Using a Sedan to trailer a motorcycle?

mxtech1
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Galesburg, IL US
3/3/2022 7:43pm Edited Date/Time 3/5/2022 6:46pm
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?
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Moto520
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3/3/2022 8:56pm
Hell yeah! I pulled my small trailer with a Saturn sl1 for years! Worked fine. It had small wheels and I never had a problem
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BikePilot
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Golden, CO US
3/3/2022 8:56pm
It’ll do just fine. Small trailers put very little stress on the car. Definitely do a trailer, not a hitch hauler. Hitch haulers put a ton of force on the back of the car and would far exceed its rated capacity. Brakes on the trailer would be a plus and while probably not required are certainly nice to have and something I personally would wire up.
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early
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3/3/2022 9:48pm
If your profile location is accurate you'll be just fine, flat land without heavy traffic. You feel a trailer with a small car under heavy acceleration and up and down big hills, but its doable and alot cheaper than a truck.
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The Shop

FWYT
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3/3/2022 9:53pm
Yeah man, do it.

FWIW, though the Altima might be a touch low, I built a rack for the back of my Rav4 to carry my bike and it works frigging awesome.
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Stewyeww
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3/3/2022 9:56pm
could put some beefier springs in the back if your worried, load the trailer properly and it should be fine.
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TurdFerguson
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3/3/2022 10:20pm
Seen a guy put a bike on a bike rack behind his Prius.
DJS721
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3/4/2022 3:54am Edited Date/Time 3/4/2022 6:22am
My rig is an AWD Sportage 2.4L with one of these (not the tractor ;-):



Bought new $2500 OTD, hauls two bikes, EZ UP, cooler, tools, gas cans...no problem driving and still easy to stop

Trailer is around 600 lbs, so loaded up it is still under 1200 lbs total (normally less for me with one bike most weekends). I would not go below 2.4-2.5L, you will need at least 160HP to pull comfortably depending on the car. A 2.0L or less will pull it, just don't be in a hurry
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crowe660
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3/4/2022 3:56am
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...
WIN.
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kNewc
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3/4/2022 4:10am
I've done it with the folding harbor freight trailer (still have it). You can't use a hitch mount, the vehicle isn't designed for that much weight. Get a small trailer, re-grease the bearings and have a spare tire on you. You'll be fine. I miss using my car sometimes as it's more comfortable then my Ranger lol
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downonmonday
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Cornfields, IL US
3/4/2022 4:47am
Absolutely. With fuel prices, I am going to install a hitch mount on my wife's Ford Escape and buy a small trailer. No more 10 mpg just for a ride day. Races I'll take the full rig, but other than that, the truck and toy hauler are sitting.
2
bh
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3/4/2022 4:52am
I pulled a little 6x10 or maybe a bit smaller with a newer ford escape a few times and it wasn't bad. Id pull a 3 rail all day with it.
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ricky racer
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3/4/2022 4:55am
When I started racing back in the 70's, I pulled mine and 2 buddies race bikes behind a Rambler...Laughing
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Timo
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3/4/2022 4:58am
I used a 4x8 folding trailer from northern tool behind my TDI Jetta, still got 30 mpg!
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Sachmo831
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South Bend, IN US
3/4/2022 5:03am
Local track shared this. Where there is a will, there is a way!
1
3/4/2022 5:06am
early wrote:
If your profile location is accurate you'll be just fine, flat land without heavy traffic. You feel a trailer with a small car under heavy acceleration...
If your profile location is accurate you'll be just fine, flat land without heavy traffic. You feel a trailer with a small car under heavy acceleration and up and down big hills, but its doable and alot cheaper than a truck.
Yeah iL. Is flat land, he,ll b ok with the new cardboard composit trailer as long as it doesn’t ever rain
4
flarider
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3/4/2022 5:18am
Does it work?
Is it legal?

Knock yourself out
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walent215
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Ridgecrest, CA US
3/4/2022 5:29am Edited Date/Time 3/4/2022 5:37am
Absolutely
My son pulled one with his 14 civic
No problem
And yes, his civic is a 4dr
MotoChris
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Vilonia, AR US
3/4/2022 5:44am Edited Date/Time 3/4/2022 5:45am
We pulled a three rail trailer with three bikes behind a Dodge Omni in the early 90’s. The one thing that would concern me about the Altima is the CVT. They can be problematic when they are being worked harder than every day commuting. I believe the majority of CVT failure is due to excessive heat internally.
4
McG194
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Palm Coast, FL US
3/4/2022 6:10am Edited Date/Time 3/4/2022 6:11am
McG194 wrote:
https://www.kendonusa.com/collections/stand-up-folding-trailers/product…

300 pound trailer plus another 300 of bike, gear and fuel and I don't see a problem towing it.
Hman144 wrote:
$3400 for a single-purpose trailer? Yikes. I think we're missing the point about the expense issue from the OP.
I totally get that. I was just throwing an option out there. Even if the Harbor Freight is a hundred pounds more it's still doable.
UGOTBIT
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3/4/2022 6:18am
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.
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c0ncEpT
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3/4/2022 6:21am
No issues at all. Cruise control set at 75mph.


mxtech1
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Galesburg, IL US
3/4/2022 6:48am
Thanks All.

Sounds like the low weight is not a major factor for the car, so I think I am going to go for it.
5
BobPA
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PA US
3/4/2022 6:49am
I towed all around the east coast in a 1997 2.0L Jetta when I was in high school. Never an issue.
1
mxtech1
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Galesburg, IL US
3/4/2022 7:06am
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 never knew the name of that style of vintage trailers. Thanks for sharing! I could definitely see a big advantage to a trailer like that with decent suspension.

I've had experience with other small trailers in the past and they just bounce all over the place and are noisy as all heck.
1
Grouper
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Paducah, KY US
3/4/2022 7:28am
Check out welding trailers and old used jet ski trailers. You can also get a 4x4 platform from northern tool for a few hundred dollars. Add a spot for the front wheel and extend it by a foot and a half, right speed rating tires.. good to go.

I just ordered a hitch for a prius lol.
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