Thread: Good V6 towing trailer for me? (to v-nose or not to v-nose)

Gotcha. Ours also have to have current OHV stickers but there is definitely no funky 'tiered' system like that.

maxib and I think very similarly, now I know

lawnmowers in the winter and snowblower in the summer is about as far as my "storage" plan goes. I promise not to make it another junk room...everything in there must be on wheels.

What are you towing with maxib?

I really appreciate the 7' width when I have the second bike and even when not as I have slowly been adding stuff I take. However the rule of thumb someone told me a while ago was 1' of width is 2' of length in towing. So you might not want a 7' with a V6 and if you are going with a single bike you might try to find someone that has a 5' to see how that goes.

Originally Posted by slickwill

Huh?

We only get to ride our evil dirt bikes when master decrees.

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1234/f...%20Seasons.pdf

What? You thought they'd stop at our guns?

Good thread, I am learning something here gents

So you guys are telling me I need a 5.7 Tundra at least...if I want to tow something larger than 6' pretty much? No I won't start a truck thread, I swear . I actually really want to keep the Ridgeline/Pilot and my next truck will be the new Ridge whenever it comes out, so it's important whatever I get is good for "long term" usage behind a V6.

I think I'll go layout some tape on the floor of the garage and see what I can fit in it....tomorrow or something.

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

SSG, sit in front of a mirror and have the conversation with yourself. You don't need an enclosed. Save the coin and get some Ohlins bling for your bike instead, or attend a Schwantz school.

If someone wants your stuff bad enough they'll take it no matter what, you know this.

I have used a 3 bike open trailer for long trips and I just lock it up at night with an extra long cable lock. I think its easier to steal bikes from an enclosed trailer. Enclosed trailers are nice (for many reasons) but some take just as long to load and are a drain on the mpgs. If you are only doing a limited amount of trackdays I'd say spend about $500-$800 on a nice aluminum open trailer.

My Odyssey has towed 3 bikes to VIR and Grattan. If not for the mountains and my lead foot, I could easily get 20+ mpg.

If you end up with an enclosed trailer make sure it has brakes and get a tranny cooler for the Pilot.

My small enclosed 5X8 was awesome! Real easy to tow around, almost no fuel consumption increase while towing it. If you organize your stuff well the amount of crap you can put in there is amazing. Everything is protected from the rain but mostly from everybody's eyes.

I'd never be confortable with an open trailer.

Thanks for the continued input...thinking used might be the best way to go unless I find a smoking deal.

Eyes and weather are my two largest concerns oh and I would like to fit a riding mower in it...so 6xsomething is probably manditory...

Originally Posted by maxib

if Joey was parked next to me with my enclosed trailer compared with his open trailer at halfway to (insert track name) at the Something Inn, which do you think would be first target for theft?

A used enclosed trailer would be my best rec.

Originally Posted by Jetbdude

Everything is protected from the rain but mostly from everybody's eyes.

I'd never be confortable with an open trailer.

While I agree with the whole "out of sight, out of mind" concept. If the thief knows there's a bike in the trailer,* I think it would be easier to steal it from the trailer (they could be inside the trailer undoing the straps w/o anyone seeing anything). I believe 2 ducatis were stolen from the garage at NJMP last month. Again, if they want it, they'll take it.

*I personally have never stayed at a hotel for a trackday w/o at least 1 or 2 other trailers with bikes. Add a MCADX sticker or trackday org sticker and it doesnt take a genius to figure out whats inside.


That said, if I go back to doing more than 8 trackdays a year, I will probably invest in an enclosed trailer. Until then, my open trailer works just fine. Everything I need to keep dry stays in my Odyssey.

Originally Posted by G-ForceJunkie

Yes, nothing else will do

Uh-huh

Might I suggest the "Blue Streak" color, sir....

Originally Posted by DrHall

Uh-huh

Might I suggest the "Blue Streak" color, sir....

*Don't forget to mention that research suggests five out of nine MCADX members prefer this mode of transportation when in search of Mexican food....

Originally Posted by Baketech

*Don't forget to mention that research suggests five out of nine MCADX members prefer this mode of transportation when in search of Mexican food....

ROTF! Touche!

And don't forget DQ!

I wonder what the floor size of CBRVFR's van is. He has fit 2 full size VFR's in the back with total loading time of both in the 15 minute range. Snug, but it works, seats 5 with the bikes in place, and rides like there is no trailer behind you.

Regarding size for the mower, you only need enough room to clear the deck or the widest part, so unless you have one of the big ZTR's the 5' would work. My mower is 5'-1" and won't fit on my 5x8 open trailer, so the enclosed I'd like will need to be wider than that.

