trailering klr's . . .

[Jud Jones]

You might fit two bikes on a 4x8 trailer by loading one bike pointing forward, the other aft. Wheel chocks help. I use Pingels on my trailer, but the ones you just screw down are a lot cheaper, if not as convenient.. even without chocks, you can tie down a bike without any bulkhead at all by using 4 tiedowns, two pulling the bike forward, two pulling to the rear. Four feet is pretty narrow, though, you have outriggers for your tie-down points. If the outer tiedowns are too close to vertical in the longitudinal plane, they won't keep the bikes from tipping into each other. My 5x10 trailer is just big enough for three DS bikes, two forward and one aft. I could have built it wider, but I wanted the wheels to run inside the track of my van. Even at five wide, I have outriggers at the front of the trailer for tiedowns. N_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote:

> > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, George Basinet wrote: > > > > > > > > Can you get 2 bikes into a 4 x 8 trailer? > > > > George > > > George, > That all depends on the size of the bike! I am guessing, you want to > trailer 2-KLR's. smile. I know the feeling.... > > The biggest problem will be, "where do I tie-down?" as the angle will > be nearly straight ahead, which is not ideal. Also, with only 4ft to > work with, your handle bars will be bumping each other...and an > offset device will be ideal for one of the bikes; i.e. a wheel chock > mounted in the floor, or a big block that backs one bike up a little > bit so the handlebars don't bang each other. WARNING: loading top- > heavy bikes in close proximity to each other leaves both bikes > subject to ancillary damage, and the 'loading' crew relegated to > talking like sailors when they discover they have just become, > a "loading and dropping" crew. Damage report to follow, as seen in > many an ebay ad, "Damage occurred while loading the bike" and very > likely, on it first ride in the trailer. > > I often carry 4 motorcycles on a 5X8; a KLX300 (about the same > dimensions as a KLR650) , 2-XR 100's and an XR70. Three pointed > forward, one pointed aft. I think I have ~48 tie down points welded > to the trailer...and sometimes they never seem to be in the right > place. I will also say, it took several attempts at this loading > drill to get it all done in less than 20 minutes. The things you > learn to do while operating on limited capital.... > > I can carry a KLR650 and a KLX300 easily, pointed forward, and one > little bike pointed aft. I use old blankets, padding to protect the > plastic, etc. I will tell you that the two 'big bikes' will be > slightly canted 'outboard' so as to not bang into each other. > > But to answer your question more vaguely, using a 4x8 as a one-time > deal for two KLR's, you can make it work but not easily. If you are > considering buying a 4x8 trailer (enclosed?) you will want to have > staggered wheel chocks and tie down points, or it will make you nuts > every time you want to load more than one motorcycle. > > FREEBIE: 3/8-inch log chain links (make sure they will fit your tie > down application; ie will the hook go into the chain link!) make an > excellent tie down point when used on a steel trailer. Buy the chain > at a tractor supply, or quality hardware store. A complete link > welded to your trailer makes a permanent tie down point. Measure the > chain, and cut every other link with a bolt cutter to obtain a > complete link. NOTE: If you cut the links so that the link > is 'broken' at the 1/3 point, you will have plenty of link (2/3 > remaining) to use it as well. > > HTH, > revmaaatin. >