canadian coin if you want it new.

[p7m8jg]

Has anybody used those ramp systems that hook into your trailer hitch & let you mount the motorcycle sideways up against your pickup tailgate?

What about those cheap trailers they have at Harbor Freight & Tool?

[torqueman]

Has anybody used those ramp systems that hook into your trailer hitch & let you mount the motorcycle sideways up against your pickup tailgate?

What about those cheap trailers they have at Harbor Freight & Tool?

You will need a class 4 trailer hitch for anything larger than a small dirt bike on the sideways mount things. Maybe able to get away with a class 3.

Cheap trailers are find for to the dealer and back but I would get a better quality one for long distance.

[doylejj]

Can anyone recommend a brand of trailer for a motorcycle to tow it behind a car. If you know who carries these, let me know that too. I looked into renting one from Uhaul, but they want over $100 for a day. Thought that I might just invest in buying one and have it for the future. Thanks for the help.I've been looking into trailers recently and just finished renting what UHaul calls it's motorcycle trailer for $25 a day for a 4 or 5 X 8 half wall trailer with a drop down gate in back--pretty standard through the UHaul system and fine for local hauling. The key difference in the cost of buying trailers is open vs closed, with the latter being much more expensive (3x). You ought to be able to buy a somewhat comparable open unit to the UHaul for between 750 and 1200 depending on size and fittings. The open trailers aren't built by the well known trailer manufacturers.

[TrunkMonkey]

Can anyone recommend a brand of trailer for a motorcycle to tow it behind a car. If you know who carries these, let me know that too. I looked into renting one from Uhaul, but they want over $100 for a day. Thought that I might just invest in buying one and have it for the future. Thanks for the help.

$100 per day!? Check out: http://www.uhaul.com/towing/ According to the site:

Rent a U-Haul Motorcycle Trailer now for only $14.95/day.
This trailer is not available in all areas – call your local U-Haul location for availability. It is available for local rental only – it must be returned to the location it was rented from.

[nodaclu]

Here's a unique concept to think about. A bit pricey, but if you just don't have the storage space to keep a trailer around all the time, it could be worthwhile.

Trailer in a Bag (http://www.trailerinabag.com)

~Mike

[slowrider]

I've been looking for a used folding or stand-up trailer because of limited space. The Kendon looks about the best to me but will cost you $2,000+ depending on how many rails you want. But it's very well made and many cycle dealers sell them:


http://www.kendontrailers.com/

[NuBiker]

Bump

what about this:

http://www.wee-haul.com/

If I could get comfy removing the chain from my bike, I would get this.

[water warrior]

NuBiker, a couple thoughts here. #1 , you will still have some wear and tear on the bike even with the chain removed, tire and rear bearings but no biggy. #2 , how do you get the front end up and down without a lot of help and luck. Is there something I didn't see in the picture ?

[STROMETTE]

Stromette says you could always do something like this:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c7/Stromette/WTF.jpg

[water warrior]

WOW Stromette, that is quite the rig. But I think WheelWatcher would have problems with that on a car. The Strom's weight that far back would be a killer for a car suspension and it would stick out too far past the body and be suseptible to accidental damage. I hauled a dirt bike that way on a full size Bronco and it worked well. The Hummer is big enough to do the task with ease, strong and wider than most. Now if WheelWatcher could buy a Hummer or a strong truck his worries would be over. I wonder how the Hummer does off road with the Strom on back ??? lol.

[stlrmike]

I like your thinking! If WheelWatcher had a problem with $100 a day for a U-haul trailer I bet he would love the Hummer price tag. :lol: The sad thing is Water Warrior, you were joking but I know people who would do that!

[Night_Wolf]

Trailer in a bag but it's not cheap either. It is very portable however 8) One caveat is the hitch on the tow vehicle has to be 14.5 inches top of the ball to the ground +/- .5" and requires a 2" ball

[p7m8jg]

Harbor Freight & Tool has severl type of trailers you can use for a motorcycle - one is on sale right now for $299 at the store, $249 on the website. It tilts down for loading. I've been eyeballing this one, but they also make one that folds up (in a manner) and can be put up against a fence or wall for storage.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90154

[marathonman]

Trailer in a bag but it's not cheap either. It is very portable however 8) One caveat is the hitch on the tow vehicle has to be 14.5 inches top of the ball to the ground +/- .5" and requires a 2" ball

Night_Wolf -

Do you own a "Trailer in a Bag" trailer?
http://www.trailerinabag.com/

I have been thinking about getting one. Can you post a review? I would like to hear the opinion of sombody who owns one.

Thanks,
marathonman

[Keith Falkner]

In February 2005 I bought a 4x8 trailer at Harbor Freight, for $199.99 on sale, reduced from about $229.99. I got the middle-weight, with 12-inch tires (not 8-inch) but not the heavy duty model.

You learn a lot putting this together, but it's easy. I'm over 60 years old, but I had no trouble at all. A few months later I put together Harbor Freight's smaller trailer, and it was a cinch too.

During March, I built a floor from cypress fencing - 6-foot long planks 6 inches wide and about 5/8" thick, reinforced with 2x4 planks crosswise underneath. I think this provides a more durable floor than plywood.

I also built rails for the sides, front, and back (haven't used the back yet) from more 2x4 lumber. This is a cinch too. Use glue and lots of cheap long screws, two from inside to out and two more from outside to in at each crossing. I made a ramp from two 2x10 planks, then salvaged some bedframes from the curb and used the L-cross section rails to make a bracket across the back of the trailer and a matching bracket at the top of the ramp.

In April, I hauled a bike from FL to MI, and two others from MI to FL. Later in 2005 I took two bikes from FL to ON and back, and again one bike from FL to ON and back. After about 10000 miles, the trailer bearings are shot, so I will replace these (about $30 per wheel) and be good for another 2 to 3 trips north.

I consider the Harbor Freight trailers to be good value and sturdy enough to carry two light motorcycles or one heavy one. I am glad I will have new bearings for the next trip, because I am hauling a CB750 beside the V-Strom, from Sarasota to Toronto. The return leg will have a 250cc bike in place of the 750, so that will be easier.

If you want more details about the trailers, please ask.

Keith Falkner
Sarasota FL

[Night_Wolf]

No I don't own one but I do know a fella with one. I also recommended a lady I know purchase one for her BMW. If I was looking for an ultra portable, that would get used a cpl times a season and storage of said trailer is an issue, then I wouldn't hesitate to purchase one. I found out about the 14.5" height limit from the guy that owns it

Trailer in a bag but it's not cheap either. It is very portable however 8) One caveat is the hitch on the tow vehicle has to be 14.5 inches top of the ball to the ground +/- .5" and requires a 2" ball

Night_Wolf -

Do you own a "Trailer in a Bag" trailer?
http://www.trailerinabag.com/

I have been thinking about getting one. Can you post a review? I would like to hear the opinion of sombody who owns one.

Thanks,
marathonman