Trike Ground Clearance

[OldRider2]

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?

 

[ISP-FL]

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.

 

[trikechuck]

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.

 

[Woody]

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

 

[geol]

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.

 

[N8DC]

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

 

[radismukes]

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

 

[N8DC]

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 .

 

[pwhoever]

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.

 

[ISP-FL]

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.

 

[JUSTME1951]

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?

I had to make 3 of these

 

[N8DC]

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 .

 

[JUSTME1951]

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 .

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