tents and cargo trailers for riders

[Don in Lodi]

And unlike my friend Bob, I can fully see a single wheel trailer behind my Tenere. Along with thoughts of what you want to bring along, you need to consider where you'll be riding as well. A two wheel trailer will get you down a well graded forest service road just fine, I've done it on a Royal Star, the most that a lot of folks might want. But once you get into clean two track, or if you're gutsy, single track, then the choice of the single wheel trailer will begin to shine. Where your bike's wheels go, so goes the single wheel's tire. A note; Stay away from the trailers that hitch up to the rear axle of the bike. Get the load to the chassis by other means. You know those expanded metal baskets you see stuck into an SUV's receiver hitch for the family's over sized cooler? I'm thinking one of those as a base for a single wheel, and a big water proof duffle. Industrial looking and tough. Bend it? Hit it with a rock and keep going.

 

[eemsreno]

I have pulled this Smitty trailer for over 50,000 miles. They aren't made anymore . It takes nothing away from the motorcycling experiance. I would pull it anywhere, anytime. It doesn't effect the fuel milage and I never notice it back there. That said, I don't plan on pulling anything behind the Suoer Tenere. That just doesn't seem like the kind of bike to have a trailer hooked too. I want to be ready to go off on any raod we come too.

 

[colorider]

My opinion on single wheel trailers - why bother? My recomendation for the S10 (providing a hitch becomes available) is the Harbor Freight kit trailer with a Sears/Thule cartop shell mounted on it. You will hardly know it's back there. But that's just my humble opinion and I have been dragging trailers for 12 years. I have had 3 homebuilt (HF) trailers and 3 heavy camper trailers. I towed both a homebuilt behind my FJR1300 and a camper.

I too have built two "home made" trailers using the trailer kits (Coleman brand) and cartop shells. The Thule and Yakima carriers are typically a little better quality (and looking) than the Sears. I used the Sears on my first and had some problems with holes ripping out at the hardware mounting locations - but then I was loaded pretty heavy and I had ridden through some very rough construction zones. My second unit had a Thule carrier and I never had a problem.

Having seen some of the single wheel units. I would not hesitate to try one of them as well - only because they would have less rolling resistance and should be slightly lighter.

 

[bvail]

Rod

My first homebuilt I used the Sears Grey/White cartop and it was not very pretty. Didn't have any issues with integrity though. The second two were black Sears cartops and seemed to be a bit stoughter. I think they were rebranded Thule, but may be wrong. Again, no issues.

Don,

You are probably right about the single wheel, since there doesn't appear to be a good spot on the S10 to place a regular hitch. Maybe a gooseneck tongue on the trailer up to a coupling on the rack behind the seat. I used a hitch I bought from Classic Industries in Australia for my FJR. It worked just fine for the homebuilt but was not good for my Roll-a-Home. Too wiggly...

 

[doggrell3000]

the folks over at the motorcycle trailer towing forum which was linked earlier in this thread by bvail know everything about pulling anything behind a bike . none of the nice people on that forum are riding yamaha super teneres . maybe in a year or two there will be more information online for super tenere owners who are looking for a trailer to buy . some riders say single wheel trailers are preferable to two wheel trailers but only if you are hauling less than 125 pounds of junk . if your load weighs more than 125 pounds you must use a two wheel trailer . this makes a lot of sense . i had initially committed to trying a single wheel design but i fear that the total weight of my camping equipment is too heavy . then i looked at a few two wheel trailers . apparently bvail and colorider have tried inexpensive homemade trailer kits and strapped a car top carrier on the flat bed . that sounds like a great simple alternative and a hell of a lot cheaper than the custom built bike trailers . i eventually searched a motorcycle cargo trailer manufacturer's website - america's best trailers - which lists a two wheel motorcycle cargo trailer called the escalade . this south carolina company has the escalade trailer priced at $3500 direct . however another site sells the exact same escalade two wheel trailer for $2260 - still expensive but $1300 less than the company that produces the product . it pays to look around for lower prices . the escalade trailer weighs 225 pounds empty . with a total cargo weight of 200 pounds i would be towing 425 pounds behind a yamaha super tenere . does that sound like too much ? that is a lot of weight for any motorcycle to be pulling down the interstate at 70 mph ! i have two links for this example of a fancy black fiberglass trailer :

http://www.americasbesttrailers.com/escalade.php

http://www.discount-trailers.com/pull-behind-motorcycle-trailer.htm

what are your opinions about buying a large capacity fully decked out two wheel trailer like the escalade for use with an all black 2012 yamaha super tenere ? ( assuming you were crazy enough to blow $2260 on a motorcycle cargo trailer ) .

