I've done lots of riding in the past, mostly sport bikes. I used to ride out of state on weekends, so I have some gear left from then. I just got a 09 Fattie and my 2 bosses are looking at new Harleys. One of them proposed taking a trip from DFW area to Denver. I have a rain suit and some winter bike gloves, not sure what else. I have a full face helmet from the sport bike and a half helmet is on order. What kind of stuff would you pack when you don't have much space to pack it in? We would prob have to pack for hot weather and colder weather both. I don't have saddle bags, or the funds for them. Do you think this is a trip that would work?

One thing that would change alot here, my dad has a bike cargo trailer that hasn't been used for several years and I know I could go get it. Is it a pain to use a Fat Boy to tow? I need to look around for hitches for a Fattie. This would make it possible for us to pack WAY more clothes and gear. I personally think it's the only way to make the trip work.

One guy is looking at a Night Train, so no saddle bags for him unless he gets them soon. The other is looking at a Street Glide, so he'll have bags.

Lets have some input about what it takes to make a trip a success. What are the basic supplies?

 

take twice the money and half the clothes.

 

Plan for the unexpected....it's the best part.

(no seriously, screw reservations...just ride and go and stay and ride...pack less, eat/drink more---a trailer would be like a ball-n-chain)

 

I've taken several coast-to-coast trips and lots of trips at 2000 miles or more. The longest I've been gone on a single trip is 34 days. But I've only used a trailer one time, and I'm not sure it was worth it. The trailer I used was a Unigo



The problem with the trailer for me is that I never felt that comfortable with it behind me. I know some riders love their trailers, and I've got a friend I ride with from time to time that hauls a Bushtec behind his Ultra ...



The Bushtec seems like a well made trailer and it trails the Ultra pretty well. He and his wife take up the seat, and the bags just don't hold enough makeup for her, so the Bushtec is a good choice.

For me, though, the nature of riding doesn't provide that many good reasons to haul a trailer. I prefer to take a good bag like the T-Bag Universal or new Nelson-Riggs bags I got this summer. These bags hold enough of my gear for 3 to 4 days at a time, and I don't mind doing laundry while on the road. I also like to head down less-used roads (including my share of unpaved/gravel roads) so the idea of hauling a trailer on these roads is a little frightening.

For what it's worth, I did ride last year with a father and son team who rode Goldwings and each hauled a trailer. The father used a Bunkhouse trailer ...



And the son used what I think was a Bushtec. The Bunkhouse gave them a place to sleep which offered more protection than a tent setup and the son's Bushtec gave them room to haul all the other camping gear. They even had a couple fishing tubes (deflated, of course) in the trailer along with plenty of cooking and sleeping gear. They strapped camp chairs to the top of the Bunkhouse as well. So I guess the idea of minimum equipment to them was basically their living room and kitchen on wheels.

 

A quick connect windshield is a must have on my fattie... a tool-kit... wife... either transitional or day/ night goggles... first aid kit... 1 quart oil (I use Amsoil in every casing, one oil fits all)... water... and a 4LB sandwich.

 

Clear the Credit Card.

 

I think that trailer will get in the way of you having fun while your bosses are out tearing it up unencumbered. Take your cold weather clothes and roll them up in your jacket. Then bunjee the jacket roll over your headlight by looping bunjees under your headlight, over the roll, and then over your bars around the risers. This serves a dual purpose as it keeps a lot of the wind off your chest. That passenger seat and sissy bar would be the place to strap on the best bag you can find filled with whatever else you need. Put things in big ziplock bags to stay dry and organized. I use a boat bag that keeps everything dry and bunjee it to the sissy bar. Depending on the size of the bag, it may also double as a backrest. I just bring along one extra pair of pants and switch back and forth between the two pairs. Let the other pair hang in the hotel room to air out in between wearings. An extra pair of pants and a few t-shirts can get you a long way. If you like to collect t-shirts, then you can pack even less. Socks are cheap to buy along the way too. If this isn't enough, then you can always mail ahead stuff if you are staying in a hotel. Mail back the dirty clothes so you don't have to carry them home.

 

Rain suit, waterproof gloves and boots, FF helmet, tool kit, camera, cell phone charger and make sure your insurance premiums are paid up.

 

Tools, rain gear, camera and a credit card.

 

Full Boar cycles in Bedford has a pretty cheap set of bike luggage. It was worth what I spent.