| Author | Message | ||
     Lake_bueller |
I'm looking at trailer options and have a few questions. Here are my perameters: Ability to haul 2 Buells Inexpensive I'm concidering the Harbor Freight folding trailer. It's 4'x8' (a little tight but doable for 2 bikes). It has a capacity of 1200# and 12" tires. I should also mention that it will mostly be used for towing to track days. Which are only about 4-6 times per year and a distance under 150 miles each directions. Has anybody used this particular trailer? Comments, concerns or otherwise? Thanks!!! Dennis | ||
| Jimidan |
I think that the HF trailer is too light weight to handle 2 bikes. You really do not want to get too close to the weight limit on these trailers. I would have to say the weak link is the tires. The last thing you want to do is have a tire failure or have a stress fracture that breaks you down on the way to a track weekend...just to save a few bucks. There are a lot of companies that make open trailers for about $900, that would work fine. Just install some Pingel chocks on the floor and away you go. Jimidan | ||
| Bomber |
Lake -- I got a kit from a joint called Sandia Imports (or similar) 3 or 4 years ago -- 1800# cap, 12 inch tires -- ad in the back of Cycle World -- took a couple of hours to put together -- has had a number of high-speed runs to the gap (80+ mph for hours at a time), track days, helping grumpy lawn care maintenance guys move, etc -- well below $500 . . . . | ||
| Midknyte |
These are nice light duty trailers and someone will probably rip into 'em just for that fact, but they also fold up and out of the way when you get back home. It's on my list of things to buy... * Please note that the above links to a fishy auction for information about buying these trailers, not an actual trailer. It's what I could find at the moment... | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I've looked at the HF trailer too, and it seems ok to me for the low $$ (though I would love to hear from somebody who has one too). 12" tires are fine for that weight (I have a boat/trailer with 12" tires that weights around that and have not had a problem in the 6 years I've used it), and if it is the rating of the tire itself, that is an easy upgrade. I would think the limit is in the springs/bearings/axles. I would also think that they have a safety factor built in so 1200 lbs. means it can handle 1200 lbs.... Put bearing buddies on it, keep fresh grease in them, and most importantly, don't tow at stupid speeds- 12" tires spin at high rpms killing the bearings (Message edited by scott_in_nh on May 04, 2006) | ||
| Blasterd |
Dennis, I have that very trailer and I have never been able to fit both bikes on it. My kids dirt bikes yes, but not 2 street bikes. Ken | ||
| Mikej |
boat trailer on craigslist: http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/boa/157280331.html Bigger wheels are nicer for freeway speeds even though some do just fine with the little doughnut tires. I'm not sure what diameter the wheels are on the little trailer we have - maybe 12" ones, but it did just fine being towed from here to Seattle and back a few years ago. Lake/Dennis, Park your bikes side x side, measure the envelope to enclose them, it will make your trailer shopping much more worthwhile. | ||
| Djkaplan |
6' x 10' platform, 2" x 8" treated wood floor, 4' mesh tailgate, 1' tall rails, 15" tires, 3500lb axle. Brand new and American made. $775 + tax... less with quantity. PM me for details. | ||
| Djkaplan |
A buddy of mine has one of the Chinese made Harbor Freight trailers. It does an OK job carrying his one GSXR, but it doesn't look cool at all. Don't be the guy who shows up with one... believe me. | ||
| Slaughter |
Rent a U-Haul - something like $14 a day I hauled my S3 and XB9 - a little tight but doable - no storage problems since it's at Uhaul | ||
| Mikej |
6 x $14 = $84. No worry about tires, lights, storage, bearing grease, safety chains. Good call Slaughter. | ||
| Coolice |
Kendon- just bought one-ya I know $$. . I have used the alternatives above, but storage, stand it up in the garage. And has the rails, chocks, weight capacity. Tows great-with 2 Ulys on it too. thumbs up! | ||
| Tank_bueller |
I was looking for a cheap trailer about a year ago. I looked at all the usual suspects. The local Honda(car) dealer had the best bang for the buck on a landscape type trailer with rear ramp, 15" wheels, and she was real sturdy, for around $700. But I ended up biting the bullet, and getting this:  She wasn't cheap, but now I'm glad I have it. (Message edited by tank_bueller on May 04, 2006) | ||
| Djkaplan |
Was that trailer made in Tennessee? Buddy of mine just bought one to transport his Fatboy to Washington, DC. He parked it in his new backyard, put blocks under it, and now it's his shop/garage/storage/guest room. | ||
| Captainplanet |
I had one of the harbor freight trailers. They are all bolt together trailers. It was fairly flimsy. Once I welded the main frame together it was pretty good. I hauled two jet skis on it. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I'd love to have the money to spend on a nice trailer right now. But the wife is back in school for another couple of years. That means tuition plus she's only working part time. Add a much needed new car in the next 60-90 days and I don't have $3-4K for an enclosed trailer. As for the frame being "flimsy", I was thinking of using treated 2x12 as the flooring. I figured that would provide some stability. The 4' width is a little tight for 2 bikes. We had an X1 & S1 on a 4'x6' trailer last year for a track day. Not the ideal set-up but it worked. | ||
