Bike Transporting
 

So Im going to be in the market for a new (to me) vehicle this summer once I pay my bike off and Im kind of torn as to what I want. I am and always have been more of a car person but I also plan on doing a few track days starting next season and I dont know how Id be getting my bike there. Any ideas? Id rather not buy a truck or suv but Im not sure if Id be able to get the bike there any way other than towing it. Do any of you track riders own regular cars and not tow vehicles? If so, how do you get there?

Pickup FTW!

I have a civic and have 4x8 fold up trailer from harbor freight for my bike. Works fine.

Joke, but serious.


http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/o...5alloys001.jpg

I have a full size pickup, but you could just add a hitch and small trailer to just about anything.

Ive considered that since a little trailer and the bike dont weigh too much. My only question though, is there a hitch you can add on but that can be taken off some how when not using it? I really dont like the look of a trail hitch on small cars but could deal with it when using it.

I've dragged my bikes all over the country with my old 4 cyl. S-10. Anything you put a Reese style hitch on isn't going to come off of very easily.

Here's what I use:

http://www.mpgomatic.com/images/dode_sprinter_front.jpg

http://www.vanliner.net/img/cg/g_Spr...rheelWells.jpg

I now have almost 200K on mine and I'm still averaging 26mpg, with high's of 30mpg.

It ain't pretty, but it get's the jobs done.

That's a tight rig...

I am not a track guy , but for towing our bikes on an open trailer I am using a Honda Ridgeline. This is a comprimise because my work has commuting so much during the winter that a V8 Pickup is no longer practical. Also Mrs. Gunnut insists that she be able to drive whatever I own. The Ridgeline will tow 2 heavy cruisers with the dry storage trunk in the bed stuffed a gear stuffed,and the bed loaded and 5 people in the cab. It is a nice comproimise it is essentialy a SUV with a bed rather than truck

Who needs a trailer?

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/k...railerless.jpg

JC

Hey if you need to get it somewhere...It works.

When you are shopping for a car, just do some research on the ones on your short list and see if someone sells an aftermarket trailer hitch set up. You might be surprised how many you can find.

My parents have a Toyota Matrix and we found a hitch setup for it :shrug:

Ive Contemplated putting one on the Taurus to tow the Bike around...Wouldnt be hard to do.

I love how he says he isn't looking for truck but other options and some people are still like "get a truck." People need to learn to read...

It's not real noticable to me at all, but yeah, you could take it off when you aren't using it. It's just a couple bolts and a u bolt holding it to the car. Just hide the electrical under the bumper or something.

Trip your doing that on Stock Suspension as well right??

yeah, make sure you get bearing buddies for the trailer if you go this route.

I think the Taurus actually has a actual Towing rating...Its a bigger car...and has a bigger engine...My buddy has a hitch on his Honda Fit...and I think a civic is rated the same...Towing Capacity is actually ZERO...Lol...But It worked for him (and by the looks of it you as well)

I still want a truck...but Until that happens I may as well just Hitch the Ford.

EDIT** Just looked it up...2000Lbs is what Im rated at.

yeah, you aren't suppose to use any of those basket or bike holders that aren't trailers including just regular mountain/street/BMX non motorized bike holders with this hitch. I wouldn't want to try more than one bike on my trailer either. I make sure to keep the load well below the 2000lbs rating the hitch gives me, I won't even attempt 1000 lbs.

I guess I don't know much about hitches on cars, but if you can get a receiver style hitch you just pull the tongue and ball off when you're not using it. I'd imagine they make receiver style hitches for cars but I guess im not sure.

I didn't see anyone suggesting he get a truck. It was hard for me not to suggest it because I simply can't imagine life without my truck, but I didn't and I didn't think anyone else did either.

do you know where he got the hitch for that? My dad is ordering a Fit right now and when he tried to order it with the hitch, it said "this vehicle is not designed for towing". He called the dealership and they said you can't get them with hitches. So Im assuming his is aftermarket, do you know where he got it or what brand it is? My dad wants to be able to pull his jet ski with his car.

Ill ask him...I think he just went to a hitch place Bought the Hitch and installed it himself...But Ill def double check.

nhgunnut, rice, cutty

uhaul sells the hitches, you can get em off uhaul's website, stores, or ebay.

I belive the one my Friend installed is a Reese Hitch...There lowest class they sell

All the hitches made for cars are usually made by the same chinese factory. With just stickers put on them for who sells them. Here is where you can find out which number hitch you need.

http://store.uhaul.com/hitches.aspx?src=hitches

lol ok ya got me on cutty, I didn't even notice that one, but a ridgeline and an s-10 don't count as trucks. LOL

sweet, thanks. I personally don't think he should do it but he really wants to be able to tow his jetski.

Pretty much any car out there has a hitch made aftermarket for it.
I've installed hitches on all types of cars. Toyota Yaris, Saturn Ion and S series, Taurus', Cavalier's, Civic's, Escort's, and a hundai Tiburon (sp?)

They are out there for about everything.
Would I personally pull anything with these vehicles? Hell no, but I'm the king of overkill :idk:

You pretty much ruled that out when you bought a 1125r. If you had a nitro Busa maybe, or even just a ZX-14, but a 1125r won't get you much respect in the overkill realm.

Well then Im the prince! LOL maybe its just me talking myself into "NEEDING" bigger toys! like the F350 needed?....No but knowing I have it if I need it is reassuring to me. sorry to hijack the thread. If you can find a hitch for it Id say just about any vehicle out there ought to be able to pull a little trailer with just one bike on it.

Truth and thanks man. Ive still got a couple months to decide what I want to do but this definitely gives me some other options as to what I can do.

You are looking at it the wrong way...
I have a bike that is made for street riding in the twisties. Light, flickable, and plenty of power, but yet I live in the land of no corners... :lol:


And yes, F250/F350 is in my future... if Ford make's a decent diesel on it's own in 2010, and I don't own a trailer.

That's not overkill, that's the wrong tool for the job.

We have an Outback which has a 2500 (or so) tow rating. It works perfectly since we just trailer things a couple times a year.

The Impreza also has a tow rating, not as much, but I doubt you want a station wagon.

Definitely not but I wonder if their impreza sedan has a tow rating at all.

I'll be installing a tow hitch on my Lincoln LS this afternoon. I also have one of those 4x8 Harbor Freight trailers. Been towing 1 or 2 bikes with it since 2006.... it might be the cheap way out, but it's been getting the job done just fine.

Either of you with the harbor freight trailer have a up close pic of it?

What do you want a picture of? I can take a pic of anything, it's in the upright position sitting in my garage.

Just wanted to get a view of the trailer in general, I saw the pic you posted but could not get a good view of the trailer. I'm in the market for a trailer to avoid always having to put the bike in the bed of my truck. Thanks!