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Check this section for frequently asked questions about motorcycle
trailers and trailering. If you don't see an answer to your question here,
try our discussion forum, The Trailer Court. Or, if you think we should add a
question/answer to our FAQ, please send it in using the form at the bottom of this page. Thanks!
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Performance Questions
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| Why should I pull a trailer with my bike? |
| Won't a trailer affect my motorcycle's handling or how I ride? |
| What other effects will I notice? |
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Buying Questions
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| What size trailer can I pull with my bike? |
| What do trailers cost? |
| Any other costs? |
| What are the licensing requirements for trailers? |
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Technical Questions
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| What is tongue weight? How does one weigh one's tongue? |
| What do I need to install on my motorcycle to pull a trailer? |
| Can I install these myself? |
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Performance Questions
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Why should I pull a trailer with my bike?
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| Trailers make long distance travel easier for riders who carry a lot of gear or ride two-up. Throwing your gear in a trailer means you won't spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to pack your bike each day. Trailers keep your gear secure and dry, too. Special trailers like pop-up campers can carry gear and fold out into a comfortable, enclosed sleeping area. |
Won't a trailer affect my motorcycle's handling or how I ride?
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| A trailer that is the right size for your bike and is properly loaded won't significantly affect your bike's handling. In fact, if you've been overloading your bike with gear, it can actually improve your riding experience.
You need to develop some riding habits that are a little different when you tow a trailer, but not enough that you would feel your riding experience is diminished or compromised. For example, a trailer does increase your stopping distance, so you should increase your following distance from two seconds to three or four seconds. You also need to be aware that your vehicle is longer when towing a trailer.
With the right trailer choice, you won't have to appreciably alter your line through the curves on a section of twisties, however, some new tailpullers have a problem at the gas pump. When pulling away, they forget how long their bike is and catch the trailer on the gas station island.
Like anything you add to your bike, you should take the time to practice riding with your trailer in a parking lot or other closed course when you can get a feel for how it handles and how the bike feels, particularly when braking. |
What other effects will I notice?
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| Depending on the size and weight of the trailer, your gas mileage may be affected. A small to medium size trailer will have a minimal effect, maybe 3 to 5%. A heavily-loaded trailer, or a trailer with a high wind profile (boxy, non-aerodynamic), will have a more significant effect. A heavily-loaded trailer will also generate more wear on brake pads and, due to higher tongue weight, will increase wear on your rear tire. |
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Buying Questions
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What size trailer can I pull with my bike?
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| There are no rules regarding trailer sizes, but a general consensus has evolved over the years. The loaded weight of the trailer you select for your bike should not exceed 40 to 50% of the gross vehicle weight rating of your bike.
There are limits to this theory. If you held strictly to this formula, a big bike like a Gold Wing GL-1800 with a GVWR of over 1,300 lbs. could, in theory, handle a trailer of up to 650 lbs. That is a lot of weight to be pulling, even for a Gold Wing.
Keep in mind, these are recommended maximums. In practice, it is easy to find a lightweight trailer that carries a lot of gear that would weigh no more than 200 lbs. |
What do trailers cost?
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| Expect to spend about $1,500 for a basic, no-frills cargo trailer of 12 to 15 cubic feet that meets US DOT requirements, uses good components, locks, doesn't leak, and will stand up to many road miles.
A good quality paint match to your bike's color will cost $600 to $1,000 depending on what type of paint your bike has. Single color paints are at the low end, pearls and candy colors in the middle. Illusion colors are at the high end.
A large cargo trailer with popular accessories like color-matched paint, spoilers, paint guards, carpet, chrome wheels, trim, cooler, etc., will cost $3,500 to $4,500. Pop-up campers start at about $2,500. |
Any other costs?
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| Trailers are taxed the same as other titled vehicles. You will likely need to pay some small percentage of the sale price to register your trailer in your state. When you purchase your trailer, you'll receive a bill of sale and a Certificate of Origin. You'll need to check with your state's motor vehicle administration to determine what registration and tags you may need. |
What are the licensing requirements for trailers?
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| Licensing varies from state to state. Most states require that trailers be registered, titled, and plated like all other vehicles. You'll need to check with your state's motor vehicle administration for exact requirements. |
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Technical Questions
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What is tongue weight? How does one weigh one's tongue?
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| When you lift the tongue of your trailer to hook it up to your bike's hitch, the weight you feel is the "tongue weight." Too much will adversely affect the bike's handling. Too little will cause the trailer to sway as it is towed. In most cases, tongue weight should equal 10 to 15% of the trailer's loaded weight. If the trailer weighs 250 lbs. loaded, tongue weight should be around 25 lbs. A 50 lb. fish scale is a great tool for quickly measuring the tongue weight of your trailer. |
What do I need to install on my motorcycle to pull a trailer?
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| You need to add a hitch and wiring to your bike. A good quality hitch will cost about $200 to $300 for popular towing bikes (big touring bikes). Hitches made for other bikes can be more expensive because they're made in smaller lots. See our resources section for a more extensive article on hitches.
You'll also need to add wiring to your bike to power the trailer's lights. You should always use a relay package to isolate the trailer's wiring from your bike. This accomplishes two important tasks.
First, your trailer's wiring is completely separate from your bike's wiring. If a short occurs in the trailer's lights, it won't blow out the lights or other circuits on your bike. Second, the power for your trailer's lights will be drawn directly from the battery, not from your bike's light circuits. This prevents over-drawing power on your light circuits (again, protecting your bike's wiring harness) and allows both sets of lights to be fully powered.
A complete wiring isolation package costs about $70. It is very cheap insurance. |
Can I install these myself?
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| If you're comfortable with bolting on accessories to your bike, installing the hitch is a task most owners can perform. Depending on the hitch design, you may need an extra set of hands to help you line up the hitch and various body panels as you reinstall the bolts.
The electrical work can be a little trickier. You should make sure you understand how to properly tap electrical circuits and understand the directions for installing a wiring isolation package.
Your trailer dealer should be able to perform both of these tasks for you if you don't have the equipment, time, or don't feel comfortable making these changes to your bike. |
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