Pickup truck vs trailer vs van

[VFR.CBR]

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Well, the BIG toy-haulers have the garage completely separate from the living quarters, but you'd better have a serious tow rig to haul those around! I know someone who tows a 7000-lb-ish toy hauler with a F150, but it's pretty much on the limit of what that truck will tow.

There are f150s and F150s, properly configured, 7000 lbs is not a problem. Any of the full size Pickups properly configured will tow this comfortably.

The separate garage at the back of the "big" toyhaulers may look separate, but there is usually a door between them, often not sealed, and the two sections share heating and A/C. Any gas fumes in the back soon make their way to the front. I siphon down the bike and let it cool as much as possible before putting it away. I'll run the generator carb dry and let it cool down.
If I do this, the bed in the back over the bike and equipment is usable. I don't think this is much different than would be required to use a van or a shared space trailer.

An open trailer or dedicated bike trailer, or the back of a pickup won't require this procedure.

 

[Relax]

I have all 3, each has its strengths and weaknesses

Trailer is easiest to load/unload. Youcan tow a bike trailer with anything. Downside is you need a place to store it.

Vans are easy to load. Downside is the stink of oil, gas and tires is always there.

Pickup is hardest to load, like a trailer there is no Nigel or fuel stink in the cab.

My preference is the trailer.

Never had any smell issues with our Odyssey hauling and/storing FI and carbed bikes in the back for a day at a time. Wife would have killed me if I let any noxious fumes permeate interior, since it was the family "car" for our young kids. Plus you can also have a hitch on it to pull a separate trailer.

 

[Relax]

Here's what a Ducati 998 looks like in a 2001 Odyssey. Lots of room for all my track gear including ramps, tool box, pop-up tent, cooler, etc. Height-wise, I could still get it in with the upper fairing w/ double-bubble windshield, but had to tilt it to clear. For anything other than sport bikes, you'll probably want something taller.

 

[Relax]

This probably goes without saying, but parking downhill for loading and uphill for unloading makes things go a lot smoother.

 

[GreyGhost]

This probably goes without saying, but parking downhill for loading and uphill for unloading makes things go a lot smoother.

Or half backed into a ditch if you think you can get back out. You can often get an almost level ramp that way.

 

[Wingboy]

Or half backed into a ditch if you think you can get back out. You can often get an almost level ramp that way.

The little slope of my driveway and the crown of the road works well for my Tacoma.

 

[bigpoppa]

getting into cars now and its trippy watching little agile sport hatchbacks with engines the same size as the bike

 

[bigpoppa]

speaking of....how hard is it to drive manual on a car?

 

[Wingboy]

Hands does what the foot did, and the foot does what the hand did.

 

[GreyGhost]

speaking of....how hard is it to drive manual on a car?

Simple if you understand the concept. Hard if you dont and have a crap teacher. My neighbour growing up bought a standard car as that's what she could afford and got her uncle to teach her. What a crap show. The clutch was a switch. Rev it up to 2000 and dump it and it stalls, rev it up to 3500 and dump it and it spins. Wtf.

 

[Evoex]

Simple if you understand the concept. Hard if you dont and have a crap teacher. My neighbour growing up bought a standard car as that's what she could afford and got her uncle to teach her. What a crap show. The clutch was a switch. Rev it up to 2000 and dump it and it stalls, rev it up to 3500 and dump it and it spins. Wtf.

oh yeah.

first car was a hand me down 12 year old accord automatic with 320km that had an electrical problem within 4 months. sold it and bought a '98 civic Si 5 spd manual! While i was waiting for the stealership to get the car ready i asked my dad to teach me manual in his shiny new 2009 manual civic. like 3 hours around the neighborhood; stall, stall, stall, stall, stall, stall..you get the idea.

got the car and dad drove it home, immediately grabbed the keys and taught myself clutch control around the block for 40 mins. Then ventured out onto the street. Was feeling pretty badass until i stalled in the middle of the intersection during a left turn on a hill..oh boy.

 

[Jayv]

speaking of....how hard is it to drive manual on a car?

Pretty much the entire planet except for two countries does fine with manual transmissions. I’d never seen an automatic car until I moved to Canada.

As for the op question, enclosed trailer is the way to go. Great versatility-not just for hauling bikes, excellent resale value.

 

[Wingboy]

Three on the tree. Bahaha.

 

[Lightcycle]

speaking of....how hard is it to drive manual on a car?

Guessing you were born here and not in India then...

 

[Mad Mike]

Simple if you understand the concept. Hard if you dont and have a crap teacher. My neighbour growing up bought a standard car as that's what she could afford and got her uncle to teach her. What a crap show. The clutch was a switch. Rev it up to 2000 and dump it and it stalls, rev it up to 3500 and dump it and it spins. Wtf.

I have always had standard cars, my wife's carr is standard as are all my kids cars. My kids learned in a Beetle on our cottage loop, they could all drive by 12 years old. My 75 year old mom still drives a standard.

 

[Lightcycle]

I leased a manual car once.

The last month of the lease I was teaching all my friends who couldn't drive stick on it.

At that point I didn't care about the clutch, since I was returning it anyway.

Upon lease return, the dealership tried to convince me to buy the car out. Very difficult for them to re-sell manual vehicles.

 

[Iceman]

I've seen some dudes use their hatchbacks to trailer their bikes around, I wonder if its do-able?

The wife has a Mazda 3 sport with a 5 speed and a hitch. I've towed single bikes on a 4x8 utility trailer many times, it works.
I recently bought a hitch for my Venza as the v6 will do a much better job of towing.

Sent from my SM-A530W using Tapatalk

 

[timtune]

I put 410,000kms on a 5 speed 2000 Toyota Echo. I taught both kids to drive in it (they used it for their license tests) and I never replaced the clutch. Nor did I replace the tranny fluid or the coolant in all that time for that matter.

 

[meme]

1986 Toyota short box 4x4
I was 13. Dad parked it about 1/5 of the way up of Gutzman hill, got out and walked home.
"You know how a clutch works..."

 

[800over]

I put 410,000kms on a 5 speed 2000 Toyota Echo. I taught both kids to drive in it (they used it for their license tests) and I never replaced the clutch. Nor did I replace the tranny fluid or the coolant in all that time for that matter.

our 2002 Echo rusted to death from a small hit that happened right after I bought it new....but not before we had 320km on it and had taught several people to drive stick. I'd buy that car again tomorrow.

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