Open or Enclosed Trailer to Haul Motorcycles – Thoughts?

[Spyder Smyles]

Hubby and I are looking to get a trailer to pull my Spyder and his Goldwing on long distance trips that we don’t have the time to ryde too do to that little thing called work. I was wondering what other motorcycle enthusiast’s think as far as pro’s and con’s are of an open trailer versus an enclosed trailer. Also wondering what brand of trailers other spyderlovers may be using.

[captblack]

I have both ... I use the 7 x 14 enclosed for trips because of the ease of having everything there and I can also haul my wife's Vulcan 1500. For short trips to the dealer or the like I use my 7 x 10 utility trailer. I would not use anything smaller unless you get a custom made set up like the Alumina types.

[ARCTIC]

Hubby and I are looking to get a trailer to pull my Spyder and his Goldwing on long distance trips that we don’t have the time to ryde too do to that little thing called work. I was wondering what other motorcycle enthusiast’s think as far as pro’s and con’s are of an open trailer versus an enclosed trailer. Also wondering what brand of trailers other spyderlovers may be using.

Open trailer:
Pros ......
Cost
Fuel mileage
Visibility when towing
You proudly display your spyder when towing

Cons.....
Protection of your machine and exposure to the elements.
Limited ability to haul your gear & clothing

Brand...... ALUMA.


ENCLOSED TRAILER :

Pros.....
Protection of your machine when traveling
Doubles as storage for your spyder
lots of ways too hang and haul gear and clothing

Cons....
Cost
Fuel mileage
Visibility when towing


Brand..... ALUMA

[Ga Blue Knight]

For security and protection from the elements I'd go with the enclosed version. Plus in a pinch it could serve as an aluminum tent.

[ABQAndy]

Personal preference, I went with an enclosed trailer because the bike is not exposed to the elements and I can haul lots of other stuff safely and not worry about someone stealing things when I stop. I know it costs more but I think it is worth the extra expense. I ended up with a used Haulmark Low Profile trailer for my RT (7' x 14').

[bullant12]

Hubby and I are looking to get a trailer to pull my Spyder and his Goldwing on long distance trips that we don’t have the time to ryde too do to that little thing called work. I was wondering what other motorcycle enthusiast’s think as far as pro’s and con’s are of an open trailer versus an enclosed trailer. Also wondering what brand of trailers other spyderlovers may be using.

My experience with an enclosed trailer was the same as yours: work. However, we learned a few lessons (thankfully the enclosed trailer was a loner):

a) It is nice to transport the on an enclosed trailer because we got the chance to take our whole family (3 dogs at the time) to Maggie Valley (Owners Event and Lamonster's BBQ 2011). We also got to load the enclosed trailer with pretty much half the house as well, this made having an enclosed trailer the best option, plus protecting the . However, we had to make several fuel stops because between an 8 cylinder truck hauling a trailer full of stuff was no cheap travel

b) We have learned that getting to the destination is more fun than trailering the , and now that we have 2, it made it more fun! Sure, we are training our 2 dogs to rYde with us(our third one passed away but she was too big to get on the so we were going to keep her with friends or at the kennel since she was old anyway), so we still have to make as many stops and take a few more days off to deal with the travel.

The important thing is to enjoy, no matter which way you get there. Good luck!

[bruiser]

Agree with bullant12 on fuel. We pulled an 8X20 to Spyderfest. We have two RTs so we needed something with space. Ours is a V nose. I wouldn't have anything with a flat nose. Running a 2004 Silverado with a 5.4 we got 10 mpg going out and 10.5 coming back. Had some pretty good mountains to go over. Here's the kicker. Friends hauled her Spyder and his road King in 7X18 enclosed. His F150 with 5.3 got 8.5 mpg. The enclosed works good. It's your call.

[ARCTIC]

Agree with bullant12 on fuel. We pulled an 8X20 to Spyderfest. We have two RTs so we needed something with space. Ours is a V nose. I wouldn't have anything with a flat nose. Running a 2004 Silverado with a 5.4 we got 10 mpg going out and 10.5 coming back. Had some pretty good mountains to go over. Here's the kicker. Friends hauled her Spyder and his road King in 7X18 enclosed. His F150 with 5.3 got 8.5 mpg. The enclosed works good. It's your call.

You got the motors mixed up. Chevy 5.3 and Ford 5.4

[bullant12]

Agree with bullant12 on fuel. We pulled an 8X20 to Spyderfest. We have two RTs so we needed something with space. Ours is a V nose. I wouldn't have anything with a flat nose. Running a 2004 Silverado with a 5.4 we got 10 mpg going out and 10.5 coming back. Had some pretty good mountains to go over. Here's the kicker. Friends hauled her Spyder and his road King in 7X18 enclosed. His F150 with 5.3 got 8.5 mpg. The enclosed works good. It's your call.

I was pulling an 8X14 with a 2010 Toyota Tundra 8 cyl. I was lucky 11 mpg's, but the lowest recorded was coming into the mountains at 9.4 mpg. That is when my wife and I decided not to get a trailer!

[NancysToy]

I have both...I prefer the enclosed trailer.

