Towing my motorcycle with our 24' C

[Desert_Captain]

We just returned from a 6 day trip up to the White mountains in eastern Arizona. June is not much fun weather wise in Tucson and last week saw record breaking temperatures between 106 - 110. We saw the high-pressure/temps coming and headed up to Big Lake, about 20 miles east of Greer. No problem with the weather when your campground sits at 9,200'. Every day we had highs in the mid 80's with a nice breeze off the lake with lows in the upper 40's which made for lovely campfires both evenings and mornings.

I recently acquired a classic 1987 BMW R80 (800 cc), RT and rolled a custom trailer for it into the purchase from my neighbor. This was my first opportunity to try the bike/trailer combination behind our 24' Nexus Phantom and the results are in..... AWESOME combo!



You literally cannot tell it is back there because the trailer is so small, about 10' nose to tail, that you cannot see it in the mirrors unless you are making a 90* turn and the 6.8L V-10 had no issues with a mere 850#. The back up camera was very handy when it came to backing the single axle trailer and not having done so in 7 years I needed all the help I could get the first couple of times. :S

Once the bike is offloaded the tailer can easily be pushed around. I turned it sideways behind the coach and then parked the bike in front. Here is a shot of our site:



We managed to put about 300 of the most enjoyable motorcycle miles imaginable on the BMW. Highway 191 between Safford and Springerville is considered by many to one of the greatest bike roads in America and after having been there, done that I would be hard pressed to argue. There are two brand new roads, one that connect the Sunrise Ski area with Big Lake and the other runs from Big Lake down to Alpine. Smoother than a babies backside they offer more of the same beauty, thrills and chills of the 191.

Needless to say we had a blast incorporating a nice morning ride, often for breakfast in Greer or Alpine, into our camping routine. We are looking forward to many more trips with our "Little Toad".... {actually more of a Prince to me}.

:B

[falconbrother]

Bordercollie wrote:
I'm getting too old and lame to ride my '48 Indian Chief but the trailer idea also looks good for those going to motorcycle events and shows with their "trailer queens"

I used to ride to rallies. Then my wife started going and we started taking the dogs. Now we stay from before till after 99% of the crowd has left. I ain't ashamed to trailer my old bike. That's a conceptual reality that I gave up on many years ago, as did my dogs.. They love bike week. From what I have seen, 99% of everyone in the campgrounds trailered. The exception being the guy who pulled a popup camper behind his bike, which is totally cool.



And, when we arrived in Myrtle Beach it was pouring rain, so there's that..

[Bordercollie]

I'm getting too old and lame to ride my '48 Indian Chief but the trailer idea also looks good for those going to motorcycle events and shows with their "trailer queens"

[Desert_Captain]

falconbrother wrote:
I pull my Harley FLHTC around on a trailer very similar to that one. Mine was a kit from Harbor Freight, 1720lb capacity. Great little trailer. I painted mine black and silver. People trash talk those trailers that don't actually own them. The wheel bearings are tapered roller bearings and last a lifetime if lubed occasionally.

That's where mine came from. My neighbor, a very handy/talented gentleman, bought the kit from HF. He put bigger wheels on and made a number of other upgrades as well as framing the sides and tail gate. He used .75" ply for the deck topped with .5" rubber matt. My trailer is rated for 1595# and the 13" tires are rated for 1360#. He tightened every screw and bolt along with repacking the wheel bearings before handing it over and the spare has yet to touch pavement (the other two look like new and are only 2 years old).

:C

[falconbrother]

I pull my Harley FLHTC around on a trailer very similar to that one. Mine was a kit from Harbor Freight, 1720lb capacity. Great little trailer. I painted mine black and silver. People trash talk those trailers that don't actually own them. The wheel bearings are tapered roller bearings and last a lifetime if lubed occasionally.

[Bordercollie]

Yup, mine has a nut that you turn one way or the other to engage the low range or normal range. Some have a large trail sprocket that you fit over the normal one with some fiddling. I have carried it on the front of our VW bus camper and on rear of Class C's. It's fairly light weight with 40 pound aluminum hitch rack doesn't upset balance of a rig. You can still buy these on Craigs list for around $1000 in good condition. The 70's vintage ones have better front suspension and there is a 110 cc version with a little more oomph. Mine goes 45+ mph flat out. They have a combined shift and clutch and front lever actuated rear brake, plus rear brake pedal, for and front brake lever so you can shift gears etc., while climbing steep grades, etc. These bikes are still available new from Honda in Australia, sold to postal service and called "posties". There is a "Trail 90 cult following in the US and parts are available.

