[strummin4christ]

I know a question like this has been posted before, but it doesn't quite address my concerns. I am picking up a 1300C next weekend in Chattanooga, TN and hauling it back to Pensacola, Florida. I can rent a motorcycle trailer from U-Haul, but it has to be returned to the same place you pick it up. On the other hand, I could rent an open 5'x9' ramp trailer for about the same price. I could pick this trailer up in TN and return it to a U-Haul here in FL. My only concern is there not being enough places to tie down the motorcycle on the open trailer. Anyone had any experience with the 5'x9' open trailer, as far as hauling a motorcycle?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Green Ghost]

Humm

I know a question like this has been posted before, but it doesn't quite address my concerns. I am picking up a 1300C next weekend in Chattanooga, TN and hauling it back to Pensacola, Florida. I can rent a motorcycle trailer from U-Haul, but it has to be returned to the same place you pick it up. On the other hand, I could rent an open 5'x9' ramp trailer for about the same price. I could pick this trailer up in TN and return it to a U-Haul here in FL. My only concern is there not being enough places to tie down the motorcycle on the open trailer. Anyone had any experience with the 5'x9' open trailer, as far as hauling a motorcycle?

Thanks,
Eric

I have a 5x14 open trailer I haul bikes on but it has been made to haul, bikes, ATVs, and the like. You need to make sure you have the proper places that can be used for the tie downs and they are strong enough to hold. The front tire should be chocked in a way that it won't try to roll foward when you apply the brakes. If not there will be nothing up there to stop it if hard braking is used and a strap breaks. Also carry twice as many straps as you think you will need. And don't forget the spare tire jack and lug wrench for the tralier. Good luck GG

 

[Goldsmith]

GG, did ya learn the tire, jack and lug wrench thing the hard way? Great suggestion.

 

[strummin4christ]

I have a 5x14 open trailer I haul bikes on but it has been made to haul, bikes, ATVs, and the like. You need to make sure you have the proper places that can be used for the tie downs and they are strong enough to hold. The front tire should be chocked in a way that it won't try to roll foward when you apply the brakes. If not there will be nothing up there to stop it if hard braking is used and a strap breaks. Also carry twice as many straps as you think you will need. And don't forget the spare tire jack and lug wrench for the tralier. Good luck GG

Well, what about hauling it in the bed of my truck? Any thoughts on that?

 

[cronicdrummer]

iv seen dirt bike pushed all the way up to the cab and tied down by the handle bars and then a strap from frame of bike to rear bumper.... but thoes are light bikes, and im not experienced enough with this ... any one think its ok to tie a 660 lb bike like a dirt bike?

 

[mscales]

If you have a truck put it in the back. Check with the dealer and see if they have access to a lift or loading dock. When you get home just find a place that will let you unload on their dock. either that or just rent the trailer where you live and return it there. Better yet, ride it home. This will let you put some miles on it and get close to your 600 mile service and then you are ready to add up the miles.

 

[strummin4christ]

If you have a truck put it in the back. Check with the dealer and see if they have access to a lift or loading dock. When you get home just find a place that will let you unload on their dock. either that or just rent the trailer where you live and return it there. Better yet, ride it home. This will let you put some miles on it and get close to your 600 mile service and then you are ready to add up the miles.

I'm sure the dealer there will have a way for me to get it into the back of my truck, and my driveway is on a hill, so I don't think I'll have any problems loading and unloading. And being that this will be my first bike (no comments about it being too much to handle, please! ), I'm not comfortable driving it home.

 

[Catoma]

I wouldn't be comfortable driving it home either, It's cold in Chattanooga. I would haul it in my truck if I were you. The folks at Southern Honda will tie it down good for you. I hauled mine home in a flat trailer but It has a front in it so I could tie it in real good. The guys at the dealer do this all the time. I think your truck is the way to go.

 

[Toadman]

I've ridden street bikes up into truck beds using a strong 2 by 8 as a ramp. All dealers have ramps. So do Harley riders. It'll be up to you to get it off the truck at home. That's the difficult part. You can find a hill or loading dock that may work.

 

[Interceptor]

Well, what about hauling it in the bed of my truck? Any thoughts on that?

I hauled mine from Detriot home in the back of my Truck....the front tire was up against the back of the bed at the cab, and 2 tie downs from the handle bars to the front hooks in the bed.....it rode that way perfectly.
Once here, I used a ramp at the lawnmower repair shop and rolled the bike off.

 

[vtxwes]

The dreaded "haul". Everytime I've hauled a bike, i've been as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. But it's always ended up being a smooth trip & I've ended up wondering why i was so skiddish. Check around local, see if someone has a "bike" trailer for/to rent... that'll be the easiest on your mind, plus a no-brainer to unload when you get home.

