Towing dirt bikes

[Tejas]

For those of you who tow dirt bikes or atv's/snowmobiles/SxS's with your 5th Gen 4Runner, what kind of trailer do you use? Open utility, car hauler, enclosed, motorcycle specific? How does it do in regards to power, fuel economy, and handling with the load? Did you add a brake controller or regear? Are you using a small 6x8' or 7x10' or are you pulling something larger like a 7x12' or 7.5x14' double axle?

Should I decide to keep the 4Runner I need it to tow two or three dirt bikes on the regular. I am looking to add the Redarc brake controller at a minimum. I find myself torn between which style of trailer to use, enclosed provide the best security and protection from the elements but they weigh more, typically have questionable build quality and of course have terrible aerodynamics. An open trailer would probably be the easiest, most affordable, and the most versatile for other uses, but it provides no security or protection from the elements. I want to lean towards the enclosed but I know the 4Runner doesn't handle extra loads all that well and the transmission has been known to search and hunt for gears when at highway speeds with a simple lift and larger tires. Let me know what you guys have encountered, I am getting tired of only being able to take one bike on the hitch carrier.

 

[2014 Warthog]

I used to haul dirt bikes and I used a three slot bike hauler. Super light , easy to use, could tow it with any vehicle with 4 wheels Yes it was open but that didn't really bother me because typically the hauls were short (2 hours or so)

As for the 5th gen, I haul a 1700 pound collapsible A-frame camper. And most of the time I have no idea it's even there due to the low profile. No brake controller in that case. No additional gear hunting. Going up hills it suddenly DOES become noticeable, but then you switch it into Sport/Shift mode and manually shift to keep the RPMs up (and the tranny cool)

On a trip from San Diego to Moab and back it added one hour of time to a 12 hour drive and minus 2 MPG average over the entire trip.

A full box trailer will of course Be worse due to aerodynamics, But as long as the load is light, the 5th gen handles it very well.

If I were to haul bikes again, and it was just me and a friend, I'd personally get another bike hauler, even for long trips (You can cover the bikes if weather is going to be bad). They are just too easy to pull and load the bikes on as long as you don't need a ton of extra haul space to bring half your life with you wherever you go

 

[Tejas]

I used to haul dirt bikes and I used a three slot bike hauler. Super light , easy to use, could tow it with any vehicle with 4 wheels Yes it was open but that didn't really bother me because typically the hauls were short (2 hours or so)

As for the 5th gen, I haul a 1700 pound collapsible A-frame camper. And most of the time I have no idea it's even there due to the low profile. No brake controller in that case. No additional gear hunting. Going up hills it suddenly DOES become noticeable, but then you switch it into Sport/Shift mode and manually shift to keep the RPMs up (and the tranny cool)

On a trip from San Diego to Moab and back it added one hour of time to a 12 hour drive and minus 2 MPG average over the entire trip.

A full box trailer will of course Be worse due to aerodynamics, But as long as the load is light, the 5th gen handles it very well.

If I were to haul bikes again, and it was just me and a friend, I'd personally get another bike hauler, even for long trips (You can cover the bikes if weather is going to be bad). They are just too easy to pull and load the bikes on as long as you don't need a ton of extra haul space to bring half your life with you wherever you go

What size tires and lift were you running when towing the bikes?

I appreciate the reply, it's good to hear that it did ok. I don't mind the open trailers for the majority of the rides I do, to and from the trails/park in the same day and stay there through the weekend or back home in the same day. But when it comes to hauling them out of state or when I need to overnight in a hotel then that becomes a security issue.

 

[Mkeown79]

I just took my first trip to the track (Kentucky to Alabama) with a 2010 4Runner towing a 6x12 enclosed trailer this past weekend. I had one Yamaha R1 road race bike, mtn bike, and basic track gear loaded and it pulled well. 4Runner has stock suspension and 265 tires, and fuel mileage was about 13-14 mpg.

 

[Tejas]

I just took my first trip to the track (Kentucky to Alabama) with a 2010 4Runner towing a 6x12 enclosed trailer this past weekend. I had one Yamaha R1 road race bike, mtn bike, and basic track gear loaded and it pulled well. 4Runner has stock suspension and 265 tires, and fuel mileage was about 13-14 mpg.

Is the trailer flat up front or is it rounded or V-nose? Single or double axle?

 

[Mkeown79]

Trailer is slant v-nose, with single axle. I didn't weigh the whole setup but probably around 2000 lbs loaded.

 

[tls3601]

I would think a motorcycle specific 2 or 3 bike trailer would be super light, not a need for brakes on the trailer. It would be the only way I would go. Or if just me maybe a reciever mounted bike carrier.

 

[jamoc]

Should I decide to keep the 4Runner I need it to tow two or three dirt bikes on the regular.

My friend has this exact one, or similar. Best part is, it stores very well - it tips up against a wall, with tongue in the air. If security is of concern, I would NOT recommend this trailer. However, if you are simply hauling bikes, and not leaving them unattended for extended periods of time - this probably can't be beat. Keep in mind, anything can be stolen, if the thief really wants it.

Foldable Motorcycle Trailer | Tow Smart Trailers: Car dolly & Motorcycle trailers store


It tows 3 dirt bikes extremely well. He has a 1500 silverado, but I assume the 4runner will do just fine. I have been in the truck while travelling above speed limit, with no wobble, or anything of that nature coming from the trailer.

 

[Tejas]

I would think a motorcycle specific 2 or 3 bike trailer would be super light, not a need for brakes on the trailer. It would be the only way I would go. Or if just me maybe a reciever mounted bike carrier.

I currently use a hitch mounted carrier and it works well (less the rear end sag which would be easily fixable with a heavier spring) but that doesn't allow me to carry more than one bike and this is the dilemma I attempting to rectify with a trailer. The hitch carrier isn't going anywhere, I will always have a need for one.

 

[Tejas]

My friend has this exact one, or similar. Best part is, it stores very well - it tips up against a wall, with tongue in the air. If security is of concern, I would NOT recommend this trailer. However, if you are simply hauling bikes, and not leaving them unattended for extended periods of time - this probably can't be beat. Keep in mind, anything can be stolen, if the thief really wants it.

Foldable Motorcycle Trailer | Tow Smart Trailers: Car dolly & Motorcycle trailers store


It tows 3 dirt bikes extremely well. He has a 1500 silverado, but I assume the 4runner will do just fine. I have been in the truck while travelling above speed limit, with no wobble, or anything of that nature coming from the trailer.

That actually looks like a decently built trailer and I like the torsion axle. The price isn't bad either but I wish I could get that freight charge down. Thanks for the link, I am going to look into this trailer further.

 

[83Mule]

I have a 4x8 Zieman tilt bed....ride right on. No need for brakes and you don't feel it. No real change in MPG on the Freeway, under 1200 lbs. I have the hitch carrier for one bike.

 

[WRM1]

I haven't towed bikes, but do occasionally tow a 7x14 v-front enclosed trailer for the Scouts. Before the troop got the new trailer, I towed a 6x12 U-Haul for Summer camp, or the old trailer. I learned to keep the transmission in 4th to avoid hunting, and not to use cruise control. No problems at all. MPG drops to 11 to 12. I use a Tekonsha brake controller with the new trailer, and it works really well. We haven't loaded any of the trailers to more than 3500 or so pounds.