question on trailers

[solo1]

I'm seriously thinking of buying this trailer. It would be used for possibly hauling my 750 Nighhawk or my oldest son's Pacific Coast.  I'm primarily buying it for hauling riding lawnmowers, a portable generator, etc.

Inside deminsion is 5x 8 feet, big enough for these two motorcycles but probably not for my others sons Valkyries.  I already have a Pingle chock (removable) and so it should work.  Hauling cap is 1500 pounds. Floor is 3/4" treated plywood and it has four tiedowns.

Here's the question.  This is a tilt bed as you can see.  Has any one had experience riding a motorcycle up on a tilt bed?  Keep in mind, my knees aren't the greatest.  I might have to load it myself.  The bed height is 18 inches so there is a fair angle here. 

My thoughts.  It'll work or it'll jar me when the tilt comes down and I could drop it, or it won't work and I'll have to use a ramp, which, for me, is another problem.  C'mon guys give me your experience.

Wayne, solo1

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I've never done it on a tilt trailer. Always assumed the weight from the front end would be trying to tilt it down before the rear tire made it on, but I can't say that for sure. Especially on a smaller lighter bike such as a nighthawk. You could always back the trailer up to a small raised area of ground and ride it right on. Loaded a 1500 Nomad into a large 4 Wheel drive Full Size Pickup when I sold mine. Guy buying it was afraid to and asked me to ride it on for him.  No problem at all if you have a slightly higher level of ground somewhere nearby. Don't know if this helps any. Hope so. Dave

[Rocketman]

I haven't ridden up on a tilt trailer, but those things are designed so that the center of gravity is forward of the tilt point.  Unless you could support the front end with a tall jack, ride up, tie it off somehow while tilted, then slowly let 'er down, I wouldn't try it.  Sounds quite difficult to me.
I'd look into an extra wide ramp if I were you.  That should be effectively the same, without the tilt-down problem.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I haven't ridden up on a tilt trailer, but those things are designed so that the center of gravity is forward of the tilt point.  Unless you could support the front end with a tall jack, ride up, tie it off somehow while tilted, then slowly let 'er down, I wouldn't try it.  Sounds quite difficult to me.
I'd look into an extra wide ramp if I were you.  That should be effectively the same, without the tilt-down problem.

Or a metal mesh trailer with a ramp.

[asfltdncr]

I have a tilt bed and it takes a lot of hair to drive a Valk up onto the trailer.  My opinion is for the conventional tilt trailer, they must ride really low to minimize the angle.This causes problems when entering and exiting driveway entrances.
You have to drive up the ramp at a pretty severe angle until you reach that balance point where the trailer levels out.Now, what's going to happen to bike number 2?
I personally would not pay the extra money for a trailer to have a tilt feature.I would buy a multi-use trailer and buy ramps (one ramp for the bike and a lesser one for your feet so you don't fall over) that I could easily store on the trailer.

[Bruce J.]

I rode my son's smaller bike up on my tilt trailer last year. As I got to the middle, the trailer tilted forward, I tllted sidewise, let go of the bike, fell, broke the side railing on the trailer, and bruised myself. Fortunately, there was no damage to the bike. I loaded my Valk on the trailer once, but I drove it on and off by backing the trailer to a small hill so that a short plank was all that was necessary.

Putting the Valk on a 4 x 8 trailer illustrates how big of a bike it is.

[Rocketman]

This is what I use for loading my riding mower into the truck:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90018

I got it on sale for just over half the stated price.  If you're using it for a bike, you'd have to be careful where to put your feet.  The wheels/your feet might get down in the gaps of the ramp and make it tough.  You might want to put a solid surface on top of the ramp, but that's up to you. 

[solo1]

Thanks everyone, good advice.  I reread my post.  didn't mean to indicate that TWO bikes would be loaded, just one or the other.

 I'll just use the trailer without the tilt and maybe get ramps from Harbor Freight as Rocketman suggested, using plywood to cover up the holes on the foot ramps.  That might work. it would still leave me with tilt for a riding lawnmower.  The 'Hawk and/or the PC are short enough and high enough there shouldn't be any catching on the ramps(maybe and maybe not).   Might even be able to figure out a way to give a slight tilt to the trailer bed to lessen the angle of  the ramp to bed .  

