trailer

[Jruby38]

What a good setup for a bike trailer? I have a small suv 4x4 v6 rated to tow 3000 max.  Will the Valk fit on an 8 foot trailer with a harbor freight front wheel drive on wheel chock and lock or do I need a 10 foot for this BUICK.

[Bruce J.]

I used my 8 ft HF trailer once to haul mine home after ruining a rear tire. It was a very tight fit. If I was buying a trailer to haul the Valk, I'd go with a 10 ft.

[ShiftHappens]

I hauled my 99 Interstate home from PO with a Uhaul 5x9 (there are 2 models and I specifically asked for the one with the motorcycle slot). There was not much extra room. I did pick up some nice straps from Home depot that are specifically designed for motorcycles that worked great.

[Fathertime]

Personally use the HF 4x8.
My girl fits on, 6" to spare.  Tight but it works

[MarkT]

HF 4X8.  Rated nearly 2,000 lbs - this is the heavier duty one they sell.  Note in this montage, middle pic - I installed a crossbar and a hydraulic jack with chains (installed the second chain after this pic) - pump up the jack until the chains are tight, then the trailer bed is aligned with the ramp.  This means I can drive my low clearance Gold Wing on, put down the stand & leave it in gear, then lower the jack.  No high-center problems.  The ramp is HF's tri-fold, I reinforced it so the center panel can handle the weight.

This trailer draws well, I don't even know it's back there, and it only pulls the mileage down 0.5 mpg on the Exploder.  This trailer is much more practical if you're only hauling one bike, then a bigger one - I made a larger trailer that hauls 3 bikes; using it to haul one it really trashes the mileage.

They put this trailer on sale regularly, I think for $300.  Another $150 for the deck, anti-skid expanded metal grate, paint, welded on tiedown anchors, and ramp (also on sale), hydraulic jack (also on sale) and some scrap metal from the shop to make the chock, and I have a very useful single-bike trailer.

[YoungPUP]

What ever trailer you decide to put it on, PLEASE use properly rated straps.  A coworker just bought a Destroyed '06 wing ( had to read the honda tags to know that it was a wing)  that was tied down on a trailer before the wreck and well away from the trailer afterwards.  Remember that this is a 1000lb bike. It may be overkill, but I use the yellow  Trucker style ratchet straps.  4 of them, (each rated at something like 6000lb ea)  My bike may be destroyed during a crash, but its going to take the trailer with it...