Trailering a motorcycle —*more or less wrong ways to do it.

[slam]

Hey folks, I need to haul a 425 lb KLR650 motorcycle from Hoboken NJ to Oakland CA. I'm on a budget so I'd like to do this as cheap as possible (under $200 is great, maybe $500 max).

I have a 1996 B4V TDI Passat Wagon and I already have a Class II 1-1/4" receiver hitch and wiring ready.

Option 1: buy a light duty trailer, trailer the bike, sell trailer at the other end. Harbor Freight has a couple of options between $250-$300.

• Pros: it's the right way to do it.
• Cons: trailer adds extra haul weight, driving 55 MPH across the entire USA (trailering speed limit), adds drive time and hotel expenses.

Option 2: Use a motorcycle caddy to tow bike, sell caddy in Oakland. http://goo.gl/GWnf3k

• Pros: less total weight to haul, better handling.
• Cons: 3,000 miles on my brand new rear tire, still technically limited to 55 MPH, adds drive time and hotel expenses.

Option 3: Use a motorcycle carrier to haul bike as cargo, sell carrier in Oakland. http://goo.gl/BBEPmj

• Pros: no more 55 MPH speed limit! And less chance of theft, I think.
• Cons: puts about 450-500 lbs over the rear bumper. Exceeds Class II weight limits! May have terrible handling?

Here's the idiotic part. I really want to do option 3 but the Class II hitch is rated for 300-350 lbs. That gives me a couple of thoughts about jury-rigging a solution:

• I could buy a 1.25" receiver carrier and supplement it with cargo straps to the roof rack. If I transfer 100-200 lbs to the rack I ought to be golden. Note: the only 1.25" carrier I found is expensive and only rates for 250 lbs.
• I could buy a 2" receiver carrier and a 1.25" to 2" receiver adapter. Still exceeds the Class II weight limit and I'd still need to transfer load to the roof rack.
• I could bolt or weld a $30 Class III receiver to the steel bumper, and either cut an access hole in the plastics (plastics are already damaged) or drive with the rear bumper plastics off.

This still leaves me with unresolved questions about handling and safety.

EDIT: I just found out the 55 MPH speed limit for trailers is not that common. Only 2-3 states I will cross have that limit.

Am I a total idiot? Any thoughts?

 

[AndyBees]

This may not be exactly what you are looking for, but I thought I'd share it...

84 VW Vanagon with 2002 ALH TDI engine ......... pulled a 1200 lb PopUp camper on a 11k mile road trip last summer (Alaska) with no handling or power issues.

Below is a pic of my cruising speed (Yep, that's the Jetta Cluster in the Vanagon). Obviously, I never worried about 55 mph towing. Oh, and the speedometer is correct (2 mph fast) per GPS. There was 17 miles difference between the odometer and GPS over 10,881 miles.

 

[Wankel7]

Option 3 is scary. I wonder how much the KLR puts on the hitch when you hit a dip?

I have a motorcycle trailer that folds up and goes vertical when I am not using it. It has four castering wheels on it to move it around. If you own a motorcycle I think you should have a motorcycle trailer.

http://theusatrailerstore.com/ace-s...Vu1lFt1KM_FYVemMoOY0Tl-GVlyetAO2TUaAhkY8P8HAQ

If you bought this new and then sold it in CA you might lose $100 or $200. Considering the cost of renting a Uhaul, buying the insurance, and not having extra weight makes doing this seem like a good idea.

There are also a lot of trailers for sale in NJ.

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=motorcycle+trailer

Avoid the trailers that have the mesh lift gate...the wind drag on those are off the charts.

I think it was advrider...but I saw somebody had actually taken off the fork and wheels and just put the bike in the back of a wagon.

 

[scooperhsd]

What about renting the right trailer from Uhaul ? They do have motorcycle trailers (and trailers that could do the job if they don't have the motorcycle trailer).

If you have a tractor Supply Company store close, they have trailers that can be used. With 12 inch wheels - I wouldn't have any concerns running 70 MPH, even carrying MY bike (a '98 Honda Valkyrie - 700-800 pounds - and yes - my TDI's get better fuel MPG than my bike )

I would not even consider option 3.

Option 2 looks reasonable, but I would get a "road tire" for the KLR back and remove the drive chain for the trip. Get good tiedowns for either option 1 or 2.

 

[slam]

AndyBees, thanks. I'm not worried about the pulling power but I'm a little concerned about handling on mountain highways. 1000 lbs of bike and trailer on the tail might get wiggly and I'm guessing the Passat weighs a bit less than the Vanagon.

Wankel, interesting idea about pulling the forks off! The KLR is a tall bike though so it's a long shot. But I'll go measure the rear gate and the bike and see if it would fit with both wheels removed.

I have a great motorcycle trailer like yours with the casters. But it's in California for all the good that does me. A cheap one from CL or Harbor Freight is exactly what I was looking at.

I also briefly considering putting some heavy duty cross bars on the roof rack and using a grocery store loading ramp to put the motorcycle on the roof... but that seemed even more dangerous than the tail carrier. =)

 

[slam]

Scooper, trailer rental from Uhaul was about $600 bucks. Cheaper to buy a trailer in NJ and sell it in CA for maybe a $100 loss.

