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Old 10-26-2006, 07:50 PM   #1
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2003 25' Safari
Yukon , Oklahoma
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Traveling with Motorcycle

We are getting ready to purchase a Suzuki C50T (805cc Cruiser - 574 lbs.). Looking for a solution to bring it with us when we are towing our 2003 25' Safari. (Currently towing with a F-150 SuperCrew)

I am considering an appropriately equipped cargo van. Is there anyone out there currently travelling with both their Airstream and a good sized cruising motorcycle? Your two cents will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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Old 10-26-2006, 08:07 PM   #2
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Can you mount a front hitch? There are carriers that will fit into a 2 inch hitch.
I was goign to purchase a motorcycle next spring until my little accident with the truck and trailer.
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Old 10-26-2006, 08:58 PM   #3
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The stock Airstream frame won't take 600lbs hanging off the back bumper. Your best bet would be to haul the bike in the bed of your truck.

Second option (and the one I'm doing) is build a heavier frame for the AS. But if your trailer is in good shape, I wouldn't worry with it. Just haul the bike in the bed of your truck.

I'm planning on making a much heavier than OEM frame for my Airstream and hanging my KLR650 on the back bumper. The genset on the elongated tongue will balance it all out.

But, the bottom line is you cannot hang a motorcycle off the back bumper of a stock Airstream. If you do, you'll break it.

Cheers,
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Old 10-26-2006, 11:16 PM   #4
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off the cuff.. would an extended bed F250 allow you to keep the tailgate up? There are some pretty nice light weight but yet very sturdy ramps available on the market for proper loading of the cycle.
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Old 10-27-2006, 05:12 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottMac
We are getting ready to purchase a Suzuki C50T (805cc Cruiser - 574 lbs.). Looking for a solution to bring it with us when we are towing our 2003 25' Safari. (Currently towing with a F-150 SuperCrew)

I am considering an appropriately equipped cargo van. Is there anyone out there currently travelling with both their Airstream and a good sized cruising motorcycle? Your two cents will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
We travel quite a bit with our Airstream and our Suzuki 800cc Volusia cruiser motorcycle. We put the motorcycle in the bed of our truck. Depending on the size of your bike, you would be better off with an 8' bed in your truck so you can close the tailgate.
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Old 10-27-2006, 07:06 AM   #6
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Send JohnHD a PM. He brings his vintage Harley to as many places as he can when bringing his Airstream.
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Old 10-27-2006, 07:35 AM   #7
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Look at this

http://www.airforums.com/photo...&searchid=3289

If you will send an email address to: wingsofgold1@cs.com I will send you some pics of my setup. I would post them here, HOWEVER, the pics were taken at too great a resolution.
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Old 10-27-2006, 09:48 AM   #8
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scottmac

i haul my 1955 harley fl pretty much everywhere when i take the airstream. it rides in the back of my pickup, a '00 2500 silverado with an 8 foot box.

here are a couple of tips:

buy a quality ramp, mine is aluminum and folds in half.
get good tiedowns (4), ratchet type are the best. tie the bike off 4 ways!
get "soft ties" they are nylon loops that you can put on your handlebars etc to prevent scratches. they also go around irregular shaped parts.
if your truck does not have sturdy rings install some.
if you use a front wheel chock (i don't) pad the front tire to prevent damage.
haul your bike in neutral, this prevents tranny damage and belt/chain/ sprocket damage.
do NOT let the bike ride on the side stand, haul it perfectly upright secured 4 ways.
when you arrive or depart, look for natural advantages to assist in loading/unloading. backing your truck into even a small depression will aid greatly in the angle of the ramp.
ask for help loading/unloading if possible, i have never run across a situation where a fellow able bodied camper would not lend a hand! (a couple of cold beers don't hurt either!)

and finally, be aware of your new surroundings! for me, after i get somewhere the switch from silverado to vintage harley takes a little adjustment... traffic is different than home, wildlife, road conditions etc.

john

ps, this is my setup
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Old 10-27-2006, 10:40 AM   #9
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don't compress the forks for long

I haul my ~800# Harley ElectraGlide in the back of my pu with an 8' bed. Like John_HD says, I tie it off in 4 places but also add a padded block of wood under the engine/frame. The key is to make the block, which is also carpet covered, just slightly shy of the clearance between bike and bed so that I can kick it into position below me when I ride the bike up. I use an old airplane tire in front of the m/c tire against the front of the bed. Then hook the handlebars up with ratchet tie down and soft straps...just taking the slack up. Next is cinching the rear down with same ratchet tie down and soft straps, but now you're snugging the frame down to the bed as opposed to cranking endlessly against the air suspension (at least on mine) and potentially causing damage (i've been told) by sustained compression on both front and rear air shocks. The bike rides rock steady and doesn't have a tendancy to move around as before I used the block.

