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I have researched the lifts and pleased with the Hydralift. No cables and puts the bike a few feet up. Now the question is do I want to lift or tow a trailer. We were planning on towing our LandRover Sport when needing bring a car. I would like to protect it, but the convience of just bringing the bike without a tow is so appealing. Any comments?
Be flexible.
Just get both:rolleyes:
I would think that pulling a trailer big enough might be a bit of an added chore and expence.
I agree, Jim gave me some good points to consider. It is just that a major part of my having the coach was for the bike, I have a boat that we travel on too, but the dam bike does not float. So rather then have an issue of a trailer every trip, I think the lift will be the way. I can always trailer later or sink the bike.:confused:
Jeff, possibly you could set-up to tow a full sized pickup truck with the bike in the bed of the truck. That would cover all your angles if you don't mind riding around in a PU truck.
FWIW, We have tried almost every combination out there. Most 45' bus model frames don't like the bike lift on the extended frame rails. When we go out, we either tow a Tahoe flat or we pull a trailer. The trailer holds a car ( vette or escalade) and a full size golf cart or two dressers, one H D and a (cringe) goldwing. Not only can we take what we want for the trip, but we have a great garage and guest house when needed. The trailer is only 24' long but it has all the storage we will ever need. Several cross country trips and so far, no problems with spots to park. Probably not for everyone, but again, we like the security of the (garage) trailer. Next trip is in one week and we will go from Ft Lauderdale to Daytona, Pensacola, (picking up relatives) with final destination Durango. Trip usually takes three full days. I guess we are just trailer trash. I know Fast Rog will agree.
George and DeDe: I will agree with most anything you say. But the trailer trash part - well you are least a notch or two above that. You do still have the Liberty right? By the way does the check come on the 3rd or 5th of the month in Florida?:cool:
Yeah Roger! We still have the Liberty. Probably will for the next few years. Too nice and too good to think about moving up just yet, although the boys up in Stuart call on a regular basis to keep the pressure on. Those checks that previously came on the 3rd stopped on April 15.... I figured the were now going to you or A1.!!!?????? Sorry we missed you all in Tx... looks like another super time for the poggers. Durango is waiting for you. Try one of our web cams... geodede.dynalis.org:14181, or 14184. The new bus barn is up but now working on the inside. Should be finished in a month or so. Two outside plug ins for you and whoever.
If I wasn't getting my checks I would have to go out and get a job.
"Hi, welcome to Wal-Mart", or "do you want to supersize that?"
we pull a 20' trailer with bike and car. with both in the "garage", theres approx 18" from the ft bumper to the clutch box on the bike. we store a couple of bicycles as well (they sit in front of the bike for the moment - they really need to hang on the front wall up high). jon sez bus frames don't like all that weight on the frame (especially bouncing weight) that far back from the wheels, and even more so for 45' buses.
eagle head lifts makes a nifty hydraulic unit that comes apart in pieces so a single individual can get it on and off the bus. the downside is that when mounted, you can't open the engine room doors. :-( it's about 3 grand.
hydralift usa makes a hydraulic unit that will clear the doors, but i think it's one really heavy piece (i could be wrong about that). this unit comes in at about 5K.
there are several much less costly units that lift with wire cable - i don't particularly care for these, but you might.
as for pulling a pickup, be sure you find an aux brake unit first. the super duty fords use hydraulic over hydraulic brakes, that is, no vacuum assist - their assist comes from hydraulic pressure supplied by the steering pump. there is a small receiver that stores pressure for a couple brake pumps, but after that, pressing on, even STANDING on the brake peddle offers very little braking. M&S (i think thats the right name - someone jump in here to correct if wrong) makes a unit that has an elec hydraulic pump to provide pressure. someone else makes a unit that goes between the firewall and the master cylinder. both of these have special requirements for space. my '02 f250 with std tranny would not take either of these units (according to the mfgs).
also check tow bar height on the truck an the bus hitch - they need to be the same height. there are fancy height-shifting hitches, but be sure they don't de-rate the towing capacity because they're not just straight hitches.
i did finally find some guy in calif (there's a surprise) that would make me an after mkt setup with air brake chambers that could glad hand into the bus brake air. $2500. seemed like a bit extreme to me. YMMV.
for me, putting the bike in is pretty easy now that i've done it many times. i use a bike lift with wheels to maneuver it into place, and had special padeyes put down in the trailer floor to hold it in place. with the wheel turned left and locked, the overall length of the bike, ft tire to rear fender, is approx 3" shorter than the inside dim of the trailer, so movement of the bike MUST be kept to an absolute minimum with tie downs, both sideways and fore and aft.
but you prob'ly knew that already. :-)
lastly, don't forget to check your bus GCWR. my trailer weighs in at 3400# empty, and it's (almost) all aluminum. add car and bike and we're at almost 4 tons. and i guess i don't have to mention that a used trailer is signif'ly cheaper than a new one.
apologies for the length of the post.
wmm
Just to clarify and expand on my concerns about cantilevering heavy weight from the hitch.
Prevost has a limitation of 1000 lbs. on the hitch and that is presumed to be a ball hitch just past the bumper.
The hitch is attached to the engine cradle and I strongly suspect if you mount a motorcyle a couple of feet or more beyond that point or a heavier tongue weight trailer the extra stresses will have an impact not only on the engine cradle, the rear suspension, and the frame, but those stresses may extend all the way up into the rear cap and the rear cap attach points. Because the lever arm is very long, that extra weight will add some multiple of the actual load on the rear suspension because the net effect will be the extra weight, plus the amount that cantilevered load lifts from the front axle.
Prevost has provided heavier hitches and some coaches have been modified to handle substantial extra loads.