Using a Sedan to trailer a motorcycle?

Grouper
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Grouper 3/4/2022 7:34am
3/4/2022 7:34am
Has anyone ever done this? Obviously you would want a work car like the attached picture but if you just have a commuter then this makes life easy too. Two platforms, one on the trunk, one on the roof, seal the holes, and go ride.
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Dirt.Squirt
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Dirt.Squirt 3/4/2022 7:37am
3/4/2022 7:37am
It’s more common than most would think
40acres
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40acres 3/4/2022 7:40am
3/4/2022 7:40am
Pulled a 4x8 Harbor Freight trailer with my Acura TSX for years. Acura still rolling strong with 220k. Only thing I had to do was replace struts on the rear after 2 years. Most smaller sedans are rated for about 1k lbs so you should be good. You can usually find those trailers used on FB, CL etc already assembled. Just change wheel bearings and you're good to go. Add grease if you buy new. Hitch assembly for the car is 100-150 from curt and the trailer new is 300/450 after adding wood and chock.
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The Shop

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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 3/4/2022 9:40am
3/4/2022 9:40am
Highflier wrote:
Go for it... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/03/03/536431/s1200_E8E0741A_81A0_428B_85EA_D0A7F0FA0F6C.jpg[/img]
Go for it...
See that? Someone figured out the correct tongue weight.

Nice!
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backinthesaddleagain 3/4/2022 9:58am
3/4/2022 9:58am
UGOTBIT wrote:
Get yourself a nice vintage Holscalw trailer, can be set up for 1,2 or 3 bike, have springs and shocks for a nice ride. Can be...
Get yourself a nice vintage Holscalw trailer, can be set up for 1,2 or 3 bike, have springs and shocks for a nice ride. Can be found cheap and have a ton of vintage cool factor.
Had a Holsclaw behind my ugly Ford Fairmont in the 80's. Bought the trailer for $300, sold it for $300.
1
rptc232
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rptc232 3/4/2022 10:01am
3/4/2022 10:01am Edited Date/Time 3/4/2022 10:04am
mxtech1 wrote:
Anyone have experience using a 4-door sedan to pull a lightweight trailer and motorcycle? I have ‘17 Nissan Altima and wondering the pros/cons of using it...
Anyone have experience using a 4-door sedan to pull a lightweight trailer and motorcycle?

I have ‘17 Nissan Altima and wondering the pros/cons of using it to pull my bike to the track on the weekends? I see they make receiver hitch kits for it for a Class 2 mount. And I suppose I would try to find a small, aluminum trailer just big enough to fit the bike.

Seems like a hitch-mounted bike carrier would be too much tongue weight for the rear suspension? I wouldn’t want it to squat too low in the rear being a FWD vehicle.

Obviously a truck would be preferential, but it’s not an option right now. Any thoughts?
Biggest thing i would worry about using an altima for this is the transmission. the CVT in the 2013 and newer altimas are very fragile. I dont remember off the top of my head, but if they offer a CVT cooler for your car i would recommend installing one before you do any towing with it.
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lumpy790
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lumpy790 3/4/2022 10:22am
3/4/2022 10:22am
UGOTBIT wrote:
Get yourself a nice vintage Holscalw trailer, can be set up for 1,2 or 3 bike, have springs and shocks for a nice ride. Can be...
Get yourself a nice vintage Holscalw trailer, can be set up for 1,2 or 3 bike, have springs and shocks for a nice ride. Can be found cheap and have a ton of vintage cool factor.
I had one of those in the 70's and they were great for hauling 1-3 bikes.
2
Gordon Lightfoot 3/4/2022 2:42pm
3/4/2022 2:42pm
I think using a car - pretty well any car - is the easy way to do it. There's quite a few examples of guys hooking up bike trailers to a variety of road bikes, and that might give me the willies just a bit...


6
Sr_Vet_Rider 3/4/2022 3:49pm
3/4/2022 3:49pm
My buddy drives a Volvo station wagon and tows his bike on a trailer and goes anywhere he needs to go.
Been doing it for a long time.

2
fernando
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fernando 3/4/2022 4:05pm
3/4/2022 4:05pm


I saw this on MXA. This is a photo of dedication.
5
hogkiller
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hogkiller 3/4/2022 4:10pm
3/4/2022 4:10pm
had no money in the 80s and 90s used my Doge Omni for a year and a half singe bike trailer, put all my stuff in the hatch
2
crusher773
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crusher773 3/4/2022 4:28pm
3/4/2022 4:28pm
My little brother uses a TDI golf with an aluminum trailer and hauls 2 bikes with no issues. Did have to put a lift kit on the rear.
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MillsHondaRider 3/4/2022 5:35pm
3/4/2022 5:35pm
Grouper wrote:
Has anyone ever done this? Obviously you would want a work car like the attached picture but if you just have a commuter then this makes...
Has anyone ever done this? Obviously you would want a work car like the attached picture but if you just have a commuter then this makes life easy too. Two platforms, one on the trunk, one on the roof, seal the holes, and go ride.
I wouldn't, but...




2
Crossup
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Crossup 3/4/2022 5:44pm
3/4/2022 5:44pm
Gordon Lightfoot wrote:
I think using a car - pretty well any car - is the easy way to do it. There's quite a few examples of guys hooking...
I think using a car - pretty well any car - is the easy way to do it. There's quite a few examples of guys hooking up bike trailers to a variety of road bikes, and that might give me the willies just a bit...


