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Towing?????

  • Thread starter Thread starter ErnieGS1100EZ
  • Start date Start date
Im sure its been used many times but somehow to me seems like it could put some stress on the head bearings.
 
I made something like that about 30 years ago to move my wife's first bike from oHIo to California. Using something like this involves a LOT of tongue weight, at least this model is shown going into a receiver-style hitch, which should handle the weight a bit better than my setup. I figure about half the weight of the (empty) bike will on the front wheel, and by the time you lift it into the hitch, probably at least 40%, so a 500-pound bike will put about 200 pounds of pressure at the axle centerline. The axle would be about 18 inches farther back than a regular trailer hitch ball, so the additonal torque imposed by the additonal leverage would be substantial. Good thing they mention that it requires a Class 3 or Class 4 receiver hitch.

I had the foresight to remove the chain and hook up lights to the "trailer" so we would be a bit more legal. I don't remember if we had current tags on the bike or not, but probably could have been stopped for expired tags. 8-[

Based on my experience (which was not really bad, at all), I would keep this to emergency use, and not use it for hauling the bike to Florida for winter riding.


.
 
Got one something like it and it doesn't work well. The bike tends to flop in turns even when secured with several tie-down straps and it could even come out of the wheel holder. I never felt it was safe.

I would also think Bonanzadave has a point that it could be hard on headstock bearings. If you manage to get the front wheel tied down tightly enough I could see how the back end would tend to snap forward going over every bump in the road. The jostling back and forth couldn't be good.

For a short haul of a dirtbike to the boonies maybe ok but hauling a big ol GS likely not a good idea.

For the price of one you could get a decent used trailer.

My 2 cents.

Cheers,
Spyug.
 
Did it a long time ago

Did it a long time ago

I've still got a simpler version of that in my garage: used it to tow my GS450S behind an RV. While it seemed like the bike was canted way over during turns, I had absolutely no problems on drives from El Paso to Wisconsin.

I'm not sure how it would work with anything bigger than a GS550.
 
Steve said:
Ya know, I didn't even bother to look at the price. :oops:

For not a lot more, you can get a NEW trailer.
This would be good enough for most GSs, might have to go up a size for a GK.

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Click to expand...

The trouble with trailers is they require storage space and need to be warranted and registered. It's far better to borrow your mates one!!:-D
 
I recently learned that in some states, you don't have to title or plate small trailers (under 1,000 pounds unloaded). In most states, including Indiana, you have to register anything with wheels, unfortunately.

On the bright side, most car insurance also covers small trailers automatically -- you don't need separate insurance in most cases.

Here's another nifty motorcycle trailer I've always coveted:
http://trailerinabag.com

By all accounts, the trailer in a bag works great. But I'm sorry -- $1,800+ is just effing ridiculous for this.

For $500, you can get a nice little open trailer at any home center that will also haul furniture, shingles, garden tractors, etc.

And for $250, you can get a nice 4'X8' heavy-duty trailer with 12" tires at Harbor Freight or Menard's, add a marine plywood deck, and have a nice all-purpose hauler.
 
bwringer said:
.....Here's another nifty motorcycle trailer I've always coveted:
http://trailerinabag.com

By all accounts, the trailer in a bag works great. But I'm sorry -- $1,800+ is just effing ridiculous for this...
Click to expand...
Agreed.
Never seen that before, cool enough concept with room for improvement. I'd think the bike/trailer combo would get tossed around...a lot. Some springs and fenders would be nice(the fenders would be required here). Let it weigh another 50-75 lbs and beef it all up a little!
 
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I wouldn't tow a shaftie that way, and if I was pulling a chain drive, I would take the chain off. The other thing is, considering the distance I usually get out of the rear tire I wouldn't want to wear it more without actually riding on the bike. I used a cargo hauler, that platform that goes into a class III or IV hitch and drove my bike up onto that, It worked well for me, but I would only use it with a truck, nothing else has a strong enough frame to handle the tongue weight.
 
I saw this on Ebay already for about $150. I thought of getting one just for emergencies. After pushing the GS 12 blocks and then up my hill at 11:30 at night (I had to call a friend for help at that point) I'd still consider buying one. It would be easier than trying to scramble to find a trailer and a lot easier than trying to push a dead bike up a ramp into a truck bed. For $600, I'll pass.
 
Clone said:
I wouldn't tow a shaftie that way, and if I was pulling a chain drive, I would take the chain off. The other thing is, considering the distance I usually get out of the rear tire I wouldn't want to wear it more without actually riding on the bike. I used a cargo hauler, that platform that goes into a class III or IV hitch and drove my bike up onto that, It worked well for me, but I would only use it with a truck, nothing else has a strong enough frame to handle the tongue weight.
Click to expand...

I could be wrong about this, but I think that most of the tire wear doesn't really come from the distance, but from the traction we use on the tire... accelerating, braking (engine braking too), turning. even just cruising we are using traction to keep our speed against the wind resistance.

If thats true, then towing doesn't use up the tire much, since its just supporting the weight, with minimal traction used except in turns.

I agree with all the rest of your comments though.

Got me thinking though, since I have a shaftie.
I wonder how bad it actually is for a shaftie. The wheel end is driving the shaft instead of being driven, which is loading it backwards ... But the same thing happens when you use engine braking, which I do a lot.
Thats only for a short time at once, but its a LOT higher force, I have even briefly skidded the back wheel from that under some conditions.

The engine side of the shaft could be bad though. The engine isn't spinning, so the oil pump is not going. I wonder if the transmission needs the oil pump going to be properly lubricated.

I don't think I'd want to experimet, but I wonder what others have found if anyone has tried it.
 
bakalorz said:
The engine side of the shaft could be bad though. The engine isn't spinning, so the oil pump is not going. I wonder if the transmission needs the oil pump going to be properly lubricated.
Click to expand...
I can't speak for the other size shafties, but the 650's front of the shaft is lubed by engine oil (presumably pressurized), and the 850's is bathed in a separate reservoir of gear oil, so I don't think there is any pressurization there. If this is true, I would hesitate towing a 650 with the wheel on the ground, but would likely do the 850 (if I absolutely had to).

Do the larger shafties have the same setup that is on the 850? :-s


.
 
Hi guys,
I thought this would get lot's of opinions. Glad to here them all. This only caught my eye.

This is the one I'm really interested in because it can be used for hauling things other that motorcycles and it's adaptable.


http://www.powerdecks.com/superdeck3.htm

I was looking at the rampage one but I think this is a better idea.

Ernie
 
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