What's the best way to transport motorcycles?

August 19, 2008 2:46 PM

I'm taking two motorcycles on vacation. Should I use a trailer or put them in the bed of my pickup?

So here's the stats:

Truck
1997 Toyota Tacoma 2WD
automatic
towing capacity - approximately 3500 lbs
payload capacity - undetermined, but probably around 1000lbs

Bikes - 1993 BMW K75 (~500 lbs), 2003 Ninja 250R (~300lbs)

Here are some of the complications:

1. I've never towed anything with this truck. It's got a bumper hitch and hookup for the lights, but I'm unsure of the bumper hitch capacity.

2. I've put both bikes in individually with no problem, but not both together, which I'll try tomorrow.

3. I'll be in the Adirondacks, which means hills. Not terribly steep, but hills nonetheless.

4. It definitely rides lower with the K75 in the bed, but nothing too serious. Shocks/springs are generally good.

5. The K75 is significantly heavier than the Ninja. Approximately 1 fat guy heavier.

6. Cargo space is not really an issue. We should be able to fit our stuff in the bed even if the bikes are there.

7. Riding the bikes there isn't an option, since the wife is still learning to ride and it's ~600 miles.

So the questions:

1. Truck or trailer?
2. Will the weight difference cause any issues? Any way to mitigate this?
3. Is it safe to use the bumper hitch for ~1000 lbs (bikes + trailer)?

posted by electroboy to travel & transportation (11 answers total)

I wouldn't trust a bumper hitch with a two-bike trailer... you should get a class C for that. Can you even fit two bikes in the bed of a Tacoma? I can't put two bikes in my Ranger's bed. You might can if you put the K-bike in forwards and the EX250 in backwards. Maybe put the K-bike in the bed and put the EX on a single-rail trailer?
posted by workerant at 3:04 PM on August 19, 2008

If they both fit (and can be tied down properly) I would definitely suggest going with no trailer.

The trailer will be:
-long
-inconvenient to park
-inconvenient to maneuver and back up
-extra weight to drag up and down the hills
-another thing that can break and mess up your vacation

The only pros that I can think of:
-Most trailers have an easy ramp for loading and unloading
-You can often park a trailer somewhere and leave it there and be able to get around town without the bulk (though maybe you will be able to do this with the bikes as is)

Depending on what kind of trailer you get, it may also have a connection for brakes as well as lights. If that is the case, you will need to purchase a brake controller as well(if your truck does not already have one).

Summary:
If you can get away without the trailer from a payload and storage perspective, I would lean very hard to the "no-trailer" side.

Enjoy your vacation!
posted by milqman at 3:05 PM on August 19, 2008

Canyon Dancers are pretty effective, although regular ratcheting tie-downs loop over handlebars just fine.
posted by piedmont at 3:05 PM on August 19, 2008

I wouldn't use a bumper hitch to tow anything, but that is just my opinion.

If you can fit both bikes in the bed of the truck, you've eliminated the weight of the trailer from the equation.. I can't believe that the combined weight of the bikes is overloading the bed.

Have fun! be safe!
posted by HuronBob at 3:06 PM on August 19, 2008

ETA: You'll need a hand putting two bikes in the bed of the truck, if it can be done at all. You have to thread your tiedowns through the wheel of the other bike. Have your wife help.
posted by workerant at 3:06 PM on August 19, 2008

1: It's a lot easier to get the bikes into and out of a low-slung trailer with a wide ramp than it is to put them in and out of the truck, if that matters. On the other hand, it's a lot easier to back up a truck without a trailer attached.

2: What weight difference? I'm not sure what you are asking here. You can buy overload springs or air assist shocks, if the back sags too much with the load. Or do you mean the additional weight of the trailer on the uphills?

