Because of the way my partner and I work (I can work from anywhere, she is a teacher - long holidays, no flexibility) we've decided that it may make sense for me to trailer the bikes to a start point for our trips in the week before she finishes work, she can then fly out and join me - saving long, tiring days in the saddle. Potentially saving money too, or at least not costing very much more.

For example we have our eyes on Turkey, Georgia and that part of the world for next year. I blitz the bikes to Greece, meet her there, happy days.

Anyway, the point of the post is to get some opinions and experiences. The bikes weigh 150kg each, so I don't need a beast of a trailer and I don't really want a dedicated motorcycle carrier, if I buy a trailer I'd like to be able to use it for other purposes. I see various designs of wheel chuck out there, from clever spring loaded traps to simple tubular metal. I'm planning to keep it cheap so I'm thinking tubular metal trap on the front wheel, ratchet straps front and rear, both sides to keep the bike stable.

I'm going on the assumption that a metal trailer, with a metal floor is the way to go?

I'm thinking a good, thick wooden ramp - nice and wide, wide enough to get my feet down. Covered in chicken wire for grip so I can ride up it.

The car is a humble 1.6 diesel Octavia, it's only rated to tow 640kg, but even with a heavy trailer that's plenty considering the weight of the bikes.

Thoughts?

__________________
[ Tim | History - NW Italy/French Rivera, Swiss Alps, Morocco | 2016 - Greece > Albania > Macedonia > Kosovo > Montenegro > Bosnia > Slovenia > Austria ]

Something like this would work well, but so will most lightweight trailers with a couple of motorcycle wheel chocks bolted to the floor, as long as you have enough places for tie down straps.

Motorbike Trailers - New West Wood Ifor Williams Motorbike Trailers

One thing worth considering is picking up a lightweight box/cargo trailer (with a ramp rear door) for added security - especially if you will be leaving the car/trailer parked up when you are in a hotel/shopping - out of sight out of mind, but I think most of them will be too heavy for the car to pull.

http://www.iwt.co.uk/products/box-van/box-van-braked/

__________________
Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

Yeah, the moto trailers are great from a weight point of view and clearly a top choice in terms of safely mounting the bike but I'm probably moving house soon, so a regular trailer with some chocks satisfies my dual purpose desires!

__________________
[ Tim | History - NW Italy/French Rivera, Swiss Alps, Morocco | 2016 - Greece > Albania > Macedonia > Kosovo > Montenegro > Bosnia > Slovenia > Austria ]