I considered shipping the bike too, but $900-$1000 is also out of my budget.

I also considered selling the Passat and buying a pickup or cargo van... but the available cargo vans on CL look like hell, not sure I'd trust them.

 

[AndyBees]

IIRC, the Vanagon weighed-in at 3640 with a little over half tank of fuel and me in it! And, ironically, the Vanagon's wheel base (center to center front axle to rear) is a fraction of an inch the same as the old VW Beetle! (short)

No wiggle issues!

 

[GreenLantern_TDI]

Go option 1. Harbor frieght trailer customized to your needs. Forget the speed limit of "trailer" and drive the road speed limit. Once you get ther un customize and sell trailer. Easy peasy.

 

[Scoutx]

Option 1, cheapest, easiest option, and personally I would tend to keep the trailer because it's nice to have to haul those things that won't fit inside. Oh and as long as you have your weight distribution right, you shouldn't have any issues towing at any speed that won't get you immediately pulled over for speeding. You want about 100-150 pounds on the ball. If necessary add some dead weight in the front of the trailer after loading, but that shouldn't be necessary.

 

[Windex]

I trailered my 04 klr with my b4v use no nothing more complicated than my class II hitch and my crappy old utility trailer. As long as the trailer has a decent track width, and the bike is strapped down properly (also assuming your suspension is good), then you will have no issues.

 

[Wankel7]

 

[atoughram]

 

[Conrad -JSW]

Hey folks, I need to haul a 425 lb KLR650 motorcycle from Hoboken NJ to Oakland CA. I'm on a budget so I'd like to do this as cheap as possible (under $200 is great, maybe $500 max).

I have a 1996 B4V TDI Passat Wagon and I already have a Class II 1-1/4" receiver hitch and wiring ready.

Option 1: buy a light duty trailer, trailer the bike, sell trailer at the other end. Harbor Freight has a couple of options between $250-$300.

• Pros: it's the right way to do it.
• Cons: trailer adds extra haul weight, driving 55 MPH across the entire USA (trailering speed limit), adds drive time and hotel expenses.

Option 2: Use a motorcycle caddy to tow bike, sell caddy in Oakland. http://goo.gl/GWnf3k

• Pros: less total weight to haul, better handling.
• Cons: 3,000 miles on my brand new rear tire, still technically limited to 55 MPH, adds drive time and hotel expenses.

Option 3: Use a motorcycle carrier to haul bike as cargo, sell carrier in Oakland. http://goo.gl/BBEPmj

• Pros: no more 55 MPH speed limit! And less chance of theft, I think.
• Cons: puts about 450-500 lbs over the rear bumper. Exceeds Class II weight limits! May have terrible handling?

Here's the idiotic part. I really want to do option 3 but the Class II hitch is rated for 300-350 lbs. That gives me a couple of thoughts about jury-rigging a solution:

• I could buy a 1.25" receiver carrier and supplement it with cargo straps to the roof rack. If I transfer 100-200 lbs to the rack I ought to be golden. Note: the only 1.25" carrier I found is expensive and only rates for 250 lbs.
• I could buy a 2" receiver carrier and a 1.25" to 2" receiver adapter. Still exceeds the Class II weight limit and I'd still need to transfer load to the roof rack.
• I could bolt or weld a $30 Class III receiver to the steel bumper, and either cut an access hole in the plastics (plastics are already damaged) or drive with the rear bumper plastics off.

This still leaves me with unresolved questions about handling and safety.

EDIT: I just found out the 55 MPH speed limit for trailers is not that common. Only 2-3 states I will cross have that limit.

Am I a total idiot? Any thoughts?

I think that your best option is to buy my motorcycle trailer.

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=20015.0

Make me an offer.

 

[rwolff]

Forget option #3. The hitch isn't designed to handle that much weight. Not only do you risk breaking something, but think of the leverage - putting that much weight aft of the rear axle will try to lift the front axle off the ground. Hit a bump and you won't have steering for a fraction of a second, enough time to get you into a crash.

 

[naturist]

Forget option #3. The hitch isn't designed to handle that much weight. Not only do you risk breaking something, but think of the leverage - putting that much weight aft of the rear axle will try to lift the front axle off the ground. Hit a bump and you won't have steering for a fraction of a second, enough time to get you into a crash.

This. Handling will get very squirrelly, and if you make it to California, you will find your receiver bent and needing replacement.

Buy the trailer, #1.

 

[jasonTDI]

Go option 1. Harbor frieght trailer customized to your needs. Forget the speed limit of "trailer" and drive the road speed limit. Once you get ther un customize and sell trailer. Easy peasy.

THIS....^^^^

Don't even think about a bumper carrier option. Ignore that 55 mph BS. You'll never get hassled for it. Make sure the bearings are well packed with quality grease. Check them for excessive heat every time you stop.

 

[gearheadgrrrl]

Put the bike IN the car!

