Who Tows A Trailer Behind Their Nomad?

[cheriann]

I got hubby the tow bar/ball setup from Chuckster (Thank you Chuck!!!) and we are now shopping seriously for a trailer. So, I REALLY would like to hear from others what it is like to tow with a bike!!!!

A really good friend of ours offered to loan us his trailer for our trips this summer, but we don't want to risk anything happening to somebody else's trailer when hubby has never towed with a bike before.

Here is a serious question I have....how do you take turns? Do you still lean very much? We have a trip in July with some family and friends to TN that will eventually lead us back to Trail of the Dragon. I can't imagine trying to take that road with a trailer!!! Should we not try to tow a trailer for that trip?

Please help!

By the way, here is the tow bar installed, but he still needs to get the wiring harness. (Darn, one more question, please....he wants to get that pin that locks the ball on so nobody can steal it. Does an auto store, like Pep Boys or Auto Zone sell a pin for the smaller hitches like these?)






THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[phenrichs]

Check out the deplhi motorcycle trailer towing forum. There you will find more information than you know what to do with.

Many members here that tow trailers are memebers over there too.

[MikeInFla]

I tow a trailer and have taken it to Helen Ga. (near the dragon).
You can lean pretty far with the trailer before the ball reaches the limit. If your worried about it you can always purchase a swivel hitch. That's just a receiver for the hitch that will allow your bike to lean as far as you can.

After the first hour or so he won't even know the trailer is back there. Just make sure you pack it correctly and you won't have any problems. When we went riding during the day, I lock the trailer up at the hotel and rode without it. I suggest you do the same.

[coacha]

I have pulled a camper trailer and my cargo trailer behind the nomad. The major difference with towing a trailer is going to be stopping distance and reaction time with the trailer. It will take longer to take off and stop with it back there, more so with the camper for me because of its weight.

Turning and cornering are a not much of an issue as long as you remember that you have to go a tad slower and be toward the center of the lane instead of inside or outside of the lane.

As OP suggested, it would be beneficial for you to visit the Delphi board "Motorcycle Trailer Towing" board that is linked below. There are many people on the board that have years and years of experience pulling trailers behind bikes from 650's up to what ever is on the road today. They are more than happy to answer questions about any subject.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/MCTrailertowing/start

[kioti]

I have towed a trailer for about 10,000 miles, towed my camper to Coos Bay, OR 4800 miles round trip last summer. Once you get started towing you will find several excuses to tow your trailer.
Just remember adjust your stopping distances and allow plenty of time starting and stopping.
After a few miles you will forget it is back there.
My main trailer is a homemade Harbor Freight trailer cut down to slightly wider than my Nomad with an aluminum tool box mounted on top.

You will enjoy towing.

[cactusjack]

See my sig pic? That's a trailer I built myself. Once you get moving, you don't even know it's back there. No real change to the handling characteristics of the bike. You have to make your turns (especially right turns around a curb) a little wider, you ride closer to the center of the lane, and when you park you look for a place you can pull through, rather than have to back it up. You also have to remember the extra length when changing lanes, and allow a little longer stopping distance.

I'm towing mine to the Custer Rally next week.

[cheriann]

Awww....you all are so GREAT!!!!
Thank you for the links and advice!!!!
I feel better knowing that the only major differences will be the starting and stopping distances. Since he tows our boat and motorcycle trailer with his truck, I'm sure he will understand that part.

YAHOOOOOOO!!!!!!
I can't wait to get a trailer!!!

[chainsaw]

Ditto on the swivel hitch. Makes things so much easier. I'd look for a 12 inch tire also.

[zoom45]

I tow a trailer and like everyone said you need to allow for some extra stopping distance and you kind of need to be planning where to park when you pull into a lot. I usually pull further in the back of a place where most people don't park so I can swing it around and back it into a spot. That way when I leave I can just pull straight out. You can't tell it's behind the bike cruising. I have got to where I just use the hitch box instead of the trailer. A little less hassle.
Zoom45

[wanderer]

I tow the small trailer in the pic below. It has a swivel hitch built into trailer. I don't do camping, so I just carry riding gear, clothes, tools, etc. in the trailer. When towing the trailer I adjust my mirrors so I can just see the edge of the trailer because I can't even tell its behind me! I ride quite often in Arkansas and on highway 7 I usually am doing between 65 and 70 even with the trailer. Parking is not a problem because the bike with trailer still fits in a normal parking space. I just make sure I'm not heading downhill if I have to back out of the parking space.

[mrfuni]

CheriAnn,

I tow a Piggy Backer XL http://piggybacker.stehltow.com/
(sig pic). I think it's the best value out there, and after 2,000+ miles of towing, I highly recommend it.

No issues other than allowing more room to stop. I'd catch myself looking in my mirrors just to make sure it's still there. Adds a whole new dimension to motorcycle trips...

Joe

[toophun]

I just finished building mine and the reciever lock pin you asked about can be found at Wal-mart. You can get a locking trailer pin keyed the same or just use a padlock.

[bundyrumandcoke]

My missus and I recently did an 8200+km trip on our Nomad, towing a trailer. All up, I reckon the total weight was around the 800kg- so say roughly 1700 pounds- and it did it easily. As other have mentioned- longer distances for taking off and stopping apply. Also remember accelerated clutch and brake wear will take place, so this needs to be factored in at some point of time.

As for locking your coupling, here is a few ideas- to lock the hitch pin in place- drill out the R clip hole a bit, and use an ordinary padlock. To lock the towball to the hitch- say to prevent it from shaking loose- cross drill through nut and thread once its tight, and either put a split pin, or nut and bolt through, tighten, and pein the extra thread over the nut. Not sure if you guys are required to use safety chains, as we are over here, but you can lock the chain to the attachment point on the towbar in addition to using a D shackle. The coupling I have is a quick release, and it has 2 holes that line up when the coupling is in its normal position. This means I can lock the coupling when it is on the ball, so it can be removed, or I can lock the coupling when the trailer is not in use, so it cannot be stolen.

Cheers
Bundy

[cheriann]

Originally Posted by bundyrumandcoke

As for locking your coupling, here is a few ideas- to lock the hitch pin in place- drill out the R clip hole a bit, and use an ordinary padlock. To lock the towball to the hitch- say to prevent it from shaking loose- cross drill through nut and thread once its tight, and either put a split pin, or nut and bolt through, tighten, and pein the extra thread over the nut. Not sure if you guys are required to use safety chains, as we are over here, but you can lock the chain to the attachment point on the towbar in addition to using a D shackle. The coupling I have is a quick release, and it has 2 holes that line up when the coupling is in its normal position. This means I can lock the coupling when it is on the ball, so it can be removed, or I can lock the coupling when the trailer is not in use, so it cannot be stolen.

Cheers
Bundy

Thank you SO MUCH Bundy!!!!!

[emu]

I towed my camper 20,000 miles last summer and to Americade last week. Common sense when towing is the best advice. Leave lots of room between you and anything in front of you. I have scraped the floorboards in the twisties with the trailer in tow .... kind of forgot it was back there. Then you think "Oh Crap" ... but it just shows that the lean while towing can be aggressive ... But once again ... allow common sense to prevail once you get reminded of what's back there. Take it easy. In general you have to rethink how you ride. You are now longer, take longer to stop and the bike can no longer respond like it is not towing. Adjust your mindset to these factors and all should work out fine ... Enjoy.