OK I rely on mates I go with to take my biker. they are happy with this and if they are taking passengers I'm fine to use my car to take lots of gear as well. I have no need for a van myself and it would only be used for trackdays. was thinking in the long run, would just hiring a van for 24 hours, or a weekend verses buying a second-hand trailer? I have pulled a 2 bike trailer and even after lots of scrapping down still did not feel safe, maily as the wheel chock area was too tight for a 190 rear tyre. Any suggestions on this? IE: what bike trailer to possibly look at? or just hire a van, i', hoping to do many trackdays next year. I say that but hoping 4+ would be ideal for me due to time and family. unsure how often I will be able to get a lift for the bike Anyone in a similar situation cheers again
Hi Remal. I thinkthe van may be better than the trailer mainly based on the fact a mate of mine was spoted towing a trailer with two ktm crossers on the back he was followed (nearly home) he went right and the range rover went on but later that night a white van was spotted going up farm drives turning around then into another ,this was obviously a tactic to find the vehicle that was towing the trailer and once located it was only a matter of an hour or so when the garage/outbuilding was done over and two bikes went .The cops said it was a good job he did not spot them nicking the bikes as they were more than likely having them anyway!.Also you are right about the stress level of driving with a bike strapped up you only need a punture on one of these poxy little tyres and who knows were the bike ends up.
I would get a colapsable or single bike trailer mate easy to store, no mater what you use someone will see you loading and unloading at some stage so will allways be a risk
Exactly the same dilema I faced! Thing with me is I have no where to store anything other than a collapsable trailer and even then having never towed and for reasons mentioned above, overnight stays and leaving the bike on show in a hotel carpark etc, I decided hiring would be best for me. Hired from enterprise for £48 a day and got a 12plate renault traffic, spent £50 on a ramp and all is good! I do a bit of grass cutting so if I can get a few more customers will probably end up buying a van but if not then I'll stick with hiring I thing. Theres my two pence worth.
I bought a motolug early this year, its not a cheap trailer but its the dogs bollocks as far as im concerned. Easy loading and unloading on your own, it tilts and has a wheel chock built in, very stable to tow and collapses down nicely. Pics below with my old R1 on it to show how easy loading is.
Started a thread way back in July when I was thinking about towing to make more ride outs accessible. Not much of a response but the same makes keep cropping up as possibles, which is encouraging? http://1000rr.co.uk/lounge/5911.htm
New a motolug is 600 ish the odd one pops up on eBay and goes for around 450 or so. For the 100 or so quid difference I prefered to just buy new.
I would much rather have the bike in a van than on a trailer, I have used both and happy to tow a 27ft caravan so no issues there. prob is the space for a box van, and Hiring means you only hire when needed and don't have to keep/store a trailer. Ok in the long rum more expensive but easier? Will also look at the NEC show on Monday or
Looks good but its huge! Where would you park it? Round my way they would prob try charging me council tax on it
Not for track days but more for everyday life with my boards, dogs and lads pit bike which I'm also gonna get one. Transporter sportline all the way Like this
I'm buying a VW Transporter T5 when I get back from a little 6 month working holiday next year. I plan on converting it to a camper/track day van and have already drawn up the plans in my head of how I'm going to do it. I've even gone as far as joining a VW T4/T5 forum to get ideas.
Trailers are a PITA imo. I've had a few & grew to hate each one! When not in use they are always in the way & just look ugly. Its so much fecking about loading them up etc; especially if carrying two bikes. People can follow you home. Its risky parking overnight in Travel Inn car parks. You are limited to how fast you can drive on the motorway. If its raining, you arrive with your bike in a sh1t state. Manouvers in car parks etc. Hire a van & split the cost between two of you. You would have to hire a lot of vans before getting near the cost of buying a 'decent' trailer.
Plus you can kip in it overnight - I chuck a double mattress in my transit, chain the bikes to the rear axle outside with a disc lock etc Them transporter sportlines are nice but they still feel like your in a van to drive, no matter how nice they are inside they are still a van. We used to have 2 transporters at work but have now moved purely onto Transits. We had constant issues with ours. I also can't help but think a low version like the ones pictured would be a right chew on and you would constantly be hitting your head on the roof.
Trailer/Hire van/Own van thoughts. I've been through the trailer/hire van and own van thing for track days and each has plus and minus points. I bought a really great, sturdy (though not cheap!) take-apart trailer as I didn't have anywhere to keep a full size one and this did the job great until you need to stay somewhere overnight and the security becomes an issue. I was then hiring vans for the further-away track days and that can get pricey as it'll be a minimum of 2 days rental and if it's a weekend, sometimes 3 days (you do tend - not always - to get a nice van to drive though) Then there's the potential hassle of lifts to/from the van location to pick it up and drop it off etc, or them "doing you a favour" and giving you a huge van which you can't fit in the street and which guzzles juice, and which has such a high loading lip that normal ramps are too short, things you tend to forget about. I bit the bullet and bought a van to take the track bike in...... …..then started working away more!!! I’ve actually only driven to 4 tracks with it this year but one of those was Le Mans (great trip) The problem with this option is that you either have to have a van only or as addition to a car. The van will be expensive to insure, mine is about twice the price of my car, and your wife will call you a pikey! If you don't have far to travel the trailer option is OK as long as you're careful with securing the bike. Some kind of solid front wheel chock and a ‘tyre down’ or similar at the back or good quality substantial tie downs from a strong point on the frame of the bike, preferably at a decent angle to the trailer anchor point. My Trailer
