My Hauling Trailer Experience

[mgwtrike]

My Trailer Hauling Shopping Experience

Today I went shopping for a trailer to haul my Goldwing Roadsmith down south next winter.

Every one I talk to said don't get nothing but 8'X12', some said 7'x16, and even bigger.
Some said go to a double axel, some say a single axel would work fine.
Some said you need electric brakes, some say you don't.

Will today I actually took my trike along to a trailer sales yard, and drove it up into a nice 6'x10'
size v-nose trailer drop back trailer.

By going to a v-nose 10' trailer instead of 12', I can get the front tire right up front to the v-nose interior
with 6 1/2" to spare in the back.
But the 6' wide was a little tight for me on the sides, I can't walk around inside, it would work, but tight.
They can order me a 7'x10' single axel that I thought was near perfect.

Now I have the decision of adding electric brakes or not. :Shrug:

I'm really not going to use the trailer except to haul my trike 2-3 times a year, so I not interested
in buying one to big.

Please, feel free to add anything that will help me decide, I'm still in the deciding stage.

Cheers!

 

[oahe]

One nice thing about the 7X16 is that you would have room to put the wife in there too if she got a little mouthy. :Joker3:

 

[mgwtrike]

I know many bikers that do just that but their bikes are parked outside covered up.

I seen one trailer were a guy mounted ply wood panels on piano hinges that pull out
from the trailer sides secured by chains for a couple sleeping bags.
Some of those custom made trailers are really useful miles from home.

I hate handy people............

 

[Sully]

I think it would depend on what you will be using as a tow vehicle if you would need trailer brakes :Shrug:

 

[flyswatter]

Trailer for trike.

I have a Pace American 6 x 12 single axle that has hauled a Roadsmith and a Hannigan trike (Not at the same time). You need to check of the tongue weight with the trike all the way to the front (I think it would be too heavy). I loaded mine as far back as possible and tongue weight was marginally to the heavy side. If your tow vehicle is a heavier truck or SUV brakes might be an option; however keep in mind an emergency stop where you really have to stand on the brakes (this happened to me) You will thank yourself for getting said brakes on the trailer. Mine does not have brakes and if I ever get a different one it will have brakes. Height in the interior is another consideration. I bot one that has 6 ft inside clearance makes it nice when walking inside the trailer; however the extra height hurts gas mileage. Another thing to consider is if you buy one too small you can't stretch it, but one a little too big always seems to be utilized in some way or another.

 

[kb9osl]

open trailer

Well I like you , are going to tow my Roadsmith to Florida next winter. So after reading my owners manual on our 2012 Chrysler 200 convertible, we will have to use a open trailer. So I like you drove to a few trailer places and got to looking and asking questions with some sale "pros". Was told a lot of different stuff(bs more or less at some places ). Anyway I have decided to go with an all Aluminum single axle 7 x 14. The reason for the 14 is I may load a regular 2 wheel bike and this size should work, although I'll get both bike on it before I buy it to make sure it will be doable . As far as the electric brakes , at this time I'm not sure about them,I can install them later if I decide otherwise. Hope you find a winning combo for your needs.

 

[cavie]

I have 6 x 12 V nose single axcel ramp rear door. I tow with Dodge Dakota pick up. No brakes. I drive the 1300 VTX Champion into a wheel chock in the nose. 10% tong weight on the hitch. Everything works just fine. I use it for a garage while parked at home. For storage I stop about 2' short of the wheel chock so I can walk around the front and go out the side door.I have 3" clearance on the sides driving in and out. No problems.

 

[mgwtrike]

I have a Pace American 6 x 12 single axle that has hauled a Roadsmith and a Hannigan trike (Not at the same time). You need to check of the tongue weight with the trike all the way to the front (I think it would be too heavy). I loaded mine as far back as possible and tongue weight was marginally to the heavy side. If your tow vehicle is a heavier truck or SUV brakes might be an option; however keep in mind an emergency stop where you really have to stand on the brakes (this happened to me) You will thank yourself for getting said brakes on the trailer. Mine does not have brakes and if I ever get a different one it will have brakes. Height in the interior is another consideration.

