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I recently got a bike again after a few years off but I drive a crossover so I need a trailer to haul it around. Normally I use U-Haul for $15 a day but that’s only a temporary solution. I’d like to go ahead and get my own trailer to haul my bike around but I’m looking for recommendations from those of you who use a trailer to haul your bikes around.
my main requirement is I want something that I can fold up and/or stand upright in my garage. My space is limited and I’d like to avoid having to store it somewhere.
any help is appreciated!
Get a bike carrier instead…
I would but the crosstrek isn’t rated to hold that much weight. IIRC it’s only rated for about 150lb and a 450 alone is over 200 lbs, not including the carriers weight.
Did it for several years hauling a 450 with both my crosstrek and mazda cx30 when I had them with zero issues. They can hold a surprising amount back there but a full sized dirtbike is probably the heaviest I would go.
Some Subaru owners are braver than me 🙈
I borrowed a buddy’s Kendon a few times, it towed fine and was easy move etc but holy guacamole new ones are pricey. Maybe look for a used one or modify one to do the same thing. Pretty much some heavy duty hinges and some castors ?
https://www.kendonusa.com/
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
You guys are crazy haha I just couldn’t convince myself to do that. Maybe if I had a steel frame SUV or truck
Harbor Freight folding trailer. I tried to find one for my CX5, but they were sold out in every store in the area. Tried a hitch hauler, it made me too nervous. Settled on a used white trash special trailer off Facebook marketplace
Lookup Holsclaw motorcycle trailer on facebook or craigslist, sometimes people dont know what they are so could be listed under just motorcycle trailer but you can tell if its a Holsclaw.
They were made in the 70s-80s they sold a kit of welded parts you bolted together to make the trailer has independent suspension and are extremely light. I got a killer deal on mine and put some bearings and wheels on it, they come with 8" wheels which are not ideal for long trips I put a set of standard 12" wheels on mine. There's nothing to them so if you find one in rough shape super easy to fix up all the stuff is standard hardware and shock info is online if you need replacements.
Heres a photo of mine and a shot of the suspension setup.
Ran a harbor freight folding trailer behind my Wrx for a few years. I still have the trailer 12 years later and toss it behind the wife's SUV every now and again. I bought it at a time where HF would let you combine sales/coupons etc. and I think the trailer cost me 175.00, add wood, and a pair of motorcycle tire hoops, and a spare tire and I was setup ok for under 300 dollars. Just be sure to pump the bearings full of quality hi speed/temp grease and you will have no problems.
Folding trailer from harbor freight or northern tool is what I did when I lived in Texas. I liked the hitch setup better on the northern tool one, so I went with it. I did have to change it to a 2 inch ball and add my own plywood for the floor, but the trailer could fold and fit in my garage no issue. If I had to do it again I'd probably do 2x6's for the floor, would drain better and be stronger for bigger bikes.
Any quality issues with the HF trailer?
Wouldn’t the trailer be worse than the hitch carrrier?
These trailers are awesome if you can find one
No the car can tow up to 1500lbs IIRC, but it’s limited vertically through the tongue weight rating of 150lbs. So my trailer can weigh 1500lbs but as long as it’s not exerting over 150lbs onto the hitch I should be fine.
A hitch carrier subjects the hitch to the entire weight of the bike and carrier which exceeds that 150lb limit
Honestly no, the only issue I had was with the old lights on it after a couple years, but HF came out with an led light kit and they sent it free of charge without me ever asking about it.
Look for an old jet ski trailer close by, a single, and a welder.
Sweet, tbh I might just go that route. Looks like they’ve gone up in price a bit the last few years and they discontinued the 20% off coupon, but even so I can built it out for a fraction of the price of a Kendon or other prefabricated moto trailer.
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