Trailering?

[Scout63]

I’m putting off going back to work, so I’ll throw this chestnut on the fire. 

I like trailering my bikes. There I said it. Here’s why:

I get nervous riding freeways to our home in Vermont 5 hours away
I like to have the car if it rains
I like to haul tools and spares and extra helmet and jackets
I can haul two bikes up so I can switch off and in case one breaks.  They are all at least 40 years old.
I like it when people see my cool bikes on the trailer at rest stops and when they pass me
I like having the trailer up there if I break down
I like the process of tying everything down just right.
I can bring the dog on vacation
I like how the diesel (VW V6) just pulls and pulls.
I can eat road food on the trip.
I have a car for going out to dinner with my wife when we are there.

I’m sure there are other reasons, but having ridden a motorcycle cross country and in too much bad weather when I was young, I’ve completely come around about judging trailer queens.

Just sayin... 

[Travlr]

I trailered to Datil this year.  Surprised how relaxed I was when I got there.  There may be a Baxley in my future.

Mike

[fotoguzzi]

I completely agree with you Scout.. a few years ago I would have bashed the idea but it sure has conveniences for an older guy like me.

The 2007 Guzzi National Rally FLOOD. I got away with all my stuff.

[jrt]

You sound defensive.


just kidding- trailering makes sense sometimes.  Other times, it makes sense to 

[AJ Huff]

I bet you end up riding more, at least more enjoyable riding.

-AJ

[twowheeladdict]

I never enjoyed riding on the interstates.  Saw it as a necessary evil sometimes.  After my spine infection I am just happy to be able to ride. 

In 2018 I bought an enclosed trailer to bring bikes on work trips and it is nice having a garage for the bike(s) when I get there and not having to go to the jobsite on the bike in the rain.

Then in 2020 I converted my enclosed trailer into a rustic toy hauler camper and have been setting up base camp and doing day rides in different directions.  Being able to carry multiple bikes expands where and how I ride without having to have a compromise bike. 

I got over allowing what other people think influence my decision making a long time ago. 

Been there, done that, got nothing to prove to no one. 

[inditx]

 

[gsf12man]

We've only done the trailering thing once, some years back to the Wisconsin rally. The trip there was painless and we were fresh for riding the amazing Driftless region roads. The trip back was... a bit fraught, but we made it. I'd do it again.

[Shorty]

I've always hauled bikes around in trucks. My first bikes were enduros, or now called dual sports. Easy to throw in the back of the old 51, and haul down to the dunes, or across the country to find some dirt. The Guzzi crowd has always been about cross country riding, and that was never my forte'. There's always been some good natured ribbing about trailering, and also some downright snobbery  . But time is the great equalizer. I see more and more toy haulers and truck campers, and less fuss made about it. I prefer the 100 miles of twisties over the 1500 miles of flatlandia. It's all good. Like the lady says. "Get out and do the thing."

[Scout63]

A truck is easier when underway and more secure.  As I’ve gotten older I don’t like loading a bike into a truck alone.  If my wife wouldn’t flip out I would love to build a small landscaped loading dock.  Then I could just walk the bike around and right onto the truck.

[twowheeladdict]

I have a camper shell on my truck, so I have the receiver rack for my light bikes.







Being able to bring multiple bikes, and setting up camp at a state park is definitely nice.

[guzziart]

I completely agree with you Scout.. a few years ago I would have bashed the idea but it sure has conveniences for an older guy like me.

The 2007 Guzzi National Rally FLOOD. I got away with all my stuff.

Yeah, Money Creek Campground...I was just happy to get out of there with my life.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I have no problem with traveling 1000 miles across the plains to get to the good riding with a bike in the van.
That said, there is nothing quite like a long motorcycle trip. It's a virtual "cleansing of the attic.." so to speak. There is just *something* about it that I like.

