The HF trailer is cheap enough that I have left it in carpool lots locked to a tree or light pole.its ugly enough that nobody has tried to steal it yet.
|
|
|
Multiple bikes on a trailer?
- Thread starter mimico_polak
- Start date
We had someone complain about one of the guys on the street. He's got 3 RVs on it (he buys, repairs and flips them) and someone complained to the City of Mississauga.
They came by, told him someone snitched on him, and told him to hide it. So now you'll see them peppered around 3 different neighbours.
Apparently in Mississauga you can't have an RV over 17ft in your driveway.
We think we know who it is...but not 100%. The neighbourhood snitch (same mofo that took pics of my deck from his roof).
Mad Mike
Well-known member
You can align the bikes any way they fit on the trailer, the important things to consider are:
- ease of loading / unloading (not such a big problem with bikes this size)
- load so you have sufficient tongue weight and even weight distribution
- trailer capacity
- strapping point locations
3 bikes can be loaded on a 4x8 platform, the outside bikes facing forward Loaded first), and the middle bike facing backward, (loaded last).
You could also load them on 45-degree angle, to get a little more separation between bikes -- that's a lot more work and strapping complication for not much benefit.
My concern would be the trailer holding up. Trailer capacity is one thing, evenly distributing 1200lbs of drywall puts 12.5lbs/sq' of pressure on the deck - a motorcycle tire has a small contact area -- is a few hundred times greater. I won't get into the physics, but rolling over a rough rail crossing can destroy a lightweight trailer that's loaded to capacity with motorcycles - particularly a bolt together platform type as they lack the rigidity of a welded trailer with sides.
If it's the trailer you pulled to my shop, I'd limit it at 2 bikes.
A couple of other tips:
- Never transport on the center stand
- Use the sidestand and tires if you can, particularly with bigger bikes, if not balance vertically with straps
- leave bikes in 1st gear,
- drop tire pressure to 15psi on the bikes, 30psi on the trailer tires.
- pull the suspension down 1/2 it's travel with the straps.
Last edited:
Mad Mike
Well-known member
The storage wheels on those trailers aren't for rolling them around, they have a rated mileage of about 30', less on asphalt.
A set of 2x1.5" steel wheels would be a cheep upgrade.
afici0nad0
Well-known member
^
For sure
For sure
not sure if this was already mentioned but 4x8 is going to be extremely difficult or impossible to fit 3 bikes
.
I just did this last year with 3 bikes on a 5x10 and it was a struggle. trailer walls were under a foot high so handlebars and exhausts could poke out and it was easier to jump around to tie down.
Need to dig for pics but we staggered them, one in the front and two behind (right on the trailer axle).
Biggest problem was tie down spots. we u-bolted 3 chocks down and were able to tie-down to rings on those, but the rear took us the whole trip to figure out the best method to avoid shifting (they kept walking or coming loose).
The galvanized floor was thin and flexible so impossible to bolt anything to. We ended up just strapping the tails of the rear two bikes to the trailer ramp/door.
Thinking back now, it might've worked better to just put a big sheet of ply on the bottom and put tie down points on that.
.
I just did this last year with 3 bikes on a 5x10 and it was a struggle. trailer walls were under a foot high so handlebars and exhausts could poke out and it was easier to jump around to tie down.
Need to dig for pics but we staggered them, one in the front and two behind (right on the trailer axle).
Biggest problem was tie down spots. we u-bolted 3 chocks down and were able to tie-down to rings on those, but the rear took us the whole trip to figure out the best method to avoid shifting (they kept walking or coming loose).
The galvanized floor was thin and flexible so impossible to bolt anything to. We ended up just strapping the tails of the rear two bikes to the trailer ramp/door.
Thinking back now, it might've worked better to just put a big sheet of ply on the bottom and put tie down points on that.
Curious why not on the c stand? I've done this and thought it was a good idea.
Impact loads could be pretty high when you hit a bump. Hell, even strapping it down could double the load on the stand compared to bike alone. Since the stand is designed for static weight of the bike, you are relying on a huge factor of safety in the design (which may or may not exist as they try to get weight down).
A motorcycle is way more stable when it's on the side stand as opposed to the center stand.
I always worry about the strength of the side stand too though
Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com mobile app
I would figure either the side or centre stand could snap simply from the force that’s encountered when hitting a bump….and there’s a lot of those around.
I didn’t know about keeping it in first though. Always neutral for me.
I didn’t know about keeping it in first though. Always neutral for me.
I get it.
It's definitely bike-specific and depends on where the kickstand is mounted. The kickstand on the BMWs are strong enough to spin the bike around on since it's mounted to the frame. Same spot where the engine crash bars bolt onto:
However, on my Hyper, the stand is bolted onto a tab mounted on the bottom of the engine case:
When I sit on the bike with the sidestand down, I can feel the stand flex. No bueno... And definitely no spinning the bike on this sidestand!
Last edited:
What's the rationale behind this? I always keep it in first, just an additional failsafe to keep the bike rolling off the chock.
Not sure where I got the idea for N in all honesty. I guess in theory if the motor isn’t moving I just assume N is safest.
I’m never worried about the bike rolling out of the chock but I guess it could happen.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
Center stand doesn't use the bikes suspension to absorb shock, only one wheel is down. Causes the bike to move around, and puts unintended stress on the bikes frame.
I get the c stand point, Won't do that anymore. If I didn't have a C stand then I tighten the tie downs until the bike is vertical and the side stand is no longer in contact.
I'd never trailer a bike leaned over to one side so far.
|
|
|
|
|