doggrell3000
new york ny

 

[colorider]

what are your opinions about buying a large capacity fully decked out two wheel trailer like the escalade for use with an all black 2012 yamaha super tenere ? ( assuming you were crazy enough to blow $2260 on a motorcycle cargo trailer ) .

Since you asked = IMHO, you are taking too much stuff with you................. ;D

 

[Motorcyclisted]

Re: tents for riders

This is probably the ultimate in big ass tents.
http://www.nomadtent.com/

+1

 

[bvail]

the folks over at the motorcycle trailer towing forum which was linked earlier in this thread by bvail know everything about pulling anything behind a bike . none of the nice people on that forum are riding yamaha super teneres . maybe in a year or two there will be more information online for super tenere owners who are looking for a trailer to buy . some riders say single wheel trailers are preferable to two wheel trailers but only if you are hauling less than 125 pounds of junk . if your load weighs more than 125 pounds you must use a two wheel trailer . this makes a lot of sense . i had initially committed to trying a single wheel design but i fear that the total weight of my camping equipment is too heavy . then i looked at a few two wheel trailers . apparently bvail and colorider have tried inexpensive homemade trailer kits and strapped a car top carrier on the flat bed . that sounds like a great simple alternative and a hell of a lot cheaper than the custom built bike trailers . i eventually searched a motorcycle cargo trailer manufacturer's website - america's best trailers - which lists a two wheel motorcycle cargo trailer called the escalade . this south carolina company has the escalade trailer priced at $3500 direct . however another site sells the exact same escalade two wheel trailer for $2260 - still expensive but $1300 less than the company that produces the product . it pays to look around for lower prices . the escalade trailer weighs 225 pounds empty . with a total cargo weight of 200 pounds i would be towing 425 pounds behind a yamaha super tenere . does that sound like too much ? that is a lot of weight for any motorcycle to be pulling down the interstate at 70 mph ! i have two links for this example of a fancy black fiberglass trailer :

http://www.americasbesttrailers.com/escalade.php

http://www.discount-trailers.com/pull-behind-motorcycle-trailer.htm

what are your opinions about buying a large capacity fully decked out two wheel trailer like the escalade for use with an all black 2012 yamaha super tenere ? ( assuming you were crazy enough to blow $2260 on a motorcycle cargo trailer ) .

doggrell3000
new york ny

We have two S10 waiters that I know of over on the MTTF. That would be my friend Lodi Don and me. Don is the Moderator of the forum and I am the host. We sort of flipped a coin to see who would take over after the unfortunate passing of the original owner and his wife. There is indeed a lot of information to be had over on that forum, most of which is helpful and being an open forum some of which is 'coca de toro' ) Of course nothing known about the ability to tow behind the S10 yet, but sometime in the future someone will do it. I got most of the information about towing behind my FJR from a fellow name Bernie in Australia who posted on the internet 'The Fastest Trailer in Australia'. You might be able to Google it. The S10 and the FJR would be somewhat similar in as much as they don't have a lot of places in the rear to hang things off of.

Due to the HP/torque available on the S10, I'm pretty sure that one could drag just about anything behind it, powerwise. The big question would be where to hook up and potential problems/damage to frame/subframe. I don't think one needs to blow in excess of $2k for a cargo trailer, especially a newbie trailer dragger, when they can put together a trailer for around $350 or so that will hold 18-21 cubic feet of junk. If they don't care for the experience, these trailers are easy to sell - I did that 3 times and never lost a dime in the process. Besides, putting one of these trailers together can be a lot of fun and you don't need to be technically inclined.

