Hauling motorcycles

[JB848]

Yup that's the one but not where I was going to get it from. Even if the tonge weight could handle it I don't think a vehicle as small as the Escape suspension and stability wise could handle it any way. Plus the side mount rack would stick out the sides not to mention the Bike!

So yeah I am seriously contemplating the hitch no matter what and I think I will either make my own or get the caddy just to have when I want to take the bike with me or when I have to drive too, and or in a pinch take it to the shop or pick it up in a break down (crosses fingers) which should never happen. I have free towing up to 30 miles to a shop or home with my insurance but heck 30 miles is less then a short joy ride for me anyway so it's a nice option.

[tt_four]

How do hitches attach?? Do they bolt on to your frame, or do they just welded on? I've seen some online for my wife's nissan versa, but I'm not sure if it'd just be easier to show up to a uhaul and have them put everything on. It looks like cars just have plugs straight into the wiring harness for the lights, which would help, but I wouldn't even know where to begin to find the plug.

[BaltimoreGS]

You drive a Versa!    

Just kidding.  I actually like the practicality of a small car in the city verse a pick up truck.  Most of the hitches I've installed have been direct bolt ons.  Sometimes the urethane bumper covers had to be cut/modified to accommodate the hitch.  I'm sure there are other applications I'm not familiar with that are more involved.  The wiring tends to be a bit trickier on cars than on trucks.  Most newer trucks come with a pigtail already in the factory wiring harness to connect to trailer wiring.  With cars you tend to have to splice into one of the tail light's wiring harness.

This hitch looks like it is a direct bolt on for your car:  http://www.etrailer.com/pc-H~24798.htm?vehicleid=20089868

This wire harness is a bit pricey but it is also a direct fit:  http://www.autoanything.com/towing/77A3875A3068534.aspx?kc=ffsku

I'm assuming the wire harness will plug inline with one of the taillight wire harness connector.  Simply put: remove connector from the tail light, plug connector into this harness, then plug the trailer harnesses connector back into the tail light.

-Jessie

[tt_four]

Haha, my wife drives a versa, with little window cling hearts on the back window. I'm not above driving anything, but I don't even have a car. If you really want to pick on me, I'd go with the fact that I own a moped. I haven't gotten it to run properly since my wife brought it home for me last summer, but I do have it, and it is classy. You'll see it pop up randomly when I post pictures of other projects in my basement, such as this picture from that old "let's see your workspace" discussion.....


Our next car will probably be a subaru outback wagon, I don't know if that's better or worse. We can fit a ton of stuff in her car, but unfortunately not always enough. It's just too small to fit more than a few 8 foot studs in it. I can stash a full 700c road bike in it without pulling anything off. She brought a moped home in the back once, which makes me feel like I could fit a cb125 in there if I had to, I can't think of what else.

Yeah, from what I saw with connectors it looks like they'll just plug into the wiring harness, which would be nice. I'll have to crawl under her car someday when it warms up and see what it looks like. A whole hitch setup for $200 would be cool with me. I know she'd also like to find a small pop up camper or something a long those lines someday. It obviously couldn't be too big with our car, but I bet they make some that aren't too heavy. Her parents have always had RVs and traveled, so I think she'd like something, especially because traveling with 2 65-70 dogs can be a hassle as far as hotels go.

[BaltimoreGS]

I want to travel cross country in the near future. I originally planned on going by motorcycle but the more I think about it a fuel efficient car with a small trailer would be more practicle.  I saw these trailers while watching The Price Is Right during my unemployment:  http://www.golittleguy.com/teardrops/

A bit pricey but I like the idea     Wonder if I could build something on that HF trailer frame....

-Jessie

[tt_four]

I don't know but that definitely looks cool. To be honest though, I think if you're gonna pull something that small you'd do just as well to use a tent, or have a car with back seats that fold down. Actually, if you want it to be sealed in, I bet that's exactly what it would be like to have a pick up truck with one of those bed covers/caps that you could just stick a full sized mattress in.

How much do they go for? There's no prices on their website. You know what I think would actually be awesome for cross country driving, if you can get over the child raping stereotypes, is one of these things....


The site that one was listed on had a couple listed for $500-700. If I had a redneck front yard that I could keep it in when I wasn't using it, and had a truck, I would be all over one of those things. I think it's nice enough that I could actually leave my dogs in it for a couple hours while we actually did random things(assuming the temperature stays moderate, I really have no idea how hot/cold they get in normal weather), which would be great for vacations.

You could definitely build something nice on one of the HF trailers. When I was looking them up on line I saw trailers like tat in various stages of being built up into other things. Just box it in nice with a sky light, put a pull out couch up against the back of it and you'd be in business.

