Motorcycle Camping Trailers

Motorcycle camping trailers provide people who are motorcycle and camping enthusiasts with the possibility of enjoying both passions at once. Taking a motorcycle on a camping trip turns an outdoor experience into an exciting adventure.

motorcycle camping

While going camping with a large vehicle that has lots of cargo space may afford you the flexibility to bring along a lot of camping gear, there's something very romantic and authentic about packing the bare minimum that you need for camping into a small and lightweight motorcycle camping trailer, and then just hitting the road. Going camping with only the bare essentials lets you enjoy nature without burdening yourself with so much camping gear.

Motorcycle trailers that have enough room for sleeping usually weigh an average of 250 to 400 pounds without any gear or supplies added to it. Once you stow away camping gear into your camping trailer, you could easily add over 100 or more additional pounds without realizing it. It's important to understand, when you're towing a small trailer behind a motorcycle, that most motorcycles were not designed to tow additional weight behind it. However, the majority of motorcycles do have the capacity to tow up to 500 pounds if there's only a single passenger on the bike.

When you're selecting a trailer, make sure to size it according to your motorcycle's towing capacity. If your bike came pre-installed with a hitch, the manual should list the bike's towing capacity. Otherwise, call the dealer where you purchased your motorcycle and ask. When you are shopping for a camping trailer that you can tow with your bike, the following are the general types that you'll come across.

• Large pop-up: While this type of trailer is usually 300 to 400 pounds, it also provides the most space and convenience. The length of the trailer is typically six to seven feet during towing, and up to ten or more feet once the pop-up is unfolded and extended. These campers are very comfortable because they not only have space for a bed, but there's also often room for a small folding table as well. Some of them even come with a port to install an air conditioner for extra comfort in a hot climate.
• Medium pop-up: If you have a medium sized bike, or you really don't want to tow the large trailer, you can opt for the mid-sized camper that has just enough room for a large bed. These campers are perfect for the quick camping trip where you just need a place to sleep under cover, but plan to do the rest of your activities like cooking and eating meals all outdoors. These trailers usually have plenty of room for two people. They average eight to nine feet long extended and weigh 250 to 350 pounds.
• Small trailer: If you are riding a small motorcycle but still want the convenience of additional cargo space and a place to sleep, a small camping trailer will do. These tiny trailers can weigh anywhere from 150 to 250 pounds, but only extend about seven or eight feet. If you opt for a small trailer, make sure that the sleeping conditions provide you with enough space. If you're very tall, the trailer may feel cramped, and it certainly wouldn't be large enough for two people.

Choosing the right trailer for your needs and your budget is the easy part. The hard part is deciding where to go camping first!

One of the difficulties that come along with towing anything with a motorcycle is the fact that if you don't choose the right mechanism to hitch your bike to the trailer, you could limit the range of motion while you're making turns. This can be very dangerous, so it's important to understand the sort of hitch that you need to tow a camping trailer, and opt for the safest option if you can afford it. In some cases, you can actually buy a motorcycle trailer that has only one wheel and is designed with a special joint to lean and turn with the motorcycle as one unit. However, the majority of camping trailers have two wheels, so you need to carefully consider what kind of towing hitch to purchase and install onto your bike.

Using a standard hitch with a motorcycle and a two-wheeled camping trailer is not recommended because your turning ability is greatly reduced and the likelihood of "binding" your bike with the trailer is very high. Instead, purchase a swivel-hitch, which is essentially an articulating hitch that actually swivels when you turn and completely removes the risk of binding. A few additional things to consider when hooking up your trailer to your bike:

• Always use a safety chain as an important second connection between the bike and the trailer. In fact, some states may require it under the law.
• Don't forget to hook up the electrical wiring harness so that your trailer turn signals work properly.
• Try to buy a hitch from your bike's retailer that's rated and designed specifically for your bike.
• Never try to tow a heavy trailer that's well over 500 pounds.
• Remember to leave a lot of space between your motorcycle and the car in front of you when you need to stop. The extra weight of the trailer will increase your stopping distance.

When you're ready to go shopping for a trailer, do your homework and make sure to ask the trailer manufacturer about the size and weight so that you know your bike can tow it. Once you've made your purchase and hooked it up to your motorcycle, just pack up and enjoy the great outdoors any time you feel like it.

• Motorcycle Camping Equipment
• National Parks Camping Guide
• Camping Sites in NC State Parks

• Nudist Campsites
• Lightweight Tent Trailers
• Cars That Can be Flat Towed Behind Motor Home
• Nude Camping
• Blue Book Values for RVs

• Coleman Folding Camping Trailers
• Very Small Camping Trailers
• Motorcycle Camping Gear
• Boler Camping Trailers
• Expandable Camping Trailers