towing 2 trailers

[newtriker]

I've seen somebody on this forum that has posted a picture with trike towing 2 trailers. We want to make a 2-3 month trip this summer using the timeout tent trailer, but it just won't carry all our stuff. We currently have hauled it on top in a carrier, but that's a pain when we get where we're going, we unload everything, put it all back and do it again when we leave. If it's raining, everything gets soaked getting it all together. We've had rain more often than not, so hauling our cargo trailer behind with everything in it is a better alternative (we think). We plan about 5000 miles at least, lots of sight-seeing along the way. Has anyone pulled two trailers (tent trailer in the middle, cargo the second trailer). We have an 1800 motortrike. Any suggestions?

[katfish16]

I would not even consider towing 2 trailers for that distance...
I would recommend taking clothes that can be interchanged with each other and things like blue jeans, that can be worn with lots of things. and can be worn more than one day..Rolling up the clothes gives U much more room too.. the same thing with shoes. and then most campgrounds have washing machines...
Not to mention that would totally kill ur gas milage.. u could just about buy new clothes for what it would cost to tow 2 trailers....
Do U have a America the Beautiful card...????
If U need any campground websites let me know .

Good luck in what ever U do..

Ride safe

[BlueTrinity]

Newtriker,

Like Kat, I would not even consider towing the two trailers. Beyond the fact it may illegal in many states. it just plain ain't safe.

Consider this, there are very few areas that don't have at least one Mail Stop, Mail Boxes ETC, or similar business and they are very easy to find on the internet. You can send a box of extra clothes there and have it held for your arrival. You then just change and send the others back home.

The other option is far simpler...just take fewer clothes and stop for an hour or so every three or four days and take advantage of the local Laundromat.

Either of these options will make your trip far more enjoyable and safer than trying to pull two trailers with the trike.

I wish I had the time to take a 2-3 month trip like that...I'm jealous!

[newtriker]

Thank you for the replies. Clothes are not even what take the space. We cook, so we have a few cooking supplies and food, a small heater, a small fan, a coffee pot, all the , lawn chairs and few other things. We have to have a foam mattress rather than the blowup kind and that takes up the entire inside of the tent trailer. There is not much space inside the timeout because the canvas and poles fold up inside. So everything goes on top. We went to the Smokies in October and found out that we have to completely unload everything piece by piece from the top carrier, put it all on the ground or a picnic table if we're lucky enough to have one; fold out the tent part, then put everything inside the tent. We do the reverse when we leave. If it's raining, everything gets soaked before we get it put inside the carrier and zipped up. We get by on very few clothes and don't mind washing because camp grounds have laundromats and that's no problem. All our riding gear (leathers and raingear) take up all the storage space on the trike itself. We are just trying to come up with a solution that's more comfortable and easier for us since we like the adventure.

[newtriker]

bedding got left out of the post--that takes up quite a bit of space.

[Nauga Mok]

Don't think 2 trailers would be all that bad in DRY weather, but as you said, you get into rain & that's a whole differnt can of worms. As some of our members who have 18 wheel experience can tell you, when the roads get slick, trailers sometimes want to pass the tractor, which in your case would be your trike. It's not a real good idea to try it on a trip on your length because you can run into all kinds of weather. Another thing to keep in mind is your trike has what's refered to as a CVGWR. That's "Combigned Vehicle Gross Weight Rating". On my Roadsmith, that rating allows me to tow a maximum of 500 lbs @ 70 lb tongue weight. That does NOT mean I can put 500 lbs of stuff in my trailer -- that INCLUDES trailer weight. So, if I have a trailer that weighs 250 lbs, then my maximun load for that trailer is 250 lb. I don't know what yout Motortrike is rated for or how much your camp trailer weighs, but you need to watch your loading carefully since most trailers we tow do not have brakes & all the stopping power depends on your trike's brakes & THIS is where double trailers can cause REAL problems. Watch a 18 wheeler that's running doubles or triples -- the rear trailer is all over the place, so you're NEVER dead straight inline when you have to brake. With no trailer brakes, on slick roads, this spells "Jack knife"! ESPECIALLY if you're over loaded.

Last summer I traveled just under 6000 mi in 23 days. I used a tent & EVERYTHING was on the Ultra -- no trailer. I took 4 sets of clothes + 1 extra pair of sox incase my feet got wet in a rain storm. Yes, rolling each day's set of clothes saves a surprising ammount of space. Even so, everything had to be packed right or it wouldn't go! For toiletries, use the sample sizes -- Walmart & other stores usually have a great selection of brands in these "mini packs" and both of you share the same toiletries. Pack so as much of your stuff as possible has multiple uses. Ziplock freezer bags in 1 qt & 1 Gal sizes are an example. They have litteraly hundreds of uses. Trash bags -- 33 gal size - use as trash bags, tarps, emergency rain gear, etc. For cooking gear, look at back packing stuff -- small light weight & usualy multipurpose. When space is limited, sometimes there are tough choices to make as to what goes & what stays home. There are numerous sites on line that give excellent insight into "Touring"! Sorry this got so long

NM

[katfish16]

Well if the clothes are not the problem I would do some serious looking around for either some smaller chairs and other items that U carry... maybe a electric frying pan instead of a coleman stove??? a electric 2 cup coffee pot..etc... there is a web site for everything so just google what u r trying to make smaller?? Only suggestion....can u put ur mattress in one of those storage bags that when U take the air out it is flat??? they have them that U just roll up or push the air out...
Good luck

[White Wall]

Space Bags. They are awesome. They work so well I took my pillow with me to Sturgis in 08'. I loaded everything I needed on my FXD and hit the road. That included: Tent, folding chair, mini grill, duffel bag, and a couple of tools I needed...Thank God I brought the tools!

[JimLee]

we bought an Aspen Classic trailer and it holds all the stuff you mentioned and more all under the bed except for two folding chairs we put in a pouch on top of the cover. we love it

[Trikectr]

NewTriker,

My wife and I have been long distance traveling for many years, we pull a Comby camper, same idea as the Timeout! We put all our stuff in Rubbermade 8" high Tote, socks and underwear included, all our totes are the same hight so it doesn't create a wind resistance problem. It takes about sixty seconds to get stuff off the trailer when we get to destination and we can leave some stuff out in the rain and everything remains dry.

Try to invest on a waterproof tarp for the top of the camper, it's a good investment and it keeps everything together. We like to cook too and I don't mean to be derogatory, but it's a camping trip...Leave the microwave and hair blower at home and as mentioned in other posts there is a lot of good compact cooking stuff available out there. "Pack Light"

[magusjinx]

Yet another reason to convince me to go V8 ... Towing capacity ... I just have to make sure that the trailer has electric brakes on it ... And that the tongue weight does not get too close to the weight on the front tire otherwise I could lose steering ...

[White Wall]

Make sure you go with a tandem axle so the trailer rests on it's own weight not on the tongue. That steering issue sounds dangerous, but I did see a pic of a V8 towing a camper. Anythings possible!