I most likely won't do the trailer thing when I get my S10, but one never knows. I'm just involved in this discussion because I'm interested and (IMHO) fairly knowledgeable in the subject.

Some place on the motocampers forum is a thread on a single wheel aluminum trailer that a rider built from scratch for his GS. It's nothing short of a masterpiece. I'll do a hunt for it when I get the time or maybe Mello knows where it is.

 

[doggrell3000]

dear bvail - right ! it's nuts to blow more than $2000 on a trailer like the escalade when one could put a motorcycle cargo trailer together from harbor freight and thule for $500 . on the other hand if you are going to waste money then don't do it half ass . i might try the escalade because it appears to compliment the color and style of the raven super tenere ( somewhat ) . when i arrive at the ol' campsite it is important that my fellow campers believe i am fashionable . you raised the issue of hooking the cargo trailer to the super tenere . some folks attach a fork to the tips of the rear axle which then extends to the back and joins into one pull bar . i don't like the idea of hooking something to the axle . i would prefer to pull from a pivoting ball hitch which could be attached to an extension bar coming off the main subframe or the luggage rack or tail assembly . america's best trailers - makers of the escalade - now sell the escalade on ebay for $1995 . they also sell a ball hitch that swivels which allows the bike to tilt independent of the trailer . i wonder what the yamaha technical staff would recommend vis a vis attaching a swivel ball hitch to the super tenere . i am also interested in the guy's home built single wheel trailer project you mentioned .

dear colorider - i think maybe you are right . i am taking too much stuff with me . my bike is over loaded when i just go down the street to the grocery store . i will eliminate some items from my camping supplies list . like do i really need a fifty five inch tv on a camping trip ?

dear motorcyclisted - the nomad tent is at the top of my list . they have a great website . have you actually seen one of these ?

doggrell3000
new york ny

 

[bvail]

dear bvail - right ! it's nuts to blow more than $2000 on a trailer like the escalade when one could put a motorcycle cargo trailer together from harbor freight and thule for $500 . on the other hand if you are going to waste money then don't do it half ass . i might try the escalade because it appears to compliment the color and style of the raven super tenere ( somewhat ) . when i arrive at the ol' campsite it is important that my fellow campers believe i am fashionable . you raised the issue of hooking the cargo trailer to the super tenere . some folks attach a fork to the tips of the rear axle which then extends to the back and joins into one pull bar . i don't like the idea of hooking something to the axle . i would prefer to pull from a pivoting ball hitch which could be attached to an extension bar coming off the main subframe or the luggage rack or tail assembly . america's best trailers - makers of the escalade - now sell the escalade on ebay for $1995 . they also sell a ball hitch that swivels which allows the bike to tilt independent of the trailer . i wonder what the yamaha technical staff would recommend vis a vis attaching a swivel ball hitch to the super tenere . i am also interested in the guy's home built single wheel trailer project you mentioned .

dear colorider - i think maybe you are right . i am taking too much stuff with me . my bike is over loaded when i just go down the street to the grocery store . i will eliminate some items from my camping supplies list . like do i really need a fifty five inch tv on a camping trip ?

dear motorcyclisted - the nomad tent is at the top of my list . they have a great website . have you actually seen one of these ?

doggrell3000
new york ny

Nothing half assed about the DIY trailer as many hundreds of riders have discovered, but if you're into high zoot, probably not the best route to take.

As far as swivel hitches go, they are not really necessary as thousands of draggers will attest to. It's a matter of personal choice, like crush washers )

No technical staff of any manufacturer of any motorcycle will recommend any type of hitch because they frown on motorcycle trailers in general. One exception that I know of is CanAm makers of that funny 3 wheeler. They advertised a matching pull behind trailer. I don't know if they still do or not.

I think the S10 will suit my needs just fine w/o a trailer, even with a relatively large tent, but the big advantage of a trailer is that the majority of the cargo weight is carried by the trailer, not piled up on the back seat or rack on the motorcycle. Usually the only load on the suspension of the bike is the tongue weight at the hitch, 30-50 lbs.

