Small moto trailer setup suggestions

mx724
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mx724
Edited Date/Time 8/10/2020 6:52pm
Looking for something I can pull behind a midsized truck that will haul the bike and have some place to sleep as well. Ive considered the vans not sure I want another vehicle. Just looking for something compact and efficient for 2-3 people. Wanted to see what ppl recommend? Looking for creative ideas
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MX Dad #27
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MX Dad #27 8/8/2020 7:45am
8/8/2020 7:45am
I looked for months before I bought an H&H 6X12 V nose The V is bonus space (the trailer is 6X12 + the V nose).
I pull with a '18 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Diesel. It will easily haul 3 bikes, my EMTB, tool boxes, power sprayer, EZ up, gear bags, bike stands and chairs.
Also it has a camper style door, you could stay in it, if you wanted to and an interior light.
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AxlBundy
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AxlBundy 8/8/2020 8:16am
8/8/2020 8:16am
6x12’s are a nice size, might be tough to sleep 3. I had a nice 6x12, single axle trailers are bouncy, and the instant you hook up, your gas mileage goes into the toilet, and you are limited to about 75mph towing a trailer. But if you’ve exceeded your needs, not much you can do. Buy a quality aluminum framed
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wrc777
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wrc777 8/8/2020 9:11am
8/8/2020 9:11am
AxlBundy wrote:
6x12’s are a nice size, might be tough to sleep 3. I had a nice 6x12, single axle trailers are bouncy, and the instant you hook...
6x12’s are a nice size, might be tough to sleep 3. I had a nice 6x12, single axle trailers are bouncy, and the instant you hook up, your gas mileage goes into the toilet, and you are limited to about 75mph towing a trailer. But if you’ve exceeded your needs, not much you can do. Buy a quality aluminum framed
Mileage will be single digits (7-9 mpg) with a gas engine. you might get 10-12 with diesel. This is for highway speeds 65+. Trailer size has very little impact too. A toy hauler isn’t much worse than a 7x16 cargo trailer for highway mileage
centralcalmx
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centralcalmx 8/8/2020 10:15am
8/8/2020 10:15am Edited Date/Time 8/8/2020 10:18am
I just grabbed a 6x10 myself
Painted the floor and walls with some parochial and floor paint with sand already in it.
Added some ETrack and a few put Posse goodies
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captmoto
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captmoto 8/8/2020 10:25am
8/8/2020 10:25am Edited Date/Time 8/8/2020 10:32am
wrc777 wrote:
Mileage will be single digits (7-9 mpg) with a gas engine. you might get 10-12 with diesel. This is for highway speeds 65+. Trailer size has...
Mileage will be single digits (7-9 mpg) with a gas engine. you might get 10-12 with diesel. This is for highway speeds 65+. Trailer size has very little impact too. A toy hauler isn’t much worse than a 7x16 cargo trailer for highway mileage
The tires that come on a 6 x12 are usually junk Chinese Maypops but any tire that size is speed rated at 65. They will get hot at 65+ and reliability drops.

What you say about fuel economy hits the nail right on the head. I was really surprised to see the fuel economy with my 6x12 was just slightly better than my toy hauler. They are really like a drag chute behind you.
If I knew how bad it hurts fuel economy I would have gone with a 7x14.
BMc914
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BMc914 8/8/2020 11:07am
8/8/2020 11:07am
This is how my brother and I built out the v nose for my trailer.

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wrc777
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wrc777 8/8/2020 12:23pm
8/8/2020 12:23pm Edited Date/Time 8/8/2020 12:24pm
wrc777 wrote:
Mileage will be single digits (7-9 mpg) with a gas engine. you might get 10-12 with diesel. This is for highway speeds 65+. Trailer size has...
Mileage will be single digits (7-9 mpg) with a gas engine. you might get 10-12 with diesel. This is for highway speeds 65+. Trailer size has very little impact too. A toy hauler isn’t much worse than a 7x16 cargo trailer for highway mileage
captmoto wrote:
The tires that come on a 6 x12 are usually junk Chinese Maypops but any tire that size is speed rated at 65. They will get...
The tires that come on a 6 x12 are usually junk Chinese Maypops but any tire that size is speed rated at 65. They will get hot at 65+ and reliability drops.

What you say about fuel economy hits the nail right on the head. I was really surprised to see the fuel economy with my 6x12 was just slightly better than my toy hauler. They are really like a drag chute behind you.
If I knew how bad it hurts fuel economy I would have gone with a 7x14.
I have towed travel trailers a decent amount and I thought a 7x14 would get at least double digit fuel mileage since a travel trailer is 8x20+ and 11’ tall but nope it was within 1-2 mpg.

The problem is the back of the trailer. It needs a tail or at least a rounded back like an airstream.
captmoto
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captmoto 8/8/2020 8:22pm
8/8/2020 8:22pm
wrc777 wrote:
I have towed travel trailers a decent amount and I thought a 7x14 would get at least double digit fuel mileage since a travel trailer is...
I have towed travel trailers a decent amount and I thought a 7x14 would get at least double digit fuel mileage since a travel trailer is 8x20+ and 11’ tall but nope it was within 1-2 mpg.

The problem is the back of the trailer. It needs a tail or at least a rounded back like an airstream.
I think it's the front. It's basically moving wall trying to cut through the air.
wrc777
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wrc777 8/8/2020 8:35pm
8/8/2020 8:35pm Edited Date/Time 8/8/2020 8:37pm
wrc777 wrote:
I have towed travel trailers a decent amount and I thought a 7x14 would get at least double digit fuel mileage since a travel trailer is...
I have towed travel trailers a decent amount and I thought a 7x14 would get at least double digit fuel mileage since a travel trailer is 8x20+ and 11’ tall but nope it was within 1-2 mpg.

