So i'm beginning to look at trailers, for both utility at home, and to haul the bike places. We've been invited to a cabin at Sturgis this year (the week after DITR) by my in-laws (They all ride HD's, should be fun though)

So after seeing how cheap a hitch can be for our subaru forester (class I or II) ive begun looking into small trailers. Can anyone recommend one? I don't want to spend a lot of money, and i have a feeling renting a uhaul could be a PITA and $$ for a week long time.

Im not sure I can afford an enclosed trailer, though that would be ideal.

(my next question is what about highway travel for almost 8 hours and protecting the duc in an open trailer???
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=colorado+springs+to+sturgis+sd&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl )

we are going to towing it with a 2004 subaru forester xs, its just a 4 banger, but is rated to tow class I or class II with trailer braking, i think im going class one (up to 2000 lbs) just towing the trailer and the 696

thanks for any help you guys might be able to provide, i have considered used, but again, they all seem overpriced for what you get.

just found this guy\


http://www.alumaklm.com/mc10_motorcycle_trailer.html

perfect, but appears to be $2000 on google shopping

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this one is cheap, decent price, but freaks me out

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200466701_200466701?cm_ven=Aggregates&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Trailers%20%2B%20Trailer%20Parts%3ETrailers&cm_ite=14717?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=14717


can it do 70 mph for 8 hours? what about stones?

I suspect that with a little searching, you can get a good used trailer for short money.

What about stones?

Bike is in the center, it shouldn't be a problem.
I towed my racer from LA to Bonneville Salt Flats once a year and LA to El Mirage Dry Lake 6 times a year from '91 to '97.
No stone damage.

Quote from: Speeddog on March 27, 2011, 11:01:27 AM
I suspect that with a little searching, you can get a good used trailer for short money.

What about stones?

Bike is in the center, it shouldn't be a problem.
I towed my racer from LA to Bonneville Salt Flats once a year and LA to El Mirage Dry Lake 6 times a year from '91 to '97.
No stone damage.

yeah kind of what i thought. also worried about wearing out the subaru, but, its only maybe a 400 lbs bike, and small trailer, should be fine, no?

I don't think it'd wear the Forester out at all.

I wouldn't go 70 in one towing my moto on a trailer, but that's just me.

Zoom trailers a Baja and has for quite some time. It's a light is trailer, but he's rolled a couple bikes on it +track stuff in the baja bed many times. And his is a manual

Your Subie won't have any problem pulling a light trailer and your ducati - really won't add much stress to the car.  An enclosed trailer is really nice, but would add weight, cost and drag. 

I ride off road with a guy in Colorado who trailers our dirt bikes when I visit with a Kia Rondo and it has no issues at all.  That's in big mountains with 2x 300lbs dirt bikes on the trailer, plus tools, gear and supplies to last a few days. He uses a simple Harbor Freight fold up trailer.  Its definitely not sophisticated, but as long as you are a bit mechanically minded can be made to work just fine.

I towed a ton with an '89 toyota pickup that probably weighs less and has less power than your subi and had no issues there either.  I definitely didn't keep it under 70 .  I towed either a ~500lbs (empty) jet ski trailer (with anything from a jet ski to a dirt bike to two dirt bikes to a street bike on it) or a 20' enclosed box trailer (packed full with all my worldly belongings at the time).  It did great with the little trailer and was a bit taxed with the big trailer, but still moved it ok.

I have since swapped out for an F250 with 7.3L turbo diesel - overkill, but will pull about anything I might find 

I have had a Harbor Freight foldable trailer for 4 years now and for $220, its the best thing going.  You can find %20 off coupons all the time for HF.  the trailers are going for $300 now so you can get $60 off easily.  It is rated at 1200 lbs and frankly, there is nothing better in terms of value.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1195-lb-capacity-48-inch-x-96-inch-heavy-duty-foldable-utility-trailer-with-12-inch-wheels-90154.html

You have to assemble it, but it's a DOT trailer with a title and vin and the whole 9 yards.  If you think assembling it is scary, let me tell you it's not a big deal, it's just like a big TinkerToy.  Just make sure you have the tools, which means the right sockets and wrenches.  You also have to supply your own 3/4" thick plywood for the deck.