Here's a nice little trailer that has lovely Raven side panels: http://tinyurl.com/3ufpeay Might look real nice behind an S10.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Did you guys see the actual name of that Nomad brand tent? That's just too perfect. And you've already seen my thoughts on the rear axle hitch. Let the suspension do what it's supposed to without adding 50 lbs of mass right to the axle.
And I'm a strong believer in staying as light as possible on trailer gvw. No more than half the tow vehicle's gvw should be pulled. 700 lbs of man and machine = 350 lbs of total trailer weight. Yes, folks do pull closer to 75% of gvw, Bob is one of them, he's very good at it too, some have even gone so far as to have electric brakes installed on their campers to compensate. The lighter the bike, it only makes sense the cargo should be lighter as well. Motorcycling does mean leaving the kitchen sink... and the flat screen, at home. Sadly, I like my comfort as much as the next guy. Nice folding chair(s), queen size air mattress, 4 person tent, folding table, two burner Coleman, light, cooler... oh yeah, trailering is awesome, but that's a 1000 lbs of man and machine doing the pull too. If it gets to the point that the kitchen sink and the AC and gen unit are important, it's time to change the method of touring. I've never pulled a single wheel. I plan to in the very near future though.
As always, IMHO, YMMV

 

[Motorcyclisted]

dear motorcyclisted - the nomad tent is at the top of my list . they have a great website . have you actually seen one of these ?

doggrell3000
new york ny

No. I've never seen this tent up close and personal. I have been to the website though. I've never been camping outside of military service. I've looked at several tents and I like the Nomad the best. Hell, I might buy it anyway and put it in my backyard. LOL.

 

[doggrell3000]

dear don in lodi - you have given me another important motorcycle cargo trailer statistic . first there was the rule that single wheel trailers should not be loaded with more than 125 pounds of cargo . if the cargo exceeds 125 pounds a two wheel trailer should be used . then don in lodi's rule : the total weight of the trailer and the cargo should not exceed one half the total combined weight of the motorcycle and the rider . ( does gvw mean gross vehicle weight ? ) yamaha claims the super tenere weighs 575 pounds wet . i figure i will bolt on at least another 50 pounds of farkles accessories and luggage . i weigh about 185 pounds . also there is my frequent passenger who is around 110 pounds . ( do passengers count ? ) . that would be a total of 810 pounds for bike and rider or 920 pounds for bike and rider and passenger . when i travel alone my trailer plus the cargo cannot exceed 405 pounds according to don in lodi's rule . ( if i have a passenger can i add another 55 pounds of cargo or is a passenger considered cargo herself ? ) let's say i have a motorcycle cargo trailer weight limit of 405 pounds including the contents . a two wheel trailer that i have recently discovered is sold on ebay by t-motorsports for $1395 . this trailer weighs 200 pounds by itself . according to don's rule i can put 205 pounds of junk in the trailer . this is good news because 205 pounds is approximately the combined weight of my camping equipment . don also does not approve of hooking a trailer to the bike's axle . ( i think that is what don said ) what method of attachment to the super tenere is the best ?

dear bvail - the trailer you linked in your last post is called the escape by america's best trailers - the same outfit that makes the escalade . the escape is all aluminum with diamond plate and is cheaper and lighter than the escalade ( escalade is fiberglass ) . the more traditional look of the escape is a great choice . aluminum trailers have more of an elvis in vegas style which i like . fiberglass trailers emulate the super tenere more because the s10 has fiberglass body panels . the latest two wheel motorcycle cargo trailer i found has no model name and looks suspiciously like the escalade only smaller and cheaper . this trailer is sold on ebay by t-motorsports for $1395 . this well equipped trailer has an aerodynamic fiberglass body sitting on a steel frame and uses 10 inch wheels . i prefer ten inch wheels because the trailer sits lower . this trailer comes unpainted so it can quickly be either tenere impact blue or - in my case - tenere raven black . this is a very tempting trailer package and some assembly is required . you said pivoting hitches are no big deal . well noted . the trick - which nobody seems to know - is how to hook the darn hitch to the bike .

