bmccck Posted March 12, 2013 #1 Posted March 12, 2013 Hello again! This site is awesome! Y'all are VERY helpful. Thanks! Does pulling a trailer have any ill effects on the RSV? I know I always am doubtful about certain autos that have trailer hitches because the trannys aren't necessarily manufactured to pull loads. Is it the same for cycles? Thanks for your thoughts! Brian
Cougar Posted March 12, 2013 #2 Posted March 12, 2013 Welcome, I do not feel any ill effects on pulling a trailer with my RSV, Pulls rather nicely I might say ! Just make sure your stopping distance is good enough as well. This will be the best $12.00 you have ever spent when you join up! OH, there are a few CRAZY folks on here , you will get used to it over time Jeff
Stache Posted March 12, 2013 #3 Posted March 12, 2013 Maylast year I pulled a trailer from Flatrock, NF to St. Jean sur Richelieu QC and back. Total just over 5000km. As far as handling, acceleration I never knew the trailer was back there. I could feel the difference in braking. Added a bit to my gas bill, though. I bought my hitch from a member on this site, Carbon One I think. Listed in the "Member Vendors".
Mike G in SC Posted March 12, 2013 #4 Posted March 12, 2013 The bike can pull most bike pull-behind trailers fine. Flat land, you won't know it. Starting on an up-hill with two up ain't going to hurt but it will feel it. Make sure brakes are good and your brake fluid is reasonably fresh. Load is important. Sway is NO fun. My little Harbor Freight w/Sears cargo has got the sways a few times. Usually going down hill on interstate and maybe when you let off At 70 mph+. Remember, you MAY have to speed up to loose a sway, raising the pucker factor. I believe my problem is related to my lowered bike, so the trailer is low at the tongue. I have just put in a riser hitch to push it up 2". Will test that soon to see if it goes away. I don't recall having the problem before lowering. I will probably upgrade to a more "factory built" trailer this year,,, when I find what I want. When I have seen a used one on this site, it goes quick. I'm always the 2nd guy to ask. Mike G in SC
Flyinfool Posted March 12, 2013 #5 Posted March 12, 2013 Depending on the vintage and mileage of your bike....... The one thing that you may want to look at upgrading is the spring on the clutch. They all start to slip after a while and towing may accelerate that. If you do the spring early and don't just let the clutch keep slipping then it is rare to have to replace the whole clutch. Doing just the spring is a fast easy job that is not real expensive. Once you replace the spring with one of the after market ones like what Skydoc sells, it will be good for a very long time.
Miles Posted March 12, 2013 #6 Posted March 12, 2013 I think a lot of it has to do with what kind of trailer is being towed behind the bike. Unfortunetly, you did not tell us what kind of trailer you might be towing/pulling. In the past, I have owned and pulled two different Bushtec Turbo+2 trailers, and they are fantastic to pull behind a bike. I have also pulled a very large tent/camping trailer, that was soooooo heavy, that eventually I returned it to the manufacturer in Spearfish, DS., and they gave me all of my money back. Big difference between cargo trailer, and camping/tent trailer. Tongue weight is a big deal when loading a trailer. Then we get into tires size on the trailer, etc. But, to answer your immediate question...the RSV should be fine for towing a motorcycle trailer.
hunter 1500 Posted March 12, 2013 #7 Posted March 12, 2013 Depending on the vintage and mileage of your bike....... The one thing that you may want to look at upgrading is the spring on the clutch. They all start to slip after a while and towing may accelerate that. If you do the spring early and don't just let the clutch keep slipping then it is rare to have to replace the whole clutch. Doing just the spring is a fast easy job that is not real expensive. Once you replace the spring with one of the after market ones like what Skydoc sells, it will be good for a very long time. Yup I had to do the same thing with the clutch. Easy job.
