Motorcycle Camping gear

[easysuper]

Camping gear

There is no way I would ever pull a trailer with any kind of motorcycle. They are all over on here not to use car tires on a Spyders its not safe but it is okay to pull a trailer. No motorcycle was never designed to pull a trailer. I have seen people pull trailers loaded weight more than the motorcycle. This is my feelings I have seen a lot of accidents pulling trailers. Everyone tells me you don't even know it is back there until you go into a corner to fast. Probably a Spyder is better than two wheels for a trailer. I do camp but I will stay in a motel before I pull a trailer. I know a lot of people on here is going to disagree with me.

I will disagree with you 100%, if BRP did not want us pulling trailers with our Spyders their Lawyers would have never let them market a hitch and a trailer. All one has to do is use a small amount of common sense , on weight and speed. You go ahead and stay in a hotel if it makes you feel safer, I'll enjoy my campfire and glass of wine by the lake. I would agree with you a little bit about pulling a trailer with just two wheels, but our Spyders are an entirely different animal. Just my opinion and we all know what that's worth.
Enjoy your ride.

 

[pegasus1300]

There is no way I would ever pull a trailer with any kind of motorcycle. They are all over on here not to use car tires on a Spyders its not safe but it is okay to pull a trailer. No motorcycle was never designed to pull a trailer. I have seen people pull trailers loaded weight more than the motorcycle. This is my feelings I have seen a lot of accidents pulling trailers. Everyone tells me you don't even know it is back there until you go into a corner to fast. Probably a Spyder is better than two wheels for a trailer. I do camp but I will stay in a motel before I pull a trailer. I know a lot of people on here is going to disagree with me.

Except the Can Am Spyder RT. It was designed from day 1 to pull a trailer including a setting in the computer for trailer pulling,a factory trailer, and a factory trailer hitch. So yes we are going to disagree with you when applied to the Spyder. The only thing that can not be allowed for in the nut holding the handlebars. Its the same with towing a trailer with a car or truck,you need to remember it IS there and compensate accordingly. If you want to continue with your motorcycle thinking have at it and I applaud your safety consciousness even tho I disagree with the direction you are going.

After 50+ years of all brands of motorcycles safely pulling trailers I don't see the reluctance of OEMs to openly design trailer pulling into some models,but that's another discussion.

 

[UtahPete]

She tows the Roll-A-Home with her Spyder and I tow a small one-wheel trailer with my CTX700. We like the combination.

View attachment 158974

That's got to be WAY over 400# tow limit on Spyder! 385# dry weight of trailer + cargo box + cargo = 500# maybe?

From their website; Empty weight of trailer including wheels, tires and axle is approximately 325 lb for the standard model and 385 lb for the wide model.

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

That's got to be WAY over 400# tow limit on Spyder!

I was thinking the same

 

[easysuper]

Camping Gear

I'm at 430 lbs. with the box of campfire wood. I guess I'm living on the edge ! Out of control and just don't know it!

 

[gerald37]

I guess it is what people like. I ride to fast and try to cover to much distance to have a trailer. The Spyder is probably the safest cycle to pull a trailer. After looking at the trailer they make for the Spyder is probably pretty good. I always travel alone so I don't need to carry much. I just enjoy the riding and I have good camping equipment and it don't take me long to setup or tear down. I don't very often stay more than one night other than Sturgis so I don't like to be pulling a trailer around everywhere I go.

 

[WA5VHU]

That's got to be WAY over 400# tow limit on Spyder! 385# dry weight of trailer + cargo box + cargo = 500# maybe?

From their website; Empty weight of trailer including wheels, tires and axle is approximately 325 lb for the standard model and 385 lb for the wide model.

Yep, might be.

 

[UtahPete]

I guess it is what people like. I ride to fast and try to cover to much distance to have a trailer. The Spyder is probably the safest cycle to pull a trailer. After looking at the trailer they make for the Spyder is probably pretty good. I always travel alone so I don't need to carry much. I just enjoy the riding and I have good camping equipment and it don't take me long to setup or tear down. I don't very often stay more than one night other than Sturgis so I don't like to be pulling a trailer around everywhere I go.

I've got a cheap HF Tagalong trailer. I've pulled it over 5000 miles with my RT at speeds up to 85 mph. The bike has no problem with it and neither do I. Having said that, I understand the desire to avoid using a trailer at all, and if I could still do the backpacking thing with a 1/2" insulating pad on the ground and just a mummy bag inside a bivvy sack, I would. However, I like more comfort plus I have to use a CPAP machine at night now, so the trailer has just the right amount of additional capacity so my camping trips aren't overly compromised.

Pulling a light-weight trailer with the right running gear does NOT limit the speed or maneuverability of the Spyder at all.

 

[PistonBlown]

Now we can definitely see from the answers to the original post that we have three basic groups of campers on SpyderLovers:

• Light camping - what you can easily carry on a bike
• Heavy camping – trailer or caravan is essential
• And…where’s the nearest 5-star hotel?