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120648190268&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

doggrell3000
new york ny

********this is an addendum to my post*********upon further investigation i discovered that the two wheel trailer that i linked above is also sold for $1395 in both white and black colors by t-motorsports of california . i will be ordering the black trailer from t-motorsports shortly after the delivery of my black 2012 super tenere . henry ford famously said " you can order our vehicles in any color you want - as long as it's black " . t-motorsports model ct0015 motorcycle cargo trailer in black -- link :

http://www.t-motorsports.com/product/motorcycle-touring-fiberglass-pull-behind-cargo-trailertrailer-ct0015-black/

 

[Don in Lodi]

LOL, my 'rules' are for a standard trailer, not a single wheel, just in case I wasn't terribly clear. 200 pounds of gear sounds heavy, but reasonable. I pull around 125-150 pounds of stuff in about a 135 pound trailer. The Tenere is still way to new to have had anybody even think about fashioning a trailer hitch for the bike. Americans seem to be the ones most likely to want to drag a bunch more stuff than really needed. The trouble I've come across in my reading is that the rear subframe of the Tenere is aluminum. While strong enough for it's intended purpose, I'm a little concerned of adding too much torque to it's mounting points. So, my guess is that a hitch would need to reach the steel main chassis without loading the aluminum bits more than their capacity can handle. I'm sure once the bike actually gets here somebody will get a wild hair and try putting a trailer behind one. The next year should be interesting.

 

[bvail]

"the trick - which nobody seems to know - is how to hook the darn hitch to the bike."

That is true. I suppose one could get some ideas by reading the shop manual, but you would need a bike to get exact measurements. I'm thinking one of our friends across the pond might tinker with trailer concept.

That trailer looks nice. Solid looking frame with torsion suspension. Before you go out and buy one, check available tires in that size wheel, since I believe the common size is either 8" or 12" wheels. Right Don? Also, for a trailer that looks this nice for that low price, I would check country of origin. I have a hunch it comes from the PRC - not that there's anythink wrong with that. But if it does, all the more reason to check and repack the bearings if needed. The Harbor Freight and other Chinese trailers came with Vasoline like grease and most owners removed the grease and repacked with regular grease.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Tens are rare. I've come across them once or twice, but you can't just walk into a Walmart and pick them up like you can the 8's and 12's. Packing a spare along would minimize the need for availability while on the road.

 

[doggrell3000]

the motorcycle cargo trailer i have on order from t-motorsports rides on 10 inch wheels and has an aerodynamic black fiberglass body and steel frame . the model ct0015 is chinese made , well equipped , weighs 200 pounds , and priced cheap at $1395 . another trailer that i am considering is made by roadman trailers . the roadman model rt-038 has a black all aluminum body with an aluminum frame and rides on 12 inch aluminum wheels . the roadman model rt-038 motorcycle cargo trailer costs $2300 plus $350 for special painting plus additional charges for other items . the all aluminum roadman trailer weighs 150 pounds and has a wider and longer body with greater cargo loading capacity compared to the fiberglass ct0015 trailer from t-motorsports . my question is : how can the larger size all aluminum roadman rt-038 trailer weigh 50 pounds less than the slightly smaller t-motorsports ct0015 fiberglass and steel trailer ? does fiberglass weigh more than aluminum ? does the steel frame under the fiberglass ct0015 make it heavier ? i always thought that fiberglass was lighter than metal - but maybe i was wrong . the t-motorsports black fiberglass model ct0015 is cheaper and matches the body panels on my new black ( raven ) 2012 yamaha xt1200z super tenere motorcycle . the larger roadman model rt-038 black aluminum trailer weighs 50 pounds less than the t-motorsports ct0015 and the roadman has a larger interior cargo area . which would be your choice for attaching to a black yamaha super tenere ? would you prefer the better styling match of the t-motorsports black ct0015 or the lighter all aluminum roadman rt-038 with better loading space ? does the choice between these two trailers depend on how much stuff you plan to carry and the size of each piece of equipment ? or is the matching style of the trailer more important than its loading capacity ? thank you for your comments .
links:

http://www.t-motorsports.com/product/motorcycle-touring-fiberglass-pull-behind-cargo-trailertrailer-ct0015-black/

http://www.roadmancampers.com/roadmantrailer.html

 

