We have a full-size HD touring bike...the thing weighs just over 900 lbs, and it a little over eight feet long...thinking...THINKING... about moving to a toy hauler so we can take the bike on weekends...easier than 'she drives truck, carrying our 6 year old and pulling the trailer while I ride ahead on the motorcycle'...Here's the question...is it even safe to go up the ramp on a bumper-pull toy hauler with a bike like ours? The ramps are wide enough...my concerns would be: 1.) would the ramp angle be too steep? Don't want to be looking at the sky when loading and unloading...2) would the ramp on a typical toy hauler bumper pull trailer be strong enough to hold over a around 1100 lbs with me and the bike together?...and 3) this bike--unlike a dirt bike--has only about 5 inches of ground clearance...likely to 'high center' at the point the ramp meets the trailer floor?Thanks!(and, I realize that getting a TH big enough to handle our motorcycle would require a truck upgrade, probably to an entry-level diesel pickup)

Only ONE motorcycle?The ramp should have a weight rating sticker on it somewhere.

Most ramps can handle a small car so a bike should be fine. If the ramp is too steep you can put a 2x4 under the ramp to help with the angle.

I've hauled my Goldwing in my TH. Tieing down is a bit of a challenge but if you do a search you'll see lots of good ideas, most include a chock. My TH has a "beaver tail" that reduces the ramp slope. If you're dresser is lowered it might be a problem but it really is not hard to load/unload; just use the front brake and clutch for braking. In my case the wing has reverse so its even easier to unload than your HD.

Old? What's I've seen in toy haulers--the few I've run across in this part of the world--is things like dirt bikes and 'four wheelers'....not a mongo harley electraglide

Is it safe to load a big touring motorcycle into a TH??

joebedford
Nomad II
Jun 04, 2013
Only ONE motorcycle?

The ramp should have a weight rating sticker on it somewhere.
Eyetattoo
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
Most ramps can handle a small car so a bike should be fine. If the ramp is too steep you can put a 2x4 under the ramp to help with the angle.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jun 04, 2013
Isn't that why TH's were made?
nayther
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
I've hauled my Goldwing in my TH. Tieing down is a bit of a challenge but if you do a search you'll see lots of good ideas, most include a chock. My TH has a "beaver tail" that reduces the ramp slope. If you're dresser is lowered it might be a problem but it really is not hard to load/unload; just use the front brake and clutch for braking. In my case the wing has reverse so its even easier to unload than your HD.
trailernovice
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
Old? What's I've seen in toy haulers--the few I've run across in this part of the world--is things like dirt bikes and 'four wheelers'....not a mongo harley electraglide
TugCE
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
My 97 Harley was converted into a Trike in 2008 and it weighs right at 1100 pounds empty. It also sits pretty low, the frame is only about 3-4 inch off of the ground. It goes right up the ramp with no problems.

When it comes time to back your bike out and down the ramp, leave the engine off and put the trans in First Gear. This way you can use the Clutch as a back break while going down the ramp. You may find that the front tire will slide a little when applying the brake so used the clutch to keep the speed down and once down and off of the ramp, crack her up and hit the road. I have used this method for many years when unloading from trailers and pickup trucks.
flyinguy68
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
nayther wrote:
I've hauled my Goldwing in my TH. Tieing down is a bit of a challenge but if you do a search you'll see lots of good ideas, most include a chock. My TH has a "beaver tail" that reduces the ramp slope. If you're dresser is lowered it might be a problem but it really is not hard to load/unload; just use the front brake and clutch for braking. In my case the wing has reverse so its even easier to unload than your HD.

I 2nd what nather said.
Look for a TH that has what is called "beavertail" loading door, or you can also be inventive like a board under the ramp or loading from higher ground. Every inch helps change that angle going in the garage. Also IMHO a chalk is a must for a big bike. Mine saved me from m own horrible tie down choices and kept the bike up even though my tie downs had come loose. Other than that getting mine in and out isn't a problem at all.
joebedford
Nomad II
Jun 04, 2013
TugCE wrote:
When it comes time to back your bike out and down the ramp, leave the engine off and put the trans in First Gear. This way you can use the Clutch as a back break while going down the ramp.
I totally agree with using the clutch instead of the brakes. However, I totally DISAGREE with leaving the engine off. If you do that, you run the risk of turning the engine backwards which could seriously hurt things.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
Come on down for Bike Fest in Leesburg, FL and stay at any CG!

You will see ALL the different TH's loaded to the gills with Harley's!
They came off not started buy most started them going back in depending on the angle of their ramps.
tchil
Explorer
Jun 04, 2013
I have hauled a Suzuki Samurai in mine several times and it is 2000lbs. You should have no issue whatsoever. The only issue I would think you might have is the steepness of the ramp. These would solve that I think. http://www.raceramps.com/trailer-ramps-8-extra-long.aspx They are foam so weigh next to nothing.