Thanks for mentioning tongue weight.
I'll be towing with a '15 Toyota Highlander, it's tow rating is 5000# and a tongue weight rated @ 10% (500#).

Your right though, going with a 12' trailer I would have the option to move the trike back to reduce tongue weight.

 

[cavie]

Thanks for mentioning tongue weight.
I'll be towing with a '15 Toyota Highlander, it's tow rating is 5000# and a tongue weight rated @ 10% (500#).

Your right though, going with a 12' trailer I would have the option to move the trike back to reduce tongue weight.

The tongue weight is Minimum 10% of the GVW of the trailer and load. Not the towing rating. This keeps the trailer from swaying. Too much weight behind the wheels and the trailer will sway.

 

[poppajim]

I bought a 7 x 12 Wells Cargo Fastrac V-Nose , plenty of room length and width. I did get a single axle with brakes. I got the leaf spring suspension instead of the torsion bar and it pulls nicely. I have a V-6 Chevy truck and its a little heavy for it though. Something to think about. Hope this helps. I also have the Road Smith trike which is a long trike.

 

[dirtdobber]

Everyone here has a trailer. I go by how I think it should be that will work ang get one one size larger. If you look around and check the inside width you can find a 6 1/2 foot. A 6 foot wide is minimum for a trike. You get a 6 foot make sure you tie the rear down really good.
get the brake with the emergency It mill come in handy. I like a 7 foot myself. I got a 6 x12 open and a 7x14 enclosed.

 

[Baldy_54]

One nice thing about the 7X16 is that you would have room to put the wife in there too if she got a little mouthy. :Joker3:

Is that a South Dakota Thing? :Joker3:

 

[Trikindan]

Is that a South Dakota Thing? :Joker3:

Haa....I'd pay admission to see that!!! :laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

[FRR]

Electric brakes are only another $50.00 on a new trailer so go ahead and get them. I good controller can be purchased for about $144.00 They are worth the money, that is for sure.

 

[Calgary]

IMHO for safety sake go with tandem axles and electric brakes.

 

[msocko3]

IMHO for safety sake go with tandem axles and electric brakes.

:Agree:I prefer a tandem axle, it comes in handy if you have a flat and you already installed the spare. You can pull the flat tire off and pull the trailer to a tire repair shop vs abandoning it along side the road. When my brother was drag racing we put some serious miles on chasing the IHRA national events. We had an instance where a tire went down and we installed the spare, and a couple hundred miles later, another tire went down. With a tandem you can pull the flat and limp to a repair shop with the trailer in tow, with a single axle, your going to leave it along side the road.

I also think a tandem pulls better than a single axle, they are more forgiving if you don't get them loaded properly. A single axle not loaded properly can start swaying pretty easy.

 

[sparky1597]

Have a 13 TriGlide. Went with a 7x16, w/ V-nose for almost 18' inside. Haul trike and Bushtec trailer w/room to spare. Store trike in it in winter. Able to haul friends toys. Going on vacation next month, without the Missus, but, bringing trike, close to where we grew up, have to bring MILs' furniture back. Waiting to use it when son gets married next year, to get his "stuff" outa here!!epperw/trailer, 1 trip. just truck multiple trips, 1 and done I say!) Like another poster put, figure your minimum requirement, go a step bigger if you could. Usually only about $100-$200 more.

 

[mgwtrike]

Waiting to use it when son gets married next year, to get his "stuff" outa here!!epperw/trailer, 1 trip. just truck multiple trips, 1 and done I say!)

Yup I hear ya on the son's "stuff".
Someone said the kids are never totally gone until the attic and/or garage is cleaned out..........LOL..........ThumbUp
then it's replace with the grandkids "stuff".

What's a man to do????

 

[sparky1597]

Yup I hear ya on the son's "stuff". Someone said the kids are never totally gone until the attic and/or garage is cleaned out..........LOL..........ThumbUp then it's replace with the grandkids "stuff". What's a man to do????

