Bike Hauling

[ken&ellen]

Ellen & I are here in Virginia Beach and in comes a Alfa 5th wheel with a motorcycle in tow. This strange looking device holds the front tire and the rear wheel of the bike is on the ground. This retired Marine has been towing his Harley with this device for the past three years of full timing! Maybe I can get a picture of it and post it? Ken & Ellen

[ken&ellen]

Found a picture.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

FWIW a Dodge with the Cummins diesel, 4WD is towable. With the 4WD you can have an automatic or manual trannie and still tow.

At this year's Liberty rally at least two of the bikers had a lift in the bed of the pickups that allowed ground level loading of the bike and then the carrier was hydraulically or electrically raised and set onto the pickup bed.

[Jeff & (Ro)Bert(a)]

I don't care about Ford, GM or Dodge. I think they are all problems. I have German and English cars with alot less issues then US made. I was an Auto parts mfg until China destoryed the market, I know something about the american car makers. Not much, just a little. The brand I look at is cosmedics and conforts only, the rest is only as good as the dealer's service department.

Bummer the sales people don't know any of this. I ask them, they research it and they give bad info. Am I surprized? Are you?

I hope I don't jump..I thought I was getting info. But with the confusion I just might...Crap, there are no cliffs in Fla and I close my eyes going on bridges.

Looks like the advice I'm leaning to is a bike trailer and forget about also taking 4 wheels. Looked today at Haulmark Edge. I think the value wont take to much of a beating if I decide to change the plan later on. I have been looking for used ones but to save only 25% I rather go new and pick a color to match the coach.

Thanks for all your thoughts. Will keep you updated on what I find out........... Oh yeah, forget about that Marine's bike carrier, thats all I am saying about it.

[truk4u]

Jeff,

My trailer for the bike is a 6 X 12 Avenger and I have dragged it all over the country for 8 years with no problems. Here's a few things to look for on a trailer:

Torsion bar suspension instead of spring, much better ride
Rear jacks that can be lowered so you can ride the hog in when unhooked
"V" nose if you can, gives you a tighter turn radius without hitting the bus
Dual axle with brakes would be nice
Dovetail frame makes the trailer lower to the ground
Make sure you have enough door height if you have a dresser or windshield

Good luck...

[Jeff & (Ro)Bert(a)]

Thanks Tom,
I thought I had it all covered except the V nose. Is it really important? I picked out a Haulmark, 8.5 x 12, tandom, but no "V". Something more now to consider.
Jeff

[truk4u]

Jeff,

I saw a guy while backing up jack it around too short and poke a big dent in his trailer, maybe because he didn't have a long enough tongue. When I bought mine, they offered an extended tongue and I didn't get it. Now that the V noses are out, that seemed like a good way to get a little more clearance for those tight spots.

Sounds like a nice one your looking at, I didn't even know you could get a 102 wide in a 12 footer. Post a pic if you buy it.