One thing that I did was swap some of the bolts with "eye" bolts for tie downs.  I also relocated the lights so I could drive with the trailer folded, and make sure to use LOCTITE on all the screws.  I have heard of some people having nuts come off, but I've had no issues and I didn't loctite everything.  

The other bit of advice I have is to get the wheels balanced.  They do NOT come balanced and the difference on the highway at 70mph is like night and day.  Also, go ahead and blow the extra $50 for a spare cause if you get a flat, you won't find any service station with a 12x4.8" tires.

I have had the same trailer for >4 years and have put thousands of miles on it carting bikes.  I've managed to get 3 bikes on it at once.  still has the original tires on it and they are great.  i probably should replace them this year, but I'd say I've gotten my money out of it.  I spent another $40 on a low profile LED light kit so that I could remount the tail lights, but you don't need to.  The trailer comes with everything you need.

The main thing is that this trailer folds up and you can stuff it into a corner in your garage.  It's a Class I hitch as well, so you could tow it with a VW bug, one of the OLD ones. LOL.

They also make a heavier trailer that handles over 1700lbs but is not foldable.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1720-lb-capacity-super-duty-48-inch-x-96-inch-utility-trailer-with-12-inch-five-lug-wheels-and-tires-94564.html

the MAIN difference in the design is the axle and wheels -- they are 12x5" and 5 lug wheels instead of 12x4.8" with 4 lug.  However, for 1-2 bikes, it's over kill and you can't fold it.

They also have some half-trailers and I wonder if you could get by with one of those:
http://www.harborfreight.com/870-lb-capacity-40-inch-x-49-inch-heavy-duty-utility-trailer-with-8-inch-wheels-and-tires-42708.html

It's only 40 inches long so you'd have to load the bike >just so< but it could be done.  Plus, it's got 8" tires which will wear faster and I wouldn't highway them at 70 mph for long, but I have seen people with them and doing just fine...You see plenty of those pop-top campers with 8" wheels.

+1 for the harborfreight trailer.

replace the bearing grease with some high performance stuff.

I used one to haul 1 or 2 bikes, w/ a lot of gear on top for over 1,400mi round trips. It was pulled doing the ton more than a handful of times without issues.

I only sold it since I got a truck and lost my storage space.

I'll be purchasing another one soon, since I got rid of my truck.

Q

Q which HF trailer did you have?

Another  for Harbor Freight!  Actually it's  a HF-type but still the same trailer.  Mine is much... much older.  I recently had a spring break but had a new set done up at a local shop for $42.  The breakage was due to the trailer being older and being over loaded with tons of stone on more than one occasion.

Like ducatiz I have made the same "upgrades".

I've got the smaller 4 lug wheels and have had no problems at all.  I also put a waterproof tool box on the tongue.  Super useful for holding the tie downs and small hand tools. Including a lug wrench and grease gun for the bearings.   I have a spare mounted in front of the tool box in addition to a tongue jack.

I added, just like ducatiz, stainless eyelets on all four corners whick greatly aid in securing anything I have on the trailer.

I have a folding ramp(steel, I bought at Lowes for $30) that I use to load the bike.  Using a Condor wheel chock.....loading the bike is super easy.  I can load and tie down in ten minutes all by myself. 

thats awesome guys, i assume you put wood decking down? can you post pictures?

light and solid.  you can score one on ebay for cheap
http://www.fthr.com/motorcycle-trailers-recreational-trailers/model1683-motorcycle-trailer/

also have fun here for ideas or purchases
http://www.sportutilitytrailers.com/

already started for ya http://denver.craigslist.org/for/2290892240.html

Quote from: ducatiz on March 29, 2011, 09:08:41 AM
Q which HF trailer did you have?

I had the 12" 4x8' folding one. with the following mods:
-Lucas high perf bearing grease
-LED lights all around (better resistance to vibrations)
-balanced wheels and tires for high speed



Q

Quote from: DucatiTorrey on March 29, 2011, 07:17:22 PM
thats awesome guys, i assume you put wood decking down? can you post pictures?

Use 3/4 pressure treated

My tongue box and spare


The stainless eye hooks. Use red locktite on these!!!