Has anyone used the heavy duty Harbor Frieght trailer behind a Spyder? Could mount a couple car top cargo carriers for a fraction of the price of a RT 622. I like long trips and there just isn't enough cargo provisions.
Thoughts welcome
Lots of people have made trailers to pull behind. You just have to ask yourself do you want to look like the Beverly Hillbillies or Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?
2017 F3T-SM6 Squared Away Mirror Wedgies & Alignment
2014 RTS-SM6 123,600 miles Sold 11/2017
2014 RTL-SE6 8,600 miles
2011 RTS-SM5 5,000 miles
2013 RTS-SM5 burned up with 13,200 miles in 13 weeks
2010 RTS-SM5 59,148 miles
2010 RT- 622
I think I've seen several of these being used. People who have them will have to comment on how they last and perform - looks like a low risk investment! Trailer is less cost than the Spyder hitch! LOL On sale now for $380!
They make a 200 lb trailer that can haul up to 600 lbs (part number 62644), and I've seen them successfully towed behind a Spyder. I'm not sure which one is the "heavy duty" trailer you're referring to.
If you stay within the tongue and tow weight (40 lbs and 400 lbs respectively) you shouldn't have any issues. I would also try to find a trailer that minimizes the side profile or you may find windy-days are somewhere between troublesome and dangerous.
2020- RT Limited
Chalk White, Can-Am rear passenger armrests, Comfort Seat, Grip puppies, RAM Cup Holders, Providence RAM Mount
FOBO2 TPMS
Aluma MCTXL trailer
BRP hitch
Big Bike Parts wiring harness
Permanent Smile!!!
Lots of people have made trailers to pull behind. You just have to ask yourself do you want to look like the Beverly Hillbillies or Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?
WOW! thats pretty brutal!! Not everybody has a lot of expendable cash! Some folks are frugal and it is not all about "how they look" when they are traveling. If it were deciding between traveling with a HF trailer of not being able to afford the trip - I would chose the HF!! Just saying ….
2015 RT Ltd , Canamspyderaccessories Brake pedal ext. Red
Lots of people have made trailers to pull behind. You just have to ask yourself do you want to look like the Beverly Hillbillies or Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?
Ann:
I knew that you were going to get flamed for that (UPPITY) comment, , but I have to agree with you in that I have seen some "homemade Trailers" and wondered what they were thinking of when they made them (not necessarily referring to the harbor freight trailer).
Cruzr Joe
2018 F3 Limited, BRP Driver Backrest, Spyderpops Lighted Bump Skid, Dual Spyclops Light, Mirror Turn Signals, Laser Alignment, Engine LEDs, Fog Lights With Halo's, Cushion Handgrips, BRT LEDs, and Under Lighting, Lamonster IPS, (with Clock), F4 25" Vented Windshield with Wings, Airhawk "R" Cushions. Position 4 Brake setting, Short reach Handlebars, Dash Mounted Voltmeter and 12 Volt Plug. Set of 3rd pegs. Extended Passenger Seat. Exterior BRP Connect setup, Ultimate Trailer
WOW! thats pretty brutal!! Not everybody has a lot of expendable cash! Some folks are frugal and it is not all about "how they look" when they are traveling. If it were deciding between traveling with a HF trailer of not being able to afford the trip - I would chose the HF!! Just saying ….
I have to agree with you but you will have to agree with Ann also that some "homemade" trailers are rather funky (not all, just a few).
Cruzr Joe
2018 F3 Limited, BRP Driver Backrest, Spyderpops Lighted Bump Skid, Dual Spyclops Light, Mirror Turn Signals, Laser Alignment, Engine LEDs, Fog Lights With Halo's, Cushion Handgrips, BRT LEDs, and Under Lighting, Lamonster IPS, (with Clock), F4 25" Vented Windshield with Wings, Airhawk "R" Cushions. Position 4 Brake setting, Short reach Handlebars, Dash Mounted Voltmeter and 12 Volt Plug. Set of 3rd pegs. Extended Passenger Seat. Exterior BRP Connect setup, Ultimate Trailer
Has anyone used the heavy duty Harbor Frieght trailer behind a Spyder? Could mount a couple car top cargo carriers for a fraction of the price of a RT 622. I like long trips and there just isn't enough cargo provisions.
Thoughts welcome
I have seen some that looked decent, but i will caution you to, repack the bearings, upgrade the tires to 12" tires and rewire the lights on a Harbor Freight Trailer for safety also check the safety chains for defects.
