There are many options for taking both a car and a motorcycle with you while full timing. These include hydraulic and cable lifts, motorcycle hitch carriers, tow dollies that let you tow the car and load the motorcycle in front of it and of course car hauler trailers with tandem axles.
Our options as I see them are:
1. Hitch mount motorcycle carrier - $450.00 + welding two more stabilizing tubes onto the RV's receiver to keep the motorcycle from swaying. and allowing a tow dolly or trailer to be pulled from the same hitch.
2. Hydraulic motorcycle lift - $3500.00 plus three tube receiver hitch + welding
3. Manual operated (manual hydraulic) hydraulic lift - $1900.00 + three tube receiver hitch + welding
4. Tandem Tow Dolly that hauls bike and car - $5200.00
5. Car Hauler trailer - $2500.00 - $6500.00 depending on type and materials.
The additional variable for us is whether I can find any or all of these used. In any case options one, two and three are out due to expense. So, I have narrowed my search to either the tandem tow dolly or a car hauler trailer.
Disadvantages of a tandem dolly
Heavy and big
Can't easily moved around the campground after unloading
Can't be backed up loaded as the car and the dolly turn independent of one another.
The car must be unloaded in order to back the trailer and bike out of a tight place.
I would have to move the dolly to a designated storage area after unloading due to it's size
Crawling under the dolly to hook up the break away chains
Expensive for the size of the dolly (more perception on my part)
Will require a hitch on the car to move to designated parking
Advantages of a tandem dolly
No hitch welding required as I have a Class V hitch on the RV
One vehicle to tow both bike and car
Very easy to load the bike and car
Most come with a rock guard on the front that protects the bike and car from road debris
Versatile in that it can carry a lot of things on the motorcycle deck
Light weight of combined car, bike and trailer
Disadvantages of the car hauler trailer
Heavy and big, may impact RV towing with the combined weight of the bike, car and trailer
Can't easily moved around the campground after unloading
I will have to unload the car and park the trailer in designated parking with the RV due to weight
Most do not come with a rock guard unless it's an ad on expense
Larger footprint will make it harder to have room to back up and manuever
Advantages of the car hauler trailer
I will be able to back it up without the trailer and car going in different directions
Much easier loading, unloading and tying down as I will not have to crawl under the car
Trailer can be of minimal length, car length 12' plus 3' for the bike which will keep cost down
Heavier duty and more versatile
After looking at all of these options I still could use some help deciding which of the two options open to me financially, to pick. It would be a lot easier to just sell the motorcycle but after a lifetime of riding I hate to have to stop. Besides, that gives us two options for transportation.
If you are a regular reader please leave a comment with your opinion on what you think we should be looking for.