I’m going to guess Tyris is asking about the Light option. As I was packing my Spyder up for another trip this weekend I thought I’d take time to note down exactly what I take. In this case I’m going to be camping at the side of the road rather than at a camp site as I’ll be off the beaten track. I know brands are going to be different but hopefully this will help:

• Tent – light weight, 2 person. Bought this from a Hunting and Fishing shop as I find camping gear tends to be good quality but cheaper from those places than dedicated camping shops.
• Self-inflating sleeping pad, again from a Hunting and Fishing shop.
• Sleeping bag – tramping (hiking) model so it packs up small,has hood so very warm, from shop called Kathmandu. I think it’s supposed to be water proof though fortunately never had to test that.
• Pillow case - I fill this with spare clothes etc to make a pillow.
• Towel – Can’t underestimate how important this is - and no I’m not having a Douglas Adams moment. I have small camping one from Katmandu that packs up very small but somehow seems to be able to absorb tonnes of water. Dries quickly as well. If you’ve just ridden and setup camp in the rain just being able to dry yourself easily is a real luxury. Also means you can wash easily - I'm sorry but drying yourself off with an old, dirty t-shirt is just not the same.
• Wash stuff
• Small Tarp - make previously mentioned
• Small stove - make previously mentioned
• Small bottle of petrol for stove - Primus
• Long matches - which I’ve covered in wax to keep dry
• Two camping pans - one for cooking, one for water – bought from The Warehouse
• Small plastic cup, spoon and fork – The Warehouse
• Tupperware container - Keep matches, cup and spoon in this but also use it as bowl and the lid as plate
• Swiss Army Knife - Used to carry a multi-tool but have recently gone back to using a Swiss army knife as its more compact and the tools are better on it
• Water - bottle and camel pack.
• Food
• Clothing – I don’t carry much but to me the important layer is the base layer which I try and change every day. For the base layer I have “Earth Sea Sky” Silk Weight T-shirts and Icebreaker Merino boxers. These pack up very very small, wash and dry quickly – plus they are both very comfortable. Both are made from smell resistant materials
• LED head torch - Energizer
• 5 extra tent pegs - to fix down Tarp and stove if windy or on uneven ground
• Cord - For hanging stuff on to dry

 

[Tyris]

Now we can definitely see from the answers to the original post that we have three basic groups of campers on SpyderLovers:

• Light camping - what you can easily carry on a bike
• Heavy camping – trailer or caravan is essential
• And…where’s the nearest 5-star hotel?

I’m going to guess Tyris is asking about the Light option. As I was packing my Spyder up for another trip this weekend I thought I’d take time to note down exactly what I take. In this case I’m going to be camping at the side of the road rather than at a camp site as I’ll be off the beaten track. I know brands are going to be different but hopefully this will help:

• Tent – light weight, 2 person. Bought this from a Hunting and Fishing shop as I find camping gear tends to be good quality but cheaper from those places than dedicated camping shops.
• Self-inflating sleeping pad, again from a Hunting and Fishing shop.
• Sleeping bag – tramping (hiking) model so it packs up small,has hood so very warm, from shop called Kathmandu. I think it’s supposed to be water proof though fortunately never had to test that.
• Pillow case - I fill this with spare clothes etc to make a pillow.
• Towel – Can’t underestimate how important this is - and no I’m not having a Douglas Adams moment. I have small camping one from Katmandu that packs up very small but somehow seems to be able to absorb tonnes of water. Dries quickly as well. If you’ve just ridden and setup camp in the rain just being able to dry yourself easily is a real luxury. Also means you can wash easily - I'm sorry but drying yourself off with an old, dirty t-shirt is just not the same.
• Wash stuff
• Small Tarp - make previously mentioned
• Small stove - make previously mentioned
• Small bottle of petrol for stove - Primus
• Long matches - which I’ve covered in wax to keep dry
• Two camping pans - one for cooking, one for water – bought from The Warehouse
• Small plastic cup, spoon and fork – The Warehouse
• Tupperware container - Keep matches, cup and spoon in this but also use it as bowl and the lid as plate
• Swiss Army Knife - Used to carry a multi-tool but have recently gone back to using a Swiss army knife as its more compact and the tools are better on it
• Water - bottle and camel pack.
• Food
• Clothing – I don’t carry much but to me the important layer is the base layer which I try and change every day. For the base layer I have “Earth Sea Sky” Silk Weight T-shirts and Icebreaker Merino boxers. These pack up very very small, wash and dry quickly – plus they are both very comfortable. Both are made from smell resistant materials
• LED head torch - Energizer
• 5 extra tent pegs - to fix down Tarp and stove if windy or on uneven ground
• Cord - For hanging stuff on to dry

Excellent post, thanks.

 

[Ranman42]

+!

:agree:
Great list. Don't know how many times I've needed a cord, rope ,piece of anything. And extra stakes for flat land areas.

Thanks