Tents and race weekends | GTAMotorcycle.com

Tents and race weekends

Nick_f

Nick_f

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Hey guys


This season, i'm going to take the plunge and sign up for SOAR.

i was thinking about buying a 'NEO' trailer. I currently own a 2015 jetta tdi, and a NEO enclosed trailer would fit into my towing capacity.

Biggest problem right now is cost of the trailer. Roughly around $4200 for a 6x10 or 5x10

The cost really isn't the big deal, it's just a lot of money to drop on a trailer, (more than my actual bike) to sleep in and house parts for something i have never done before.


So this first season, i'm contemplating tenting it, instead of paying for an enclosed trailer.

Any recommendations on good tents, or really good deals on all aluminum trailer *not just roof*


any experience from SOAR racers using tent setups?
 
Check out Miska trailers - they're local - right by the highway 6 and highway 5 intersection. Cheaper than what you've posted up by a substantial amount.
Might even be able to pick up a scratch and dent for and even bigger savings over the Neo's...
 
BigEvilDoer said:
Check out Miska trailers - they're local - right by the highway 6 and highway 5 intersection. Cheaper than what you've posted up by a substantial amount.
Might even be able to pick up a scratch and dent for and even bigger savings over the Neo's...
Click to expand...

just checked there website.

there aluminum trailers are about $1000 more than the NEO ones
 
While there are a few SOAR racers who do tent it, you will be better off in something off the ground if it rains or is windy. Instead of spending your $$ on buying an enclosed trlr why not just rent an enclosed trlr or van for the weekends you will be racing? It will be money you could use toward a trlr but it will allow you to decide if you can to invest in a big or small enclosed trlr or just pick up an older used van. AND no wear on the VW. parillaguy
 
Nick_f said:
just checked there website.

there aluminum trailers are about $1000 more than the NEO ones
Click to expand...

Cant' forget the Neo site is in USD though.
 
Hey nick, just a short drive north.. Theres a place you should check out here in Arthur called TC trailers. They have lots of different types of trailers or can find the one you want.. My buddies have had good dealings with them, Worth a call or drive and not very far away.. There just behind Union burger off a side street called Patrick st. I believe... www.tctrailers.ca
 
just buy a used one for 2 grand and sell it for 2 grand in a couple years.

and those are pretty small to haul all your **** plus sleep in if that's the plan
 
parillaguy said:
While there are a few SOAR racers who do tent it, you will be better off in something off the ground if it rains or is windy. Instead of spending your $$ on buying an enclosed trlr why not just rent an enclosed trlr or van for the weekends you will be racing? It will be money you could use toward a trlr but it will allow you to decide if you can to invest in a big or small enclosed trlr or just pick up an older used van. AND no wear on the VW. parillaguy
Click to expand...

Motel rooms in town are plenty, decent room for a $100 if the weather turns to *****......which it will as it's Grand Bend lol.
 
I towed my bike on an open trailer behind a VW diesel for years and slept in a tent (and occasionally grabbed a motel room in town if the weather was really bad - and occasionally crawled into the car and slept there if the weather pulled a surprise).
 
Buy a hammock/tarp setup! Way better then a tent (as long as you have somewhere to set it up) it also makes a comfy seat and its small and compact. Depending on the size of the trailer you buy you may be able to weld up some hanging points.
 
Right on Nick, should be fun, keep us up to date on how you find the SOAR racing. The galvanized open trailer I have was $1000 direct from linamar in guelph, FWIW. I think they are about $1300 retail. Been a good trailer, but if you're looking for something enclosed it won't help you. Only thing to note is the **** Chinese bearings they used in them, the NTN's are a few bucks to swap, but worth it.
 
Take it from someone with 25 years of recreational trailering experience and 20 years of commercial hauling experience - The weight might be within your Jetta's tow rating, but the frontal area on a trailer like that makes it totally unrealistic. It will be like trying to tow the broadside of a barn on the highway - you may struggle to even maintain highway speed on flat ground and it'll beat the bejesus out of your cars drivetrain while doing so.

Transmissions are expensive.

You'd be well advised to take the advice of others - use an open trailer to haul to/from and find some alternative sleeping arrangement. The Jetta is just not a good towing platform for a large enclosed trailer like that.
 
I'll be honest, Grand Bend has a miserable weather temper, tenting it (many people do) in my experience makes the entire experience a bad one.

-hard to sleep with the rain and cold and then you have to wake up miserable in the morning and go racing tired.
-Even in days when the forecast says sunny and over 20 degrees, it is still under 10 at night, specially in the early and late rounds it can be close to 0 or even under overnight.

So maybe don't buy a trailer for your first season but at least use hotels, you get a good night sleep, shower and rest, it just makes racing the next day so much better.

However, I am over 40 and my capacity for ******** is getting smaller every month.


Nick_f said:
Hey guys


This season, i'm going to take the plunge and sign up for SOAR.

i was thinking about buying a 'NEO' trailer. I currently own a 2015 jetta tdi, and a NEO enclosed trailer would fit into my towing capacity.

