Haul on a trailer or pickup?

[Bminder]

Would you vote for a motorcycle trailer or just haul your bike in your pickup?
I'd like to take my bike with me on trips sometimes when we have to use a cage. I've got a Dodge Ram shortbed that it would fit in, but I'm not real crazy about driving up and down a ramp all the time because it's 4x4 and the tailgate is kinda high off the ground. So I'm kicking the idea around of getting a one-bike trailer. If I did that I could pull it with either my pickup or the family car... but then there's the hassle of a trailer, where to store it, flat tires, bearings going out, etc.
Either way has it's pros and cons...
Any opinions on which way to go?

[pdxfj]

I would vote for long, folding ramps and hauling it in the truck.  One less hassle to tow behind you.  Plus some states (Kalifornia) have a rather strict speed limit (55) when towing anything and will be more than happy to write you a ticket for going over that limit.

Some of the smaller utility trailers do fold in the middle to make their stored footprint smaller...

[FJmonkey]

+1 with Garth, I use ramps and tie it off in the bed...

[simi_ed]

Truck is the easy(ier) way to go if you already own  truck.  Cycle Gear has a nice 1500 lb rated, curved & hinged ramp for ~$80.  I paid about 2x for the same thing. 
Riding into a 4x4 truck bed?  Are you nutty^***  Get help & push in, then tie off.  Same with exiting the truck, get assistance to help on the curb side to stop the FJ from going over center, and pulling you with it!

^***The bed/tail gate of my 4x4 is about 4 ft high.  I'd NEVER ride any bike into there!

Ed

[giantkiller]

Same here I have carried both my 86 and 89 at the same time in my f250. I use an ATV ramp. Folds in half width wise that way you and your helper can walk up with the bike. Also used 2 HF wheel chock/ stands. The self standing ones. Perfect spacing for 2 fjs.
Put the folded ramp under the rear tire if hauling one bike or between the 2 for spacing.
I always find (even a small) incline to back the truck up to. Helps a lot.


Oh yah I always ride my raptor into the truck. But would never ride a bike, not even into my enclosed trailer. Clearance is reduced too much. A dirt bike, or an adventure bike maybe.

[Capn Ron]

Hey Billy,

Derek and Donna have hauled their bikes in the bed of her Toyota Tacoma for many trips.  They use a ramp, but will find something to help with the steep ramp angle such as a loading dock or a small hill to back up to in whatever town they find themselves in.  I was around to help load on one occasion and it would have been sketchy if being done alone.

If you have just NO space to put a trailer in or around your house, this question has been answered.  As Garth suggested, you're not the first with this issue and there are quite a few small, folding, or portable trailers out there.  If you have no need for anything but hauling the bike, there are some very cool trailers that easily fold up for winter storage.  





Even a non-folder like this is light enough that you can just lean it up against a wall when you're not using it.



If you have ANY need for a utility trailer, you will get a ton of use out of a small flatbed that you can put a front wheel chock on when you need it for the bike.  My auto-hauler trailer has hauled everything from cars, to 3,000 pounds of construction rubble, a pool table and even my 7-foot tall wine fridge!!  I just bought a simple front wheel chock and it's now a motorcycle trailer!  Kinda like this:



There's the issue of towing something too...I don't mind it a bit and it gives me lots of room in my tow rig for camping gear and spare parts.  If you have something *else* to tow...like a camper...well, you're forced into the pickup bed option for the bike.  I typically tow at around 65-70 MPH...even in California...and I feel like I'm holding up traffic.  I have never had an issue with tickets for speed, but I have had a cop blip the siren and tell me to get over a lane.  Even on a five-lane freeway, you are only allowed in the right-most two lanes for most situations.  You wouldn't have that issue with the bike in the pickup.

It's a personal choice with a lot of factors.  For me, I prefer to just ride the bike...but if I had to haul it somewhere, I'd go for the trailer for ease of loading alone.  

Maybe this will help?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRvuuCzckJU

[Bminder]

Yeah Ron, that makes sense. Plus if I get a little trailer, I could pull it with the car for a longer trip, save gas, etc. It's an 08 Impala SS with the 5.3 V8, so torque is not an issue 
Here's a trailer a guy has that's interesting me:


Wouldn't it look cool all painted up with Chrome rims and maybe some LEDs to light it up?