Ideally, a backup to an unloading platform, dirt mound, dock, etc, but that can't be counted on.

I've looked at the angle iron trailers with the ramps.  i just don't like that ramp sticking up there.  Longer trailers store the ramp underneath but that wouldn't work here. Folding the ramp down into the bed doesn't make sense either unless the trailer is unloaded.

[Mikey]

If you wanted to use the tilt, but worry about the jarring, I would reccomend a shock absorber mounted underneath. That way, when you cross over, it will have something holding it back. Only drawback is you need some way to mount it, and to make sure the shock has enough travel.

[Bob E.]

I'm sure it would haul your Nighthawk just fine, but I wouldn't try riding a 2-wheel bike onto that trailer while in the tilt position.  We have an almost identical trailer that we use to haul an ATV (amongst other things) on.  We can ride the ATV up on it, but you need a decent run for some momentum because the tilted bed is a little steep...especially if the bed is wet or the tires are wet/muddy from riding...then you have to slam on the brakes and rock your body forward ahead of the pivot point to get the trailer to drop, all while trying not to drive off the front into the back of the truck.  When the bed drops to level, it doesn't drop hard or anything...but I wouldn't want to have to be holding up a heavy 2-wheeler while all that was going on.

[fudgie]

Should haul ok but its the loading. I have a 4x8 i use to haul my mower. I could get the mower on it but not far enough to make it tilt. Even had tractor tires on it. Had to have someone stand up front to weight it down. Swing on down to Markle, exit 86. There is a big trailer place that should be able to help you out and even make you one to fit it for what your doing.

[R J]

Wayne, I had a tilt trailer for quite some time.

Ended up welding the bed to the frame, so it would not tilt on me.

Hauled MGM on it once.   Was the only time MGM threw me off, like a bucking Bronco.

Go to Home Depot, buy one of their ramp trailers.  You will buy more trailers if you do this.   I went from my old tilt trailer to a Aluma Trailer to the one I have now.

The last one is all air ride, and the bed drops to the ground and then goes up to ride height using air bags and a compressor.........  I haul my lawn mowers, the kids chopper, MGM, and practically all of our other bikes.

Like I said, it is expensive, but at my age I love being able to do it all by myself no matter where I'm at.

http://adventuresportsproducts.com/

Look in their website for this trailer.





It has self storing straps, front wheel chock LED lights and Mag wheels, last 2 items are optional.

[solo1]

Lessee, I want the trailer primarily for a utility trailer.
I won't be tilting it.
It should work for the Nighthawk if I use Harbor Freight ramps.   If it doesn't, I won't..
The price is right for me.
The whole family can use it for just about any light hauling.
I'm set, now I'm just about ready to buy.

Speaking of buying, Fudgie, I'm getting it from I69 Trailers.  I looked at their trailers. This will do the job for me.

Tnx every one

[MarkT]

Just saw your question.  I had the same problem.  I used a Harbor freight trailer, and added a H-F hydraulic 4-ton jack in front, and chains for it to push against, to tilt the trailer so it is inline with the H-F folding ramp.  It's quite solid when the jack is fully raised and with the chains tensioned.  I reinforced the folding ramp with angle iron on the edges, and expanded steel on the center panel.  This arrangement lets me drive my Gold Wing on, with no chance of high centering it on the edge - it has much less clearance in the center than the Valk.  It cost me about $200 for all the mods - jack, deck, expanded aluminum for a traction surface, expanded steel & angle steel for the ramp, welded on tiedowns, brace on A-frame and fabricated front chock / jack adapter, front trailer screw jack, spray paint.  Of course I did the welding myself.

I pull the locking pins for the tilt, jack it up, place the ramp, drive the bike on, hit the kill switch in gear, put down the side stand, and just park it on the tilted ramp with the front wheel touching the wheel chock / jack adapter in front.  Then lower the jack, and tie it down.  Works well.

