Towing a motorcycle...

[disco_jon75]

So I'm hearing rumors of a 179 day TDY to Vegas. I really want to take my bike if I go for that long. Unfortunately, my tow vehicle is a 2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8L that I've added a tow hitch to. Is that insufficient towing power for an I-40 cross country trip of 2250 miles pulling a small trailer with my bike on it? I'm thinking it probably is...

[bruno71]

disco_jon75,
I think you can do it as long as you don't get into a hurry going up hills/mountains. It will be hardest on your clutch---so if you have a lot of miles on your car and the clutch has never been changed, the trip could make a marginal clutch fail. If you have an automatic, you will need to downshift to D2 when you go up steep inclines. The danger for the automatic trans. is heat. Vehicles that are used for pulling a trailer usually have an auxiliary or larger transmission cooler. I think the car will be fine if you don't push it too hard. (You will probably need to drive slower than usual.) The mountains will be a challenge but not impossible. I would be absolutely sure to service my transmission before and after the trip. Obviously, you can also expect to incur more wear and tear on your vehicle's drive train than if you did not pull a trailer. Be sure to check your vehicle's max towing capacity (in owner's manual) and I would not exceed the manufacture’s recommendation. The best info I could find stated that the max trailer weight for a 2005 Nissan Sentra was 1000 lbs. Dry weight for an R1150R is around 525 lbs and wet is somewhere north of 550. As long as you have a very light trailer (less than 450 lbs.) you should be okay. Harbor freight and Northern tools both sell super light trailers that are less than 400 lbs. and have a 600-1100 lb. carrying capacity. It sounds like quite an adventure!

-Bruno

[Biff's R]

Do you own the trailer, or not? You may be able to ship the bike for about the same money as getting a trailer, and towing it yourself. It will also allow you to travel faster with less wear and tear on your car.

[VintageDirt]

Call me crazy but, I wouldn't put my pride and joy on a Harbor Fright trailer. Maybe a Kendon or some other bike specific trailer that is welded together by real "Welders".

[jb44]

The towing capacity of a 2.0 liter Sentra is 1,000 lbs (weight of trailer and it's cargo).

I'm guessing the 1.8 will be less.

IMO, it could be done, but it's a judgment call. (The mountains would be the hardest part on the vehicle) I'd add a transmission cooler. And with the cost of a welded trailer from Home Depot, Lowe's, or Tractor Supply ($500-600) and proper tie-downs, Biff's R may be right about shipping it.

jb

[disco_jon75]

Whats the best way to ship a bike?

[Biff's R]

check these 2 links

http://www.funtransport.com/

http://www.forwardair.com/