Would a motorcycle trailer be convenient for you?

Most riders would easily argue that having to go on a motorbike trip means going back the bare necessities and abandoning all the everyday conveniences. There are some skilled packers who can get everything they need for their trip in a pair of saddlebags. However, for others, the standard motorcycle luggage would not be enough especially if they are riding on a long trip. This is where pulling a trailer comes along. Having a lot more extra luggage space in the motorcycle trailer is bound to make the trip a lot more comfortable if that’s what you are looking for.

Now, while having the trailer along will definitely make all the packing woes go away, it's not that simple as you would hitch on the bike and hook up. There are some things that you need to consider before going on that route but could surely change the way you go on motorbike trips. Before you embark on your trip with a trailer lugging behind, consider some of the things listed below.

First, you ought to know if your bike can actually handle the extra load. It would not be wise at all to drag all your camping gear in the trailer behind a 250cc sports bike. Of course, if you have a touring bike or a full-size cruiser, it would be a different story. The extra power is great but the way it's delivered is also important. In order to get the bike up to speed without much stress, it is very important to have a low-end torque. There are a few ways you could achieve this like installing an aftermarket camshaft, fuel mapping and a gear change.

There are also some different styles of motorbike hitches like fixed hitches and swivel hitches. Most riders prefer swivel hitches with the claim that they could ensure that the bike leans as deep as needed in the corners without necessarily affecting the trailer. As true as that is, however, most bikes that come with a fixed hitch can lean to drag the pegs before maxing out the leaning capabilities.

Will your bike handle the load? Its suspension and tires will be placed under an even greater load with the trailer attached to it. When packing up the trailer, keep in mind that the tongue weight ought to be around 10-15% of your loaded trailer weight. If the weight is too much, the bike’s suspension and tires will be overloaded and you would be risking a blowout.  It is also best to make sure that the tires are always fully inflated.

It’s a given that with all that weight behind the bike, the breaking distance will increase greatly. Even when you have a nice trailer that you can easily forget behind you, you will definitely remember it as soon as you have to stop in a hurry. The added weight will certainly push you a lot further than you would have to go without the trailer. It will also be wise to make sure you stop in a straight line because you could run the risk of jackknifing if the trailer stops at an angle behind you.

It will be very wise if you choose a trailer with as much width as that of your bike because it will help you continue riding on one side of the lane. If you have a wider trailer, you would have to ride in the center of the road, which is where the oil and all manner of nasties hang out.

How to Purchase the Best Motorbike Trailer

If you enjoy motorbike driving, possibilities are you will want to bring that motorbike with you anywhere you need, and anytime you travel. Though sometimes, it is not possible riding the motorbike to your destination. In these times, having a trustworthy motorbike trailer is exactly what you require. But what type of a motorbike trailer should you have? With a lot of different companies on the market, it can be quite complicated, but don't worry. It is very simple picking out the best motorbike trailer.

The first thing you need to do while choosing your motorbike trailer knows just where you will be traveling using your brand-new trailer. If you are traveling to your destinations with the harsher environment, like off-road parks or camping areas, you need to take this entire situation into your consideration. In those cases, you'd need a motorbike trailer which is built for that specific terrain.

A 2nd decision you need to fix before purchasing your motorcycle trailer knows the amount of weight the vehicle you will be using is. Normally you can see this info in your trailer owner's guidebook, or weighing your motorbike on a heavy vehicle scale.  Also, you can normally find this important information via online.

After figured out exactly how much weight your motorbike is, and how many you can tow, you will also need to decide that how much cargo you will be taking.  You need to decide how much area both the motorbike and the cargo will fill up, and size your motorbike trailer to that.  It is recommended leaving you lots of room for cargo.  You will never know that in future how much be taking on your motorbike trips.

Now that we have got the real size of both trailer and motorbike, the following step is to make a decision if you need a closed or open trailer.  Having your motorbike exposed to the components may be okay based on your motorbike, but we suggest what's appropriate for you. You will also need to decide if you wish to lock doors on your motorbike trailer, and the level of extra security you want.  If you will be taking your motorbike through leading cities, it's advisable.

Once you have found your motorbike trailer and you are ready to touch the highway, ensure to pack your motorbike trailer evenly.  With any load, you do not want to have your motorbike trailer weaving on overall the road, due to off-balance places.  Also be careful to check the trailer tire inflation, especially if you have not used your motorbike trailer for some time.  Also check for any needed lights, to ensure that you are legal.

Keep in mind, safety first while you purchase a motorbike trailer.  If you follow all these steps I have given, and confirmed the correct weights, you will be soon on the way to an excellent motorbike trip!

The Ultimate Guide to Motorcycle Trailers for Buyers

There are numerous types of motorcycle trailers that can be used to transport them and there are also several types that the motorcycle can tow. There are simply a dozen choices to go through when considering how best to tow a motorcycle either across town or even across the country.

