Full time w/ motorcycles?

[viii_ball]

The wife and I are seriously considering going full-time. The wrinkle with us is that we want to take 2 motorcycles with us, a Harley Ultra Classic and a Can-Am Spyder RT. Here are some of our initial thoughts on our wants:

• Class A motorhome
• Motorhome purchase less than $50k
• trailer the bikes

I don't think I can afford a toy hauler motorhome. I don't want a 5th wheel.

Is there anyone on the forum that tows an enclosed trailer with their motorhome that would be willing to communicate with me about their experiences?

Thanks, Doug

[Paul127]

We sold the house in August to be fulltime, we are still in RI finishing up work until the end of the year. We will travel with the MH and an enclosed trailer for our Harley Trike, we want to try this approach for as long as we are comfortable. We have never towed a vehicle, always had the trailer and a bike. We will also do our best to chase the warm sun and keep our fingers crossed.

Paul

[doxiemom11]

If you get a very big enclosed trailer, you will want a diesel motorhome to handle the weight of the trailer and bikes. A gasser is usually only 5,000 tow capacity.

[portablevcb]

The tricky part is the Can-Am.

Many folks have the hydraulic lift on the back of a big Class A with large motorcycles (HD, BMW, Gold WIng) and then tow a car behind the MH. I have also seen trailers with a bike and car inside.

With the Can-Am you would need a double deck trailer to have the bike, Can-Am and a car.

Limitations are that you have a long rig. That limits where you can stay and where you can drive the thing.

[Nolan]

Have a neighbor who full times with a Cam-am and a trike. They have an enclosed trailer and a motorhome. It's a diesel pusher. However they also have a van. She drives that when they travel.

Wife and I full-timed with two 800 pound motorcycles for four years. But had a semi truck that carried the motorcycles and 5th wheel trailer. Got tired of motorcycles as our main transportation and got a car, sold the motorcycles. Full timed with the car for eight years.

[Scottiemom]

BarbaraOK wrote:
Have you though about towing a small PU with the bikes in the back? We have seen a lot of people doing that.

You can't put a Can Am Spyder in the bed of a truck along with another motorcycle. The Can Am has 3 wheels, 2 up front. Not sure the CanAm itself would fit in the small pickup bed. Trailer would be required.

We have a neighbor here in the valley who pulls a trailer with his CanAm behind his motorhome.

Dale

[Rovin__Bones]

As mentioned, good rain gear, good riding leathers, and a full face helmet. I ride in everything but snow. I have "storage" solutions for hauling the groceries on the bike. I can pack 2 weeks of groceries on the bike. If I have need for big things, I will plan accordingly and take the RV and trailer with to pick them up.

Everything works if you let it.

[traveylin]

When rving west of the Mississippi you will have many opportunities to go off the pavement that your ride selection will not support well. Loose gravel and street tires are a sure spill. My ride is an 03 soft tail and I leave it at home and tow a small 4 wheel drive for off pave really great scenery. I have considered putting a smaller bike in the back of the pu for use on a ferry trip on the Alaskian marine hwy from Valdez to points west.

[harley-dave]

We have seen lots of class C's and class A's towing trailers with bikes.. We wintered in Benson, AZ several years ago with our 31' Class C and 2 Harleys and there were a couple of other rigs with Bikes only besides us. A class C toy hauler and a 5er toy hauler. When the weather was really bad we all rented cars if we had the need. We just lived with it most of the time. Good rain gear + good leathers are required. We use an open bike trailer but have covers for the Harleys. Most RV places we frequent have separate storage areas for trailers and such just ask them.

Dave

[tinner12002]

Don't be scared to full time with your bikes! We intend to do the same thing other than we will be in a 5th wheel toyhauler. As for pulling a trailer behind a class A I see it all the time and I understand what the other posters have mentioned also about parking and having a place for the trailer, seen several stacker trailers also with bikes on upper half and car in lower half but they are pretty tall and expensive. Our advantage to having a 5th wheel is that we would have our truck to drive if weather was bad.

[DutchmenSport]

2gypsies wrote:
.... Could you do everything with only the cycles?

:@:@

In my "younger and more wild days" I rode the 2 wheeled beast! 😄 I learned to do everything on 2 wheels. I even rigged up a way to travel with my pet cat! That cat put a few thousand miles on the motorcycle with me. :E Not to mention, laundry, concrete blocks, lumber, pipes for plumbing, groceries. A skilled motorcyclist can do just about anything, under almost any condition on a motorcycle! I even rode mine in January, Indiana winters when the temperatures were zero degrees and the roads were covered wit snow! Really! :S Like I said, I was MUCH younger then, :B but my motorcycle was my primary transportation. I learned to do it all with it!

Edit: I'm having a memory recall here. I remember when the motorcycle was parked in the driveway, that cat would jump on top of it and lay on the seat. It was like he was trying to tell me ... "come on'... let's go for a ride!" (really).

[2gypsies1]

You can do it but full-timing without a car could be very uncomfortable and difficult at times. I think of the many days of bad weather we had over the years - cold, rain, heat, hail - that depending on a cycle to get around would not be fun - for us, anyway. Also, we love to sitesee the boonies - gravel roads. Our Jeep gave us endless fun. Think it out carefully if you want them as your sole means of transportation.

A toy hauler would be more practical. You'd have covered storage for your cycles and the truck to drive around, if needed. Think of grocery shopping, doing laundry, perhaps a medical issue. Do you have a car with your home now? Could you do everything with only the cycles?

[Rovin__Bones]

I haven't done it yet as I am not shoving off from my home state until middle April, but I will be towing a 5x8 enclosed cargo trailer with my Harley Sportster inside. I will also have other items in the trailer as well. I live fulltime in my 24' Class C and will be workamping making a circuit following the seasons and staying out of the snow belt in winter.

[BarbaraOK]

Have you though about towing a small PU with the bikes in the back? We have seen a lot of people doing that.

[Johno02]

Good motorhome to pull with under $50K is gonna be the trick if you can do it. We did, but its rare. And that was not recent. Prices have gone up a lot since them.