Only drawback is that some campsites charge you for an extra vehicle.

[pnichols]

Bordercollie wrote:
I'm having my antique '68 Honda Trail 90 overhauled and have an aluminum hitch rack, with ramp, to carry it. Bike only weighs 188 pounds. No problems.

That Trail 90 is an outstanding little cycle - great for off-road low speed exploring on just about any trail. I went trail riding once with a friend who had one of those way back when they were new. I believe we were over 8000 or 9000 feet in the high Uintas and it carried him like a champ.

If I remember right - doesn't their transmission have a high range and a low range? If so, that should be a total of 6 or 8 forward speeds?

IMHO, just about the only low speed extreme off-road modern cycle that can touch it is the Rokon.

If I had a cycle like a Trail 90, I'd carry it on the front of our small Class C so as to keep the RV's front suspension loaded well.

[Bordercollie]

I'm having my antique '68 Honda Trail 90 overhauled and have an aluminum hitch rack, with ramp, to carry it. Bike only weighs 188 pounds. No problems.

[Gene_in_NE]

turbojimmy wrote:
Nice setup and the bike is beautiful.

I'd like to get a motorcycle trailer to haul my bikes behind my Allegro but I haven't really looked too hard yet. I would want something small that I could maneuver myself once the bikes were unloaded.

My brother's 19-foot Dutchmen travel trailer burned to the ground a couple of weeks ago and we salvaged the frame (wheels and tires are in tact). It looks to be a bit bigger than I need for the bikes, though it's going to make a nice flatbed trailer for general hauling purposes.

Here is one I suspect you would like - Chariot Clicky. Like this Cycle Sled 9 -

[harley-dave]

We use an Aluma MC210 to haul our 2 Harley's behind our 31' Itasca. We love how it pulls and its great having our Harley's while we're out with the RV. Funny that we also turn it sideways behind the RV when unloaded..Usually will rent a car if we are headed into s stretch of poor weather.

Dave

[devildog1971]

we just bought a 24 foot coachmen 2015 with a v-10 I have a harley that is about 850 to 900 pounds and would like to tow it in a 12 or 14 foot enclosed trailer with dual axles on the trailer. still looking may have to buy a new trailer as the used ones I have seen are the same price as new. hope the trailer I get tows as well as the experience you have had. wife and I are now both retired and will hit the road the 9th of july with or without the harley for a 3000 mile trip

[Hank85713]

Was up in utah about 2 weeks ago. There was a guy with a big class a who had a new goldwing on a lift and he had a dodge 2500 with a razor in the back. Must be nice to have that kind of $$. Anyhow wife wont ride anymore and folks I knew that did have either passed on, moved or lost interest. As a result since I dont like to ride alone I havent been riding at all.

Enjoy your toy. Looking to go up that way in october, maybe to hunt maybe to just get away for a few days??

[turbojimmy]

Nice setup and the bike is beautiful.

I'd like to get a motorcycle trailer to haul my bikes behind my Allegro but I haven't really looked too hard yet. I would want something small that I could maneuver myself once the bikes were unloaded.

My brother's 19-foot Dutchmen travel trailer burned to the ground a couple of weeks ago and we salvaged the frame (wheels and tires are in tact). It looks to be a bit bigger than I need for the bikes, though it's going to make a nice flatbed trailer for general hauling purposes.

[Gene_in_NE]

Great pictures. That 1987 BMW R80 (800 cc), RT is rather rare here in the Midwest. Here is wishing you many more pleasant experiences.

We have been doing something similar. We started with an open trailer and later started a search for an enclosed fiberglass trailer. Found what we were looking for. Now the Moto Guzzi is out of sight and stays clean in sloppy weather.

We find this combination to be so much better than towing a car. If the weather is inclement, we would not enjoy sight seeing anyway. When the weather cooperates, no better way to see the country than on a motorcycle.