[eternal05]

Hey all! So as some of you know, I’m in the market for a means of carrying some bikes around. Right now I’m not sure how it’s going to go. I tried to get a motorcycle carried (hitch-mounted bike-carrier style), but it turned out that no available model was compatible with my available vehicles. Right now one of two options is most likely:

1) Get a damned trailer. Downside is I have nowhere to put it…at least nowhere safe and/or protected from elements.
2) My girlfriend and I may look into trading out her SUV for a truck with a sufficiently large bed. The SUV is on its last legs anyway (175,000 miles) so this isn’t as crazy as it sounds. This also has the advantage of the utility of a truck and not having to tow anything, but will cost a buttload more.

So that said, do any of you guys have any recommendations for trailers that you’ve had experience with? Any suggestions of things to look for? Anybody know of reputable trailer dealers in the greater Seattle area? Any other prepositions I could end my sentences with?

I should mention that I’m looking for a trailer that’s:

1) As cheap as possible without being crappy. That means I’ll forgo fancy features in favor of lower price.
2) Open
3) Capable of towing at least two sportbikes (each ~450 pounds with 180+mm rear tires)
4) Preferably not restricted to carrying only motorcycles
5) Not too big that it can’t be towed by a class II or class III hitch.

[eternal05]

Elwood mentioned this trailer in another thread so, for the sake of future readers, I wanted to add it here:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200244924_200244924

Also, I should mention that, if I were more skilled, I’d just go put one together myself. I keep reading other forums in which guys are just getting cheapo flatbeds and welding in wheel chocks, guard rails, restraints, etc. I wish I was that cool, but my school never had shop class, and the handy-iest I’ve ever gotten is installing a new sink or re-jetting my carbs. If you know of a good way to LEARN said skills, please let me know, but otherwise keep your suggestions for the welding-incapable.

[Munch]

Whats this about protecting it from the elements? Its a trailer……… any given trip will find it in the rain. If your worried about it getting hurt some how I would suggest yet another trailer.

[A]

Trailers are more dangerous than motorcycles IMO.
I prefer small pickup trucks and nice secure ramps to load moto into the bed.

[owlie]

Thanks for the picture.

I’m a little concerned that it is going to snow on my before I’m able to get my bike back over for its 500 mile service.  I’ll have to show this to my sweetie and see what we can work out since neither one of us really wants to buy a trailer right now…

Are you just strapping it at the front forks or do you strap it at the back too?  Do you use wheel chalks?  Also, I read somewhere where someone puts boards on either side of the tire parallel to the tires to keep the bike from turning.  Any opinions?

I guess those questions apply to using a trailer too. 

[Author]

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