| Patrickh |
I got a 4X7 high speed trailer from Tractor supply for $488.00. I fit my SV, M2 and a small rolling tool chest onto it...tight fir but worked great. | ||
| Tank_bueller |
Was that trailer made in Tennessee? Dunno, but the area where I bought it has it's own language(not joking). ...I don't have $3-4K... $2250 Out the door(the interest on the loan drove it up to $2500) I should not have bought it when I did. The payments made Christmas a little tight, but I didn't have to skimp on gifts, only on gifts for my bike. My dad has used it more than I have, and when Dad asks to borrow "the trailer", it's like giving back a fraction of a percent of what he has given me over the years. It makes us both smile, so the cost of the trailer is irrelevant to me. Sorry for the short, sappy, rant. Tank | ||
| 1stbuell |
Uhaul 4X6 open trailer $9.95! | ||
| Bcordb3 |
Tank - That is a nice trailer, I have Kendon, for not much less than that rig, and it is the same color as my tow vehicle. How much does it weigh and do you know the tongue weight? | ||
| Diablobrian |
The nice thing about the smaller wheel trailers is the low deck height. You do need to keep up with the maintenance on the bearings and tires though, those little wheels are spinning faster than your larger truck/car wheels. | ||
| Buellgirlie |
i'm in the same boat now. need to trailer racebike to tracks.... so far i've done 4 things - rent a u haul enclosed trailer to pick it up (4x6 is $10/day - but door height is tricky, we had to compress forks to get it in, the 5x8 is $20/day but would be tall enough) this is probably the option i am going to stick with when i cant borrow a trailer or ride for my bike -even at $20/day x 4 day weekend = $80 per race. thats a whole lot of weekends before it starts getting close to the 3-4K mark to have my own enclosed trailer. plus i live downtown and already keep a fleet of 6 vehicles in an underground garage, so there is NO room for a trailer  had a friend transport it for me inside his big van borrow a friend's single rail trailer to bring it track - really cool trailer - but too pricey for me (using it this weekend) http://www.outlawmotorcycle.com/?goto=display_product&product=1&ts=1146796806 send it with another racebike in an enclosed trailer (how its going to get to the next 2 events) D | ||
| Diablobrian |
I wonder how well those trailer in a bag things work for someone like Buellgirlie. Anyone have any experience with them? | ||
| Tank_bueller |
Bill, Empty: tongue wt.= about 170lbs. trailer wt. = about 950lbs. Loaded with ONE bike as far rearward as possible and gear: tongue wt. = 250-275. Two bikes would shoot the tongue wt. way up due to having to stagger them inside. Guessing about 600-700 depending on the weight of the bike | ||
| Midnightrider |
anybody have any experience with one of these? I have a 5 x 9 Venture flatbed, with ramp and 16" tires - just looking for something a little easier to drive around on short trips  http://www.motorcycleramps.com/hitch_motorcycle_carrier.htm | ||
| Patrickh |
looks like a good idea, but it would scare the $h!t out of me | ||
| Diablobrian |
I've considered building one of those for the back of my RV. I always come down to worrying about how far I'd have to extend the box tube from the hitch. The second worry is the expensive bike being precariously perched. The third is bottoming the bike mount out in dips and on speed-bumps. I was thinking of building something similar that would slide into 2 of the hitch receiver tubes, one on each frame rail for more stability and strength. It wouldn't be practial for many applications though, custom build only. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Also, if you had a pickup already, why bother? | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
i'm w/ Natexlh1000 on this one. i'd rather have it in the bed.  | ||
| Midnightrider |
I have a Dodge Ram 1500 - with a Leer Cap. My wife has an antique business and we needed some protected cargo space for some of the more delicate stuff she hauls back and forth to shows and auctions. One of the things that appeals to me about a rail trailer or a hitch-mounted carrier is that sooner or later I'm going to get stranded out on the road and need to trailer the bike home (for either weather or mechanical reasons). It would be really difficult for her to hitch up the 5 x 9 trailer and she doesn/t even like driving the truck, much less tow a trailer with it. These are my reasons of looking for a small trailer or a hitch mounted carrier | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I'm keeping my eye out for a light duty trailer so that I can offload my pickup. I only need it for emergencies anyways. | ||
| Midnightrider |
curious if anyone went for the HF trailer? I checked one out and it didn't look too flimsy and the fact that if folds sure makes it convenient. The floor model had taken a hit to the front rail and it was creased and deformed. I think the trailer with a sheet of marine plywood bolted on would be plenty strong to carry a bike - I just wondered how the rails would tolerate the force of the tie down straps. They stress the rails in a whole different direction than the downward weight of a bike |
