Newb hauling advice

[Cider]

I want to do more track days next year, so I bought an '06 Prerunner to haul my street bike 400 miles to the track. I'm a total newb when it comes to trucks, and I jumped in without doing much research . Now that I'm already committed, I'm wondering if this will work for me? I made some guesses and came up with these numbers:

• bike: 400 lbs
• driver & passenger: 300 lbs
• full tank of gas: 130 lbs
• "stuff": 340 lbs (tools, gear, stands, cooler, camera, etc.)

That puts me right under 1200 lbs. Is that going to work? I don't have a trailer, and I was trying to avoid on altogether, but I never considered the total amount that I wanted to haul. Feel free to remind me how foolish that was

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by Cider

I want to do more track days next year, so I bought an '06 Prerunner to haul my street bike 400 miles to the track. I'm a total newb when it comes to trucks, and I jumped in without doing much research . Now that I'm already committed, I'm wondering if this will work for me? I made some guesses and came up with these numbers:

• bike: 400 lbs
• driver & passenger: 300 lbs
• full tank of gas: 130 lbs
• "stuff": 340 lbs (tools, gear, stands, cooler, camera, etc.)

That puts me right under 1200 lbs. Is that going to work? I don't have a trailer, and I was trying to avoid on altogether, but I never considered the total amount that I wanted to haul. Feel free to remind me how foolish that was

Take all that to a local scale house or truck stop. Weigh the truck with all that in it, and you, and see if your under the GVW.

[Cider]

Originally Posted by chris4x4

Take all that to a local scale house or truck stop. Weigh the truck with all that in it, and you, and see if your under the GVW.

Is it realistic to haul 1100 lbs. around? It might be technically within the truck's capabilities, but I'm sure how well it works in practice.

[chris4x4]

Originally Posted by Cider

Is it realistic to haul 1100 lbs. around? It might be technically within the truck's capabilities, but I'm sure how well it works in practice.

What is your cab configureation? Engine?

[Brunes]

You might want to think about a trailer man- If you are getting into tracking your rail often- It will be TOTALLY worth it.

Either a small toy hauler so you have a place to crash at the track without getting a hotel...or just an enclosed to give you a place to store and secure your stuff...and a place to work out of.

I used my AC longbed to take my CBR600RR7 to the track...and I didn't have any issues with capacity or anything...but if I was doing it more often...I woulda gotten a trailer.

[Cider]

Originally Posted by chris4x4

What is your cab configureation? Engine?

Access cab and V6 engine. I looked at a double cab, but felt that it actually had less storage behind the front seats.

Originally Posted by Brunes

Either a small toy hauler so you have a place to crash at the track without getting a hotel...or just an enclosed to give you a place to store and secure your stuff...and a place to work out of.

All good points. The wife goes with me (no kids), so we always get a hotel room. Also, I'm not sure if our neighborhood association will allow me to store an enclosed trailer.

Would air bags or spring upgrades make the hauling option more reasonable? Or should I just load it up for a test run around town and see how it does?

[trailmaster308]

Originally Posted by Cider

Access cab and V6 engine. I looked at a double cab, but felt that it actually had less storage behind the front seats.



All good points. The wife goes with me (no kids), so we always get a hotel room. Also, I'm not sure if our neighborhood association will allow me to store an enclosed trailer.

Would air bags or spring upgrades make the hauling option more reasonable? Or should I just load it up for a test run around town and see how it does?

I was in the same boat as you. I can't have a trailer sitting outside my house. So instead I purchased a drop tail fold up trailer. Its very very well made and top of the line IMO. I can tow two 1000 lbs bikes side by side. Drop tail also makes a single bike trailer.

The good thing about them is they fold up and have pop down wheels that allow you to stow the trailer in a garage. When folded, I can move the whole trailer around with one hand.





Check out their website. http://www.droptailtrailers.com/

Kendon trailers also makes decent trailers but I prefer drop tail due to their hydraulic drop down

[Cider]

That looks like a cool trailer! However, I was hoping to haul for several reasons, not the least of which is that I have little towing experience. A trailer also limits which highway lanes I can use, and they aren't cheap to buy, register, store, and maintain. I'm addicted to the track, though, so if that's what it takes, I'll end up with a trailer. Still, I'd like to explore the hauling option if it's feasible.

Does anybody else use their Tacoma to haul a bike a couple hundred miles to the track?

[pataco]

look up timbren.that will help u.very nice product.

[FoxySandChick]

I haul a quad about 200 miles a few times a month...but I don't have passengers or much gear since I'm carrying the 'overflow' items from our toyhauler, we have to take 2 vehs to get all our toys out there .

Driver-150lbs
Dog-75lbs
Quad-400lbs
Gear-200ish
Gas-130lbs

I've got to be close to 1000lbs sometimes, but I know I'm never more than that. I have no problems with handling, but my mpg drops about 1-2mpg. I'd say pack only what is necessary for now and consider a trailer for the future. Load it up and drive it around, make sure your tires are at the proper psi.

[Cider]

Thanks for the advice. I filled up the gas tank and put about 450lbs in the bed and 250lbs in the cab, then sat in it (175lbs) and had my wife measure the sag at all four corners. It definitely sags, but it seems to be even all around, perhaps slightly lower in front. I'd say it's about 1.75" above the bump stops in back when loaded.

BTW, I got 19mpg out of my first tank; all city driving on 87 octane w/ ethanol. I filled it up with ethanol-free gas today to see if that makes a difference. It's only a few cents more, but the motorcycles seem to run much better on the ethanol-free stuff, so maybe the truck will like it too.

[Cider]

I don't have a ramp yet, but here's some gratuitous pictures:

The new (to me) truck:




The bike:

[Brunes]

What track is that??

[Cider]

Miller. It's the closest one to me, but still about 380 miles away.