 

[tenn.vtx]

the truck is the way to go,just mention to the guys at the dealer,how for it is to home,they strap these things everday down,be sure its tide down even,and pull down on the bike compress the springs in the front and back,don't wont any rocking back and forth,keep it in neutral easy on the gears,always hauled the bikes in neutral,yu''ll be fine safer in the truck then the trailer,dont have to worry about gettin in other lanes in a hurry an the interstate,she''ll always be close to you NOT SWAGGING LIKE A DOG TAIL FROM BEHIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK!

BY THE WAY, they do have a hydralic lift there at southern,thats were i got mine,the''ll drive it wright in the truck for you,if it happens to rain the way home,stop and ckeck the straps they will losen up when wet,just pull them back snug, VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW youre new X WILL BE pissed taking her from the volunteer state to florida,she's not a gator fan, she might be a little hard to crank at first,but she''ll forgive you..............:stirpot:

 

[vtxwes]

true what tenn.vtx said about a truck haul, it comforting to see your new "buy" staring at you in the rear view. Man, just make sure you've got safe place to unload... emphisis on "safe"... it's not like unloading a dirtbike or a 4 wheeler.
The guys at southern won't have any issue getting in the truck, just have a good plan on getting it "out".

VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW youre new X WILL BE pissed taking her from the volunteer state to florida,she's not a gator fan, she might be a little hard to crank at first,but she''ll forgive you..............:stirpot:

tenn... I think, he can have southern replace the tank emblems with a big orange "T" ... then it should fire fine, everytime.

 

[tenn.vtx]

i just popped the clutch on mine and jumped her whright out of the truck bed,all that white sand down ther in florida should'nt be a problem.cushion the fall a bit, i rode mine down a set of four wheeler ramps,:choppersm but i wouldnt want to ride it up on them in the truck.

 

[strummin4christ]

Thanks for the input, everyone! I guess I'll take everyone's advice and load it into the bed of my truck. The only thing I'm concerned about is the length of my bed. I have an '05 Tacoma, with the short bed. I guess I could set it up with the tailgate down...unless that's too risky!

 

[country boy]

Heck with hauling

Get a bud to ride with you and ride that baby home .Thats what i did and you know where i live. Gimme a hollar may just go with you and help haul or ride or decide would like to see that crazy salesman any way.

 

[toasted_3111979]

Truck will work fine. The way I've hauled a bike if it was just one bike.

You might want to slide a 2x8 or piece of plywood under the rear tire if it's setting on the tailgate. Just an extra bit of weight distribution, tailgate cables don't like alot of weight for long. Ask me how I found out.

Oh...on the whole Vols/Gators thing. Mine ran better once I got it out of Vol terroritory. GO HOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[strummin4christ]

Oh...on the whole Vols/Gators thing. Mine ran better once I got it out of Vol terroritory. GO HOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I don't want to ride it in Vol territory, since I'm a gator fan; I might come up just a little too short on gas (kinda like the Vols came up a little too short against the gators..heh heh).

Truck will work fine. The way I've hauled a bike if it was just one bike.

You might want to slide a 2x8 or piece of plywood under the rear tire if it's setting on the tailgate. Just an extra bit of weight distribution, tailgate cables don't like alot of weight for long. Ask me how I found out.

I was thinking it'd probably be best to load it backwards (with the rear wheel against the cab) and get most of the weight well within the bed of the truck. Probably get a sheet of plywood, like you suggest, and put it in the bed so the bike doesn't try to lean into one of the grooves of the bed.

About riding it back:

Wouldn't it be bad for the bike to ride it back, since most of the trip is along the interstate where it will be a constant speed?

 

[Fondo]

Hauling 1300C 500 miles

I can rent a motorcycle trailer from U-Haul, but it has to be returned to the same place you pick it up. On the other hand, I could rent an open 5'x9' ramp trailer for about the same price. I could pick this trailer up in TN and return it to a U-Haul here in FL.
Thanks,
Eric
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Eric,
Who told you that the MC trailer had to be return to the same place you rented? This is not so. I had to rent a MC trailer from U-Haul in September to return to Indiana with My 1800Neo. I was told to drop it at the local U-Haul and that was that. Check into this again, if I was you, that comment is not correct. It might cost you more in the way of any tolls you might encounter but the peace of mind is far more comforting.

 

[Charlie D]

I feel the need to inform you that when you get your bike home in the back of your truck make sure you have some friends to help you.

I say this because in the mid 90s I had a 650 Yamaha that I hauled in the back of my truck, when I released the hold downs it started to go over real slow and I did not have anyone around to help, I could not hold it up and the tank kissed the side rail of the truck (toasted the tank)