Cheap way to haul a motorcycle?

[93gc40]

Originally Posted by kokopellioh

I dunno about you, but I'm 6' 4". Cross country in in Honda Civic isn't feasible.

I'm only 5' 9", but I still agree with your sentiment.

[Thayter]

Best advice so far it to rent the motorcycle traile from U-Haul. I have used one several times with my Tacoma.

[Menhir]

I'll side with the U-Haul recommendations.

I once considered buying a trailer, but over the last five years I'm still well ahead of the game, price-wise by renting. Plus, I don't have to worry about maintenance and storage.

Some things you should know:

Call your U-Haul dealer and tell them what you want to haul. They'll tell you if your car can handle it. My guess is that it can.

If you rent, make your reservation as far in advance as you can. Motorcycle trailers become pretty scarce at times, especially during the riding season, and when college students need to move when summer breaks begin and end, and near month's end when renter's leases expire and people start moving their belongings. If they can't get a regular trailer, a motorcycle trailer will do just fine in a pinch.

The U-Haul trailer won't have a chock to hold the front wheel. I made one in about two minutes with some scrap 2x4's and drywall screws.

Pick up some Cycle-Cinch tie-down straps somewhere. They're not too expensive, and they're nice to have on hand.

You didn't mention if your car has a hitch. That's an added expense to have one installed, but it's still the same expense whether you buy or rent the trailer.

[Kitulu]

I would recommend the U-haul trailer. I was considering picking up one of the trailer-in-a-bag things until I was hauling my bike with the U-Haul trailer from Ft. Campbell to Ft. Rucker. Somehow, one of the front tie-down straps worked it's way up the triple tree and got wedged in where the pinch bolts are. The hard edge there cut the strap. The rear two straps had loosened up from the last stop, and the bike fell over.

The left front strap and the side of the trailer caught the bike, only thing I had to do was reposition the brake lever assembly as it had rotated around when it caught the side of the trailer.

Note that I said "side of the trailer". What does the trailer-in-a-bag not have?

Sides.

The other straps might have held the bike long enough for me to pull over and fix it.

Then again, without that side being there to help catch the bike, I might have been watching my Aero bounce and flip down the side of the highway.

[coreenleann]

Originally Posted by Kitulu

Then again, without that side being there to help catch the bike, I might have been watching my Aero bounce and flip down the side of the highway.

Aaaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh!

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[ken99287]

Originally Posted by Menhir

I'll side with the U-Haul recommendations.

I once considered buying a trailer, but over the last five years I'm still well ahead of the game, price-wise by renting. Plus, I don't have to worry about maintenance and storage.

Some things you should know:

Call your U-Haul dealer and tell them what you want to haul. They'll tell you if your car can handle it. My guess is that it can.

If you rent, make your reservation as far in advance as you can. Motorcycle trailers become pretty scarce at times, especially during the riding season, and when college students need to move when summer breaks begin and end, and near month's end when renter's leases expire and people start moving their belongings. If they can't get a regular trailer, a motorcycle trailer will do just fine in a pinch.

The U-Haul trailer won't have a chock to hold the front wheel. I made one in about two minutes with some scrap 2x4's and drywall screws.

Pick up some Cycle-Cinch tie-down straps somewhere. They're not too expensive, and they're nice to have on hand.

You didn't mention if your car has a hitch. That's an added expense to have one installed, but it's still the same expense whether you buy or rent the trailer.

I know that at least some(if not all) of the motorcycle trailers from haul DO have a wheel chock built in. They also have a groove right up the middle that runs into the chock.

Just look at the pictures of the haul trailer I rented and the built-in chock.

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[Menhir]

Originally Posted by ken99287

I know that at least some(if not all) of the motorcycle trailers from haul DO have a wheel chock built in. They also have a groove right up the middle that runs into the chock.

Mine didn't. Actually, the one I rented didn't seem to be a dedicated motorcycle trailer but rather a multi-purpose hauler of wheeled things. It could have easily carried an ATV. I've seen them a lot on the highways.

I've only had my scoot on a trailer for one weekend trip to the Dragon in 2005, when the use of a trailer made the difference between being there or not having the time to go at all. I prefer to ride. Still, if circumstances again made trailering the only good option, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

[pixelpusher]

The nice thing about getting the harbor freight trailer is you can use it for lightish hauling of other stuff from your local home improvement store if you don't have a pickup truck and have a suitable place to store the trailer.
They've got that fold up one, too.

[shadowdreamer]

Originally Posted by ken99287

This is what I got for $14/day. Its very nice? Has a ramp and wheel chock built in and D-rings at all four corners for straps.

Pulled it with my Pontiac Vibe, which is a 1.8L Corolla drive-train with a wagon body(twin car to Toyota Matrix). A Civic should handle it.

Thanks for the great U-haul pictures.
I will be renting one soon and nice to see how the motorcycle gets strapped in.
If it works for your Vibe, it should work for my Volvo station wagon.

[wlamb]

This is always an option.