Trike Ground Clearance

I don't know about all trikes, but most Harley trikes are pretty low. Over the years I have trailered a 16 and 19 trike in several different trailers/campers (Aluma trailer, 24' enclosed trailer, extended tow dolly, 44' toy hauler, 14' enclosed trailer, 12' aluminum enclosed trailer).

Every trailer or RV I have hauled my trikes in all have initially drug the pipes except the Aluma trike trailer. I have always had to add some type of extra ramps or modified the existing ramp.

On the new enclosed aluminum trailer I just purchased I added three 32" fold down flaps off the existing ramp to keep my trike from dragging the pipes when loading and unloading.

I suspect installing a lift kit on my trike would alleviate a lot of the low clearance issues but so far I haven't pulled the trigger on that yet.

I have a pretty high curb at the end of my driveway. Last year I switched from a Goldwing to a TriGlide. The Goldwing would bottom out if I went over the curb at more than a couple of miles per hour. The TriGlide just clears the curb if I crawl going out of the driveway. If I back the TriGlide down the driveway I have no issues at all. My exhaust is stock. If you have exhaust tip extensions that may reduce your clearance.

Yes, but just like choosing where we park be aware and take it slow.

Our church put in a couple of speed bumps in the driver going to the parking lot. First time over one I wasn't careful and broke the mount for one of my exhaust pipes. Had to remove and get it re-welded. Now I go real slow and go over at an angle.

My Freewheeler drags depending how I load it . I need to raise the front of the toyhauler more for better clearance. I loaded yesterday for a trip tomorrow and hit the ramp pretty good and they just scrapped a bit. If id have gone really slow it probably wouldnt have hit. I did do the 1 1/2 lift on mine also. What I forgot about is my drive goes down hill in a hurry and I have the trailer level. Just a bit higher on the front fixes the problem. This run tomorrow is the first actual camping riding trip so I will add more info when I get back next week on how mine works out . I know when I picked it up in February I put a couple blocks under the front jack and raised it up and it went in with no problems . I didnt know it would hit till I got home and unloaded .
Dave

Try going in and out at an angle works for me.

Unhooked and lifted the trailer about 6 to 8 inches at the tongue when we hit camp. No scraping at all. I got on the thing and it naturally just rolled out and down the ramp . Since we have a bumper pull its not real high off the ground like a 5er .

The Freewheler has got to have better clearance than my CSC GL1800. Even with the front jack all the way up on my Wildwood FSX, I still couldn't get the trike over the top of the ramp. It would get hung up about the midway point under the trike. I would either have to find a raised part in the campground I could back up to so the ramp was not fully dropped down or pull out the extra ramps I now carry with and raise up the ramp using 3 jackstands under each of the rubber bumpers at outside top of the ramp. Now with my CFMoto side by side, I can pull it in and out easily without the ramps or even raising the front trailer jack at all.

Our last RV was a 30' Salem TT toy hauler. My trike drug the pipes even with the tongue jack raised. I had to put a couple pieces of 2x6 under the ramp door and make three single wide ramps to go up against it. Basically I had to do the same thing with the RV before that (44' fifth wheel toy hauler), and that ramp door was much longer. But the fifth wheel sat a lot higher also.

OldRider2 said:

Are all trikes so low to the ground that the ends of the exhaust often drag going in and out driveways or going up and down ramps?

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I had to make 3 of these

Well even with out the lift kit the bike never drug going inside but the pipes did hit if the front wasnt lifted. Last evening I loaded up for todays trip home. I raised the front of the trailer about 6 inches and rode it in. Nothing hit anywhere. I didnt want to load with possible dew all over it this am . I left it all the way back against the door once inside and we got 2 folding chairs in front and watchede TV till time to turn in. This morning I rolled it forward and strapped it down and I have been home for about an hour. East drive today ! 3 weeks and were off for Virginia .

N8DC said:

Well even with out the lift kit the bike never drug going inside but the pipes did hit if the front wasnt lifted. Last evening I loaded up for todays trip home. I raised the front of the trailer about 6 inches and rode it in. Nothing hit anywhere. I didnt want to load with possible dew all over it this am . I left it all the way back against the door once inside and we got 2 folding chairs in front and watchede TV till time to turn in. This morning I rolled it forward and strapped it down and I have been home for about an hour. East drive today ! 3 weeks and were off for Virginia .

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22 days and we leave for 5+ months. West from florida ph to west coast; north to wa.; east to sturgis; east to NH; south to tn and home.
YEEHA