pulling a trailer

[5thwheel]

I have been admiring everyones pictures of your trailers and you sure have some beautiful set ups.
I am thinking about getting a trailer to pull behind big red (my Goldwing trike). I just wondered what I should be looking for in a trailer (besides enough room for lawn chairs ).
I am concerned about how difficult it will be to pull as well so I was hoping you could share some thoughts on what it's like to be towing with your trikes.

 

[newtriker]

We have two trailers--a dart cargo one that you don't even know you're pulling. We nearly hit a deer in CO while towing it and though it was loaded down, it stopped on a dime! You have to pay a little more attention when you park in places, but it pulls like a dream.

We recently got a time out popup tent trailer and it pulls heavier. It has brakes, but I haven't hooked them up yet, but think I probably will. We do carry lots of stuff though. I have to change gears more with it than the cargo trailer, but expected that with the extra weight. It's also nice to have it to do camping in, though it's still a new way to travel for us.

I don't think you'd ever be sorry to be pulling a trailer. Sometimes we've pulled the cargo trailer to go to the grocery store or just in the winter when we go ride so we can put our leathers and helmets in it when we stop.

 

[John Luciano]

On our first trailer pulling trip Honey was afraid that the bike was not going to be able to pull it. We were 1/2 way to Maine when all of a sudden she screams in the intercom . I said what ? She said I thought someone was going to hit us . Then she realized it was our trailer. Mine is a simple POD trailer by Forest River . Inexpensive ones are made by Piggy Backer and the price goes up from there . My late friend had a Bushtec they can run $4,000.

 

[Trikerjim]

I pull an Aluma MCT that we bought from Bazooka last year. It pulls like a dream...With 2 up and half the house loaded onboard, my 1800 pulls and stops with NO problems. It's just like anything pulling a load, you may notice that you have to "slip" the clutch a little more when you start off and allow yourself a tad more distance stopping. I drive an 18 wheeler for a living, and this is just the laws of nature...Anytime you add more weight, this is going to apply. Check my profile photos, and you'll see a pic of mine when we were at Bazookas shop picking it up. I had a Bushtec with my GL-1500 bike and it pulled great also. Just depends on your personal choice and what you want to spend....Good luck and ride safe....

 

[Yellow Trike]

I have an Escapade and it pulls like a dream.

Plenty of room for lawn chairs....and just about everything else under the sun.

The trike has more problems in the wind and no matter what speed you are doing the trailer simply follows along!

Fully loaded the trailer does have an effect of the trike's ability to speed up quickly, but that is to be expected.

If money wasn't an issue I would own a Tailwind trailer.

 

[Triker Mike]

We just recently got back from about a 500 mile camping trip with our 96se roadsmith&Kwik Kamp tipping the state scales @ 2360lbs averaging about 30-32mpg And never had aproblem. We went over the north Cascade hiway & dropped a couple of times to fourth gear & it was a great trip

 

[adventurer]

I, like everyone else here, sometimes forget the trailer, a Bushtec, is there. Modern trailers are just about all made well and designed to track well. The things that I personally look out for are, hitch weight, keep it a little heaverier in the front. Trailer being level. I had the hitch modified so that it rides level. I had to have the pin three inches higher for this to happen. Tire pressure, run them at or close to max. rated inflation. And last but not least, don't try to carry everything under the sun. Keep it a light as you comfortably can. After all its nice to have a little room left so you can pick up that unforgettable gift while on the road.

Have fun looking for the trailer of your dreams, you will enjoy it.

 

[5thwheel]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! I was worried that a trailer would be pulling me around alot but it sounds like I would enjoy it.
I can start looking into what kinds are available around her and I've told hubby that I"m asking for a Trailer for my christmas present this year . I mentioned how nice it would be to stop and have a lawn chair to sit on and he's thinking a cooler so maybe Santa will be good to me.
Is your trike/trailer longer than a parking spot? It's so easy to park with two bikes but now we're often out with the trike and the sidecar rig and end up taking two spots usually. Looking for a double long spot for the trailer would get difficult at times.

 

[Ozarkryder]

We often pull a bunkhouse camper trailer, probably about 450 lbs or so with our GL1500. After a bit it is easy to forget its back there, or I should say the adaption period to it being back there is short. More room when passing, accelerates and stops a bit slower, some turns may be wider.

As for parking we pull in to an angle parking spot from one corner and go to the diagonal corner taking up 2 spots. We take 2 spots parallel parking. It's easiest when nobody parks in front of us, but I have no problen with putting the 'Wing in reverse and backing up the trailer. Sure surprises some folks. Parallel parking I just back up as much as I can and pull on out. Best thing is to watch where you park to make for an easy exit.

