Some motorcycle cargo trailers are simple trailers and others are state of the art vehicles. With technology invading almost everything these days, trailers have evolved from the simple platform and solid axel to the torsion bar, air shocked chariots of the modern era. So what's right for you? Most of it will depend on your wallet since trailers can run from under $1000.00 to over $5000.00. But, keep an eye out because you can find some great deals in the used trailer department.
Let's start out with the basic design. Motorcycle cargo trailers are not much more than a tongue, frame, axel and wheels and a closing shell on top. I have friends that have made some nice looking and handling trailers on their own. Let's face it though, most trailers built like this can lack necessary features such as shocks which are an integral part of the trailer's handling characteristics. This type of trailer can get you around locally but I would refrain from taking it on a long trip out on the highways at speed.
So let's look closer at the different suspensions. Top of the line
trailers can have
sophisticated
suspensions, for example the Bushtec trailer has a torsion bar
suspension with air adjustable shocks. Suspension is adjusted based on
the load you carry. As you increase the weight, the suspension will
compress causing the tops of the wheels to move inward (negative
chamber). To set the suspension, increase the air pressure in the system
until the tops of the wheels protrude outward slightly. Then remove the
air while moving the trailer back and forth until the wheels are neutral
(straight up and down). This will give you a nice bounce free ride.
Motorcycle cargo trailers having a simple suspension are fine too and will cost far less then ones described above. I would not recommend that you use a trailer with no suspension at all. Trailers with solid axles that rely only on the tires for suspension can be dangerous. They tend to bounce down the road which may cause handling problems. The bottom line here is that if you are going to pull a trailer that will have an effect on your handling, make sure to get something of quality as to keep any effects to a minimum. Here the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Add-ons can help to provide some versatility to your trailer. Coolers are a great add-on. Long hauls through hot dry areas can dehydrate you faster than you can imagine. Having extra water and ice available is a good thing. We've even run into folks with entire meals packed up with a small grill inside the trailer, ready for a nice bar-b-que on the road. Just pay attention to tongue weight if you have it mounted on the tongue. A spare tire if you need it is a good thing. Most tires on trailers are tubeless so patching them would be an option although we've seen one trailer that had a cut valve stem which required a wheel change on the road.
Other accessories such as interior lights and garment bags are great to have. Additional storage pockets and organizers can come in handy too. The sky's the limit here as long as you pay close attention to the bike's ability to carry the weight and your ability to handle the bike. We've seen the ultimate in motorcycle cargo trailers from a gentleman from North West Pennsylvania. He had a trailer with a third wheel on the tongue to support the over 500 lbs pop up camper complete with air conditioning. The plus for this set up was the electric brakes that were on the trailer. All a bit much for my tastes and need. Just make sure that if you haul this much, think safety first.
