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Newb hauling advice

Discussion in 'Towing' started by Cider, Nov 4, 2009.

  1. Nov 4, 2009 at 3:31 PM
    #1
    Cider

    Cider [OP] Member

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    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 :D . 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 ;)
     
  2. Nov 4, 2009 at 3:58 PM
    #2
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    FlimFlubberJAM
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    4.10 gears, sliders, and lots of buttons.

    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.
     
  3. Nov 4, 2009 at 4:01 PM
    #3
    Cider

    Cider [OP] Member

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    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.
     
  4. Nov 4, 2009 at 4:04 PM
    #4
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    4.10 gears, sliders, and lots of buttons.
    What is your cab configureation? Engine?
     
  5. Nov 4, 2009 at 4:07 PM
    #5
    Brunes

    Brunes abides.

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    Inside: Tint, Wet Okole 1/2 Piped Red/Black Covers, Black Weathertech Digital Fit Mats, URD Short Throw w/ TWM Weighted Knob, USA Spec iPod adapter. Outside: 4300K Retro w/ Angel Eyes and Red Shrouds, 5000K Blazer Fog Light Retrofit, Debadge, Bed Locking Handle, Satin Black Rims Performance: TRD/Steigmeier Blower w/ 2.7 Pulley. 668 Injectors and 320 LPH AEM Fuel pump. URD UCON and 7th Injector. DTLT Headers, URD Y-Pipe, Wicked Flow Muffler. Suspension: Both: OME Shocks Front: 886X's and TC UCAs Rear: Dakars Armor: Relentless Front Bumper Relentless High Clearance Rear w/ Tire/Rotopax Swing Out Relentless Front, Mid, and TCase skids BAMF Diff Skid Recovery and Spares: Fullsize Spare Tire 2x2 gal Rotopax 1x1 gal Rotopax 1x1 gal Water Rotopax Warn 9.5XP-S Winch Hi-Lift Extreme 60" Ironman Off-Road Recovery Kit
    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.
     
  6. Nov 4, 2009 at 4:55 PM
    #6
    Cider

    Cider [OP] Member

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    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?
     
  7. Nov 4, 2009 at 5:37 PM
    #7
    trailmaster308

    trailmaster308 Well-Known Member

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    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.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    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
     
  8. Nov 6, 2009 at 7:53 AM
    #8
    Cider

    Cider [OP] Member

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    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?
     
  9. Nov 6, 2009 at 2:22 PM
    #9
    pataco

    pataco Well-Known Member

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    Down by the lake
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    05 4x4 trd dc white
    FOX 2.0 RESIS,LRUCAS,BILLY 5100S ON THE REAR.MAGNAFLOW 11264,COLOR MATCHED GRILL,YELLOW FOG MOD.OVER HEAD DVD,FEDERAL COURAGIA M/T
    look up timbren.that will help u.very nice product.
     
  10. Nov 7, 2009 at 5:09 AM
    #10
    FoxySandChick

    FoxySandChick Well-Known Member

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    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 :eek:.

    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.
     
  11. Nov 7, 2009 at 11:01 AM
    #11
    Cider

    Cider [OP] Member

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    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.
     
  12. Nov 7, 2009 at 2:33 PM
    #12
    Cider

    Cider [OP] Member

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

    The new (to me) truck:

    [​IMG]


    The bike:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Nov 7, 2009 at 2:42 PM
    #13
    Brunes

    Brunes abides.

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    What track is that??
     
  14. Nov 7, 2009 at 3:29 PM
    #14
    Cider

    Cider [OP] Member

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    Miller. It's the closest one to me, but still about 380 miles away.
     
  15. Dec 16, 2009 at 8:43 PM
    #15
    saltbranch

    saltbranch Well-Known Member

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    I dont think you have any trouble, just dont drive it like its empty. Your bike will change the center of gravity so keep that in mind, take curves slower etc. Try to load all your gear thats heavy in front of the rear axle if possible.
    Think of a truck bed like a teeter -totter, the further behind the axle you with weight...., in this case, put the fat kid on front., you need to try and load with the weight towards the front.That way some of the weight is shared by the front axle.
    Honestly, I have had upto 800lbs payload on my base model 96' Tacoma, figure 16 bags of feed @ 50lbs each. I have upgraded to 6 ply tires and I stack the feed in the front portion of the bed.Thats a 100 mile trip to the ranch for me,plus I weigh in @ 300lbs, plus my other gear and passenger.
    I routinely haul 400lbs plus on weekends to the ranch. In your case the main thing is load securement and remembering that your center of gravity has changed with bike in the bed.
     

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