Trailer Size for Track Day/Motorcycles

I'm looking at buying a new enclosed trailer to haul my bike and gear to the track. and its down to a 6x10/6x12 or a 7x12/7/14 but am leaning towards a 6x12 either tandem or single.

6X10 is the cheapest/lightest and would work fine for one bike
6X12 I can get in a tandem axle for a more stable ride in winds, don't need the weight cap. Still only room for one bike.
7x12/14 I can get two bikes in but is huge and I would guess would pull harder.

How much harder will a tandem 7x14 tandem pull compared to a 6x12 tandem, both trailers being empty or the same load?
Is it worth it getting a tandem 6x12 verses just a single? I don't need the weight capacity but am planning on going out of town doing some high speed freeway driving and don't want the trailer chucking me around if I can avoid it.

 

My advice is get aluminum if you can swing the cost. You'll thank me later you'd be surprised how much it helps to keep it as light as possible. Also trailer brakes and a good controller. I'd go tandem it's so much nicer to haul. I am surprised you can't fit 2 bikes in a 6x12. I could fit 2 in the bed of a 1st gen tacoma.
I haul this heavy sucker fairly often. It's a 20fter from tongue to tail. Weighs ~1600lbs empty is a steel chassis and I can tell it's back there even empty. I also haul a 5x10 single enclosed and it hauls worse than this big ol thing. It gets blown around easier, it's not a weight thing either as I've hauled both steel and aluminum trailers of the same size. The tandem axle makes it a lot nicer to pull.

 

Depends a lot on where your going to be towing and how fast you plan on driving. On hills weight is the major factor. On flat highway it's much more about frontal area.

2010 access cab, v6 with manual. I've towed a friend's 6x12 single axle v-nose with three dirt bikes, gear, and camping equipment on a 3000 mile round trip. Problem was the trailer was extra tall like a sail. I got between 7 and 10 mpg at 60 mph.

I've also pulled a 5500 lb car and tandom flatbed trailer combo and got 12 mpg at 65 mph because it didn't stick above the trucks cab.

I would say 6 foot wide and low profile is what I would look for. 6x12 is nice for being able to sleep in if needed. 6x10 is kind of tight but doable.

 

There's a decent Trailex CT 7541 I have a lead on locally. $2,500 buys it (I'd say it's worth $4,000) but it's an open trailer, all aluminum. Nicknamed the "911 trailer" as it's perfect for midsized sports cars, which is what the previous owner hauled with it.

 

I have a 6x12 enclosed, V front, single axle, ramp door, side man door, 6' tall inside. I use it to haul 2 ATVs. I haven't towed it with the Taco yet, but my previous Mazda B4000 (Ford Ranger), towed it really nice. The ramp door is really nice so you don't have to bother with extra ramps. The side man door is nice for when you want to grab a drink out of the cooler.

 

Back in the day I pulled my Honda Hawk NT650 race bike all over the Midwest on a tiny open trailer. Towed nice and was super easy for one person to load, but every time I stopped for gas or to pee, I wondered if the bike and trailer would still be there when I came back out to my truck. Race bikes atract a lot more attention than a landscape or construction trailer.

 

Yep, and with an enclosed trailer, you don't have to worry about your gas cans, beer, tools, etc. and it all stays nice and dry if it rains. Also, my philosophy has always been, don't put a bunch of stickers on your enclosed trailer. Harley Davidson, Fox Racing, etc. No matter what sticker you put on there, somebody is going to want what they think is inside.

 

No matter what size you choose get a tandem axle with electric brakes. It drives so much easier. I had a 7x14 tandem but never hauled it with the Tacoma.

 

A 7X14 enclosed tandem axle is a beast and you will definitely know it's back there. A 6X12 enclosed single axle is a walk in the park, especially if you're not filling it with cement blocks. Also, something to consider is that you don't need extended mirrors with a 6' wide enclosed trailer. 7' is iffy, and with 8', you definitely need extended mirrors.