Is that how Tomac practices getting chased down by Ando?
fins227
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fins227 3/4/2022 6:51pm
3/4/2022 6:51pm
Wasn’t there a guy just a few years ago that was making it into the fast 40 outdoors, that was stuffing his race bike into the back of a car?
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 3/4/2022 7:16pm
3/4/2022 7:16pm
Sr_Vet_Rider wrote:
My buddy drives a Volvo station wagon and tows his bike on a trailer and goes anywhere he needs to go. Been doing it for a...
My buddy drives a Volvo station wagon and tows his bike on a trailer and goes anywhere he needs to go.
Been doing it for a long time.

The Octagon out in Heaven
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Titan1
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Titan1 3/4/2022 7:36pm
3/4/2022 7:36pm Edited Date/Time 3/4/2022 7:41pm
I towed a three place trailer (often with three bikes on it) all over Utah…some of Idaho, Arizona and Nevada…with a TDI VW Golf. 20mpg’s down the Highway with three bikes three dudes, and gear….it didn’t like hills though…I’d be downshifting like an oversized load on almost any incline.

I was embarrassed by the looks I’d get and people taking pictures at first…then I embraced it! It was awesome.

I’ve got a half ton pick up and an 12 ft enclosed now…but unless it’s bad weather, And if I still had the Golf, Id take the golf every time.

For what it’s worth, my truck doesn’t get 20mpg on the highway empty…and with my enclosed it gets like 9mpg…
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Pit Row

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Sr_Vet_Rider 3/4/2022 8:00pm
3/4/2022 8:00pm
TeamGreen wrote:
The Octagon out in Heaven
Got a good group tomorrow morning, 9:00 kickstands up !! Let’s goooooo…..
mayzo
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mayzo 3/4/2022 8:22pm
3/4/2022 8:22pm
This how we rolled in the 70’s / 80’s
7
AgentOrange 3/4/2022 8:24pm
3/4/2022 8:24pm
Don't do it! Nissan Altima is a CVT transmission, they already have high failure rates. The hitch works fine for a pedal bike rack, but not a trailer. Any other car would be fine.
BTW, I also own a 17 Altima, great car and love it. But I'll never put a hitch on it. I'm also experienced in this department, since I work at a dealer. Not to be negative, but not worth risking the repair.
-MAVERICK-
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-MAVERICK- 3/4/2022 8:51pm
3/4/2022 8:51pm
mayzo wrote:
This how we rolled in the 70’s / 80’s [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/03/04/536559/s1200_AA7C46BF_A4B0_43D4_9115_F1D1AB62F910.jpg[/img]
This how we rolled in the 70’s / 80’s
Mr. Bean rode moto? Grinning
Dan541 3/5/2022 2:21am
3/5/2022 2:21am
I do it with my '15 Lancer. No issues. I do have manual transmission though. If you have CVT... maybe not
Rupert X
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Rupert X 3/5/2022 4:33am
3/5/2022 4:33am
I’ll let you know if I get my new Wagon Queen Family Truckster involved…..




3
1
Rupert X
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Rupert X 3/5/2022 4:37am
3/5/2022 4:37am
Pic above. I had a 1983 Toyota Tercel, rated at 62 HP, pulling a 3 rail trailer, with a CR250, a CR500 and a YZ490. If I didn’t get a good head of steam, I’d hafta shift down to first to get up any serious inclines. The bikes had more power than the little wagon….good times !
3
mxtech1
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mxtech1 3/5/2022 7:23am
3/5/2022 7:23am
AgentOrange wrote:
Don't do it! Nissan Altima is a CVT transmission, they already have high failure rates. The hitch works fine for a pedal bike rack, but not...
Don't do it! Nissan Altima is a CVT transmission, they already have high failure rates. The hitch works fine for a pedal bike rack, but not a trailer. Any other car would be fine.
BTW, I also own a 17 Altima, great car and love it. But I'll never put a hitch on it. I'm also experienced in this department, since I work at a dealer. Not to be negative, but not worth risking the repair.
What’s the difference on the transmission between pulling a trailer and bike with a combined weight of say 650 lbs vs. (4) adults riding in the car weighing 175lbs each (700 lbs)?

I understand the CVT for these cars are not great designs, but I baby the car and drive with a light foot at all times, mostly commuting.
AgentOrange 3/5/2022 7:34am
3/5/2022 7:34am
Let me put it this way, Nissan does not offer a trailer hitch for any of it's cars, even the smaller SUV's. Right now average CVT replacement in our shop is $4500-$5000.
I think the extra drag pulling a trailer, not the weight is the issue. Just my .02 cents.
rptc232
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rptc232 3/5/2022 10:59am
3/5/2022 10:59am
AgentOrange wrote:
Let me put it this way, Nissan does not offer a trailer hitch for any of it's cars, even the smaller SUV's. Right now average CVT...
Let me put it this way, Nissan does not offer a trailer hitch for any of it's cars, even the smaller SUV's. Right now average CVT replacement in our shop is $4500-$5000.
I think the extra drag pulling a trailer, not the weight is the issue. Just my .02 cents.
i agree with what you are saying, it would be the extra drag pulled behind rather than the weight itself. i dont know if i could even try to count the amount of CVTs we replaced when i was with nissan. even if you baby the car and never drive it hard, i still dont know that id trust it for a trailer on an altima.
aeffertz
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aeffertz 3/5/2022 12:02pm
3/5/2022 12:02pm
Technically a hatchback but I believe the Jetta has the same towing specs. Just keep the tongue weight in check and you can tow whatever your little heart desires! Grinning


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