Transporting bikes in a travel trailer

Started by wardo, Nov 21 2009 01:09 PM

18 replies to this topic

wardo

Posted 21 November 2009 - 01:09 PM

Hello All,
I have seen a number of travel trailers that were very affordable, but always passed them up because I like traveling with my bike enclosed. I can of course carry the bike in the bed of my truck for local jaunts, but for longer trips I currently use a small enclosed trailer. I am wondering how many people squeeze their bikes through the doorway and tie them down inside? If you do, could you share the details of how difficult it is, how you tie it down and possibly post a picture? This seems to be the simplest, most affordable solution, but then again, I've never tried it. Thanks in advance for whatever help you can offer.

Regards,
Wardo

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emerybrian

Posted 21 November 2009 - 07:03 PM

Did you look for used toyhaulers at all? I've seen some of them going for pretty cheap. I'll be looking for one in the spring. The downside is they seem to weigh quite a bit more than TTs.

wardo

Posted 21 November 2009 - 07:44 PM

I haven't seen an adequately sized TH in the same price range. Also, I haven't seen many TH's that are layed out to my liking.

Wardo

450xDaD

Posted 22 November 2009 - 12:19 PM

wardo said:

Also, I haven't seen many TH's that are layed out to my liking.

Wardo

Ditto here...I just ran across one of these online today...seems to be the best of both worlds....without the ridiculous dry tongue weight some of these typical toy haulers have....

http://cgi.ebay.com/...72467&viewitem=

With the size of some of these doors on the TT's, I would think it's next to impossible to fit through. Unless you had one of these huge TT's with the sliding glass door on the side....

wardo

Posted 22 November 2009 - 02:32 PM

That looks like a great trailer, but blows the budget. I will only use the thing 14 days a year or so, so I was thinking a $3000 TT would be just fine. As you say, the doors are very narrow, but hell I ride my bike through really tight trees, I should be able to fit it through one doorway! Someone must have tried this, or is doing it. I know of some road race guys that put their bikes in a TT, but that is a different kettle of fish.

Ward

crb345

Posted 22 November 2009 - 02:43 PM

A few years ago I was in on a thread for this on DRN. Some guy's were using regular house replacement doors to make the entery bigger. Get out the Sawzall and let er' rip.

I have in fact thought that would be a good idea, but since then my wife has basically said she would not go to the races enough to justify it. So, I am now just looking for an enclosed trailer to sleep in when I cannot make the trip the day of the race.

Good luck, If you do it please post pics.

wardo

Posted 22 November 2009 - 03:33 PM

I had thought about that. If there was an appropriate space on the walls, it wouldn't be difficult to fab a ramp door. Of course I'd need to learn a bit more about how they were constructed, but that isn't rocket science. Still, I wonder if a little careful work with the bars while loading might not get you through the door. I only need to carry one bike, so that's a plus. I'll measure a door tomorrow when I drive by an RV place and do a little more thinking. If the door is the same width as my enclosed trailer I can do a demo....

Wardo

crb345 said:

emerybrian

Posted 22 November 2009 - 04:07 PM

Usually (I think) there is a cabinet on one if not both side of the door which may complicate things.

wardo

Posted 23 November 2009 - 10:18 AM

Ok, I looked at a 1991 Dutchman 22' trailer today. I can probably get it cheap. The door is 30" wide, so my thinking is to put a ramp up, roll it up, rock the bars side to side like going between two tight trees. Once inside, I'd need to drag the rear wheel around because it's kinda tight. Of course I'd need some kinda chock and tie down rings, but that shouldn't be hard. Overall it seems completely doable. Having said that, I'd still love to hear from somebody who does this.

Wardo

kskyles

Posted 24 November 2009 - 08:23 AM

#10

just a quick thought, but have you considered taking the bars, forks, and wheels off, then putting the pieces in the trailer? then reassemble the bike when you get to your destination? it would be a little bit of a pain, but i've seen guys take their bikes down to pieces to get them in to the back of a hatchback car....

redhurricane

Posted 24 November 2009 - 09:23 AM

#11

I did it with a 22' travel trailer.

I had enough floor space to fit 2 bikes, and used e-track on the floor against the walls to tie into. Used a simple bike ramp to wheel into the door, and just twisted the bars to get it through. I'll see if I can dig up an old picture of my setup.

wardo

Posted 24 November 2009 - 12:38 PM

#12

Thanks so much, that is exactly what I thought. Do you put anything under the bike to catch oil, gas etc? I was thinking of using a PU bed mat. I'll probably try to find a 24', with a rear queen and front dinette. I'll pull the table while traveling and put the bike all the way forward. I just can't stomach the price of a new TH, plus the layouts don't appeal to me until you get really big. From what I've seen, I should be able to spend less than $3000 for a very decent condition trailer.

Regards,
Wardo

redhurricane said:

I did it with a 22' travel trailer. I had enough floor space to fit 2 bikes, and used e-track on the floor against the walls to tie into. Used a simple bike ramp to wheel into the door, and just twisted the bars to get it through. I'll see if I can dig up an old picture of my setup.

redhurricane

Posted 24 November 2009 - 02:02 PM

#13

I gutted the front of a 1992 Fleetwood 22' travel trailer (had a sofa sleeper and a recliner with a cheesy fold down mini table and replaced with a dinette like the toy haulers had that fold out into a full size bed. Lined the walls 24" high with .063 diamond plate and used rubber tread plate design flooring .125" thick under the dinette.

When folded up, could fit two full size bikes. Dinette folded down, rubber floor was covered, and diamond plate was hidden.

wardo

Posted 24 November 2009 - 03:09 PM

#14

That sounds really nice. I'll probably go low tech, since my one bike will fit easily where the table ordinarily goes. I do like your approach. I suspect you built yourself a very nice TH for a fraction of the cost.

Wardo

redhurricane said:

Chickenhauler

Posted 24 November 2009 - 03:24 PM

#15

redhurricane said:

I was just thinking the same thing....find a trailer with a set of barrel chairs and table setup, and just remove them and use it as bike storage space.

When parked, just set up a pair of folding lawn chairs and a folding table.

redhurricane

Posted 24 November 2009 - 03:29 PM

#16

chickenhauler said:

Pretty much what I did. I used to sell Weekend Warrior all the diamond plate they stuck on as rock guards on their RV's, and the parts guy got me a screaming deal on a folding dinette. New unit was $400 or so, WITH extra material to redo the window valances, etc. Probably put $600-$700 total into it, and worked well for us.

Trailer was $4000, bought from the original owner and it had NO usage at all. They're out there cheap, just have to look and be patient. Sold it 2 years later for $5000 so I figure I did alright.

Just034

Posted 29 November 2009 - 10:12 PM

#17

Not to resurrect an old thread but here is what I did. I have since beefed up the kid bike rack, added some visibility and tow with a Tundra to put my wife's ttr125 in the back. After a number of seasons the setup is going strong and working well

http://www.thumperta...ad.php?t=414133

Chickenhauler

Posted 30 November 2009 - 12:47 AM

#18

Just034 said:

I was thinking of that thread (and your setup) but couldn't remember who it was.

Thanks!:thumbsup:

wardo

Posted 30 November 2009 - 03:46 AM

#19

Just034 said:

I thought about that option, I think it is certainly workable. I want my bike inside for security and to keep the road salt of it when heading south in the winter. Still, if you were OK with open, this would be the way to go.

Wardo