 

We just bought this which is a 6x12 v nose. I debated tandem but did t need the extra weight capacity. Doesn't sway and we have been very happy with it

 

I had a 6x12 v nose single-axle EZHauler(Alcom) up until a couple years ago before i had the tacoma. Hauled it all the time with my '09 Mazda CX9. Only weighed ~900 lbs i think. Towed great even with the CX9

had a single pit bull mount in there for my sv650's. Dont see why you couldnt fit at least 2 bikes in a non-v 6-12

 

I would want tandem not for weight but you still have 3 trailer tires on the ground, in case of a blow out...

 

Wow thanks for all the replies. I'm pretty sure I want a 6x12 and that looks like the smallest you can go and still get a tandem but 99% of 6x12's are single. Would the tandem pull "harder" but be more stable or would it pull the same and would I get the same MPG?

As far as two bikes goes it looks like you can't really get two BIG bikes in there but should be able to get two smaller bikes in no problem.

 

4 wheels on the ground = more rolling resistance will you see or notice a mpg difference probably not but you could. You got to think you'll be hauling around 2000lbs or more plus wind resistance. If MPG is a concern then you should look at getting a bigger truck. But if you go to a trailer dealer most really good trailer manufacturers will build you a trailer to spec. Like I said before if you can go aluminum go that route. Keeping things as light as possible will help you the most especially if hills are involved.

Big bikes????? How big are your bikes? I've fit a stretched busa and stretched gsxr1000 on a 5x10 yard trailer. Most wheel chocked bike trailers that you see the harley guys towing their bikes with aren't that big they are 6x10. Fit one facing forward and one backwards so that the handle bars don't interfere with each other.

 

MPG is not that big of a concern but I want a trailer that pulls good and that's hard to explain. I think the tandem axle on a 6x12 is overkill for me and I will never need that kind of capacity so know I'm leaning towards a single axle again LOL, plus its over a grand for another axle.

I have mixed feelings about aluminum trailers, they cost more, they brake way easier, and when the aluminum corrodes it feels like fingernails on a chalkboard. I won't be pulling this all the time so the extra weight shouldn't be an issue. The latest steel H&H trailers come line X'd but I'm sure it will still rust like they all do. I live in Minnesota and we LOVE salt lol.

I'll mostly be hauling one bike but when I first started looking for trailers I was basing it off of a Harley Ultra if I someday go that route and sitting two of them side by side facing forward means wide trailer. Since then I have looked at many Harleys and am not impressed to say the least. Currently I have a Ducati Multistrada 1260 and a Honda CB 650F that will be getting traded in for a different bike that I'm not sure which way to go right now.

 

You can get 3-4 bikes in a 6x12 if you stagger the wheel chocks. I'd go 6x12 tandem axle

 

What snorkel do you have?

 

A 12' long trailer is 12'. If you get a 12' V front, most of them are 12' + the V front. (Beware, some V front trailers are marketed 12' including the V front). With 12' length, you don't need to put the bikes side by side. They just need to be slightly angled. so a small portion of each is side by side. As I mentioned previously, a ramp door is really nice. Don't cheap out and settle for one with barn doors. Also, with a ramp door, there will be cables that angle from the top of the trailer to the end of the ramp, when the ramp is down. These can pose a serious safety hazard. Get some brightly colored pool noodles, split them lengthwise and slip them over the cables when the ramp is down for any length of time.

 

6x12 tandem.

 

You do realize that the majority of trailers these days that 18 wheelers haul are aluminum. They don't break that easy as long as you get a decent brand. I've seen guys who swear by steel buy a cheap steel and my old aluminum one outlasted the cheap steel. Also a decent brand trailer company usually coats the aluminum in a durable/HD clear coat to help prevent corrosion. Even steel trailers once the paint gets some rock chips and scratches will start to rust. I would suggest starting to research trailer companies and trailers in general more, things have come a long way. Also the guys suggesting the V-nose fronts are great suggestions some of those v-nose you can get an angled roof as well to make it a little more aerodynamic. Also I would highly suggest getting a rock guard on the front of the trailer as an option.