No grandkids stuff! He gets the same treatment my parents gave me. I was the last one, joined the Navy. Parents said, "He's the Navy's problem now." Sold the house, bought a motorhome, couldn't contact them for a year, because they kept moving around! All my sister told me was that they were somewhere in Florida!! And that is the God's honest truth!!

 

[mgwtrike]

A couple tips on the Florida keys.

Bring lots of money and patience.
Don't travel down on Fridays or back up on Sunday, traffic is nuts from the party goers on the weekend.
Make overnight reservations at a motel in advance.
Get to like roosters wake-up call @ 4:00 a.m.
Most of all, watch your speed on the way down, locals cops love speeding tourist.

 

[mgwtrike]

Is that a South Dakota Thing? :Joker3:

Haa....I'd pay admission to see that!!! :laugh::laugh::laugh:

And I'd bet she'd exit right though the walls without using the door.............:clapping:

 

[schiel1]

You may want to look into "surge Brakes" The braking is done in the tongue and no wiring, all you do is hook it to the ball and go.

- - - Updated - - -

You may want to look into "surge Brakes" The braking is done in the tongue and no wiring, all you do is hook it to the ball and go.
www.amazon.com/Atwood-82543-Painted-Surge-Actuator/dp/B00BJ2EG2G

 

[Lawingnutz]

Be sure to give everything a good washing when you leave....salt is hard on everything.....

 

[Razor]

I had a boat trailer with surge brakes "once". You have to put a pin in it when backing up or the brakes will engage. If you forget to pull the pin when pulling forward you will have no brakes. The surge brakes can also engage to hard and tend to lock up the trailer tires. A good brake controller with electric brakes makes for a smoother safer controlled stop. A blow out with a single axle trailer while traveling at highway speed in a curve can make life interesting. I do not plan on ever owning another single axle trailer. Duel axle trailers are also easier to back up. I've been told if you have a ten dollar head buy a ten dollar helmet. Same goes with trailers. When something goes wrong it tends to take the tow vehicle with it. We had a young family lose their father earlier this year on straight stretch of I85 in a single car accident pulling a trailer. Safety First. All else second.

 

[irmagoo]

i think brakes are a must-pulled a trailer once that a barrowed it was winter and had to stop quickly trailer pushed me around and tore up quarter panel of my truck...ya i buy brakes on mine cuz $**T happens!!
magoo

 

[Doc*]

I had a boat trailer with surge brakes "once". You have to put a pin in it when backing up or the brakes will engage. If you forget to pull the pin when pulling forward you will have no brakes. The surge brakes can also engage to hard and tend to lock up the trailer tires. A good brake controller with electric brakes makes for a smoother safer controlled stop. A blow out with a single axle trailer while traveling at highway speed in a curve can make life interesting. I do not plan on ever owning another single axle trailer. Duel axle trailers are also easier to back up. I've been told if you have a ten dollar head buy a ten dollar helmet. Same goes with trailers. When something goes wrong it tends to take the tow vehicle with it. We had a young family lose their father earlier this year on straight stretch of I85 in a single car accident pulling a trailer. Safety First. All else second.

My experience with surge and/or hydraulic trailer brakes differs from yours. I have a 10,000 lb. shore-lander boat trailer with surge brakes and it stops smoothly and you can back it up with no problem on a reasonably level surface. Trying to back up a steep hill is another situation. I also have a U-Haul tandem converted car-hauler with hydraulic brakes that I use for my trike and John Deere 4520 tractor. It is even smoother than the boat trailer and I have never experienced wheel lock-up even with extremely hard and fast stops (love it). It is a heavy duty open trailer and is probably heavier than most of you would want or be able to pull. I pull it with a Dodge Ram 2500 Turbo Diesel. You can see pics of it in my album on GL1800 Riders Forum under the Trike Section by clicking on Doc1 and it will take you to my profile where you can see my album. I much prefer the hydraulic brakes on the car-hauler as compared to any electric brakes that I have experienced (JMHO). Hope this helps. Ride Safe. Doc ThumbUp