Oh yeah.  Not shown here - you need a chain on both sides of the jack for it to pull tightly against and be solid.

BTW - HF regularly puts this trailer on sale - I think I paid $300 for it.  Capacity 1900 lbs.  1 ton axle.  Some assembly required.  They also have a smaller one - not the right one for this.

[MNBill]

I added 18" on my 8' trailer so the first thing they would hit from the rear would be the trailer and not the bike. When I measured my standard it was close to 9' long and putting the ramp up with the bike on the 8' trailer would not work without hitting the rear fender.  I have a trailer with a ramp, 15" tires and it is Heavy Duty, like a 3500 lb trailer. I tow it behind my 5th wheel camper and can not see it, so I want the Maiden to be safe back there.

[houstone]

I borrowed one of these this summer, and took the Valk to Indiana.  It was pretty sporty riding up on it, and if my wife and son (and a couple of cinder blocks) weren't there to provide the extra down force, it wouldn't have worked.  The hill is s great idea, and if I borrow it again that's what I'll do.
Good luck!
Jeff

[BOZ]

Take a look at this. Might be a good alternative to steep ramps.
http://www.tiltahitch.com/index.htm

[Joe Hummer]

My trailer isn't a tilt bed but is pretty close to the same size as the trailer you are looking at...5X7. 

Here are some pictures of my Valk on my trailer. 





As you can see, there isn't much room on the trailer for a bike the size of the I/S. 

Joe

[Fathertime]

  For what its worth:
  4x8 works just fine for my Standard. With the wheel chock all the way forward but still securely fastened my rear tire is firmly on the trailer with a couple of inches to spare.  Now, if I had raked forks things might be different!  My trailer also tilts, and I'd NEVER consider driving "Val" up on the bed with it tilted.  That "flop" when you hit the tilt point is just too much for my old bones.
  A while ago, for a non bike related need, I got a inexpensive set of ramps at Lowes, ripped some 1/4" lauan to width and using self taping hex head screws attached the ripped plywood to the ramps so the holes between the rails were covered.  Now, the thing is, these ramps are NOT rated to support Val, so before a long trip I ended up getting a sturdy metal ramp about 6 feet long from my local dealer.  This ramp is rated for like 1200 lbs or so and cost about 100 bucks or so.
  So, when its time to trailer the baby, I use the metal ramp to ride up on, placing the cheaper ramps on either side just so I can have a place to put my feet down on if I need to.  Once Val is strapped down, all three ramps nestle together and get strapped down to the bed of the trailer also.  Total time to put all three ramps up is less than 5 minutes (including lots of "eyeballing") and the stability factor is outstanding for me.
  No charge, and you get what you pay for!

[229857]

Just back from a ride on the Dragon. I used a 10' tilt trailer getting from Memphis to Marysville and back. Fabricated a front wheel chock and lateral support out of 2x4s and bolted that to/thru the mesh bed. Getting on was a trick; released and tilted the back to the ground, placed a wood block in the frame gap so it was held up. Maneuvered the front wheel to just on the back edge, kickstand down, removed the block, stand up, slowly drove forward. Back tire was well on before the bed started to roll flat. Into the chock. Left in gear. Engine off. Strapped and go. Off load was simpler, just release straps and tilt pin, get on trailers front end and slowly roll backwards with hand on front brake until the tilt bed rolled me off.

[cmawest]

this is just my own opinion but here goes. I have been licenced to ride for over 40 years, when I got to where I couldn't get my bike off the ground or up on a trailer I did what all of us at this age needs to do. I sold the new corvette, bought a older one and used the extra cash to buy a trike kit from the trike shop in minn.

I have never regretted that move, I can ride in comfort all day, and guys I ride around 15K every year. it draws 100 times the attention the valk did before triking, so you better like talking to folks.

we just need to realize that when our knees go, we cannot control a big heavy bike in an emergency situation anymore, if you cannot get it on a trailer then man its time.

the up side is that there are very few riders good enough to keep up with an independent rear end trike in the corners, they handle like my vette. tires last 40K miles, trailering it is simple and safe as trailering a car. send me an e-mail address and i'll send you a photo of mine and you will see how nice thy can be.

think about it.