3: Are you sure the trailer is only 200 pounds? Check this — most trailers are significantly heavier. Anyway, the bumper hitch should be good for around 2000 pounds or so (the rating should be stamped near the hitch ball); adding a receiver hitch is really easy (and gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of keeping the trailer level and adding accessories like bike racks and so forth) — looking online, I see them for about $200, and installation can be done in an hour or so.

Personally, I'd use a trailer to avoid the hassle of loading the truck, and would add a receiver hitch first to be sure about tow ratings and so on.
posted by Forktine at 3:10 PM on August 19, 2008

electroboy: "I'm taking two motorcycles on vacation. Should I use a trailer or put them in the bed of my pickup?

3. Is it safe to use the bumper hitch for ~1000 lbs (bikes + trailer)?"

To simply answer this part of the question... The bumper hitch is likely a Class I hitch, and entirely safe depending on tongue weight. If you are thinking about renting a trailer, the rental company should evaluate your setup regardless. Your manual might mention this specifically (ie, confirm it is infact a Class I rated hitch).

A Class I hitch is rated to tow a 2000lb load with a 200lb tongue weight.
posted by SirStan at 4:27 PM on August 19, 2008

If I had a truck which would safely and efficiently carry two motorcycles, I wouldn't even consider a trailer.

Buy a ramp, use the truck.
posted by imjustsaying at 4:30 PM on August 19, 2008

"Is it safe to use the bumper hitch for ~1000 lbs (bikes + trailer)? "

Your bumper hitch will have a rating stamped into it right next to the ball mounting hole. I can't imagine one having a rating of less than a 1000lbs but you should make sure.

Your trailer and bikes will probably weigh more than a 1000 lbs as 200 lbs doesn't get you much; three tires, a coupler and an axle assembly is already well over a 100lbs and you haven't got a frame or anything to set the bikes on. Still most bumper hitches are rated at 2000lbs.

The big problem with a bumper hitch is they are so tall. You want your trailer to ride level and it's unlikely your bumper is at the same height as your trailer coupler. Enter the reciever hitch (about $250 installed) which allows you to customize ball height with an appropriate drawbar. Go for a 2" class III or better as the slight extra cost over something lighter is well worth the increased flexibility.

The trailer will be a lot easier to load. You've only got 40 odd inches between the truck wheel wells, your trailer is going to have more. A flatbed trailer won't have sides in the way when tieing down. Plus you can put tie downs easily where ever you want without drilling into your box or having them in the way for other stuff. And the ramp you need to load into the bed of your truck counts against your GVW. Your GVW is between 1600 and 1750 pounds but that is the limit for everything in your truck (you, your wife, your luggage, cooler of snacks, tools, tiedowns, ramp, straps, gas (Truck: 90 lbs, Ninja: 24, BMW 33) and your bikes).

I don't mind pulling a trailer but it is something you need to think about a bit.
posted by Mitheral at 5:01 PM on August 19, 2008

Forgot to add a couple details:

1. My father in law has a bike trailer available, one of the three rail deals, something like this. Pretty low slung, pretty light.

2. Both bikes will physically fit in the bed and I won't have any trouble tying them down, but the tailgate will have to be down to fit both, which complicates bringing other stuff.


Right now I'm leaning towards the trailer just for the convenience of being able to carry additional stuff in the bed. Loading the bikes is kind of a pain, but I'll only have to do it once on each end. I'll probably head up to the FIL's house Thursday and try it out. I'm leaving Saturday, so it should leave enough time to install a receiver hitch if the bumper looks dicey.

Thanks for all the advice. Definitely some issues raised that I hadn't considered.
posted by electroboy at 10:49 PM on August 19, 2008

If anyone cares, I used the trailer with the bumper hitch. The truck performed surprisingly well, the engine got a little hot on long steep hills, but overall we got about 19-20 mpg. My brother towed the trailer back and we got about 30 mpg, so quite a difference. Dad recommended a transmission cooler for future trips, noting that the transmission can overheat without the engine overheating.
posted by electroboy at 11:32 AM on September 2, 2008