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Best Option For Hauling Bikes . . .
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Posted by: halowords---------------------

I am in my last semester of full-time grad school and would like to pick up a dirtbike for riding after it is done. However, my wife is recently diagnosed as pregnant and I will likely have to trade in my pickup truck for something with a backseat.

I am wondering if there is anything with a backseat that would allow for a bike to fit in the back without requiring a trailer hitch (Minivan, smaller SUV), or if I should just get something with a towing kit and learn how to back up with a trailer.

**Note: if there is a thread out there that addresses this, please let me know.**

-Cheers

Posted by: rickyd---------------------

Find something w/a tow kit and learn to back-up. Easiest way. Either that or buy a DOdge Sprinter.
Congrats on the Baby

Posted by: kmccune---------------------

With just one vehicle for baby and riding, I'd get a small trailer.

Posted by: halowords---------------------

I know this is only indirectly dirtbike related, but . . . What is the smallest size car/suv/engine that I should look at for hauling one or two bikes and a small trailer? I am thinking something along the lines of a Ford Escape or a Saturn Vue, or a normal car with a more powerful engine and a stick shift if that is possible and will do the job.

-Cheers

Posted by: IndyMX---------------------

I have a simple 4x8 open trailer for my bike. It weighs 350lbs, and the bike is about 200lbs...

Just about any decent car or minivan should be able to lug around 500 or 600 lbs without a problem.

Posted by: Crunch---------------------

I pulled a small trailer and 1 bike with an Oldsmobile Cutless Sieara (v6) for a while. It seemed to do the job just fine. An SUV would be better though.

Presently I'm pulling the trailer and bike with a 4 cylinder 110 horse power escort. I wouldn't advise that though. It's a little to much for the car.

Posted by: sparkysakitas---------------------

simple solution

get a 4 door truck

Posted by: trial_07---------------------

My escort does just fine with that platform trailer holding two bikes. I have the ZX2 model though, a bit more horsepower.

Posted by: splatt---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkysakitas

simple solution

get a 4 door truck

Works for me

Steve

Posted by: Mophuka---------------------

if you go with a small car make sure that the trailer doesn't have a drop down tail gate. the gate will create alot of drag and the will put more strain on the engine.

Posted by: trial_07---------------------

The trailer was made by my dad for trial bikes, I find it a bit too short for MX bikes though. I load the bikes for only a 5 min ride most of the time, the track is close.

Posted by: 3Wheelerdude---------------------

Ever considered an Explorer Sport Track.... You get the room of an SUV and a small pick up box to carry your bike. Or any 4 door truck...

What about a Subaru Baja...?

Older Elcamino!!!

Posted by: Moparman1539---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkysakitas

simple solution

get a 4 door truck

Yea, Get a King cab pickup truck, that would probably be the best option. You can have a lot of power, And some trucks get good gas mileage, and be able to carry a bike without a trailer.

Posted by: whenfoxforks-ruled---------------------

My first family rig was a Toyota Celica with an open rail trailer, it pulled it fine. Minivans are fine, you can fold down seats or remove them and they fit inside or get an open trailer or utility trailer. They may even pull a small box trailer, but boxes are best pulled by a v-8 and pick-ups loading bikes in them is an adventure, substantial heigth difference.

Posted by: CaptainObvious---------------------

I too vote for the four-door pick-up. My extended cab Silverado LT (short bed) hauls all 5 of us in great comfort (leather interior and every convenience checked on the order form). I can fit three bikes in the bed too. I also have a sport tent - so the bed doubles as a camper as well.

I love my truck. Every now and then I think about an SUV and a trailer - and then I ask myself "why?"

Posted by: halowords---------------------

Any chance a small 4 cylinder 2.2 liter engine SUV (e.g. an Saturn VUE or Ford Escape Hybrid) could haul an open trailer with one or two dirtbikes? The V6's only come in automatic which I would like to avoid since I like stick shifts.

The four-door truck might be an option down the road, but for the time being the SUV is more feasible.

-Cheers

Posted by: CaptainObvious---------------------

A good friend of mine use to tow with his RAV4. He now tows with his wife's minivan. I have another friend that had a hitch custom installed on his C5 Corvette so he could haul bikes. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Check the towing capacity of any of the SUV's you are looking at. For a small trailer and 2/3 bikes you'll want a minimum of 1,500 pounds.

Posted by: GETMETOCA---------------------

The four-dour pickup works fine. Also consider the moto-jack rack. I have one and use it on my Yukon; just insert it into the receiver and load the bike.

http://www.motojackrack.com/

Posted by: FruDaddy---------------------

I have a Dodge Ram quad cab, and I would wager that I could fit an infant in the back seat while still having room in the bed for my bike. Of course it gets crappy mileage compared to my 96 Maxima 5-speed that has been equipped with a class-I reciever (Reese Shadowmount) so that it can easily drag a 5x8 utility trailer around. Or you could get anything with a class-III reciever and mount a bike carrier on it.

Posted by: dirt bike dave---------------------

Small kids and car seats fit just fine in the back of my F150 Supercab. You can get a used F150 Supercab pretty cheap, and plenty of the V6 engines have a manual transmission. The Supercab is the one with the 'small' 3rd and 4th doors. You don't need the larger Crew Cab style four door for small children. I can get my bike in back with the gate up just fine. With two bikes that have relatively short wheel bases, I can also get the gate up by angling the bikes just right.