If you intend to get a trailer that can pull just one motorcycle then a kit you can put together will cost you a few hundred dollars while an enclosed carrier with custom options and paint will cost you over $11,000. Motorcycle trailers typically require either class 1, 2 or 3 hitch. These range from what could be installed in a small SUV or a small car to what you could find in larger pick-up tracks or SUVs.

Under federal law, the trailer needs to have tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, side marker lights as well as side and rear reflectors that are operable. Most trailers come with back-up lights as well. You could check with your state for deferent requirements and when traveling, inquire about the state you are going to. For instance, most of the time brakes are only needed for a loaded weight exceeding 1,500 lbs.

According to Featherlite trailers’ advertising and public relations specialist Nicole Ausdemore, The fuel economy, durability, and resale value all depend on what the trailer is constructed of. While most trailers are made of steel or alloy and steel combinations accompanies by fiberglass tops, Featherlite trailers are constructed using strong, light and non corroding aluminum apart from highly stress areas where steel is really needed.

The next thing that makes a difference is where you mount the motorcycle in regards to the trailer axle or axles. If you position the weight too forward for instance, it will overweight the tongue and back of the towing vehicle, which means it could un-weight the front wheels to an extent of affecting handling and braking. According to Ed Heard, the co-owner of Ironhorse Trailers in Morrison, Tenn, If you have unbalanced loading or having a trailer that is too long for a towing vehicle could possibly cause “explosive oscillations” that could lead to a “jackknife” on the road.

The next thing you need to place in consideration is to think twice before you attempt to protect your motorbike using a tarp or a fabric cover if the trailer is open. The wind could flap the cover, making it chafe the bike’s finish and it could be blown or shredded off.

Open Flatbed Trailers

These are the more general utility trailers or those that are intended for power sports but with added wheel chocks as well as tie-down points. One of the best things about these general purpose trailers is that you can use them to haul anything. For instance, contractors could use them for work during the week then use them for play during the weekends. One of their downsides is that in an open trailer, the motorbike will not be protected from weather elements or the grit kicked up by the tow vehicle. Certain trailers come with a frontal barrier to overcome this.

Open Rail Type and Specialized Motorbike Trailers

Most of these come designed for one or two bikes. They are usually lightweight but like flatbeds, they offer very little protection from weather or chips but at least they are less expensive. Some of them even come with rails to accommodate trikes while some are foldable and others semi-foldable. If you have minimal storage then you need to consider a foldable trailer or at least one you can disassemble. Of course, it is best you check the designs before you purchase anything.

Enclosed Trailers

These are the general cargo trailer or a “toy hauler”, which is a long trailer that comes with a rear garage to load toys. Some toy haulers come with certain camping amenities like a kitchen, beds, shower, TV, toilet and anything else you might like. Of course, they could be heavy and will certainly need powerful tow vehicles. An advantage of general cargo or similar designs is similar to that of open trailers, you can move anything else like lumber with them. In addition to that, you will have no problems with precipitation, chipping rocks or even bugs while the bike will be inside and will be out of sight from potential thieves.  Most enclosed trailers come with square sides and on open roads with crosswinds and tractor trailers passing by affects handling. Others come as V-shaped in order to help with fuel economy.

Specialized Enclosed Trailers

There are some manufacturers catering to the affluent baby boomers as well as those who want special treatment for their motorbikes but do not need the trailer for other general purposes. For trailers with the capability of holding one to two bikes, these are quite expensive but they come with some unique features as well leaving a curve on the market niche. For instance, when it comes to the Ironhorse brand, a “clamshell” designs that are made of fiberglass come with low roof height. Heard claimed his trailers could fit in a standard garage.

There are more aerodynamic shapes that could actually allow about 60% improved fuel economy comparing them to square enclosed trailers. Their tie-down points and the balance of the bikes are quite ideal as well. These designs are also very light weight, quite easy to back up and handle very well. Retro-esque or Swoopy styles are also a selling feature.

Trailers That Motorbikes Can Pull

Larger motorcycles could also make excellent tow vehicles according to Andrew Preston, the general manager of Bushtec Trailers in Jacksboro, Tenn. Instead of using the trailer ball that attaches to the special hitch on the bike, the Bushtec designs use a 360-degree swivel pin coupling. They use two 16” motorbike wheels on a special suspension that keeps the unit from bouncing.

In most cases, the riders report not even noticing the trailer behind them. Other designs come with one wheel on each side while others come with single inline wheels. Some manufacturers say that their designs only remain stable at speeds of 130 to 150 miles per hour. People with small sports cars are advised to buy two wheeled trailers because they have more capacity than single wheeled ones. Some trailers can also pull canoes while others can pull dogs like horse trailers.

Conclusion

Regardless of whether you want to pull your motorcycle or are using it to pull, there are numerous options available including degrees or sophistication for suspension. You could have either leaf springs, torsion bars or rubber suspensions depending on your brand and style. Some major trailer manufacturers like Featherlite with over 400 employees and supplying race car trailers to about 85 % of NASCAR teams manufacture some of the best trailers. 

