Towing motorcycle

Sounds like she can drive out with the gear and you can get a good ride in getting there. Solved.

 

Even with a mostly empty 5x8 enclosed, your mileage will go to crap. I rented one when we moved to get the last of our stuff to our new house (about 300 miles, probably 200 lbs of crap tops) and my mileage was sub-10mpg. On that exact same trip the week prior, I drove with my tacoma bed chuck full (probably double amount of weight) and had my rzr on my 14' open trailer and was able to get around 13mpg. Those enclosed u-haul trailers appear small and compact but they weight a fair amount and don't tow as well as they should. If you're going for mpgs, I'd buy (or likely build) and single rail, low boy type trailer. Keep the bike low and out of the wind is going to give you the best results (i.e. putting it in your bed will probably give you worse results than just towing it). On my aluminum open 14' trailer that I would often tow my rzr on, I could manage 14mpg without much hassle and if I could find it in me to be patient and go a bit under the speed limit, I could do 15-16mpg. Not amazing mileage, but a larger less aerodynamic load than what you'll be pulling. These ratings are though the Rocky Mountains, so it's not like I'm cruising flat wide open plains either.

 

I’m lifted on e rated 33s and some armor. Not really svelte. I rented their motorcycle trailer. Hopefully works out for the long trip. Now to see what cover will work.

 

Did this for my 4 hour trip into the keys. Worked fine and I’d rather load it into the trailer than risk dropping a bike while loading it into a pickup with a female and a bulldog as helpers. Dogs don’t really help with bike unloading.

 

I would appreciate hearing about, or seeing pics of added tie downs for a 3rd gen composite bed.

I carry two different bikes from time to time. A good wheel chock and secure tie dows for the Ancra straps go a long way. (I also have a trailer when both bikes need transport.)

 

Don't cover a bike on an open trailer, the wind whipping the cover can damage the paint.

fixed the PUI error....

 

Questions.....

1. Why cover a bike in an enclosed trailer?
2. How does the wind enter the enclosed trailer to whip the cover?

 

That's what I get for PUI...doh!

 

As seen in the pic in my profile, so am I (lifted on 33s...fat heavy KM3s at that). Also as mentioned, don't cover your bike on an open trailer unless you really hate your paint and want to have your bike repainted.

 

hows the truck/hitch with that load? Been thinking about hauling a bike like this.

 

Two things to consider are if your bike covers your tail lights and tongue weight.

When equipped for towing duties, the 3.5-liter Toyota Tacoma will tow 6,800 pounds with a maximum tongue weight of 680 pounds.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=toyot...DCCE4BDBA848484F50008746&FORM=QBLH&sp=1&ghc=1

 

I use a 600 lb rated hitch carrier to haul a 300 lb motorcycle. The carrier weighs 100 lbs so 400 lbs on the hitch.
In stock trim the load resulted in about
1 3/4" of sag measured at the rear wheel up to the top of the wheel well.
While it wasn't terrible to drive it did result in a "nose up" condition.
I added the Roadmaster Active Suspension system which lifted the rear of the truck about 1 1/2".
Now with the bike on the hauler the truck sits almost level with about 1/4" of sag.
I also added lights on the hauler.
Not the best pictures.

 

Another vote for a hitch carrier... little to no sag as well.

 

Hitch carriers are great for dirtbikes and light, compact sportbikes, but a Softail is a whole different thing. Too heavy and too long for a hitch carrier.

 

Agree
Probably 450 lbs max motorcycle weight for a hitch carrier.
I've seen custom designed carriers but they were also mounted on 3/4 ton vehicles.

 

This is the best option if you aren't going to ride the bike. Easy load and unload too.

 

You’ll need a 1.5 AAL at minimum if you have stock springs and wanna carry a sport bike at highway speed.

 

Lol no

 

I've rented the Uhaul 4'x8' single axel enclosed trailer many times to haul my Ducati Hypermotard's thier light, short & narrow (wind resistance) plenty of room for the bike, tools (a Ducati thing) gas cans & gear, It's the best $19.95 A day I've ever spent, i have no trailer to maintain, store, or licence when done take it back. Yes you look like a dork going to college dragging a trailer with cape Canaveral plastered on the sides with a inferno orange lifted Taco but who gives a shit?

As far as tying the bike down theirs 2 rows of stout railing bolted insude the entire length of trailer on both sides to tie to, I use 4 Ancra tiedowns & never had a issue even running outta talent hitting an unmarked speed bump @ 30 mph........seen air under the tires in the mirrors ouch.

BTW I purposely did not lift the loud peddle or hit the brakes that would have made matters ALOT worse.