One problem with the little utility trailers is the very small wheel size. Small tire diameter means lots of wear and tear on the wheel bearings at highway speeds. If you have lots of highway miles to get to your riding area, you may have to slow down compared to the speeds you drive with your pick-up. Also, trailer storage can be a PITA.

Posted by: WaldoVH---------------------

I used to pull my 600 lbs GPz1100 on a 4x8 trailer behind my Nissan 240sx without much problem. I intend to pull my RM250 (and mabey another bike) behind my Toyota MR2 when I get the trailer fixed. Get yourself a nice three rail motorcycle trailer and pull it with whatever you want to drive.

Posted by: gwcrim---------------------

We used to have an Olds Intrigue with a V-6. It towed my 4x8 trailer loaded to the gills with no trouble.

Don't get too hung up on the stick shift. An automatic is better for towing anyway.

Posted by: letsride24-7---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainObvious

I too vote for the four-door pick-up. My extended cab Silverado LT (short bed) hauls all 5 of us in great comfort (leather interior and every convenience checked on the order form). I can fit three bikes in the bed too. I also have a sport tent - so the bed doubles as a camper as well.

I have fit 5 bikes in the back...

Posted by: motometal---------------------

i've been the trailer route, hated it, and back to trucks now. I will admit enclosed trailers are great for people that don't have a garage etc to store the bike(s). Otherwise, to me, trailer negatives are:
1. you need a place to store the trailer
2. cost of trailer
3. trailer lights are a pain
4. licence of trailer
5. need a longer parking space
6. more difficult to manuver in traffic
7. more difficult to back up
8. can't see your bike when driving in some cases
9. more tires and wheel bearings to worry about
10. on a rail type trailer, if the bike comes loose it could get ugly
11. in some cases can be a pain to line up/hook up without a friend

the main down side to a big truck is potentially higher initial vehicle cost, and in some cases you will pay more for fuel overall.

Posted by: BBking25---------------------

wait if your getting an SUV, check the back of dirt rider, they got a bunch of stuff for using an SUV to carry one bike... like a stand secured on the back ( looks like one of those bike racks except way nicer for a dirt bike)

we got a insdoor trailers, one of the very small ones, and we fit 3 inside

\|/ kinda in that shape, but the trailer was about 8hundred, and then you don't have to worry about storing it in a garage... hope some of this helps

Posted by: nephron---------------------

I've got a Versa-Haul, which carries 2 bikes, slides into a standard 2" receiver hitch, goes on and comes off with ease, etc. For storage, you can slide it under a car in the garage, or prop it up against the wall. Takes up no room.

My stock Silverado's hitch gradually gave up the ghost with this thing. Serious torque/angular forces on the hitch. Had to bolt on a Class III hitch. Getting bikes on and off is a dream. Extremely easy, one man job with tie downs.

Posted by: WaldoVH---------------------

How many bikes do you intend to haul? Those trailer hitch bike haulers are great except I think hauling more than one bike on one is kind of risky. The nice thing about pickups and trailers is that you and your friends don't have to travel separately.

I would keep the truck, doesn't your wife's car have a back seat?

Posted by: halowords---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwcrim

Don't get too hung up on the stick shift. An automatic is better for towing anyway.

Out of curiousity, why is that?

-Cheers

Posted by: FruDaddy---------------------

I don't know the engineering behind it, but I noticed in my truck's owners manual that the automagics have a better tow rating than the shift for yourself option.

Posted by: dirt bike dave---------------------

Whether an automatic is 'better' for towing is debateable.

However, in many cases the automatic has a much higher tow rating from the manufacturer (Ford F150 for example).

IMO, this is because the truck's manufacturer does not want to replace a whole bunch of clutches under warranty. Backing a heavy load up a steep hill can burn a clutch up in a hurry, especially if the driver is inexperienced and needs to stop and start a few times on the hill.

Posted by: pyrofreak---------------------

I would check out the new honda pickup. Thats like an SUV with a short box. But if you do decide on a 4-door or cab and a half pickup, you won't have to worry about having enough room inthe back untill the child gets abou 12 and really starts growing, or until you have at least two more on the way. I know that the newer Dogde Dakota's advertise the most interior space, but most any truck, while not having the "most" room will have enough that you wont need to worry. You'll be able to carry alot more stuff when you need/want/have to. Plus, in a couple years you'll have at least one more bike to haul around, even if it will be little, and maybe get one for the wife, too! BTW even if you wife doesn't want a truck at first (which I've heard happen before) remember that chicks like trucks!! Plus they are alot safer. I like trucks because of the power and safety factor. I'm usaully driving a Dodge 2500 V10, and when I get in a Ford Ranger my seat belt is SURE to go on. It kinda feels l like a go-kart. You kind of forget what it feels like to be able to touch the other door sitting in the driver seat. With a little one, if you have the money, I would defintly check out safety ratings along with tow capicity, etc. There are also some good cpmromises between safety, room, and gas milage on most newer trucks.

Posted by: Wrekt-1---------------------

I know it would suck after a dirty ride, but I was able to fit my 94 KX250 in a dodge caravan. Minivans are generally geared lower for mostly non-distance, non-highway driving. Don't get me wrong, they are capable. Depends on how big you expect your family to get?! I would personally go with RAV or Escape. Lots of friends in SoCal with escapes dragging twin jetskis, or jetboats, so should do totally fine. Plus small enough to learn to manouver with trailer. Also, factor in where you live, lots of snow? G/L

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Best Option For Hauling Bikes . . .

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