[inditx]

IF you have the room to store it, an enclosed trailer is the bees knees!
They don’t like sitting outside through the 4 seasons, in the midwest anyway.
inditx

[drdwb]

I never enjoyed riding on the interstates.  Saw it as a necessary evil sometimes.  After my spine infection I am just happy to be able to ride. 

In 2018 I bought an enclosed trailer to bring bikes on work trips and it is nice having a garage for the bike(s) when I get there and not having to go to the jobsite on the bike in the rain.

Then in 2020 I converted my enclosed trailer into a rustic toy hauler camper and have been setting up base camp and doing day rides in different directions.  Being able to carry multiple bikes expands where and how I ride without having to have a compromise bike. 

I got over allowing what other people think influence my decision making a long time ago. 

Been there, done that, got nothing to prove to no one.

Twowheel can we see pics of your set up.  Since my intro to the Guzzi life and immersion (pre -pandemic- a couple rallies a year ) I was under the impression Guzzi riders don’t haul their bikes to rallies. This frowned upon behavior was usually reserved for the Harley guys, the black leather tattoo crowd buying the gear/lifestyle.

But lately my wife and I have been considering options for hauling our bikes to more distant locations and rallies that my current semiretired status just doesn’t allow time for. We have wanted to attend rallies in Mich, the MoKan  and others in Oregon and the Southeast US, but living in west central Minnesota the timing and weather are major factors.

So we replaced our Tahoe with a 1/2 ton Silverado and did a test trip with dog but without bikes to Colo,NM,Az the 18 day trip was great , but the temps, distance and one 11” snow on our way back would have made the trip impossible on our bikes.
We don’t want to invest in a land yacht RV, and most of the Toy haulers seem too big and require lots of maintenance so we’re looking for viable options. Looking for suggestions.

[rtbickel]

All of the reasons are good.  I have both ridden and trailered cross country.  When time is limited, like a 1-week vacation, that 800 mile trip from Dallas to Denver, for instance, can be made in one day with a trailer vs. 2 on the bike giving two extra days of riding time.  Plus, you can get secured parking at self-storage lots for the tow rig for the week although you have to pay for the full month, which is still pretty cheap and you don't have to strap a "grapes of wrath" level of gear to the bike.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I don't have a trailer, but if did I would gladly use it. I certainly would go to a lot more rallies. I could probably even bring the wife, but as of now there is no way she would come if it meant hours on the interstate or the chance we might have to ride all the way home in the rain or on interstates for 3,5,8+ hours.

Riding on the interstate is horrible, I don't see how people stand it, much less enjoy it! I will do maybe 1-1.5hrs on the interstate if I absolutely HAVE TO. But it's so miserable, I'm likely to skip any ride or destination that required more than that.

That's the primary reason I only go to the VA and NC rallies...  I could ride the parkway all the way to the VA rally (I usually don't, I take back roads up past Boone before I hop on- but I could), the NC one is more or less in my backyard.

[twowheeladdict]

Twowheel can we see pics of your set up.  Since my intro to the Guzzi life and immersion (pre -pandemic- a couple rallies a year ) I was under the impression Guzzi riders don’t haul their bikes to rallies. This frowned upon behavior was usually reserved for the Harley guys, the black leather tattoo crowd buying the gear/lifestyle.

But lately my wife and I have been considering options for hauling our bikes to more distant locations and rallies that my current semiretired status just doesn’t allow time for. We have wanted to attend rallies in Mich, the MoKan  and others in Oregon and the Southeast US, but living in west central Minnesota the timing and weather are major factors.

So we replaced our Tahoe with a 1/2 ton Silverado and did a test trip with dog but without bikes to Colo,NM,Az the 18 day trip was great , but the temps, distance and one 11” snow on our way back would have made the trip impossible on our bikes.
We don’t want to invest in a land yacht RV, and most of the Toy haulers seem too big and require lots of maintenance so we’re looking for viable options. Looking for suggestions.