Biggest problem right now is cost of the trailer. Roughly around $4200 for a 6x10 or 5x10

The cost really isn't the big deal, it's just a lot of money to drop on a trailer, (more than my actual bike) to sleep in and house parts for something i have never done before.


So this first season, i'm contemplating tenting it, instead of paying for an enclosed trailer.

Any recommendations on good tents, or really good deals on all aluminum trailer *not just roof*


any experience from SOAR racers using tent setups?
Click to expand...
 
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go online and buy a crappy old camper trailer. You can get them for under a grand. Get a buddy to tow it up to the track and leave it there. Storage fee for the year is less than gas to tow it, and its there and setup and ready to go. Grab a princess auto folding trailer to haul your bike back and forth.
You'll be much happier
Oh yeah..and you're going to have a blast at SOAR.
 
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atss2006 said:
go online and buy a crappy old camper trailer. You can get them for under a grand. Get a buddy to tow it up to the track and leave it there. Storage fee for the year is less than gas to tow it, and its there and setup and ready to go. Grab a princess auto folding trailer to haul your bike back and forth.
You'll be much happier
Oh yeah..and you're going to have a blast at SOAR.
Click to expand...

Or check with GBM they might have sold old trailer being sold off.
 
kellen said:
just buy a used one for 2 grand and sell it for 2 grand in a couple years.

and those are pretty small to haul all your **** plus sleep in if that's the plan
Click to expand...

Nothing used right now in a full aluminum trailer. I work with RJ Hrevnak, he told me that a 6x10 should be more than enough room.

Ideally i would prefer to buy used for that reason of selling git

Brian P said:
I towed my bike on an open trailer behind a VW diesel for years and slept in a tent (and occasionally grabbed a motel room in town if the weather was really bad - and occasionally crawled into the car and slept there if the weather pulled a surprise).
Click to expand...
I had a mk5 jetta that i used to tow with, but now i have a 2015 ea288, that is a lot more refined and powerful.

smergy said:
Right on Nick, should be fun, keep us up to date on how you find the SOAR racing. The galvanized open trailer I have was $1000 direct from linamar in guelph, FWIW. I think they are about $1300 retail. Been a good trailer, but if you're looking for something enclosed it won't help you. Only thing to note is the **** Chinese bearings they used in them, the NTN's are a few bucks to swap, but worth it.
Click to expand...

thanks Randy!
I remember hearing all about that trailer bearing with you and Tim... a few stops with a wd-40 :p

PrivatePilot said:
Take it from someone with 25 years of recreational trailering experience and 20 years of commercial hauling experience - The weight might be within your Jetta's tow rating, but the frontal area on a trailer like that makes it totally unrealistic. It will be like trying to tow the broadside of a barn on the highway - you may struggle to even maintain highway speed on flat ground and it'll beat the bejesus out of your cars drivetrain while doing so.

Transmissions are expensive.

You'd be well advised to take the advice of others - use an open trailer to haul to/from and find some alternative sleeping arrangement. The Jetta is just not a good towing platform for a large enclosed trailer like that.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info! The tongue weight on both my jetta and trailer wold be in Spec. But it just concerning that the trailer is pretty big. I have a slight fear of dealing with MTO if they see me towing

In north america, they do not recommend my car for towing, but in europe it is around 3000 LBS (if i remember correctly)

ZX600 said:
I'll be honest, Grand Bend has a miserable weather temper, tenting it (many people do) in my experience makes the entire experience a bad one.

-hard to sleep with the rain and cold and then you have to wake up miserable in the morning and go racing tired.
-Even in days when the forecast says sunny and over 20 degrees, it is still under 10 at night, specially in the early and late rounds it can be close to 0 or even under overnight.

So maybe don't buy a trailer for your first season but at least use hotels, you get a good night sleep, shower and rest, it just makes racing the next day so much better.

However, I am over 40 and my capacity for ******** is getting smaller every month.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. Maybe i'll consider it when the weather isn't looking so great, and if i need a shower ;)

atss2006 said:
go online and buy a crappy old camper trailer. You can get them for under a grand. Get a buddy to tow it up to the track and leave it there. Storage fee for the year is less than gas to tow it, and its there and setup and ready to go. Grab a princess auto folding trailer to haul your bike back and forth.
You'll be much happier
Oh yeah..and you're going to have a blast at SOAR.
Click to expand...

I have an open trailer now, but i'll search KIJIJI. anyone know the storage fees for GBM?

Jayv said:
Or check with GBM they might have sold old trailer being sold off.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip!
 
In theory, you can also throw on a roof top tent for $3,000, and keep your open trailer for your gear/bike.

They keep value quite well, and I'd imagine you can sell it 3-5 years down the road for $1500.
That's only 15 nights at a subpar hotel...
 
I agree that the weight is unlikely to be an issue (our NA tow ratings are indeed pretty laughable compared to the European equivalents), but the wind resistance will astound you. You will not be happy (nor probably feel safe or comfortable) with the results of pulling such a large frontal area trailer with your setup, and as mentioned, it'll be torture on your car. 3000# low profile is one thing, 3000# with 60 or 80 square feet of frontal area on top of it, quite another.
 
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