Cruzr Joe
2018 F3 Limited, BRP Driver Backrest, Spyderpops Lighted Bump Skid, Dual Spyclops Light, Mirror Turn Signals, Laser Alignment, Engine LEDs, Fog Lights With Halo's, Cushion Handgrips, BRT LEDs, and Under Lighting, Lamonster IPS, (with Clock), F4 25" Vented Windshield with Wings, Airhawk "R" Cushions. Position 4 Brake setting, Short reach Handlebars, Dash Mounted Voltmeter and 12 Volt Plug. Set of 3rd pegs. Extended Passenger Seat. Exterior BRP Connect setup, Ultimate Trailer
Remember, it's not what you do, but how you look doing it!
2020 Chalk, RT Limited, Dark and matching RT622 trailer and BRP hitch. BRP Drivers Backrest, Auxiliary Light, Garmin Zumo XT, GPS Support, RT Rear Panel and Travel Cover. Spyderpops LEDs on fenders, mirrors, saddlebags, top case and RT rear panel. Spyderpops Rock Guard. BajaRon Swaybar, Wolo Bad Boy horn, Freedom Windshield, Elka Shocks.
I've got a Tag a long, 12 inch wheels, spring hooks in place of the open hooks on the safety chains, HF led light kit, home made kick stand. It's been to SF 3 times, behind two different Spyders, and many other places. The one thing you will have to check out is the wiring, all the splices are scotch locks, out of the box, mine had several shorts to ground.
I've seen Spyders towing logsplitters; anything is possible!
Rather than dive into the argument over aesthetics; I'll just say that I've never heard anybody complain about how their 622 or Freedom trailers towed.
WOW! thats pretty brutal!! Not everybody has a lot of expendable cash! Some folks are frugal and it is not all about "how they look" when they are traveling. If it were deciding between traveling with a HF trailer of not being able to afford the trip - I would chose the HF!! Just saying ….
Larry, Larry what has happened to your sense of fashion. I am in the sand box with Ann on this one.
After all, if you own a Spyder and belong to Spyder Lovers you have a certain respectability to uphold.
You get what you pay for. Many things to consider here. Bearings (china) no independent swing arm
suspension. etc
Jack
All my life I wanted to be somebody, now I realize I should have been more specific.
2019 Specialized E-Bike COMO 2.0
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
2018 Tiffin Phaeton 37BH Motorhome
2015 BMW R1200R LC
2014 RTL SE6 Pearl White
2012 RT-622 trailer viper red
2014 Look 7x12 motorcycle trailer silver and black
2011 Polaris Ranger green
2013 GMC Yukon Denali XL silver oak
2016 Can Am Maverick
Remember, it's not what you do, but how you look doing it!
Or; it's not easy, the secret is to make it look easy!
Jack
All my life I wanted to be somebody, now I realize I should have been more specific.
2019 Specialized E-Bike COMO 2.0
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
2018 Tiffin Phaeton 37BH Motorhome
2015 BMW R1200R LC
2014 RTL SE6 Pearl White
2012 RT-622 trailer viper red
2014 Look 7x12 motorcycle trailer silver and black
2011 Polaris Ranger green
2013 GMC Yukon Denali XL silver oak
2016 Can Am Maverick
Lots of people have made trailers to pull behind. You just have to ask yourself do you want to look like the Beverly Hillbillies or Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?
Man I am in trouble.
I thought it was all about the ride, not looking like the rich and famous.
I don't think I can pull that one off.....maybe that is why I didn't go to Spyderfest, I would feel too out of place with the uppity ups.
I thought it was a great line, but I myself am in the process of making one of those Beverly Hillbilly trailers for taking the Spyder grocery shopping, instead of towing the camper trailer.
Some of them look pretty good.
Last edited by Fatcycledaddy; 05-16-2016 at 11:56 AM.
WOW! thats pretty brutal!! Not everybody has a lot of expendable cash! Some folks are frugal and it is not all about "how they look" when they are traveling. If it were deciding between traveling with a HF trailer of not being able to afford the trip - I would chose the HF!! Just saying ….
Looks to me like you have lots of money Larry. Question: What's the difference between "cheap' and
"frugal"? Never could understand the difference between the two. Maybe you could educate me or
enlighten me. Thanks
Jack
All my life I wanted to be somebody, now I realize I should have been more specific.
2019 Specialized E-Bike COMO 2.0
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
2018 Tiffin Phaeton 37BH Motorhome
2015 BMW R1200R LC
2014 RTL SE6 Pearl White
2012 RT-622 trailer viper red
2014 Look 7x12 motorcycle trailer silver and black
2011 Polaris Ranger green
2013 GMC Yukon Denali XL silver oak
2016 Can Am Maverick
To the OP - I see people pulling the Harbor Freight trailers behind bikes and cars all the time. I can afford to buy whatever I want but if I were like most people who would only use a trailer like that once or twice I wouldn't waste $3000 for something that's gonna sit in the garage for 300 plus days a year. If I get one it will be one like the ones posted with a spare tire and an eye on the amount of weight and it's intended use. That being said if I you plan on using it a lot I would spring for one of the plus or minus $1000 ones made in the US and with diamond plating.