There are bikes designed to be ridden long distance, and bikes designed to be enjoyed locally, or hauled to places to enjoy.  That goes for every manufacturer, including Harley. 

I'm not riding a Vrod across country anymore than I am riding a Ninja ZX10R across country, or a V7III Racer across country. 

I have ridden a Ninja 650 with hard bags, and Versys 650 LT, Vulcan Voyager, Harley Road Glide, Kawasaki Concours 1400, and Triumph Trophy SE across country. 

Here is a link to where I posted my build.  https://www.roadglide.org/threads/my-enclosed-cargo-trailer-to-toy-hauler-conversion-progression.379271/  Let me know if you can't view the photos as a guest and I will try and replicate here. 

[nwguy]

I like doing both. Have been trailering from the Seattle area down to OR and CA for multi-day, motel oriented rides for decades. But there's nothing like a multi-thousand mile, camping oriented motorcycle trip (staying off interstates of course).

[tommy2cyl]

I owned a HiPoint 14 trailer for 17 years that I used to race 125 shifter carts and motorcycles out of and camp in at the track.  Wonderful trailers by the way if you can find one.  Rare for a short trailer to have dual axels.  Towed like a dream. I like enclosed trailers for the security and ability to camp in them.   When I got out of racing I used a well built  hitch mount  steel single rack to haul my DR 350 behind my Sport Track.  I only owned this set up for a few years because I didn't like the movement of the bike going down poorly paved roads  (or even well paved roads) nor did I feel comfortable from a security stand point parking and leaving the rig for a period of time.  My current (and final) set up is a RAM ProMaster 159 WB HR.  I like the RAM over the Ford Transit and Mercedes primarily because with it being FWD it has a lower floor so the ramp angle to load the bike is less and I can stand up in it.  I insulated the van, added a few electric outlets for plug in shore power, put in a swivel passenger chair base, plastic 4 drawer cabinet that can be easily removed.  I can unload the motorcycle,  then set up two cots for the night. If it is just me, I don't need to unload the bike.  Still have room for one cot.  This takes care of my priorities which is to securely haul my bike and not worry about it when parked. I can also do a day trip on the bike and the van is locked with nothing setting out.  My wife and I are perfectly fine using campground facilities.  I carry a portable toilet and shower with small privacy tent  but have yet to use it in 3 years.  The other major advantage is it will fit in a normal parking space so you can still explore a town for a restaurant or museum or other attraction rather than pass it by because you are towing a rig and don't want the hassle of trying to park it.  The National Parks are so busy now that parking is at a premium so once again my set up fits in a normal space.   I average 15-17 mpg at 75 mph on the interstate.  There is no perfect set up and everybody's must have requirements are different. I spent years researching the pros and cons of RV's, truck campers, tag alongs, toy haulers.  The ProMaster is glorified camping but my wife and I are perfectly comfortable on cots with good air mattresses and 2 small coolers with a propane camping stove.  Plus, I can still use it as a space to haul cargo, building supplies, etc. so it is a multi use vehicle which again simplifies my life and maximizes the investment.

[Guzzi Gal]

We equipped our Oddessy with a tow set-up for a Grand Canyon moto campout with our kids and some friends. It was nice to haul the bikes, our kids, a friend, and all our gear in comfort. Once we set up camp, it was all about the bikes. I would like to own a trailer, but the little U-Haul with a gate-ramp was perfect and cheap.

[drdwb]

Thanks Twowheel, to get there I had to cut and paste the link you provided into the search box of the site  your link led to, anyway got there. Nice looking, simple, secure and functional. Does the biker bar mount system work well with your Guzzi’s?
We will have to look for longer trailer perhaps tandem axel to haul 2 California’s or the Norge and Breva. But I like your solution.

[twowheeladdict]

Thanks Twowheel, to get there I had to cut and paste the link you provided into the search box of the site  your link led to, anyway got there. Nice looking, simple, secure and functional. Does the biker bar mount system work well with your Guzzi’s?
We will have to look for longer trailer perhaps tandem axel to haul 2 California’s or the Norge and Breva. But I like your solution.

