Question:
I'm having coffee but enjoy your favorite.
Looking to buy a tent trailer to tow behind the Road King. Lots of models
available. Any advice appreciated. Oh, my local H-D dealership suggested
that I might want to put on a heavy duty drive belt but Time Out trailers
says not necessary. Any perfered hitches? Anyway, any folks in the ng that
have one of these things I'd really like to hear your comments
Answer:
Look around. There's tons out there. I like the looks of the Kompact Kamper
a lot, but the Alpine pop-up tent campers are *really* nice. They're real
proud of 'em too. Go to google.com and run a search on Motorcycle Camping
Trailers. You'll be amazed at how many there are available. Barb posted a
URL to a page not to long ago that was a big list of different MC trailers,
both cargo and camper trailers.
I have one of each, a small cargo trailer and a fair sized camper trailer.
I'd listen to your dealer, just for piece of mind. Break a belt taking off
from a stoplight and the guys from Time Out Trailers ain't gonna be the ones
sitting at the side of the road trying to figure out how to tow a motorcycle
*and* a trailer to a shop to get a new belt put on. The heavy duty belts are
available bikes that are sidehack equipped. Hacks add weight, which is
basically the same thing pulling a trailer does. Once yer under way the belt
isn't under much more tension than if you were without a trailer but getting
up to speed takes a *bunch* more power. Well, at least with a heavier camper
trailer it does.
When I ride with my camper trailer behind my bike I have to be real
conscious of it being there. I prepare for stops much sooner, I "ease" the
bike into turns instead of snapping it into a turn, etc. etc. etc..
My camper is pretty heavy though (~290 lb. dry, before loading it). You'll
also find that you have a *lot* more friends when yer pullin' a trailer.
Everyone and their brother thinks that all that extra space you have is just
fucking perfect for *their* folding chairs, tents, food, booze, etc. I
figured I was probably pulling somewhere real close to 500 lbs. to/from last
Redwood Run I went to.
