The bike only weighs 350lbs, but the car will be loaded up as well.

Thoughts? Suggestions that don't involve a moose, renting a truck, or trading my car for something else?

Check trans fluid level.  Maybe add a trans cooler if you're going far and in hot weather.  Unless your car is a manual in which case that doesn't matter.

Figure that car was designed to haul around 4-5 250 pound adults and live.

Just do it!

+1 on transmission fluid and cooler.

You can find el-cheapo coil spring spacers at your local auto parts store to keep it from draggin' it's butt down the highway.

Try to keep the trailer weight balanced just slightly forward of the axle.  Use the minimum safe tongue weight.

Air up those tires!  Standard passenger car tires are really squishy.  I'd be getting within a few #'s of the max sidewall rating if I was loading it up like that.

Check the door sticker... try not to exceed the maximum axle weight ratings.  If you do exceed the weight rating, try to keep the excess as well-distributed as possible.  Perhaps you can strap some of the "stuff" down on the trailer right over the axle.



But really... rent a pickup! 

we towed an 18 foot Hobiecat with a 2-door 4-cylinder Honda Civic all through law school.   

Kev, it already has a trans cooler, and I just had the fluid checked as I was getting the oil changed today.


Duc_fan, I was thinking about putting some of the stuff on the trailer. I just have to find a trailer that is light enough to tow and strong enough to hold what I put on it plus the bike.

A rental truck is out because then I would need to rent a truck and a trailer for the car.

What year?

My '79 Celica towed two bikes with no problems at all (20R engine)

I thick what Kev meant was for you to have the trans fluid replaced (NOT flushed) and new trans fluid filter couldn't hurt either.

I see no reason why it couldn't pull the weight your talking about.

Just remember don't pack the back of your car too heavy, that plus the tongue weight of the trailer may bottom out/damage your rear shocks and struts.

Safe travels.   

Apparently I have a 2000lb towing ability. I should come in well under that.


I guess I should replace the trans fluid. Good looking out.

where you headed travis?

Quote from: TiNi on August 23, 2013, 05:32:19 PM
where you headed travis?

Yeah, inquiring minds want to know!

Keep as much weight forward on the trailer as you can it will be fine.


Razzo (here on the forum) towed a 24' car hauler with a VW Golf around LA for a day, and same car towed a small 6' trailer cross country.

I used my company car (Ford Taurus) to tow a trailer with two quads from LA out to Glamis, no issues.

Go for it.

Looking for a trailer now


Btw, any suggestions on where to look? I'm finding a lot of fairly flimsy looking motorcycle trailers. I'm thinking a regular utility trailer with a ramp should be fine. No more than 6'.

Pick a trailer from here:
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?limit=60&q=trailor
Buy some wood, a chock, repack the wheel bearings and check the lug nuts you will be good to go.

Your bigger problem might be finding a hitch.
http://www.draw-tite.com/content/default.aspx
http://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Trailer-Hitches/

Quote from: howie on August 23, 2013, 07:25:13 PM
Pick a trailer from here:
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?limit=60&q=trailor
Buy some wood, a chock, repack the wheel bearings and check the lug nuts you will be good to go.

I have the HF folding trailer with 12" tires and it's lasted about 6 years so far with no problems. 

Put a hub cover with a grease nipple on it, Howie is right.

Also-- get the tires balanced.  They are marked "max 55 mph" but if you get them balanced you can go 80 with no problems.  before i got mine balanced, i could feel it shudder at 50.

They have two now, one with 8" tires.  It looks the same with smaller tires but it's the same price with 200lbs less capacity.

You can get a bike on their mini trailers too (40x49")  They sell a motorcycle rail adapter for them, look in the product manual.

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/42000-42999/42708.pdf

Quote from: Statler on August 23, 2013, 11:33:39 AM
we towed an 18 foot Hobiecat with a 2-door 4-cylinder Honda Civic all through law school.   

Holy shit, he lives.