Safe to load onto a 5x8 tilt trailer?

[BonS]

I recently picked up a 5x8 tilt trailer primarily for moving my mower around. Now I'm wondering how much fun it is attempting to load a Valkyrie onto such a thing. I sure don't want the trailer to begin to tilt before the rear wheel is on the trailer and I start to get butterflies thinking about backing down while tilting. Any good/bad experiences with tilt trailers? How about short tilt trailers?

[junior]

bad idea
dont do it

[John U.]

You will need a ramp which is wide enough to put your feet on while backing the bike down, and long enoug so the bike won't bottom out. Secure the trailer bed so it won't tilt.

[R J]

Buy yourself a good motorcycle ramp to ride up on.   Also get 2 nice 2X12's about 7' long to use for your feet to walk on while loading and unloading.

Now, if ya really want loading ease, here is what my trailer looks like, only it is Infiniti White with a beige tint to it.

http://www.adventuresportsproducts.com/index.cfm/0/0/15-Hauling-Trailer-Videos

[BonS]

Buy yourself a good motorcycle ramp to ride up on.   Also get 2 nice 2X12's about 7' long to use for your feet to walk on while loading and unloading.

Now, if ya really want loading ease, here is what my trailer looks like, only it is Infiniti White with a beige tint to it.

http://www.adventuresportsproducts.com/index.cfm/0/0/15-Hauling-Trailer-Videos

Wow! Nice trailer.

It does make sense to avoid the tilting by getting a ramp. Going up sounds okay but backing my IS down? I think I'd get it done but, man, I'd hate to screw up!
I think I'll stick with mowers and loads of mulch with that trailer and keep feeding the penny jar for a while until I can get something that's worthy.

[Blackjack]

I also have a tilt trailer I use for my riding mower. It's very similar to yours. A few years ago I loaded my Valk Tourer onto my tilt trailer in Oklahoma and hauled it to Kentucky and back. During the trip I unloaded and loaded the Tourer several times without any problem. The only problem I had was that it's a lot more fun to ride than to trailer.

[BonS]

I also have a tilt trailer I use for my riding mower. It's very similar to yours. A few years ago I loaded my Valk Tourer onto my tilt trailer in Oklahoma and hauled it to Kentucky and back. During the trip I unloaded and loaded the Tourer several times without any problem. The only problem I had was that it's a lot more fun to ride than to trailer.

Did you use the tilt feature and how was it backing down? What was your technique; Fast n' sure or slow n' easy?
Given my really, really short bed of 8' my greatest concern is that the bed would either prematurely tilt up when  loading or tilt down too late when unloading and the rear wheel would drop off above ground level.

[rmrc51]

I also have a 5' x 9' utility trailer with the drop down mesh ramp. This is what I used to bring the Valk Trike home.

The problem I saw was that the ramp is too short causing the trike to bottom once the front wheel was on the trailer bed and the rear wheels were still on the ramp. I put some long angled 4x4's under the ramp to lessen the angle at the ramp/trailer pivot point.

Another possibility to lessen the angle is, for loading & unloading only, get a trailer hitch tongue with at least a 4" drop (maybe more), reverse it so you now have a 4" rise, lessening the angle at the trailer/ramp hinge.

But if I did have the money,,,,, I'd definitely go for that beautiful Adventure Sports trailer!!!!!!!! 

I noticed that the Adventure Sports web site doesn't list prices,,,... lol. MUST be expensinve! 

[BonS]

If I'm spending a wad of $ on a trailer I'd be hard pressed to choose between trailering the bike or a trailer to tow behind the bike. Both would be nice but I really don't know which would get used more and I suspect that I'd be spending something like $4K + $4K to do it right. My wife never notices when a new piece of chrome follows me home but I think she'd spot a trailer (or two)    and she always wants her split of the hobby dollars!

[MarkT]

I bought this tilt-trailer on sale at Harbor freight for, I think $299.  The trailer has a 2,000 lb axle, while the tires are high pressure, same load rating as a normal size car tire.  The trailer has about 1700 lbs load capacity. Spent another hundred or so for the deck and folding ramp, and the 2-ton jack I mounted in the front, with a angle-steel assembly to act as wheel chock and a mount point for the jack.  The jack basically allows me to set the angle of the deck high and secure it there while loading, so driving a heavy bike on or off won't cause the deck to fly up or down - but I can set it aligned with the ramp for low center clearance vehicles.  Welded on 6 tiedown loops. Now I pull the lock pins on the front A-frame and operate the jack to it's full height, which makes the bed aligned with the ramp - which I also got from Harbor Freight.  Reinforced the center of it with angle steel and expanded decking.  The jack pushes the front of the trailer up tight against some chains on the corners, so it's quite sturdy when extended.  This allows me to drive my Gold Wing, with only 6" or so of clearance, right up the ramp. leave it in gear & put the side stand down. Then go lower the jack and insert the lock pins on the A-frame. 

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Mark , I like the way you done your trailer. It looks like a well thought out arrangement.