The problem is the back of the trailer. It needs a tail or at least a rounded back like an airstream.
captmoto wrote:
I think it's the front. It's basically moving wall trying to cut through the air.
My 7x14 had a wedge front. It pulled in the same gear my 30’, nearly flat front travel trailer did on flat ground. It got almost the same mileage too. Your tow vehicle moves a lot of air out of the front.
sf702/410
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sf702/410 8/8/2020 9:40pm
8/8/2020 9:40pm Edited Date/Time 8/9/2020 2:08pm
If by midsize truck you mean a half-ton, you could pull up to a 20' enclosed fairly comfortable. I'd advise buying bigger than what you think to be adequate at the moment. I always think of more to pack in. I've had a couple 7x16's (flat front and v nose), which I'd say is probably ideal for what you want, or 7x14 at a minimum. V- nose makes no difference and actually seems to pull more wind (larger surface area).

Height above your tow vehicle us is a big factor in mpg. Like the guys said above, expect 7-10 mpg at speeds over 65. It's like pulling a parachute, loaded or not.

If you're in a frontier or Tacoma size truck id say anything over a single axle 12' would be a big strain...

My current trailer is a 7x18 and pulls nicely. Buy a good brand for a good rolling, straight chassis. Here's what I've done so far. Still have to add more e track, mount my generator, etc, but underway.






wwdiii
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wwdiii 8/9/2020 4:39am
8/9/2020 4:39am
I spent dang near two grand on a 16 ft dove tail open utility trailer, my other one is really old and needs work. I decided on the open to haul my wife’s SxS that she never rides. I should have thrown another grand or two and bought an enclosed just to haul my scooters. It takes a really big taill enclosed to haul a SxS. I ended up with a really nice wide 16 ft utility trailer with the dove tail, the ramp is only two ft high but should have bought enclosed 14 or 16 ft.

I may just bite the bullet and buy a used small bumper pull toy hauler.

piscokid
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piscokid 8/10/2020 10:30am
8/10/2020 10:30am
AxlBundy wrote:
6x12’s are a nice size, might be tough to sleep 3. I had a nice 6x12, single axle trailers are bouncy, and the instant you hook...
6x12’s are a nice size, might be tough to sleep 3. I had a nice 6x12, single axle trailers are bouncy, and the instant you hook up, your gas mileage goes into the toilet, and you are limited to about 75mph towing a trailer. But if you’ve exceeded your needs, not much you can do. Buy a quality aluminum framed
wrc777 wrote:
Mileage will be single digits (7-9 mpg) with a gas engine. you might get 10-12 with diesel. This is for highway speeds 65+. Trailer size has...
Mileage will be single digits (7-9 mpg) with a gas engine. you might get 10-12 with diesel. This is for highway speeds 65+. Trailer size has very little impact too. A toy hauler isn’t much worse than a 7x16 cargo trailer for highway mileage
I have a 6x10 and tow it with a GMC Yukon XL. I take a 125 and a 250sxf with fuel for both bikes. The trailer has built in shelves with a craftsman bottom box attached in the front and pulling 75mph I get 13-15 mpg.

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fatpurplepanda
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fatpurplepanda 8/10/2020 10:35am
8/10/2020 10:35am
I had a 7x12 and pulled it with a V6 Tacoma getting around 10-12mpg. The extra foot wide seemed to make the trailer feel a lot bigger
FGR01
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FGR01 8/10/2020 5:36pm
8/10/2020 5:36pm
captmoto wrote:
I think it's the front. It's basically moving wall trying to cut through the air.
It's both, but the back is a much bigger factor than most think. In another thread on here there was discussion of the actual aerodynamics involved, Basically, because the rear of the trailer is blunt the air does a huge circular swirl as it leaves the trailer. This creates a big area of low pressure behind the trailer which is essentially sucking the trailer backwards. This is why a boat tail shape works well on boats and bullets. It allows the air (water) to leave the object smoothly and cleanly. Same reason drafting in Nascar helps not only the guy sitting in the back but also the guy in front.
MxKyle (MD)
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MxKyle (MD) 8/10/2020 5:57pm
8/10/2020 5:57pm
Regardless which you buy the very first thing you need to do is insulate the roof. Most don't come insulated and they are freaking hot all the time. I used Styrofoam glued to the roof and 1/8 inch plywood under that. It looks good adn works so much better that I retreat into the trailer sometimes if I can't fine shade in the summer.

I have a 6x12 V-nose, now fully insulated, that I always sleep in when I do track days on my R6. I used to pitch a tent but I got very very cold one weekend. The trailer gets a cot and a space heater and I sleep very comfortable even when it's freezing outside.

KT

biondo
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biondo 8/10/2020 6:51pm
8/10/2020 6:51pm Edited Date/Time 8/10/2020 6:52pm
BMc914 wrote:
This is how my brother and I built out the v nose for my trailer. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/08/08/442750/s1200_20200808_120402.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/08/08/442751/s1200_20200808_120413.jpg[/img]
This is how my brother and I built out the v nose for my trailer.

Looks great! I have a new 6x12 dual axel ’ v nose...
Trying to figure how to install shower and sink and still have room for 2bikes and sleep
3 if I can talk wife into going🤠

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