Outfitting a trailer - Ducati.ms

jeremyh007 · Jan 5th, 2011, 5:52 pm

I am looking at getting an enclosed trailee to haul bikes primarily. Probably something like a 6x12. Just looking to haul like 2 bikes at a time if needed. Justba trailer to bring the bikes for serice and open up tne possibility of a mountain trip.
I am looking for opinions on cost effective mounts, rails, stands, chocks, etc.....
I know the baxley chock, pit bull trailer restraint systems are awesome yes, but also come wih a huge price. I am looking for cost effective alternatives to trailer setups
Looking for opinions on how/what you use for trailer tie down. Floor tie tracks? Hooks? Chock? Rear stands?

Winchester Boy · Jan 5th, 2011, 6:22 pm

I bought two wheel chocks from Harbor Freight for my trailer and they work great. Their adjustable for wheel size and you can get off the bike and the will stand straight. $60 a piece.
I hauled my 696 and a friends ST3 to Deals Gap and back (500 miles) with no problems.

va duc · Jan 5th, 2011, 6:49 pm

I installed d rings and my buddy made some chocks out of 2 x 4's

Loaded up and headed for deals gap!

DMCTRUBY · Jan 5th, 2011, 7:44 pm

I use HomeDepot extra large eyehook/bolts. After the hole is drilled I use a large fender washer on the top and bottom sides. I really like the d-rings and recessed hooks but the amount of floor material left after you make the recess hole is to close to the mounting holes for me. The large eye bolts are also pretty cheap even in stainless or grade 8 . With the bolts in the corner they don't really get in the way. For the center eye bolts I used a special trailer product where has a sleve mount. So the eye bolt unscrews from the floor and is out of the way when not in use or when moving bikes around inside . I'll find the box with the manufactuer name...it's a pretty slick product. For straps I use good quailty ratchet straps which I have cut to lenght so when I load or unload it's easy to just loosen a few inches. I leave the trailer end of the strap on the eye bolt in the trailer and just store them like that. I overkill on straps....two fork straps pulling forward, to mid-frame straps pulling side to side and one rear strap pulling back.
.
I also use a Baxley, but it connected to the floor of the trailer with wing-nut mounted u-hooks so it can be disconnected. I use the baxely in the garage when it's not in the trailer. Frankly the baxley, two shock straps and one rear is all that is needed...the side straps just make me feel better. I have a haulmark 6 X 10

jeremyh007 · Jan 5th, 2011, 7:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMCTRUBY

I have a haulmark 6 X 10

Can u get 2 bikes in it safely? Thats what i have been looking at

DMCTRUBY · Jan 5th, 2011, 7:57 pm

Also handy to have. I used a non-slide pad and some smaller eyebolts to secure a tool box inside and cooler. I also store the spare tire inside, simple bolt to the floor up near the nose of the trailer. I have some "hanger hooks" cheap old bathroom door style hooks on the door so if I change inside the trailer I have a place to hang track leathers or clothes, and I keep a folding chair which also hangs from a hook inside.

DMCTRUBY · Jan 5th, 2011, 8:07 pm

The inside dimensons of the 6x10 is pretty large. No issue at all to carry two bikes side by side...at least two ducati's ....but ducati's are small in stature. If you had a BMW adventure bike with storage bags etc, worst case is you would need to stagger them. I moved two Harley's. But one had to go in nose first with the tail swung to the right trailer wall and the other was backed in, with the tail swung to the opposite wall. I didn't try a straight up side by side load..it might have worked but it would need to staggerd for sure. I think the haulmark inside pic above is a 6 x 12, and width wise it's the same as a 6 x 10 ....at least in the HLC series.

My trailer dealer let me push my bikes inside the trailer when I was figuring out what to buy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremyh007

Can u get 2 bikes in it safely? Thats what i have been looking at

DMCTRUBY · Jan 5th, 2011, 8:12 pm

What are you pulling the trailer with ? Even a 6x10 is a load to pull. I have a 6cyl Jeep and it struggles a bit on steep inclines.

jeremyh007 · Jan 5th, 2011, 8:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMCTRUBY

What are you pulling the trailer with ? Even a 6x10 is a load to pull. I have a 6cyl Jeep and it struggles a bit on steep inclines.

I have a titan w/5.6l so it should pull pretty easy. I want a v nose to help that

**John** · Jan 5th, 2011, 8:34 pm

I had a Pace 6'x12" and it was perfect in terms of weight and tracking. Of course I pulled it with a Dodge Ram Hemi, but I'm sure lessor powered vehicles can pull it without issue, I didn't even know it was behind me half the time. I outfitted it with two Condor chocks and E Track on the outside and one down the middle.

I upgraded for really no other reason but I got a smokin deal on a 7'x14' dual axle Interstate. By far a much better made and HD rig compared to the Pace, but what I do like about it is its one foot wider and therefore easier to move around when your strapping bikes down. Its much heavier than the single axle trailer being dual axle and all, in fact I had to have a brake controller installed in my truck to operate the electric brakes on the Interstate, you can't pull it without them. The Pace didn't require brakes. I transferred the Condors over to the new trailer and also installed some supplemental D Rings, I think four of them did the trick. The trailer could actually accomodate 3 bikes if I arranged things differently. It would require a stronger pulling vehicle because I think the dry weight is in the area of 2,500 lbs.

I would recommend the single axle 6'x12', for hauling bikes to the track or shop or whatever, the 7'x14' is overkill, except for the interior size. The 6'x10' would work since it has the same width and might even be a better deal all the way around. I'm just saying since I had the 6'x12'. Resale is excellent on the units if you don't trash them, I had multiple calls when I sold mine and sold it for the same price I bought it for 6 years ago.

I think the Harbor Freight chocks would be fine since another member said you can drive into them and get off without any issues. The design of it is similar in mechanics to the Condor or Baxley, just a ton cheaper! If I didn't have the Condors and/or Baxleys I would likely purchase the Harbor Freight chocks since the former units are so high priced.

Having an enclosed trailer serves more than just hauling your bikes around securely. They can also be used for moving your kids out of the house and that is a good thing! If storage wasn't an issue a lot more of us would own one.