MiCarl Posted March 12, 2013 #8 Posted March 12, 2013 Depending on the vintage and mileage of your bike....... The one thing that you may want to look at upgrading is the spring on the clutch. They all start to slip after a while and towing may accelerate that. If you do the spring early and don't just let the clutch keep slipping then it is rare to have to replace the whole clutch. Doing just the spring is a fast easy job that is not real expensive. Once you replace the spring with one of the after market ones like what Skydoc sells, it will be good for a very long time. Skydoc_17 on this site sells a complete clutch upgrade kit. A must have if you're going to pull a trailer, especially if you ride 2-up. It includes a full replacement for the half friction disk, a heavy duty spring and gasket. Hardest part of the job is scraping the old gasket off. Don't even need to drain the oil.
jakester Posted March 12, 2013 #9 Posted March 12, 2013 Pulled a piggy backer from Houston to DFW to Lubbock. Could not tell it was there. Bill
rickardracing Posted March 12, 2013 #10 Posted March 12, 2013 Depends on the size of the trailer and how much weight your trying to pull. I have seen poeple overload a trailer and I have seen guys with trailers that had no business being behind a bike. And I know they knew they were back there. For what I take in mine, I know it's back there on braking and low speed turns.
XV1100SE Posted March 12, 2013 #11 Posted March 12, 2013 Harbor Freight has the "Tag Along" on sale now for $410 but in magazines there are usually 20% off coupons. A number of us have that one and for general usage it is great. I wouldn't have a problem taking it on a long trip. Do a search for "Tag Along" and you'll find a post I did regarding minor things you should do to it when you buy one. (eg, better grease in wheel bearings). http://www.harborfreight.com/600-lb-capacity-78-inch-tag-along-trailer-66771.html. Very similar to the PiggyBacker but 1/3rd of the price - but you get what you pay for. http://piggybacker.com/Piggybacker/PiggyBacker_Cargo_Trailer.html With any trailer on a bike you need to be extra careful of the tongue weight. 25-35lbs is good so balance your load appropriately. Stay within the load limit of the trailer and you won't even notice it is there. If you overload it, it will push a little bit around corners, take longer to brake. To light on the tongue weight and the tongue will want to lift on braking (lightening the downforce on the rear tire as you brake). Too heavy will "lighten" the front wheel (and add wear to the rear tire). Keep in mind that a trailer is wider than the bike. Remember to take this into account when riding (leave a little more room between you and the lanes on the road so the trailer doesn't go over)
Miles Posted March 12, 2013 #12 Posted March 12, 2013 Harbor Freight has the "Tag Along" on sale now for $410 but in magazines there are usually 20% off coupons. OR...if you want to spend over 5 grand for one, buy a Bushtec trailer. http://www.bushtec.com/Articles.asp?ID=161
hillrider Posted March 12, 2013 #13 Posted March 12, 2013 I've pulled a loaded (4-500 lb) Aluma trailer all over the southeast. Going, the bike's a little slower and a fuel mileage suffers. Stopping, I can tell it's there. In sand, - - don't go there. After about 5,000 miles, I had to install Skydoc's clutch spring.
dave_wells Posted March 12, 2013 #14 Posted March 12, 2013 Been pulling a trailer for about 4 years now No problems weight is about 400 pounds loaded Drive with caution just like anything else Safety First Leave stopping room remember its back there Tongue weight makes a difference on handling Be Safe
dacheedah Posted March 12, 2013 #15 Posted March 12, 2013 Piggy back trailer fully loaded no problem, reminder that when you load your gear you want to balance it with about a 20# of tongue weight. fishtailing is the results of pulling a tail heavy trailer. My trailer empty weighs about 130#, extended tongue and cooler in front helps out. Biggest problem is remembering it's back there when pulling in a gas station . . . reminder swing wide.
Rick Haywood Posted March 12, 2013 #16 Posted March 12, 2013 Hello again! This site is awesome! Y'all are VERY helpful. Thanks! Does pulling a trailer have any ill effects on the RSV? I know I always am doubtful about certain autos that have trailer hitches because the trannys aren't necessarily manufactured to pull loads. Is it the same for cycles? Thanks for your thoughts! Brian OK Brian, you have gotten more than 12 dollars worth of info already so come on and pony up the money and become a "real" member instead of a "trail" member
bongobobny Posted March 12, 2013 #17 Posted March 12, 2013 I've pulled a piggybacker for several years now with both the 1st and 2nd gen's and I forget it's behind me. Two things I've learned. It's wider than the bike, and going downhill it requires more distance to stop. I'm opening a can of worms here but I strongly recommend a swivel hitch...
