Loading Ramp Clearance - salem

[sealion]

Recently returned from my first trip hauling my two motorcycles. Only minor problem I encountered was bike frame clearance on the loading ramp.

I have two Hondas, both of which are long wheel bases and low frame ground clearance. When loading the bikes on totally level ground ( and the trailer level), the frames barely clear/ barely scrape, on the area where the ramp joins the trailer.

Other than the obvious answer to find a more favorable ground angle, I am looking for suggestions to "fix" this problem.

An easy fix to this would be to load the trailer without being hooked to my truck. Then raise the front landing gear, to give the whole trailer a nose up attitude and therefore decrease the rear ramp angle. Is anyone out there loading using this method?? Has anyone encountered a problem doing it this way?? Also, I assume I need to lower my rear stabilizer jacks also when doing this. And probably have the wheel chocks installed also.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Sealion

[KyDan]

I have the same problem when I load my motorcycle into the back
of my truck. As you say any sloping ground is better than totally
flat. I always look around as I'm driving into the camp ground
hoping to spot something more favorable than just flat road
in front of my site. Usually there is something. I can understand
that towing a trailer and trying to maneuver into a shallow ditch
somewhere is not as easy as me backing my truck into the same
thing. I once forgot to let the air out of my air bags when I was
unloading and it's --really-- steep coming down the ramp with
the back end of the truck up in the air

As far as modification to your trailer, I'm stumped.

[ScottnKimmer]

We ocassionally run into this depending on the terrain. The only thing we have done so far is to disconnect first, then angle tongue up as you already suggested and unload. We then level out for camping. It's an extra step but nothing too terrible.

I have seen where people have extended their ramps. Putting a couple blocks of wood under the ramp and using an extended piece to gain a better angle. Not sure if this may help.

Good luck and safe riding.

[sealion]

Thanks for the input Scott. Glad to hear my "fix" is doable. Do you put down the rear stabilizers when doing this? I assume yes, since there can be a pretty large weight shift involved.
I had also thought about trying to build some wood extentions to cut the angle, but really do not wish to lug around more bulky stuff.

Sealion

[sealion]

Originally Posted by ScottnKimmer

We ocassionally run into this depending on the terrain. The only thing we have done so far is to disconnect first, then angle tongue up as you already suggested and unload. We then level out for camping. It's an extra step but nothing too terrible.

I have seen where people have extended their ramps. Putting a couple blocks of wood under the ramp and using an extended piece to gain a better angle. Not sure if this may help.

Good luck and safe riding.

ScottnKimmer, jsut noticed that you have a very close rig to what I have. Mine is the 5er, but the living area is almost identical. Just curious if you have made any changes to make things a bit more liveable?
I only bought mine last month and have only taken one trip so far. I'm traveling with only the easy chair and one dining bench seat, (and the sofa also), to have a bit more room. I was thinking about cutting down the length of the dining table also, since there is only the two of us eating, and it juts out into the kitchen area a bit.
The wife keeps complaining about space (had a 35' 5th previously), but I tell her it is a lot better than a tent trailer.
Sealion

[LadyWindrider]

As for putting down the rear stabilizers before loading, maybe for piece of mind. If loading one bike at a time lifts the nose of the trailer, you don't have near enough tongue weight. Do chock the wheels, to help the front/back load on the landing gear.

[sealion]

Thanks, Windrider. I would agree that raising the front of the trailer several inches probably would not change the CG very much. And when you consider the "normal" tongue weight of the 5th wheel is probably around 1700#, raising the front landing gear and the weight shift of unloading, still would not cause a problem.

Sealion