Hey,
Getting ready to trailer bike on a long haul - medical conditions prevent me from riding this distance. Anyway, I have an 8.5 x 18 foot trailer with 3 tracks for positioning bikes. This is an enclosed, aluminum, flat front trailer. Can you tell me the proper location and configuration for trailering 2 baggers (street glide and RKC)? Should the center of bikes sit over the tandum axles? or all the way forward in trailer? I have no clue, first time using a trailer...Thanks for the advice....

 

Assuming your tow vehicle can handle the tongue weight, all the way fwd. If your using some lil truck/suv try just in front of the axles. Too far back and the trailer may sway like crazy

 

Billman, Thanks. Im driving an Ford F150 Harley Davidson truck. So do you suggest I go as far forward as possible with both bikes? If so, wont that leave the rear a little light? Thanks again.

 

I personally would stagger them.

 

stagger works too but, I like to keep both sides evenly weighted with plenty of tongue weight. We don't know anything like axle setbacks or how much the trailer weighs so just go for it. Worst case, it starts to sway a bit and you can pull over and run 1 or both bikes forward. 18' behind a 1fitty wont be too much weight on the bumper unless its loaded with cabinets/tools etc
my .02, safe travels

 

I would put bikes in the trailer with the back of the bike over the center of axles. You will have plenty tongue weight and still add more tongue weight by doing it this way.

 

Generally, you want about 10% of trailer weight as tongue weight. Your trailer is plenty wide that you can go side by side but staggering them slightly isn't a bad idea. With that trailer, you probably won't even be able to tell you have anything in it!

You should position most of the weight over the axles but slightly biased towards the front for sufficient tongue weight.

You can use a bathroom scale under the tongue jack to check unladen tongue weight and then load the bikes and re-check. Your 18' enclosed trailer probably weighs in around 2000 to 2500 lbs? With the two bikes you're probably at around 4000 lbs or so. Tongue weight should be 300 to 400 Lbs.

Not enough tongue weight and the trailer will sway at speed. Too much tongue weight and the nose of the truck will point to the sky. If you are towing at night you will blind other drivers with your head lights.

I tow with a 2500 Chevy Duramax crew cab long bed and it is a towing monster (long wheelbase = smoother tow). I run Air Lift leveling bags so I can level the truck when towing a big load. The bags not only level the truck but help make it more stable under load.

Get the load right and you will tow with ease and confidence.

Good luck!