Enclosed Trailers - Whatcha Got ??

[Sodbuster]

The wife and I are thinking about an enclosed trailer to haul the Valk to faraway places during the off season (aka winter months). I'm guessing a 10' is the minimum.  And are most of ya using a single axle ?? What are the do's and don'ts ??

Thanks
Sodbuster

[therapist]

http://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_14954/trailer+before.jpg

http://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_14954/trailer+after.jpg


The before and after.  Had it for years but it is my Valk house, never been on the road since I bought it home.  Added electric, heat/light.  Nice little place to work on the girl in the winter.  It's a HaulMark and I got the pointed end and the extra tall ceiling.  Can't remember the exact dimensions.

[R J]

I have this unit in the UN-enclosed.
They have a new one called a POD that has a cover over it all.
It opens from the back like a clam shell.
It is total air ride, no springs and or etc.
Open a valve and the back deck approach lays down on the ground.
Ride on, slip front wheel into the chock and get off.
Use the 4 attached straps, to secure the bike.  No flapping straps as traveling, totally enclosed straps.   See a close up further down.
Turn the valve back and an on-board air compressor raises the trailer back up to traveling height, no matter what the weight of the unit is being hauled..  Just in case you should lose power to the trailer, their is a Schafer valve to air the trailer up.
Don't ask the top speed I have towed it at.  Yes, it was loaded.
I will not incriminate myself.

Not the cheapest in the market, but worth the $$$$ and I Love it.

http://www.adventuresportsproducts.com/index.cfm/0/0/19-All-Sport-Transports1



They have several sizes.  1 bike, 2 bike, 1 chopper, 1 Trike, 1 electric car, 1 Spider and so on.

Mine is the single and I use it to haul my lawn mowers and snow blower and etc.
Kind of wish I'd of gotten the wider and longer unit.......  Haul bigger and more stuff.

[fstsix]

Had these for years had a lot of good travel from them both, the Triple axle Raptor came in loaded with bike and all my Wife's shoes @ 12.000lb but ya need a Turbo Diesel to pull it, My favorite is the Thor i had back in the early 2001, 3.500 lb Light you could pull it with a small V8 2 axle. i had the porch kit on the smaller Thor that went on the tailgate, witch increased the living area from 18ft to 26ft it was cool had AC shower fridge fold out couch in the rear on both sides and the popout in front Hot water heater, The 33ft Raptor had Onan gen and was loaded.   ...

[JP in SC]

We have a 6' by 10' vee nose East Tennessee Trailers enclosed single axle with rear ramp and curb-side door. there is almost 12' into the vee nose. The weight is around 1400 pounds empty (2990 GVWR, at 3000 pounds brakes are required). It has been pulled up to about 80 mph from empty to overloaded behind a Ford F350 with a Gasoline V-10. It pulls great but fuel mileage takes a huge hit from 14.5-15.2 solo down to 11-11.5 with the trailer. It is air resistance that hurts you more than weight. The truck has pulled much heavier, larger, lower profile trailers with very little fuel mileage penalty. If it was to be towed by a smaller truck I would install trailer brakes.
The trailer has a stabilizer jack at each rear corner. When used with the tongue jack the trailer is very stable for rolling heavy bikes up the ramp while not hitched to a vehicle, I forgot the stabilizers once after unhitching from the truck and then rode the ST1300 up the ramp, the trailer reared up till the bike pulled forward of the axle.That is kinda exciting  when you are not expecting it.
I would recommend a wheel chock that captures the front wheel and use plenty of ratcheting straps to secure your lady. This is the stand I have http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/lifts-stands/motorcycle-stand-wheel-chock-97841.html. I have not tried it with the Valk but it worked great on the ST which is only a little lighter.
If I planned to trailer a bike extensively I would consider one of the light weight, purpose built aerodynamic bike haulers. Such as http://www.ironhorsetrailers.com/undefined/ or http://www.adventuresportsproducts.com/index.cfm/0/0/21-Aeropods. While these are pricey it could be a good investment, but it really depends on your tow vehicle and how much you to plan to use it.
Best of luck in your search and ride safe.

[Sourdough]

I also have a 6x10 single axle, pretty much set up the same as JP's. I have the Harbor
Freight chock and my Valks fit just fine. +1 on the MPG hit pulling the trailer; but a small price to pay to escape winter and get in some riding in warmer weather I pull w/
a Toyota Tundra double cab (1/2 ton?) and she pulls fine. I take about a 4-5 mpg drop when pulling. I wouldn't consider anything smaller than 6x10; I looked at a 5x10, but found it very narrow once the valk is in; a PITA to try to strap the bike down; at least
for a big guy  Good luck with your search...

[Momz]

Roadmaster R-Sport

[Momz]

Roadmaster R-Sport
All the comforts of home in a compact, lightweight package. Full kitchen, shower, flush toliet, cable hook-up, great sound system, full size bed and a couch.

[Sodbuster]

Cool .... all very nice units to pick from. Thanks for all of the reply's.  For me, an enclosed trailer is a must. Here in Mn. we get to deal with salt in the wintertime and not a good thing to get salt spray all over the bike. Your car will turn white in the winter here.

Question to those replying about poor MPG with pickup trucks. Was that pulling the trailer with an empty box or with topper/tonneau cover ??

What I kinda had in mind was a pickup truck with low profile pop-up pickup camper and pulling something low profile like a Haulmark low hauler or even one of those nice Iron Horse units .... more even in height with the camper and less wind resistance ??

http://www.haulmark.com/motorcycle-trailer/

Comments ??

[fstsix]

Aerodynamics is key JP is right, Wind resistance really takes a hit on fuel mileage, I got 26mpg on my Cummings No trailer with a tonneau cover, Camper shell would have helped, 13-15 with 12.000 lb Raptor, and the little trailer i pulled with the same truck was not as streamlined as much, and got the same MPG and was 9.000lb lighter than the Raptor,  it was kinda flat in the front, like pulling a parachute    BTW i am looking myself for a small enclosed to pull with my Dakota to Florida in the winters, i Live in the North east, SALT!!!!

[JP in SC]

On the F350 I ran a soft tonneau cover for several years and could not see any difference in fuel economy with or without it. The only benefits were keeping stuff dry and out of sight. I have not tried towing with a cab-high cap so i don't know if it would help though it seems that it should.

If you get a low profile trailer: BE YE WARNED ALL WHO ENTER HERE!  The frame around the ramp door does not give no matter how hard you smack it with your head. I am about 6' 3" and the interior height is right at 6' even. I've learned to deal with that but the clearance on the ramp door frame is 5' even. When you already have your head ducked it is quite easy to forget to duck more for that brain abusing steel header. I and a friend have both gone to our knees on the ramp from trying to take the right-of-way from that stationary, unforgiving hunk of metal! I also have numerous scratches on my helmet from not ducking enough.

[Sodbuster]

They have a new one called a POD that has a cover over it all.
It opens from the back like a clam shell.
http://www.adventuresportsproducts.com/index.cfm/0/0/19-All-Sport-Transports1

You know, the more I look at those the more I like their enclosed unit .... prolly pay for itself in saved fuel cost.

Again, thanks to all for the input. Didn't even know some of those trailers existed. Pretty cool stuff.

Hey JP .... the comment on that overhead rail hurts just thinking about it .... thanks for the heads up.