Thanks for the thread, it is giving me a lot to consider.

Speaking of which, looking at Northern's trailer, it looks like a long distance between the axle and hitch. I would think it would be easy to get too much tongue weight, especially on the smaller tow vehicles. Any thoughts?

Originally Posted by gt702

I wonder what the floor size of CBRVFR's van is. He has fit 2 full size VFR's in the back with total loading time of both in the 15 minute range. Snug, but it works, seats 5 with the bikes in place, and rides like there is no trailer behind you.

That's a 4' x 10' plywood piece into which I bolt the baxleys. I gain another 3 1/2' if I take the passenger seat out.

With the sport chocks, I can load two bikes and strap them in securely in less than 10 minutes, without compressing the suspension of the bikes. With bike covers and privacy glass, you can't tell if anything is in there.

By spring I'll have a class 3 hitch, and we can load 4 people and 4 bikes for a nice trip...

Originally Posted by maxib

...
My only regret was my trailer did not come with a spare tire/wheel. I have not had the need for one (I have a flat repair kit and according to mrsmaxib I am full of hot air that I could use for that), but come Spring...before Grattan...I will have one, because I have put a few miles on these tires!

consider a floor jack also so you can change the tire


Also I recommend a flat nose trailer. I am not sure about the mileage but a flat now is better for shelving in the nose by a long shot

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

That's a 4' x 10' plywood piece into which I bolt the baxleys.

Yes, that's at the bottom (floor).

But what is the measurement between the two outermost clip-ons (handlebar ends)?

Much wider than 4', I'm sure. Closer towards 5', I'd say.

The interior width of a 5x8 enclosed trailer, for example, varies by manufacturer, but is often as narrow as 4' 8" or so.

I guess the question is: How wide (of an interior) do you have to have in order to fit two moderately sized sport-bikes inside an enclosed trailer, without having the clip-ons banging the walls and/or each other?

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

Good thread, I am learning something here gents

So you guys are telling me I need a 5.7 Tundra at least...if I want to tow something larger than 6' pretty much? No I won't start a truck thread, I swear . I actually really want to keep the Ridgeline/Pilot and my next truck will be the new Ridge whenever it comes out, so it's important whatever I get is good for "long term" usage behind a V6.

I think I'll go layout some tape on the floor of the garage and see what I can fit in it....tomorrow or something.

you waffle too much. why don't I just ask my boss for a truck today. you have your choice between a single axle or double axle tractor, I'd go double cause the singles don't pull for shit. Then you have the choice of 36-48ft trailers. most have ramps but I think we have 2 with heavy duty lift gates. you're looking at about 5.5mpg no matter which way you decide to go

Originally Posted by JH41

I have used a 3 bike open trailer for long trips and I just lock it up at night with an extra long cable lock. I think its easier to steal bikes from an enclosed trailer. Enclosed trailers are nice (for many reasons) but some take just as long to load and are a drain on the mpgs. If you are only doing a limited amount of trackdays I'd say spend about $500-$800 on a nice aluminum open trailer.

My Odyssey has towed 3 bikes to VIR and Grattan. If not for the mountains and my lead foot, I could easily get 20+ mpg.

If you end up with an enclosed trailer make sure it has brakes and get a tranny cooler for the Pilot.

listen to dummy here. The open trailer he had last year was nice. I drove the Odessey most of the way home last year with 2 bikes on it, hardly even noticed it was there. if you decide to go with an open motorcycle specific trailer make sure you get rails that are wide enough for the bigger 190 tires.

Originally Posted by Richard636

SSG, I think you should sell me your Ridgeline and get a Titan or new Ridgeline!

Okay, sounds like a plan. Can I come pick it up this weekend, right now works even better? 1, 2, 3, GO!!!!

How much ya got? used is always cheaper than new and mine is only a mere 55k miles old

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

if you decide to go with an open motorcycle specific trailer make sure you get rails that are wide enough for the bigger 190 tires.

?? What rails?

Originally Posted by wdgah

?? What rails?

He's talking about motorcycle specific trailers.

Why? I don't know.

One thing I did that I haven't seen mentioned is to attach one of those diamond plate metal boxes to the tongue for gas cans. The trailer we have has a long tongue, though, don't know if one will fit on a short tongue. I really like having the gas cans someplace where they won't smell up the trailer or the back of the truck. Just measure for height, I have old plastic hardware-store gas cans. Tall VP cans won't fit.

Anybody know if a 5x10 enclosed is too narrow for a couple of sport bikes?

The one I'm looking at is 4' 8" wide on the interior.