[asp125]

Enclosed.. too many prying eyes and sticky fingers to risk losing your rig. Then again, a friend of mine lost his entire race setup when thieves jacked his trailer: bike, compressor, tools, race leathers etc.

[mxz600]

Enclosed is the only way to go. A lesson I learned from many years of trailering snowmobiles.

The way people obsess over their Spyders, I can't believe anyone would pull a Spyder on an open trailer for any distance.

And keep this in mind about gas mileage. If you don't trailer you still need gas for the Spyder. So you're only paying extra for the difference of the two. I would venture to guess if a person had two Spyders and trailered them the extra cost in gas would be negligible.

The trip to Spyderfest I averaged just over 12 mpg with my F-150 with a 5.0 pulling a 23' trailer. So the extra cost in fuel for the trip was in the neighborhood of 250 bucks, worth every penny. Because as I've said before, for the ride down and back, I was warm and dry. More importantly, the wife was warm and dry.

I know some would say I'm not a real biker. That I already know, I mean I do ride a Spyder.

[MarkLawson]

I have an enclosed Wells Cargo Cycle Wagon. Interior is 20' long x 79" wide x 72" tall. Easy to carry your Spyder & Goldwing.

Wells Cargo is a high quality trailer designed for a 20 year life of daily use.

[kawakii]

We have an open air ride trailer and overall are very happy with it, it has a metal front guard to protect the Spyder from rocks, etc... Easy to tow and load. We had a slight problem with the switch to the compressor but air ride sent out a new one to install. Nothing terrible.

[rhansen309]

We have a 7 x 10 open interstate trailer. It works just fine for us.

[kyspyder]

I prefer an enclosed trailer. This is the one I prefer.

http://ironhorsetrailers.com/

KYSPYDER

[Ronbo]

I know people can steal anything, but I just sleep better in the motel at night when my Spyder is enclosed. Diesel F-250 pulls it well. 2013 RT LTD with 2000 miles.
Good Luck!

Ronbo

[SpyderDen]

Open trailer:
Pros ......
Cost
Fuel mileage
Visibility when towing
You proudly display your spyder when towing

Cons.....
Protection of your machine and exposure to the elements.
Limited ability to haul your gear & clothing

Brand...... ALUMA.


ENCLOSED TRAILER :

Pros.....
Protection of your machine when traveling
Doubles as storage for your spyder
lots of ways too hang and haul gear and clothing

Cons....
Cost
Fuel mileage
Visibility when towing


Brand..... ALUMA

just curious, since you are in Iowa, how does Featherlite (Cresco IA) compare with Aluma?

[ARCTIC]

just curious, since you are in Iowa, how does Featherlite (Cresco IA) compare with Aluma?

Featherlite is top notch also. They are very well built but it seems that their forte is the heavier duty trailers for hauling cars. Aluma builds a quality lighter duty enclosed "powersport" trailer.

[Jenglish]

Ever see one of theseResized_20191012_104401.jpg ironhorse trailers? Set up for a trike only weighs 950 pounds - 4 years of warranty.

[Wahrsuul]

Yes, and VERY pricey for it. Saw a used one just the other day on CL - $5000. I don't have that kind of money. I'll use an open trailer unless I can get a great deal on a used enclosed one.

[h0gr1der]

I had a buddy that pulled a HD across a coupe of states on an open trailer, got pretty bad damage to the aluminum and shiny stuff due to a combination of road grime/debris and rain. He swore off open haulers after that.

[DingerD]

Credit my wife with a good idea that works well for us. We have two RT's which needed a covered place to stay. She suggested we get an enclosed trailer that would serve double duty as a place to store the Spyders in the riding months, and in the winter when we have garage space because she has our van in Arizona for the winter, I bring the Spyders into the garage and the trailer serves as a place where my duck and goose decoys are locked up and easy to access. We have a Haulmark Passport 8 x 20. It gives us plenty of space. I upgraded the cheapo tires to Goodyear Endurance tires immediately.
GMC Duramax pulls it well.

[Motorcycledave]

You got the motors mixed up. Chevy 5.3 and Ford 5.4

OOps I just can't help myself.... Motors are electric and Engines are Gas, Diesel, propane, natural gas, and so on .

[CopperSpyder]

OOps I just can't help myself.... Motors are electric and Engines are Gas, Diesel, propane, natural gas, and so on .

and when was that posted?

motor =

NOUN
a machine, especially one powered by electricity or internal combustion, that supplies motive power for a vehicle or for some other device with moving parts.
synonyms:
apparatus · appliance · instrument · tool · utensil · device · unit · contraption · [more]
ADJECTIVE
giving, imparting, or producing motion or action.
"demand is the principle motor force governing economic activity"
synonyms:
kinetic · driving · impelling · propelling · propulsive · operative · moving
BRITISH
driven by a motor.
VERB
travel in a motor vehicle, typically a car or a boat.
"we motored along a narrow road" · [more]
synonyms:
hurtle · speed · career · shoot · streak · sweep · hare · fly · wing · drive

Both trailers (enclosed and open) have there pros and cons I'm still trying to decide what to go with myself.