Thanks.  The biker bar is just for the roadglide.  I use Harbor Freight wheel chocks for the smaller bikes.  They attach to captured fasteners so I can remove without crawling under the trailer.

Yes, if I would have bought it to convert, I would have bought a 7x16 tandem axle.  I made do with what I had.

[drdwb]

Looks like you have a great project going. Have you thought about mounting a roll out awning on the side? my folks had one on their motor home that had wall screens and a carpet floor, expanded their living space a lot.

[twowheeladdict]

Looks like you have a great project going. Have you thought about mounting a roll out awning on the side? my folks had one on their motor home that had wall screens and a carpet floor, expanded their living space a lot.

I have the screen room, pop up awning, and various tarps I can deploy as conditions require. 

I don't want to spend more money on this setup because I would like to either build out a larger one, or buy a 1/2 ton truck towable toy hauler when I am ready to retire and hit the road more often. 

This size trailer is perfect for bringing my bikes on work trips so I have my portable garage in a parking spot at the hotels.  Work would let me camp on trips, but most campgrounds in my work locations book up months in advance so hard to get in once I know where and when I am traveling.

[John A]

I have no problem with traveling 1000 miles across the plains to get to the good riding with a bike in the van.
That said, there is nothing quite like a long motorcycle trip. It's a virtual "cleansing of the attic.." so to speak. There is just *something* about it that I like.

Well said, although a long motorcycle trip isn’t quite as long as it used to be. It still works though

[twowheeladdict]

I have no problem with traveling 1000 miles across the plains to get to the good riding with a bike in the van.
That said, there is nothing quite like a long motorcycle trip. It's a virtual "cleansing of the attic.." so to speak. There is just *something* about it that I like.

I agree, as long as that motorcycle trip is on two lane with curves and interesting small towns and mom and pop restaurants. 

My latest trip encompassed sleeping in the back of my truck with the KLX300SM on the rear rack.  I drove to the corner of WV, OH, and KY staying at a state park in WV and doing loop rides around the tri-state area.  Then I moved on to central PA in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon area, camped at a state park and rode all around the area.  Then moved on to New England where I stayed with some relatives as well as camped in NH and rode around the lakes region.  Then stopped in the I-84/I-81 area of PA camping at yet another state park and rode around there.  Then moved on to a State park in MD and explored the countryside in western MD.  Then on to southwest VA staying in a state park up in the mountains and riding around that area before heading home.  3 weeks that I did not want to end. 

[bobrebos]

Two Wheel Addict.  I was looking at your build project on the link you provided.  You really did do a nice job on that trailer!  Good Job.  Stay well. 

[Scott of the Sahara]

When I bought my first Ural, I bought the trailer that came with it. Really convenient to do Ural trips, since the Ural is too slow to travel far on the interstates. I have also hauled the Guzzi and a Harley with said trailer, so we can start our Moto ride without 300 miles of I 90. We did that last June and was able to drive home in 105 degree weather in the comfort of an AC equipped truck.

[pressureangle]

In my mind, it's always been about hypocrisy. The first time I went to Daytona was 1982, I left Michigan February 26th on a Norton Commando. Made it to Macon Georgia before it blew a rod out the back of the case. Finished the trip on the back of my buddy's '75 BMW /6. So a decade later when I go to Daytona and see these guys show up on trailers and parade main street on their unwashed bikes and clothes pretending they made that trip got deep under my skin.

I trailer a lot. Mostly it has to do with time and comfort; there's 600 miles of hot, flat, boring road between home and the Spine Raid so I trailer. If I ever attended the Sturgis rally, I'd probably suffer the ride just to show the pictures to the pretenders I met while there. Otherwise, I'd wash my bike and tell them I trailered. There's no shame in it, there's only shame in being ashamed and pretending you didn't do it.