[lilwoody]

I'm with TT. I've done a lot of tent camping and with a air mattress it is just fine. We spent 5 days in a tent this last summer while we were riding the GS in the Mts of west NC and East Tn. You could then haul your GS in a small trailer and really see the country hopping from spot to spot. Wifie and I will be riding from West NC to Northern Ohio via Richmond Va. this summer on the GS. We'll be doing the hotel thing though.

[BaltimoreGS]

lilwoody- If you haven't finalized your route yet consider including Pocohontas County, West Virginia in your trip, that is some of the best riding on the east coast.  Rt. 250 through the Monongahela National Forest is beautiful and the twisty switch backs will keep a smile on your face all day.  Stop in Helvatia (Population: 216) AT The Hutte Restaurant located at the intersection in town for the best peach cobbler you will ever have!  If you want to meet up with other riders stay at the Boyer Station restaurant, motel and campground.  I hope to make it back down there later this year   

-Jessie

[tt_four]

There's one other method we all managed to forget, the old 'plywood over a fold up ladder and 15 ratchet straps' method

[jeremy_nash]

I like my bike too much to try that.  plus I have a small trailer I made out of a jet-ski trailer, and a hitch on my dodge neon

[jeremy_nash]

looks like it should be on www.thereifixedit.com

[MXFun86]

We have this show down here called "The New Inventors". Each week three inventions from Aust come before a panel of 3 judges who decide which is the winner. If you invent something from recycled material which will bio degrade, costs pennies and will give clean water to the 3rd world while saving the whales and dolphins and polar bears at the same time, you'll win. Even if no-one would buy the thing.

ANywho. These guys came on with a motorcycle tie down system. Here's the bit on the show about it http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s2557435.htm

Strangely, they won. Competed against a Horse Blanket and a thing to help parents remember what to put in kids school bags (People Choice winner - must be all the grannies who watch the show who voted for it. After all, they once voted for a quilt fabric cutter as their choice... like WHO makes quilts?)

Well, they sell it from their website http://www.kyaracing.com.au and through all bike mags in the country.

Quite ingenious really... and available to those in the USA as well.


Michael

MWAH HA HA HA HA!!!  Strap ur bikes down while you's strain spaghetti's you scurvy cur!!!!

[mister]

Just found these guys....


This same trailer can also be a Box trailer a flatbed trailer and even a boat trailer. Made in Aust and they say they can Export them...  http://www.easytrailer.com.au/

Michael

[JB848]

OK so here's the review! I bought this and I have to say!

I am more mechanically inclined then most but this was advertised as a bolt on class III tow hitch for the 01-04 Ford Escape but Jesus! I watched the video before I purchased it and it was OK not great. The directions had a 4 rating on difficulty so I was leary of it to say the least.

I installed this completely in 25 minutes in my slippers! Originally I just wanted to see how hard it was going to be and to my surprise;

It came with a little wire to fish through a very small hole at the rear of the chassis to 3 holes on each side. It was bent in a coil and you thread the bolt on to it. Now I have experience fishing walls installing cable of any kind for 20+ year but the way this wire is bent the wire actually came out each hole by itself with no effort.

I endorse this hitch 100% had I known how easy it was I would have put this on the day after I bought the Escape. It only cost 150$. I had my bike picked up about a year ago to take to the shop and that was 50$. Do the math. I am now looking for a similar hitch for the GF's Durango. It just don't make sense to have vehicle that is capable of towing something and not have it installed.

[BaltimoreGS]

Finally got around to trying out my single motorcycle trailer   

-Jessie

[Suzuki Stevo]

EDIT: I'm not talking about the Honda above, just transporting bikes in general
Those poor front fork springs! Remove the front fender and then cut a 4x4 that just clears under the lower triple and the top of the now exposed front tire, NOW cinch it down...you are compressing the front tire now and not your springs....I CRINGE every time I see the front forks sucked down hard on a bike being transported!  
And on the rear, secure the rear tire..and NOTHING ELSE!
When I transport a bike I try and use very little or NO compressing of the suspension in the transporting process.

I'm an Old Fart...trust me, I don't make this stuff up as I go along  

[JB848]

Nice light little rig. I got a trailer too I forgot about this thread!



Here is what I ended up with it's hard to store but I can take both bikes where ever I want!

[BaltimoreGS]

Nice light little rig. I got a trailer too I forgot about this thread!



Here is what I ended up with it's hard to store but I can take both bikes where ever I want!

Nice!     I'm working on making a 2/1 bike trailer out of a cheap folding trailer and some Pingel wheel chocks.  I'll post some pics if I ever finish it   

-Jessie