[aviationfred]

As simi_ed mentioned..... Never ride your bike into the bed of a truck......You will end up on youtube.

https://youtu.be/XRvuuCzckJU


I have a SUV, so if I don't ride to my destination, my only option is a trailer. I have a Harbor Freight folding 1200lb capacity trailer. I have over 6000 miles of hauling my FJ to both the West coast and the East coast. 1600 miles of that had 2 FJ's on the trailer. Storage is real easy once folded and stood on end.

Loaded in Florida, ready to head to Kansas.



Donner Pass, California headed to Utah.



I have the Harbor Freight silver wheel chocks.

Fred

[Bminder]

I was looking at those Harbor Freight trailers, and read good reviews about them, and horrible reviews about them.
So you've had good luck with them?
Some of the reviewers said they were very cheaply built, had weird size bearings, and the hubs were loose and or wobbly.

[aviationfred]

I was looking at those Harbor Freight trailers, and read good reviews about them, and horrible reviews about them.
So you've had good luck with them?
Some of the reviewers said they were very cheaply built, had weird size bearings, and the hubs were loose and or wobbly.

I read up on the reviews also. I agree, they are mixed.

To stack the deck in my favor. When bolting it together, I used blue locktite on ALL the nuts. Before I installed the bearings, I soaked them in Kerosene to get the cheap waxy manufacturer grease out, used compressed air to blow them dry and packed them extremely heavy with Lucas heavy duty synthetic grease. I bought high speed wheels/tires at Northern Tool Company. A few squirts of grease after every long haul and all has been good.

Fred

[fj1289]

My vote is a trailer by far after having done it both ways.   

There is a bit more to take care of with a trailer -- tires, bearings, lights ... But a lot easier on my body and a whole lot less chance of a very bad oops.   

[fj johnnie]

 I have a Toyota tundra 4 by 4. I simply find a ditch, and back the truck in with the tailgate down. Once it touches the ground,  I drive the bike in. Ramps scare the crap out of me. I will only use them when absolutely necessary. Those little trailers like Aviation Fred's look very handy and easy to load. The only issue for me would be that in crappy weather your bike gets pasted with road grime. 
Having said that I also own a 15 foot aluminum box trailer and a ten foot dump trailer. I never use them for picking up bikes. However when travelling long distances in Canadian winter weather a covered trailer is a must. The issue with box trailers is the decreased fuel mileage. My 22 mpg tundra drops to 10 -12 when towing a box trailer.

[Tiger]

Trailer...either bike specific or a utility trailer with a wheel chock and tie downs. Makes for easier loading/unloading under normal conditions but also, God forbid, after an accident or breakdown

I bought my used, three place trailer...two bikes left/right or one up the middle...for $160.00. Put another $100.00 in to her: new lights, repaint, tongue jack and 10 tie downs in the floor and she works great for long distance hauling with very little effort, (I run a Trailblazer with an in line 4.2 motor).

John.

[red]

I always find (even a small) incline to back the truck up to. Helps a lot.
Oh yah I always ride my raptor into the truck. But would never ride a bike, not even into my enclosed trailer. Clearance is reduced too much. A dirt bike, or an adventure bike maybe.

Giantkller,

Yeah, never ride it into a truck or trailer.  Even a tiny mistake can cost a small fortune, beside the risk of injury. 
YouTube has videos of many bikes getting high-centered at the top of the ramp, spinning the rear wheel, followed by an expensive crashing sound.
If you can't find an incline, berm, or suitable loading dock, park with both rear wheels in the same dry little ditch, to lower the rear end of the truck.
Bring good help, too.

Cheers,
Red

[sebwiers]

High centers suck.  I knocked my XJ750rh pipes pretty bad loading it into my pickup bed when I bought it.  Since then I've built some 14 foot 2x12 side by side ramps re-enforced with angle iron to prevent sag.  Even still, getting the bike up-hill of the truck when loading is smart, and I'm not sure I'd try it with something as large as an FJ.