Carrying a bike with a travel trailer

[killvino]

Forum Sponsor

theres a way on most trucks to have the tailgate held up partially at an angle, ive done this with all my trucks in the past, you still need to make sure bike is secure and only really works if your rear wheel isn't fully on the tailgate. Might give you enough clearance.
You just have to route the cables around the latch. see pic below:

 

[Trials]

There is vertical articulation between the trailer and the swivelwheel trailer....just not horizontal articulation like a normal trailer would have.

Have you ever seen a trailer like that without grind marks on the back bumper
or watched a levelling jack get completely ripped off making a turn out of a grocery store parking lot in California.

Any thing you straddle with the truck :/ that bike caster is going to hit it full on.
But I would like to follow one over some whoops, it would be exciting to watch from a safe distance.

 

[crankcall]

Trials you seem to be missing the part mentioned by Scuba and PP where the platform is hinged and floats behind the trailer coasting on the dolly wheel. Or just ignoring it.

 

[Trials]

Trials you seem to be missing the part mentioned by Scuba and PP where the platform is hinged and floats behind the trailer coasting on the dolly wheel. Or just ignoring it.

No I figured that part out, it also means the bike is pivoting front to back every time the bumper goes up and down on what is basically a single wheelbarrow tire that rolls in any direction gravity or inertia pulls it. You drive it, I will watch.


Even one of these would be better:

It's lighter, and the bike is riding on it's own rear suspension.
Would I tow that on the back of any travel trailer
:/ not a chance, the spare tires on the back of my trailer hits and drags on the ground now, the bike would be off in a ditch somewhere.

 

[JTR]

No I figured that part out, it also means the bike is pivoting front to back every time the bumper goes up and down on what is basically a single wheelbarrow tire that rolls in any direction gravity or inertia pulls it. You drive it, I will watch.


Even one of these would be better:

It's lighter, and the bike is riding on it's own rear suspension.
Would I tow that on the back of any travel trailer
:/ not a chance, the spare tires on the back of my trailer hits and drags on the ground now, the bike would be off in a ditch somewhere.

There's that issue, and then I'm no motorcycle mechanic, but I know that in the 4 wheel world, you never ever tow a vehicle with the drive wheels on the ground(unless the driveshaft is out).

I'm beginning to think that with a helper spring, in bed might be the best route.

 

[oioioi]

No I figured that part out, it also means the bike is pivoting front to back every time the bumper goes up and down on what is basically a single wheelbarrow tire that rolls in any direction gravity or inertia pulls it. You drive it, I will watch.


Even one of these would be better:

It's lighter, and the bike is riding on it's own rear suspension.
Would I tow that on the back of any travel trailer
:/ not a chance, the spare tires on the back of my trailer hits and drags on the ground now, the bike would be off in a ditch somewhere.

I would only do this on short local trips. Maybe taking it to a mechanic.
Not on long distance trips

 

[nobbie48]

No I figured that part out, it also means the bike is pivoting front to back every time the bumper goes up and down on what is basically a single wheelbarrow tire that rolls in any direction gravity or inertia pulls it. You drive it, I will watch.


Even one of these would be better:

It's lighter, and the bike is riding on it's own rear suspension.
Would I tow that on the back of any travel trailer
:/ not a chance, the spare tires on the back of my trailer hits and drags on the ground now, the bike would be off in a ditch somewhere.

Bike for sale, 10,000 on motor 30,000 on tranny and rear end.

Just hope someone doesn't tap the shifter when you're not looking.

I can't recall why but this isn't recommended for Goldwings, maybe a oil delivery issue.

 

[Trials]

There's that issue, and then I'm no motorcycle mechanic, but I know that in the 4 wheel world, you never ever tow a vehicle with the drive wheels on the ground(unless the driveshaft is out).

I'm beginning to think that with a helper spring, in bed might be the best route.

I wouldn't even consider a tow like that on a shaft drive bike, on a chain drive bike you can remove the chain if you have a cir-clip master link in about 4 minutes, now the only thing you are going to wear out is a rear tire and a couple of wheel bearings.

... unless you straddle a porcupine, skunk or car tire etc. any of those are going to leave a lasting impression on your bike.

 

[PrivatePilot]

Have you ever seen a trailer like that without grind marks on the back bumper

I owned a 35' 5th wheel up until we got out of RV'ing a few years ago. Towed it coast to coast several times and endlessly inside a 1000km radius of the GTA. Never scraped the rear bumper once.

Does it happen? Sure, in extreme circumstances, typically where someone is trying to pull a trailer with a hitch height that's far too high either through failure to setup the hitch right on a regular trailer, or trying to pull a 5th wheel with a pavement-princess monster truck that really isn't suited for towing to begin with anymore due to stupid mods made by the owner

Is it a regular thing? No. Because most people RV'ing regularly have their vehicles setup right and aim for function over form.

And If you're towing a motorcycle behind the trailer one would like to think that the driver would use an above average amount of caution as well on top of all that.

If you can find any stories of people crushing their motorcycle into the back of their RV, destroying the trailer, having the bike fly off to impact the surface of the moon, or whatever else you envision happening, please share.

 

[crankcall]

I watched a VW jetta with two mtn bikes on the roof rack misjudge a drive tru canopy, it was pretty funny.

about the only time I see trailers scraping rear bumpers are guys trying to get into spots they shouldn't , but thats generally low speed campground grass, or roads into really remote fishing spots where a travel trailer has no business being pulled.
My Trailer had a 2" sq reciever on the back that sat under to bumper, so 2" lower to hold a bike rack. Crushes zero, bottom outs zero. But I did drive a truck in high school so I had some actual drive experience with longer than a pickup truck.

Forum Sponsor