Marc
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Old 10-27-2006, 10:51 AM   #10
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What about 6.5' box HD (for Harley Davidson AND Heavy Duty PU)

Hey Guys...could you haul a full sized Harley E-Glide in a 6.5' pick-up box?

I want to get a Crew Cab...but prefer the shorter box???? I assume it would be a 2500 or maybe a 3500 SW.

Thanks...Tom R in Two harbors, MN
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Old 10-27-2006, 11:28 AM   #11
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Quote:
Hey Guys...could you haul a full sized Harley E-Glide in a 6.5' pick-up box?
not with the tailgate up.

john
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Old 10-27-2006, 11:39 AM   #12
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Second that

I have 6.5 bed and the Roadking fits all the way on the bed(past tailgate) but I cannot close tailgate. Obviously not working for towing AS trailer but I have 36' AS Motorhome and I trailer the bike when traveling with MH.

Looks good too..........
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Old 10-27-2006, 11:40 AM   #13
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Daytona Biketoberfest

Did you make it south last week John?

We did and Myrtle beach a couple of weeks before.

A blast and boy was it HOT!

91 degrees too

Ken
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Old 10-27-2006, 11:46 AM   #14
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Flip the coin

Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottMac
We are getting ready to purchase a Suzuki C50T (805cc Cruiser - 574 lbs.). Your two cents will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I bought a new 2005 C90T for 11K and a year later, I gave it away for 8500 (barely, it took forever)

Take it from me, buy the Harley and be glad you didnt save the cost up front.
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Old 10-27-2006, 11:47 AM   #15
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nope ken, haven't been south since feburary.

john
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Old 10-27-2006, 11:55 AM   #16
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just realised i hadn't uploaded any recent shots of the old pig in a while...

here it is at davenport iowa this year. picked up some more goodies at the swapmeet.

john
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Old 10-27-2006, 11:58 AM   #17
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Taking mine with me

Well Guys, here is what I use to haul mine.Look here: http://jhodge7.photosite.com/Album1/

I have a bad back, so I don't need to be lifting ramps around. Back when I did just that, I got tired of unhooking and then hunting an acceptable place to try to unload.
Then, when I was at a all Harley Drags in Bithlo, Fl, this fellow came in with something that peaked my interest. It took me several years, but I finally got him to build me one. He now has the patent for it. It works super, if not better than that! That is an 1800 Goldwing sitting on it. Him, being a diehard Harley guy found that hard to accept. I absolutely love it. A pic with the Airstream hooked up is on page 2.
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Have no intention of arriving at the grave safely, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, throttle in the other, totally worn out and screaming
"WOO HOO, WHAT A RIDE!"
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Old 10-27-2006, 12:05 PM   #18
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steel bird

that is a first class set up! i saw a similar device for sale at davenport that essentially lowered the entire bike to the ground via a sliding bed device.

yours looks much lighter and simpler.

john
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Old 10-27-2006, 12:13 PM   #19
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John, I was absolutely thrilled to get it. The gentleman was indeed a very good engineer. The ramp is solid aluminum except for the stand that makes it into a workbench. The entire carrier comes apart to remove it. He even put wheels on the ramp to make it move on the ground easily while the weight of the bike moves around. The entire unit moves back and forth in the bed to prevent the need of removing the tailgate. The goldwing is slightly long for the Wing, so I have to hold it in an 'almost closed' position with a tailgate retainer. My Harleys allowed the tailgate to close completely.
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Have no intention of arriving at the grave safely, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, throttle in the other, totally worn out and screaming
"WOO HOO, WHAT A RIDE!"
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Old 10-28-2006, 09:12 AM   #20
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2003 25' Safari
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Thanks folks! Excellent information. You have given me several directions to go with this one. I appreciate your input.

We have not ridden for over twenty years and thought a bike would be a great way to explore once we set up somewhere. I am a few months away from retiring (at a relatively young 47 yoa), the kiddo is off to college and we will soon have the time to take some extended road trips (planning for 5-6 weeks at a time) and start racking up the mileage on the Safari. It looks so lonely just sitting there idle most of the year. Thanks again.
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