M61A1MECH Posted March 12, 2013 #18 Posted March 12, 2013 I have been pulling my Bustec behind fist a Royal Star Tour Classic and now my Venture since 2001 on many tips never had any issues with either bike, will pull it at interstate speeds up and down hills and mountains no problems. I will now put in a shameless plug for my sub-harness, if the bike you are buying is not already fitted with a trailer hookup, I would sugest you visit my add on the member vendors section of classified section and consider puchasing one of my sub hanesses for the Venture, will make hook up much easier.
dacheedah Posted March 12, 2013 #19 Posted March 12, 2013 I've pulled a piggybacker for several years now with both the 1st and 2nd gen's and I forget it's behind me. Two things I've learned. It's wider than the bike, and going downhill it requires more distance to stop. I'm opening a can of worms here but I strongly recommend a swivel hitch... Ask Mike Eykamp about the swivel hitch (EUSA1)
Miles Posted March 12, 2013 #20 Posted March 12, 2013 I have been pulling my Bustec behind fist a Royal Star Tour Classic and now my Venture since 2001 on many tips never had any issues with either bike, will pull it at interstate speeds up and down hills and mountains no problems. I will echo wat Steve just said. I have pulled a Bushtec (my first one) back in 1989, when I bought it from Bill Bushling, the original owner and builder of the Bushtec trailers, before he sold the company to John Preston. I pulled that Turbo+2 trailer behind a bike on the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, at over 140 mph, and the bikes that were filming this event said that the faster I went, the trailer would actually lower itself, due to the rear spoiler. I believe that I have pulled the 2 Bushtec trailers I have owned probably more than 100,000 miles in all, and I would buy another one in a heart-beat...if I wanted another trailer. With a Bushtec trailer...you do in fact get what you pay for.
Freebird Posted March 13, 2013 #21 Posted March 13, 2013 I agree. I love my Bushtec. Yes, they are a bit expensive but I've spent money on dumber things. By the way, the Prestons no longer own Bushtec. They sold out about 2 or 3 years ago. I think it is owned by an investment company now.
CaptainJoe Posted March 13, 2013 #22 Posted March 13, 2013 I'd love to have a Bushtec for my trip out west ... Pm me if anyone wants to part with theirs.. Currently, there's a harley painted bushtec (white with red stripes) on ebay for a buy it now price of $3500.
ragtop69gs Posted March 13, 2013 #23 Posted March 13, 2013 I pulled my 350# trailer all over MT, WY, ID. , mountains, switchbacks and slab riding, it's a bit slower to get going and to stop. Fuel mileage takes a hit. I pushed it hard going over Beartooth and Chief Joseph Hwy with no problems and on 287 between Jackson Hole and Riverton, Wy there was 20 miles of deep mud where they tore the road out, we were leaving 4" deep ruts, I think the trailer helped to keep the bike tracking well. Mind you this was all 2-up riding. I hope to NEVER encounter another road like that, it was a white knuckle ride the whole 20 miles So yes the Venture is a Great bike to tow with.
wes0778 Posted March 13, 2013 #24 Posted March 13, 2013 My Tag along is usually overloaded and 2-up, so I allow extra room for braking. Along with the Skydoc clutch upgrade, I put in VMax rear gears. This helps a lot in starting off, especially if it is an up hill incline. It also helps run hills in 5th without a lot of down shifting.
Guest tx2sturgis Posted March 13, 2013 #25 Posted March 13, 2013 Some members here will not agree, but I believe when it comes to pulling a trailer, smaller is better. Buy the smallest trailer that will haul what you NEED to haul, not the big trailer that has all the room to haul everything you might WANT to haul in the future. Also, trailer duty is SEVERE duty, so change all lubricating fluids more often and inspect tires, brakes, lights and fasteners more often.
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