Only Sixty Seconds: Motorbike Unloading and Loading on a Truck or Trailer

The act of unloading or loading a motorbike generally takes less than sixty seconds.  Motorbike loading is a crucial exposure with the inherent risks which are more different than driving. It needs different knowledge, skills, and the proper equipment.

Reality Check Out: Serious vehicle injury, damage, and death can and happens in the process of unloading and loading a motorcycle on a motorbike trailer or a pick-up truck. This happens rapidly!  Even expert riders have had accidents when loading and unloading motorbikes.

Motorbike Loading on a Trailer

An excellent laugh on occasion is great!  But when you are done laughing, keep in mind that there's nothing funny all about dropping your motorbike or getting injured.  Unloading and loading a motorbike is secure when everything done accurately.

Understand the Science: It is simple to forget the huge impact on balance and stability when the motorbike is moving. The gyroscopic impact of the tires and the drivetrain are more powerful forces which tend to hold the motorbike straight. Actually, it is quite challenging to knock any moving motorcycle over. While pushing a motorbike up a ramp, you're balancing inactive weight. You miss almost all stability and balance from your gyroscopic forces. You've zero assists with the motorbike balance.  Transformation: Loading any motorbike is physically challenging and more difficult than riding a motorbike. It requires a various skill set compared to riding.

Lessons of Practical Experience (it's not a clinically proven study, it is observations from practical experience): Unable to control the balance and falling the motorbike in the unloading and loading process is top of the list. A nine hundred pound cruiser can't be held up by a single person once it becomes beyond the tipping point. Steeper the loading any ramp angle mixed with the enhanced weight of a motorbike mathematically creates the balancing act extra hard. 1-foot slip can easily prove to be a tragedy. Make sure of your every footing! The leather-based sole on a moist metal deck doesn't make for any positive footing. The slippery ramp mostly guarantees for a dropped motorbike. Just use full-loading ramps which are secured to the truck or trailer so it cannot slip sideway. Kindly do not let's see you making use of a wooden plank. Invest some money to get the best equipment!

Motorbike Unloading From a Trailer

Take the Common Sense and Knowledgeable Approach: In case anything feels dangerous or makes uncomfortable, simply STOP and get the help. You are probably correct; listen to your impulses. Regularly use the spotter, possibly two, based on your energy and weight of the motorbike. Carefully read owner's guides for your loading ramp and/or your trailer. Exercise with your motorbike and trailer, your ramp and truck with 2 spotters. Uncover with this security net and understand how your equipment really works. There are an unlimited number of factors on motorbikes, motorbike ramps, and trailers. Realize your equipment and motorbike. Know that motorbike unloading and loading has a risk. Dangerous things can occur in an issue of seconds. They're avoidable. Be careful!

The Factor Why an Enclosed Motorbike Trailer is Important

Your motorbike is a useful investment and something you need to safeguard regardless of what. When you go to select a motorbike trailer to carry your motorbike, you will discover there are many types from which you want to choose. Quite some motorbike fans decide to go with an encased motorcycle trailer because there are some benefits to this. Here are some to consider as you go together to make the choice.

Enclosed Motorbike Trailer from ASB Trailers

Using an enclosed motorbike trailer, you would not ever need to worry about climate conditions. Additionally to carrying a motorbike, this kind of trailer can also bring any other material needed for a motorbike trip, while protecting these items from the different elements. Severe weather conditions, such as sleet, snow, and also ice, could definitely significantly harm your motorbike and relevant items and that's of great significance in maintaining the value of this bike.

Another great benefit of procuring an enclosed motorbike trailer is that it decreases the chance of robbery of your motorcycle or any type of related things. Once you make a journey with your motorbike, you'll find you must relax at time interval, for a lot of reasons. Using an open motorcycle trailer, your motorbike and related things can be easily seen as well as possibly stolen. It is really true that having anenclosed bike trailer, the chances of theft is really reduced.

If you are not carrying your motorbike or keeping the bike in the trailer, this particular storage unit really works well for other uses. It is possible you will choose it to bring outdoor equipment on the family vacation, go pick up brand new furniture for your house or even take your snow mobiles or ATVs with you for your week-end break of enjoyment. The versatility of this trailer will make it possible for the enclosed bike trailer to commonly be utilized for a wide range of functions.

ASB Trailers (asbtrailers.com.au) produces open and also closed holding trailers, making use of components and things furnished by Australian vendors. These motorbike trailers are the most advanced and stylist in the world, combining a number of benefits and characteristics not available in other trailers of this range.

ASB Trailers was started along with the goals of making the minimum complicated to weight, most appropriate to pull behind as well as high quality trailers to be found in Australia. Definitely no compromises are allowed with respect to material level of grade or even product design and style as these Motorbike Trailers are fashioned toserve you for a very long time to come, as opposed to acquiring upgraded after 1 or 2 years. Clients remain the firm's finest sales power as they negotiate their own ideas with other people, by way of customer ratings and recommendation.

While you are on ASB Trailers website, make sure to check out the exclusive areas committed to each kind of products offered for purchase (products section). Although you can’t get the complete experience until you buy and check out your trailer, you will automatically discover that these trailers can be utilized for several functions.