trailering a spyder

[ARtraveler]

All good information. Even with the revival of the thread from 8/2016. I thought some of the early posters looked familiar. :yes:

 

[Terraplane8Bob]

Thanks for all of the thoughts about loading a Spyder into a pick-up truck ! I'm going to push it one step further ---- What if the Spyder is loaded onto the truck bed using a winch ? It might be a lot easier making incremental adjustments as you go using that method. Come to think about it --- where would you have to attach the winch cable ? The "Gator Ramp" I mentioned can be deployed onto an embankment or standard loading dock so the the ramp becomes not a ramp, but is parallel to the ground. Perhaps in that situation, the rear wheel might have normal traction ? The ramp is coated with a "gritty" compound of some sort and has always had good grip for all of the times I ran my BMW K-75 in and out of the bed. Sound like a possibility to anyone ? I still have trailer dyslexia ! Bob

 

[Peter Aawen]

I dunno that I'd be all that happy driving too far with my Spyder on the trailer/in the bed of a pick-up so that it's FACING BACKWARDS as you drive along!! :gaah:

Maybe it wouldn't be such a biggie if the trailer &/or pick-up bed was protected by a full height fairing or better yet, fully enclosed; maybe it might not be too bad for some Spyder models or possibly a windscreen-less Ryker; but even just the thought of carrying/transporting my RT while it's facing backwards so that it's exposed to all the airflow & buffeting of a vehicle travelling at pretty much any speed just makes me cringe!! :shocked: And that still applies Even if the machine was winched into place, possibly with the winch cable secured to the trailer hitch?! :lecturef_smilie:

Have you seen how those windshields are held on?? Or the tupperware side-panels?? Even on mine, with its 'much more positively secured D-Zus fasteners' holding the side panels on, the whole thing is designed to withstand the airflow of its motion passing from the front of Spyder over everything as it heads towards the rear & eventually flows off the back - flip that around so that the airflow & any debris, rain, bugs, or other crud it's carrying is travelling from the rear of the Spyder over & around the blunt end, creating a heap of 'backward' high velocity turbulence & lifting forces in places and ways the designers probably never even dreamt of, and I can see the potential for a few lost panels; a broken windshield, maybe tearing off a dash cover as it goes past; with water &/or other crap being blasted into the instruments & cluster etc, getting injected in under the glass & into the delicate working bits; the potential for lifting &/or ripping off things like the mirrors, trunk/frunk lids, or the glove box lid; and maybe getting even more crushed & stinking bugs stuck deep into some difficult to remove places than it currently scores!! :banghead:

So Bob, if it was me facing a choice of loading my Spyder backwards onto anything vs me spending some time practicing reversing with a trailer in tow until I'm comfortable with reversing that trailer at speed uphill thru an icy slalom course while driving a truck wearing racing slicks, I'd already be out there practicing reversing!! nojoke Or I'd just plan on NEVER EVER trailering or carrying my Spyder anywhere, and ALWAYS ryding it FORWARDS wherever it needs to go, with maybe just a little low speed reversing under its own steam thrown into the mix if necessary! :thumbup:

But that's just me.... you might choose to do things differently, cos YMMV! hyea: :cheers:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Thanks for all of the thoughts about loading a Spyder into a pick-up truck ! I'm going to push it one step further ---- What if the Spyder is loaded onto the truck bed using a winch ? It might be a lot easier making incremental adjustments as you go using that method. Come to think about it --- where would you have to attach the winch cable ? The "Gator Ramp" I mentioned can be deployed onto an embankment or standard loading dock so the the ramp becomes not a ramp, but is parallel to the ground. Perhaps in that situation, the rear wheel might have normal traction ? The ramp is coated with a "gritty" compound of some sort and has always had good grip for all of the times I ran my BMW K-75 in and out of the bed. Sound like a possibility to anyone ? I still have trailer dyslexia ! Bob

What are you going to use on the rear of the Spyder to attach your cable to ????? .... I wouldn't use a Tow Hitch because of the angle that cable is going to be at ..... plus BRP says 400lbs MAX for their hitch ( tow capability ) .. and you MUST remove the windshield as others have said ....... and will keep my " cheese grater " traction device :roflblack:.... Mike hyea:

 

[Terraplane8Bob]

Actually, I didn't mention the fact that my Ford Super Duty has a fiberglass bed cover that rises hydraulically straight up six feet and parallel to the bed, so, as I did mention before, I could ride my old BMW K-75 up the Gator Ramp and straight up to the cab of the truck. I then strapped it down, removed the windshield [4 screws] and lowered the cover down onto the bike after placing padding on the saddle and fairing. I've driven a lot of miles at 70+MPH with no problems whatsoever, so I was assuming I could duplicate that general setup for a Spyder. The bed cover is a "Top-Up Camper" I bought years ago from a company in Michigan. With canvas sides and bunks that cantilevered off the sides of the bed, it converted a pickup truck into a camper while leaving the entire bed of the truck as open space. Pretty slick ! Thanks for the advice about the 400 pound limit on the BRP trailer hitch ! That was where my mind was wandering to as a logical attachment point. I guess a custom hitch point would be required to achieve my aim. I really appreciate the different points of view and suggestions --- AND the emojis !! Cheers !! Bob