Any one have one of these trailers or one like it, & how do you like it?

 

For me the choice was simple

Trailer in a Bag = No Suspension
Porta Chopper = Torsion bar suspension

I am not afilliated with PaC(Port a Chopper) but I bought one two years ago(sold it a couple of months ago because I didn't need it anymore). It is a fine piece of equipment. While i'm sure TiaB(Trailer in a bag) is good hardware and I acknowldge I have no experience with them, I couldn't imagine towing my bike on a trailer with no suspension.

PaC's suspension takes up much of the shock from the road, transimtting much less to the bike. The steel is very heavy. They use Dexter axle suspension and hubs, so you can get parts in most towns if you need them and they run high speed bearings and wheels (think TIB's do as well). I didn't have any trouble loading it, it comes with a kickstand plate and spring for the Condor chock to make loading even easier.

Go to PaC's web site and click on road test, you can see (the video is a little small) the suspension taking up the road bumps and makes the trailer more stable.

http://www.portachopper.com/video/index.html

IMHO - I might pull my mower or load of mulch in a trailer with no suspension, I don't care how much that would hop around. But I wouldn't put my bike on one. I'm not badmouthing TiB's I don't know anything about them. I only know why I bought a Porta Chopper.

Let us know which you choose and good luck!

 

Thanks for the feedback. I had read the info on both on the web sites but dit not catch that the pac had the tb suspension. This is one of the reason' I love this forum feed back from the horse's mouth.

 

Good luck and let me know if you get one i've got a couple of pointers.

 

I researched this a while and settled on the Port-a-Chopper. Love it. The trailer itself is super heavy duty. It tracks perfectly. Loading and unloading is a breeze, even for 1 person. Assembly just takes a couple of minutes, as does disassembly. I carry it (knocked down) in the back of my Suburban. If I ever need to make a call home for a tow, all my wife has to do is drive out to meet me -- I can put the trailer together in no time, beside the road if necessary. Longest I've used it is a 9-hr haul on interstates. It was awesome! We drove through some severe thunderstorms on teh way home, while the iron butts who tease "trailer folks" all sat huddled under overpasses trying not to drown... while we chugged by dry and comfy, with snacks, coffee, and stereo. HA! (I wonder how long it took THEM to get home.) I'm a picky consumer, and can easily find fault with about anything... yet this Port-a-Chopper is well thought-out, well designed, and constructed of quality components. I was very impressed when it arrived and am still impressed with it 2 years later!
- Skip

 

The actual IBA riders were not under a bridge hiding from the rain. They were still on the highway running against the clock to get their miles in. You may not agree with their credo "World's Toughest Riders", but they sure as hell don't pull over because of rain.

 

$1500, are you serious?

$450 4x8 bought last month. Add $60 for Harbor Freight wheel chock and another $60 for a spare tire. It weighs 350#.

 

Nothing wrong with your set up there because your bike is lighter than mine. But I had the same trailer you do and after a dozen loadings of my Road King and 2 times with my Ultra, welds started breaking. The trailer was flexing to much when I would drive the bike on. It pulled wonderful with a 1000 pounds. Loading was the problem. Of course the RK and Ultra are in the 750 to 900 pound range plus big ole "me".

 

Oops! Didn't mean to offend anybody there. Point was that there are lots of different folks who ride. Some prefer naked bikes, some full dressers or baggers, and others go for the chopper thing. Some are hard-core and wouldn't stop for a desert sandstorm or meteors striking the earth amid a zombie apocalypse. Then there are folks like me who want to be in comfort until I get where I'm going and RIDE when I'm there (on the twisties!). No bags or fairings for me! (Though I confess I get tired of folks dissing me because I CHOOSE to trailer, or the overweight baggers dissing my Sportster EVO (best US-made bike ever, IMHO). Glad the motorcycle world is big enough for ALL of us! :-)
- Skip

 

I dont know about spending that much on a trailer. there are so many other options for trailers out there. if it is just to pull the bike I would look elsewhere to be honest. I have only trailered mine a few times over the years for various reasons and i would not want to have spent over a grand to just have a trailer sitting around takingup space. Just my opinion and to each there own.