how much can our cycles tow?

[cookiedough]

would our Valks or a Goldwing be able to pull this?

https://madison.craigslist.org/rvs/d/hartford-super-lightweight-camper/6845946005.html

Is nice besides the dent in front.  Has electricity,  power inverter, a/c,  plug ins,  nice sofa, and nice bed.  All the creature comforts of home except the poddy...

[Valker]

would our Valks or a Goldwing be able to pull this?

https://madison.craigslist.org/rvs/d/hartford-super-lightweight-camper/6845946005.html

Is nice besides the dent in front.  Has electricity,  power inverter, a/c,  plug ins,  nice sofa, and nice bed.  All the creature comforts of home except the poddy...

Looks towable by a Valk, but can it STOP with a Valk....that's my question.

[John Schmidt]

Hey Cookie.....no potty....just camp near some trees. Like I told my wife one time years ago when on a trip with our Wing, she made me stop in a forested area so she could go so I told her to watch out for butt snakes. Told her they're attracted to anything light colored...like butt skin, panties, etc.  Not sure why, she didn't find it amusing. She didn't go into the woods very far either so just to bug her a little I went off to one side and made some rustling noises with leaves and branches. I suddenly heard something crashing through the brush toward the road....it was her all wide-eyed, said there was something over in the woods and we needed to get moving real quick. I didn't tell her for a couple years it was me making that noise. Still not amused for some reason. 

As for campers, some weigh a few hundred lbs. and the bikes seem to handle it OK. Not sure I would want to try it with this one though, looks even heavier and I also question the bike being able to stop once it's rolling.

[sandy]

I towed a Roll-A-Home tent trailer for 10 years. It weighed about 310 with a spare tire. Loaded with my camping gear it topped 400+. Pulling was tough at times and I got 25 MPG at 65 MPH. Stopping it in the rain was nearly impossible. When I got an '05 wing, MPG's went up to 35-40 and stopping was no problem. Find out what it weighs before making any commitments.

[cookiedough]

I towed a Roll-A-Home tent trailer for 10 years. It weighed about 310 with a spare tire. Loaded with my camping gear it topped 400+. Pulling was tough at times and I got 25 MPG at 65 MPH. Stopping it in the rain was nearly impossible. When I got an '05 wing, MPG's went up to 35-40 and stopping was no problem. Find out what it weighs before making any commitments.

was not expecting that one that a goldwing brakes are that much better than our Valks are. Plus, 10 more mpg, wonder why so much since unloaded the goldwings get, or so most say,  2-4 more mpg than our VAlks do on average.  slightly bigger engine/fuel injection and maybe slightly better braking makes that much difference?

good to know that max 400lbs. but preferably 250lbs. loaded on down or less, especially riding 2-up.  I know riding with my wife and loaded down all 3 bags another 50lbs. or so,  does make my Valk I/S slow down a tad bit slower at stops, but not horrible.  Same goes for speed up from a stop, not bad, but not going to win any races loaded down either.  Hardest part I have on uneven pavement loaded down riding 2-up is stopping since somewhat short legged pushing 30 inch inseam and uneven pavement from left to right sometimes catches me off guard when trying to plant my feet down on pavement.

[Dave Ritsema]

It weighs 645 pounds empty. Figure at least 150 additional pounds conservatively when your stuff is added. That is basically the same weight as the Valk.
Good luck stopping it.

[Pete]

At 650+ lb and +gear and +wife, I would say DO NOT DO IT.

Just my personal opinion.

[Andy Cote]

I'm thinking that weighs closer to 1000 lbs with the AC and the size of it.  If you decide to tow it, electric brakes would be a must.  As stated above, stopping would be a concern.

Also you should consider the sail area for wind loading.  You probably just saw on the news of some semi-trailers being blown over by cross winds.  Happens to regular campers behind pickups.  Of course you would not go out in these type severe conditions but you still need to be aware of just trucks passing you.

Storytime.
Can you tow it?  Yes.  One cold January day back in the fifties, my dad could not get his tow truck started.  Then he couldn't get Mom's car started.  But he did get his four cylinder Henderson to fire up!  He tied a rope to the Henderson and the truck and with my mother at the wheel, pulled the truck to jump start it.  If only there was youtube!    

[Willow]

would our Valks or a Goldwing be able to pull this?

https://madison.craigslist.org/rvs/d/hartford-super-lightweight-camper/6845946005.html

Is nice besides the dent in front.  Has electricity,  power inverter, a/c,  plug ins,  nice sofa, and nice bed.  All the creature comforts of home except the poddy... 

Mine wouldn't.  Yours might.

[da prez]

  I have pulled a thousand pounds with my Valk. Stopping is the issue. I have done it a few times. Trailer brakes is a must. There was a video some time back where a wing (?) was towing a car with a special made tow dolly. I think it was in Europe. Towing is  a real issue with the nimrod drivers out there.