Many of you have lost your sense of humor. This little emoji infers that I was kidding. I really don't care what you tow behind your Spyder but you also must realize that comparing the HF trailer to the RT-622 is ridiculous as they are nowhere near the same thing.
So chill out and ride.
2017 F3T-SM6 Squared Away Mirror Wedgies & Alignment
2014 RTS-SM6 123,600 miles Sold 11/2017
2014 RTL-SE6 8,600 miles
2011 RTS-SM5 5,000 miles
2013 RTS-SM5 burned up with 13,200 miles in 13 weeks
2010 RTS-SM5 59,148 miles
2010 RT- 622
I bought a Mission MMT 3'x4' trailer. It has 25 cubic ft of storage and is all aluminum. Dry weight is 194lbs. Out the door the cost was $1,987. It has a long tongue so it is easy to back up and no reverberating vibrations back up through the Spyder when the trailer goes over the bumps. I just got back from a 2000 miles trip pulling it and it pulled great on freeways and mountain twisties.
HF trailers come with 8 inch wheels, cheap bearings, no suspension, no box. If you upgrade those things, if possible, you are getting close to an Aluma or mission trailer cost. If you only put in clothes or soft things, an unsprung trailer works fine. To each his/her own. The 622 we have has over 90,000 miles on it, and worth the price. Jmho, Joe
HF trailers come with 8 inch wheels, cheap bearings, no suspension, no box. If you upgrade those things, if possible, you are getting close to an Aluma or mission trailer cost. If you only put in clothes or soft things, an unsprung trailer works fine. To each his/her own. The 622 we have has over 90,000 miles on it, and worth the price. Jmho, Joe
This is what I bought at half the cost and have seen a lot of them on the road. Seems to tow fine and what I am using for Deadwood.
Greetings from Idaho
2014 RT-S,
Barjaron swaybar, chome luggage rack, Ram Mount GPS, 12 volt dash outlet, spyderflap mudflap, Rivco flag mounts, drink2go and custom handlebar drink holders,Driver Backrest,Tri-Axis Handlebars, TRICLed turn signal lights. Custon Dynamic Magic Strobe Brake Modulator, Triple Dash Pouches, "Squared Away" Laser Alignment, Spyderpops Bumpskid, TricLed "Knightrider" LED
To the OP - I see people pulling the Harbor Freight trailers behind bikes and cars all the time. I can afford to buy whatever I want but if I were like most people who would only use a trailer like that once or twice I wouldn't waste $3000 for something that's gonna sit in the garage for 300 plus days a year. If I get one it will be one like the ones posted with a spare tire and an eye on the amount of weight and it's intended use. That being said if I you plan on using it a lot I would spring for one of the plus or minus $1000 ones made in the US and with diamond plating.
I couldn't agree more. There is nothing stylish or attract about a uppity with their nose in the air thinking they are better than anyone else because they choose to throw money around. Open air riding is not about social class, it attitude, brotherhood and freedom
Last edited by Michael82009; 05-16-2016 at 01:41 PM.
I bought a used ALuma trailer - LOTS of space, rydes like it isn't there, no issues. I have a Can-Am trailer hitch, but (shudder) i bought a Big Bike Parts harness. Lots of comments on this forum about the evils of going non-Can-Am, and some snobbish comments about the even bigger evils of trying to save $.
I think there are lots of non Can-AM options for many of the farkles we like, and many of them are better and cost less.
2020- RT Limited
Chalk White, Can-Am rear passenger armrests, Comfort Seat, Grip puppies, RAM Cup Holders, Providence RAM Mount
FOBO2 TPMS
Aluma MCTXL trailer
BRP hitch
Big Bike Parts wiring harness
Permanent Smile!!!
MY definition between the two is cheap always goes with the cheapest, frugal goes with the middle price range. When I was young, I have very little money, but I learned someplace never go cheap. I'm still frugal and have rarely been disappointed.
I sort of agree with Ann, BUT there better be a lot of difference in "what you look like" between $4K and $1K and there usually isn't $3K worth. That being said, worrying about "keeping up with the Jones", or worrying about what other people think about you, is a waste of time and usually money.
I also agree that if you don't make due, or you can't "go" screw them, go Frugal, never cheap.
Originally Posted by jaherbst
Looks to me like you have lots of money Larry. Question: What's the difference between "cheap' and
"frugal"? Never could understand the difference between the two. Maybe you could educate me or