[doggrell3000]

i have an important news flash .....:: for those new yamaha super tenere owners who are considering buying a trailer there is a great manufacturer in royalton mn which will soon release one of the best all aluminum motorcycle cargo trailers on the market . road dog trailers presently builds seven different motorcycle cargo trailers and a new camper trailer with a self contained tent . i have always appreciated the road dog gt motorcycle cargo trailer because it has a sleek aerodynamic body with a very low profile . the road dog gt all aluminum trailer has a 60" X 30" X 17" load space totaling 13 cubic feet but only weighs 135 pounds . the road dog gt is sleek attractive lightweight and roomy . it sells for around $1900 or less and is very popular . the road dog gt has a total capacity of 13 cubic feet and an inside cargo area height of 17 inches which is adequate for a majority of trailer users . however i need a trailer with 19 or 20 cubic feet of cargo area and an interior height of 22 inches . after a brief conversation with karl sjoberg who owns road dog trailers i convinced him to manufacture a larger version of the road dog gt . karl has agreed with my idea and the new larger all aluminum road dog gtxc ( for gt extra cargo ) will soon be released at about the same price as the regular size gt . the new road dog gtxc trailer will feature nearly 20 cubic feet of cargo area and an interior load space height of 22.5 inches and it will weigh only 155 pounds . the road dog gtxc motorcycle cargo trailer is a cross between two of karl's best designs . the gtxc will retain the same sleek profile of the original gt but is actually a conversion of the road dog k9 caddy . the k9 caddy is an impressive pet transport trailer designed for large dogs which has just recently been built by road dog . in my humble opinion the road dog k9 caddy is the most functional and attractive pet transport motorcycle trailer on the market . the road dog k9 caddy has been designed for the comfort of large dogs and also the transport of essential cargo items . the road dog k9 caddy has a clever removable divider within its interior to separate your dog from your cargo . the style of the road dog k9 caddy is somewhat similar to their popular gt but with a larger capacity for accommodating pets . in my conversation with karl sjoberg of road dog i suggested he build a cargo only version of the k9 caddy by simply excluding the three pet windows and the interior divider . i have placed an order for the first road dog gtxc motorcycle cargo trailer at a price of $1900 . the new road dog gtxc will have an interior length of at least 58" and a width of at least 28" and an interior height of 22.5" for a total capacity of 19 or 20 cubic feet . both the road dog gtxc and the road dog k9 caddy are brand new designs and karl is tabulating the exact measurements of the interior and exterior as we speak . karl has already posted preliminary high rez photos of the k9 caddy on his blog ( link below ) . the new road dog gtxc motorcycle cargo trailer will be the same trailer as seen in the k9 caddy photos without the pet windows . i have cancelled my previous order for the otherwise excellent t-motorsports chinese made tiger jet ct0015 black fiberglass cargo trailer which weighs 200 pounds and has less capacity . my new road dog gtxc trailer has more room , sleek styling , durable aluminum construction and a very reasonable price . please offer your comments and suggestions concerning my evolving pursuit of the ideal trailer for use with the 2012 yamaha super tenere . i have recently contacted bushtec who manufacture a variety of trailer hitches to inquire if their technical staff can install a hitch on a yamaha super tenere . i will keep the forum posted on bushtec's suggestions . thank you .

http://roaddogtrailers.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/the-new-k9-caddy/#comment-38

http://www.roaddogtrailers.com/trailers_GT.asp

f doggrell
new york ny

 

[ptfjjj]

I don't think that I'll ever need a trailer, but the road dog gt is a great looking option for anyone who thinks that they'll need one. All aluminum with L.E.D. lighting equals light weight and low power comsumption. I also like the way that it is hinged in the front with a cover that completely encloses the front, sides, and back for what looks like a secure, waterproof design. Thanks doggrell.