 

[1550vt]

I have enjoyed all the comments on the trailer pulling and found them most informative. The only other experience I had with a trailer was when this friend of mine kept sliding past me at stop-lights when he had one.....he had not "learned" how to pull his yet. I had fought the wife for years about one...I did not want to fool with it myself. THEN...here comes this friend that had purchased a bike-trailer package....brings the trailer by my house and says...."here, it's yours.....I don't want it". So, now I am stuck with the best possible trailer on the market...A FREE ONE!

It did have some age on it, but after some led lights, a complete wiring upgrade and some wheel-dressing up...she don't look too bad and I still have less than $100 invested. I figure if I don't like it or have some problem out there in the hinterland, I'll just leave it along the roadside or push it off down some embankment. However, after reading all the good stuff posted here....I think I may learn to like it. I KNOW my wife will!

 

[5thwheel]

Santa was really sweet this year and ordered me a trailer. It's going to be ready for us to pick up in May. I am really excited and really hoping that we get a chance for a trip somewhere to try it out.
Thanks for all the input I never would have tried it without having you say that it wasn't a huge hassle to pull.
So 1550vt did you try pulling that trailer yet?

 

[cirbtap]

regardless of what type of trailer you buy, be sure you get a swivel hitch.
I've been pulling with a swivel hitch and it makes it even easier.

Happy trails

 

[Ozarkryder]

regardless of what type of trailer you buy, be sure you get a swivel hitch.
I've been pulling with a swivel hitch and it makes it even easier.

Happy trails

I can see the need for a swivel hitch on a 2-wheeler so the hitch doesn't limit the bike's lean, but I am curious why a trike, that doesn't lean would benifit from a swivel hitch.

 

[katfish16]

We have a Escape trailer and love it.. we call it Cathy's shopping cart..she used to get mad when we rode the trike and I told her she could not buy anything due to no room only worked for a little while, she got the matching trailer for my birthday present:yes:
If U want to go less expensive check out Harbour Freight, they have some nice ones for about 500-800 to tow behind motorcycles...
Good luck

 

[John Luciano]

This the Harbor Freight one Steve is talking about
600 Lb. Capacity 78" Tag-Along Trailer

 

[denviola]

here's another do it yourself, using Harbor Freight trailer and a cargo carrier from K-Mart (Sears). The links at the very bottom take you to the trailer and cargo carrier pages, although the cargo link no longer works. I saw the cargo carrier last week for $179 at K-mart. The trailer was also on sale for $179 a couple weeks ago, and it will be again.
Homemade pull behind motorcycle trailer...

 

[katfish16]

here's another do it yourself, using Harbor Freight trailer and a cargo carrier from K-Mart (Sears). The links at the very bottom take you to the trailer and cargo carrier pages, although the cargo link no longer works. I saw the cargo carrier last week for $179 at K-mart. The trailer was also on sale for $179 a couple weeks ago, and it will be again.
Homemade pull behind motorcycle trailer...

Check the link John posted. U can't beat the price on the Harbor Freight pre built trailer. $399 is a good price.

 

[denviola]

Check the link John posted. U can't beat the price on the Harbor Freight pre built trailer. $399 is a good price.

Don't diasagree that it is a good price. Just posted an alternative, pros are little over 3 cubic ft more cargo space, 400 pounds more carrying capacity. Cons are assembly required and the trailer is larger and heavier. Price is close to same or better if you get trailer on sale at 179.

 

[Saltywheels]

Have been using this $700 PiggyBacker with great success. Almost the same as the Harbor Frt, except NOT restricted to a 55 mph speed limit. Paint it any color you want. I chose a simple stripe on the top ridge.

 

[Saltywheels]

Casboose :: Ole Red & Lil Caboose picture by captgt - Photobucket

Have been using this $700 PiggyBacker with great success. Almost the same as the Harbor Frt, except NOT restricted to a 55 mph speed limit. Paint it any color you want. I chose a simple stripe on the top ridge.

 

[duane43344]

We pulled a homebuilt (harbor frieght w/ Sears cargo box) behind our G/W Trike and it didnt even know it was behind. Pulled like a dream.

 

[nineon3]

I have been riding trikes and pulling trailers with them for about 39 years now( yep started triking back in 1972) and I have never had a problem with pulling or stoping them. Even towed other trikes and Bikes behind my trikes. I have even pulled a trailer in the snow about 350miles, and that made the trike go better that it did with out the trailer in the snow. You should not have any problem and with a trike you do not need a Swivel/hitch. unless you just like spending good money for nothing. The trikes don't lean like the bikes do. I pulled my combicamp over 4,000 miles in one trip and the only problem I had was one ticket for 108 in a 55 zone. Forgot it was back there.

 

[hdrider]

I have been pulling a Buschtec trailer for some time. In fact we have pulled it about 5500 miles this year. Sure is handy.

 

[cirbtap]

The swivel hitch works so well. The plus is that when you enter a drivway to a gas station, slight hill etc.etc.etc. The hitch keeps the trailer level and straight.
Wouldn't be without one.

Happy trails

Pat