Did it with a BMW R65LS from Minnesota to Florida in a '13 Jetta Sportwagon. Drained all the fluids, took the wheels off, and slid the bike in on it's side on a piece of plywood with tarp underneath, then packed all my other stuff around the bike.

 

[belome]

My HF trailer was way cheaper. Might want to buy a couple of extra wheel bearings when you buy it. They are a metric size and not easy to find if you do have a failure on the road. They were only like 10 bucks the last I checked.

Also, my trailer was very light. It wasn't even like my car even noticed it with my bike on it.

[of course, my bike is a plated WR450... not a PIG!]

 

[atoughram]

http://theusatrailerstore.com/ace-s...hQNXSFbLONgRcK7nVWV4V7_ET6ZSjklrn0RoCh_7w_wcB

300 pounds empty - still less than 1000 pounds with a KLR on it. I have a friend that pulled his KLR behind a Corolla from Washington to Southern California with a trailer like this. Folds up nicely when your all done with it.

 

[Windex]

A KLR in its natural habitat - laying down in the mud.

Mine has been horizontal in the mud more than once.

 

[belome]

I was riding with a little guy that thought his KLR could go through anything. It was amusing at first watching him, but he got pinned under it so many times that we all got muddy trying to help him pick it up. It got old fast.

Back then I had a DRZ400, it was a pig too, but not as bad... and at least I didn't need help picking it up.

 

[Turbodude1]

This may be a dumb question, but are you only transporting the bike 1 way? Have you looked into having the bike shipped? www.motorcycleshippers.com shipped one for me and it saved a lot of hastles.

 

[belome]

... or sell the KLR and get one out there.

 

[NarfBLAST]

Don't even think about a bumper carrier option. Ignore that 55 mph BS. You'll never get hassled for it. Make sure the bearings are well packed with quality grease. Check them for excessive heat every time you stop.

My sentiments exactly. I would add that aerodynamics are much more important than weight to fuel economy while trailering on the highway - so just make sure you don't get a trailer with a long and wide ramp gate that folds up into the wind.

Have you seen the "Show What you Tow" thread: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=255330

 

[NarfBLAST]

http://theusatrailerstore.com/ace-s...hQNXSFbLONgRcK7nVWV4V7_ET6ZSjklrn0RoCh_7w_wcB

300 pounds empty - still less than 1000 pounds with a KLR on it. I have a friend that pulled his KLR behind a Corolla from Washington to Southern California with a trailer like this. Folds up nicely when your all done with it.

That folding single bike trailer looks awesome! I love how they even integrated castors so that you can roll it away like a tool box when folded!

 

[Windex]

I was riding with a little guy that thought his KLR could go through anything. It was amusing at first watching him, but he got pinned under it so many times that we all got muddy trying to help him pick it up. It got old fast.

Back then I had a DRZ400, it was a pig too, but not as bad... and at least I didn't need help picking it up.

Yes, especially when they are full of fuel - way top heavy. More of a trail bike than a mud bogger. KLRs are too heavy to be put through the same paces as a Moto-X bike.

Not that haven't tried from time to time...

 

[AndyBees]

Before we hit the road with the PopUp camper, I removed the wheel bearings, cleaned and greased them.

On the first day out, at a rest stop I noticed the right bearing hub cap had popped off .......... dang, grease had slung out all round the inside circumference of the wheel...... real mess! I drove on looking for a place to purchase a new bearing hub cover. Fortunately, there was an RV dealer at the first exit I hit.

Without adding back any grease, I just tapped on the new cover and completed the rest of the 33 day road trip with no problems.

So, if you grease the wheel bearings make sure that you 'burp' the caps of air so they don't pop off! Apparently, I did not do a good job at that!

 

[Lug_Nut]

I discovered that the Horror Fright trailer on which my second hand pop-up was built had a damaged inner lip seal tension spring that created gaps. The bearing pitted over the months since last used and was not suited for anything but scrap. A replacement was located in stock at a local AutoZone.
They (bought a spare bearing as well) were was a bit more than $10 each, but I had them home and the one installed within an hour.

 

[casioqv]

You can probably find a higher quality than HF trailer for under $100 on craigslist, that will also take more standard wheel bearing parts and resell easier. Any small boat trailer or flat utility trailer will work, if you add some wood to spread the weight out.

If you have to put the thing on the car, I would get four strong roof rack cross bars and put it on the roof right in the center of the car. Hanging off the rear is extremely dangerous as it will make the car unstable, and possibly twist and break off the car in a turn.

Another option is to carefully disassemble the motorcycle, and stack the parts inside the car. I don't think any individual parts on the KLR are too large to fit. The frame and engine are quite small once you remove the wheels, front fork, and seat.

 

[Tussey]

Option 1.

You can get a $250 4' x 8' folding trailer from Harbor freight on sale.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1195-l...tility-trailer-with-12-inch-wheels-90154.html
Easy to put together. Plywood surface. It can fold up and be stored away. It has good resell value. I re-sold my after 5 years of use and broke even.

I used it for years to tow my 450lb motorcycle. Get 4 ratchet straps and strap the frame down.

For your car, get a http://www.hiddenhitch.com/