[Hoser]

The best I ever owned for bikes, a golf cart trailer.  I moved the chock onto the tongue, 8 by 5, low chassis so it don't drag, feet on the ground all the way on and off.  Works great for mowers too.  Hoser 

[tonyfan70]

My current trailer is an old sled trailer that tilts. Bob E was dead on with the ATV description. I never thought I'd be using it for my Magna or Valk, they're Hondas right?

Well, last fall I lost the front stem at speed on the Valk. Trying to get that bike on a tilt trailer period would of been a real bitch. Trying to get that bike on the trailer with a flat tire, in a ditch, by myself was...a real bitch. I did leave some big smoky burnouts on the deck though.

I bought a Pingel chock. Then I decided it's time to ride the ole Magna but the carbs were gummed and on the trailer it went. Easier but still frightening to me. It really takes 2, the other person to force the trailer down. I can barely get it down leaning all the way forward on either bike.

BTW careful how you tighten your bikes down everyone. Seems like common knowledge, but without the chock I got sooo anxious about the Valk tipping after I got it on board, that now I get to replace my fork seals as well. 

Bottom line for me? My next trailer won't tilt and EVERY bike might need trailered once in a while. Harleys more than most

[BF]

Arn't tilt trailers designed to get loads off of them more easier than to get loads on them?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Arn't tilt trailers designed to get loads off of them more easier than to get loads on them?

They are great for snowmobiles 

[V-SIX DS#121]

I'm seriously thinking of buying this trailer. It would be used for possibly hauling my 750 Nighhawk or my oldest son's Pacific Coast.  I'm primarily buying it for hauling riding lawnmowers, a portable generator, etc.

Inside deminsion is 5x 8 feet, big enough for these two motorcycles but probably not for my others sons Valkyries.  I already have a Pingle chock (removable) and so it should work.  Hauling cap is 1500 pounds. Floor is 3/4" treated plywood and it has four tiedowns.

Here's the question.  This is a tilt bed as you can see.  Has any one had experience riding a motorcycle up on a tilt bed?  Keep in mind, my knees aren't the greatest.  I might have to load it myself.  The bed height is 18 inches so there is a fair angle here. 

My thoughts.  It'll work or it'll jar me when the tilt comes down and I could drop it, or it won't work and I'll have to use a ramp, which, for me, is another problem.  C'mon guys give me your experience.

Wayne, solo1

I had a  tilt trailer made by my Cummunity College Welding Shop a while back.   I was called by th shop instructor and ask if I would bring the bike to the shop so he could look at it.  After he lookd it over, he said it would work unless unless I had a shock installed on the trailer.  I did and it worked great.  Slow loading and unloading, but simple.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

  Holy Thread Resurrection, Batman 

[Troystg]

Ordered the trailer and had it delivered to the house the bike was at in Dallas.  Flew to Dallas and bought the car, drove to the house that had the bike and bought the bike.  The owner (Greg) was nice enough to have already assembled the trailer.  Loaded the bike and drove them both back to DC...

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/102799278299264325476/albums/6009206794784943073/6009231161868101186?pid=6009231161868101186&oid=102799278299264325476

Still using the trailer today and it has paid for itself 10 times already...

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

OK I have a 4X8 harbor freight tilt bed trailer that I haul a 2000 interstate on. It is about a foot off the ground at the rear and the tilt is very steep and not fun to ride up but the trailer will not tilt back level until the wheel is in the chock and bike is fully loaded. What I did was limit the tilt to a much lesser angle with some short chains attached to the front of the bed and the tongue of the trailer. It tilts enough that with a 40in wide ramp that is 48in long the drive on is straight with no high point where the ramp and trailer meet. After the bike the bike is loaded the ramp slides under bike between the wheels on the bike  and is held down by a ratchet strap  until time to unload. I mounted my haulmaster chock as far forward as I could and the rear fender is almost flush with the rear of the trailer. I have hauled my bike at least 3000 miles on this setup at speed of 75mph  with no problems at all.