                                      da prez

[old2soon]

             Similar subject. I have gotten under a few semi trailers with less then decent braking on the trailers part. With a load and questionable brakes on said semi it gives a whole New meaning to pucker factor. In 16 I had a Lot of what da prez was looking to sell at that Inzane in my H/F pull behind along with my gear. A couple of the hills and curves on that trip made fer a few "interesting" situations. I've had a bit of experience pulling trailers-drove semi about 40 years. If that trailer yer lookin at does NOT have brakes fergit it. If it does have brakes make SURE they work. If going on a trip with that trailer new pads on the M/C Before leaving I M H O would Be an Excellent idea. Lotsa good ideas here cookie and lotsa good information. Can't say you haven't been informed and warned,  RIDE SAFE.

[vanavyman]

With trailer brakes you could pull it with a Wing. Much better with a Trike. I would not pull it with my Interstate. I’ve always gotten about 10mpg more on my Goldwing than my Interstate.
Dan

[MarkT]

I pulled a Timeout camper with A/C and plenty of camping gear to Morgantown from CO 3 years back with Jade (97 Valk).  I added electric brakes when I got back.  I stayed on the interstates most of the way to prevent right-of-way infringements. Driving down the steep hills of Morgantown was interesting.  The trailer wasn't weighed but I'm sure it was at least 650 lbs.  Had no trouble pulling it but I wouldn't want to have to panic stop. Mileage avaraged 23 but got as low as 17 when normal mileage is 34.  Had and needed the belly tank.  Even so got fuel starvation at 65mph and up hills and when the days got hotter.  Fixed that when I got back.  Hitch weight was too light so I had to keep speeds down when there was any gusts or trucks in front or passing.  I fixed that too by welding on a large cooler frame on the tongue and then load the cooler with enough ice and water etc to ensure plenty of tongue weight.

I didn't have a sofa but did have a toilet.  And indoor dining table, extra room (garage sized), stove, cooler, chairs, Coleman lanterns, fuel cans, electric lights, fan, cooking equipment.  Looks to me like your sofa wastes a lot of premium space.  Pictured in my signature is Jade and the Timeout as loaded on that trip.  I much prefer towing my HF Tagalong cargo trailer - weighs much less, is streamlined, affects handling, acceleration, mileage and braking much less.  Even w/o brakes.  Hauls all the camping gear I need.  This one is modified - 12" wheels, custom suspension, cooler frame, front stand, spare tire, LED lights, tiedowns inside, fenders removed.



I haven't rigged my wing to tow so can't comment there.

I'd say your bike will pull it but ensure good tongue weight, have trailer brakes (you can add them but it cost me $500 plus my labor), ride with extra space in front - limited access 4 lanes like the interstates is a good idea and be especially wary elsewhere - avoid hard braking, wait for the rain to stop, and be sure you have the larger orifice Dan-Marc.  A belly tank is nice as your mileage will drop a lot.

[Rams]

How much can our bikes tow?   Much more than they can stop.

Rule of thumb I was told to follow, with trailer brakes, never exceed the loaded weight of the tow vehicle, without trailer brakes, cut the towed weight in half of the loaded total of the towing vehicle.     Throw tongue weight into this and apply appropriately.    Now consider braking tires.    Half the available braking tires on our bikes.  Do the math an apply as you see fit.  

Rams

[Chrisj CMA]

It's not just gross weight, you also need to know tongue weight. With very little control of weight distribution on a camper like that, too much tongue weight will cause unsafe handling and excessive tire wear.

[Oss]

I can vouch that a Valkyrie interstate with 2 people on it pulling a fully loaded Bustec trailer is a bear to stop going downhill in the rain off the Blue Ridge Parkway (I think it was on 43 north of Roanoke a ways back)

Good rule of thumb dont make any sudden moves.

The great thing about the Bushtec is you dont know its back there at high speed (70-95mph) provided you loaded it properly and 10% tongue weight  I have a scale I use before riding after loading it up

Also make sure your shocks are in good condition, leaky shock will kill you pulling a trailer as bouncing can lead to ocillation much like a side to side improperly loaded trailer can easily kill you

YMMV and this is just my 2 cents

[vanavyman]

  Before we bought Trish's Valkyrie Interstate Trike we would ride 2-up over 90% of the time pulling a larger trailer.  On our 05 GL1800 Goldwing we would pull an Escapade trailer that would hold over 500lbs total weight.  I always felt a little uncomfortable when trying to stop in the rain, especially in the mountains.  With my Valkyrie Interstate we always pull our Bushtec Roadstar trailer that does track great like OSS mentions, but the brakes don't stop as well as a Goldwing.  All of these experiences led to us buying the 2009 Goldwing with ABS brakes so I'd feel more comfortable riding in the rain, 2-up pulling the loaded trailer.
Dan

[Jess from VA]

I understand the advantages of a trailer, and enjoyment of camping and communing with nature (and saving motel expense).

But I've never once had the desire to pull a trailer on a motorcycle.

I've never piled my bike super high with gear either. 

If I don't get some run down, buggy, dim, motel room with drunken neighbors having noisy headboard-banging sex half the night, I get homesick. 

It makes you wistful just thinking about it doesn't it?   

[t-man403]

[MarkT]

NFW.  Gotta be posed for the pic I'm thinkin.