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Hi. I wonder if I could ask some advice.
We've just bought our first ever motorhome after upgrading from a Bongo, a Bessacarr E560.
I'm completely and utterly green therefore and trying to learn as much as I can.
We are having a towbar fitted to the Bessacarr and intend to tow my Yamaha Super Tenere for the good lady and myself to use whilst we're away somewhere. I have a motolug collapsible trailer to use with the bike.
The 'van has a rear view camera so that I can see that the trailer is ok.
Good choice of vehicles, motorhome and motorbike! We've got a Swift Bolero and a Honda Varadero which I tow on a Van Vossen lifting trailer.
Having the rear view camera will be put your mind at rest that the bike hasn't fallen off as you'll probably have no view of it otherwise. If it isn't already, then I'd modify your rear view camera so that you can have it permanently on, and not just when you're going backwards.
In terms of towing you shouldn't have any problems with such a good tug to trailer weight ratio. From a security point of view I always travel with a disc lock fitted to the bike. I also use a heavy duty cable lock that lashes the trailer to the tow bar so that it can't be easily unhitched.
Whilst on sites I cable lock the trailer to the motorhome if we are out on the bike, and lock the bike to the trailer if we are out in the motorhome. The Van Vossen helps from a security point of view as, once you've lowered it to the floor, it's going nowhere unless you've got a compressor to inflate it again.
Can't think of anything else you need to do, other than get out there and enjoy it. If you're looking for somewhere to go then I'd thoroughly recommend the Lake District or the Peak District, some fantastic rides in both areas.
Good choice of vehicles, motorhome and motorbike! We've got a Swift Bolero and a Honda Varadero which I tow on a Van Vossen lifting trailer.
Having the rear view camera will be put your mind at rest that the bike hasn't fallen off as you'll probably have no view of it otherwise. If it isn't already, then I'd modify your rear view camera so that you can have it permanently on, and not just when you're going backwards.
In terms of towing you shouldn't have any problems with such a good tug to trailer weight ratio. From a security point of view I always travel with a disc lock fitted to the bike. I also use a heavy duty cable lock that lashes the trailer to the tow bar so that it can't be easily unhitched.
Whilst on sites I cable lock the trailer to the motorhome if we are out on the bike, and lock the bike to the trailer if we are out in the motorhome. The Van Vossen helps from a security point of view as, once you've lowered it to the floor, it's going nowhere unless you've got a compressor to inflate it again.
Can't think of anything else you need to do, other than get out there and enjoy it. If you're looking for somewhere to go then I'd thoroughly recommend the Lake District or the Peak District, some fantastic rides in both areas.
Phil
Thanks for the reply Phil.
Do I need to worry about weights?
I was reading about Hydra Trail and was wondering about something that I could reverse more easily, but was put off by what I read... then I got confused by all the weight discussions. Do they apply when you have a trailer on?
Good choice of vehicles, motorhome and motorbike! We've got a Swift Bolero and a Honda Varadero which I tow on a Van Vossen lifting trailer.
Having the rear view camera will be put your mind at rest that the bike hasn't fallen off as you'll probably have no view of it otherwise. If it isn't already, then I'd modify your rear view camera so that you can have it permanently on, and not just when you're going backwards.
In terms of towing you shouldn't have any problems with such a good tug to trailer weight ratio. From a security point of view I always travel with a disc lock fitted to the bike. I also use a heavy duty cable lock that lashes the trailer to the tow bar so that it can't be easily unhitched.
Whilst on sites I cable lock the trailer to the motorhome if we are out on the bike, and lock the bike to the trailer if we are out in the motorhome. The Van Vossen helps from a security point of view as, once you've lowered it to the floor, it's going nowhere unless you've got a compressor to inflate it again.
Can't think of anything else you need to do, other than get out there and enjoy it. If you're looking for somewhere to go then I'd thoroughly recommend the Lake District or the Peak District, some fantastic rides in both areas.
Phil
Thanks for the reply Phil.
Do I need to worry about weights?
I was reading about Hydra Trail and was wondering about something that I could reverse more easily, but was put off by what I read... then I got confused by all the weight discussions. Do they apply when you have a trailer on?
Weight shouldn't be an issue. Bottom line is that there are a few weights you need to worry about. First is the max weight of the van with you and everything else you carry in it. Not sure with your van but it's probably 3500KG or close. This will be the overall weight limit but you also need to be aware that the individual axles (front and rear) have their own limits too so, for example, you wouldn't be able to have 3 ton on the front axle and 500KG on the rear. All three weights should be marked on a plate somewhere on the van.
When you add a trailer, you will add a small amount of weight to the van but it's only the noseweight of the trailer so shouldn't be much at all.
The final figure you have to be concerned with is the Gross Train Weight (GTW). This is the total allowable weight of the van plus trailer. This should also be marked on the plate and should not be exceeded. Given that the weight of the bike and trailer together is probably only going to be around 250Kg then you should be well in with the GTW.
Hope that makes sense!
Phil
EDIT - Just realised that you also need to check the plated weight of the trailer to ensure that it's man enough to carry the bike. Not too sure how trailer plating works but it will either give you a figure for the maximum load on the trailer or a figure for the maximum all up weight of the trailer and load combined.
I have a similar set up up , a 2010 Bessacar E560 a mololug trailer carrying a Suzuki Burgman AN650 maxiscoot.
My only trip in 2011 was up to swift in hull for some warranty work. I towed the bike up, left the van, stowed the trailer in the underbed locker and rode home. Reverse to collect. Mololug tows very well, you don't know its there, kept the reversing camera switched on.
My observations :- On the way home passed through a terrific rainstorm. when I got home the bike was covered in road dirt from the spray, it got everywhere. I reasoned that a plastic cover would get shredded so I fitted a total width spray suppressor behind the rear wheels. Haven't tried it out yet , but I hope it will do the job.
As for weights The E 560 is 3500 kg max I'm running not far below that, The motolug is 55 Kg The Burgman 270 kg ( max capacity 350 kg)
length E560 With towbar 7.20 m with trailer 9.65 m
I did look at hydratrail 2 wheel version but it was only rated up to 250 kg,
chain bike to trailer
chain trailer to towbar (not for driving)
chain chain to chain through as much as possible, and use locks with keys as combinations tend to get full of road grime and seize up.
As for a trailer board we got stopped twice, and they never noticed we didn't have one, although we did have one in the MH garage.
Hope you have loads of fun, we took our VN15 in 2010, and only did 400 miles in 3 weeks so a bit of waste for us, and we sold the trailer when we got back.
Finances forced the sale of the bike too last year, well peed off about that, 1st time without a bike since a was a sprog of 12.
Thanks for all the replies everyone, I guess we'll give it a go and see how we get on and report back.
Should be going away in it in a couple of weeks, can't wait.
I always try and pick a pitch near to a tree or concrete fence post etc and then chain the bike to the trailer and then pass one of those security cables round the post and put the chain through the free end. You do need to be able to see the bike when towing. When I first towed my Suzuki race bike every time I hit a bump in the road I convinced myself that it felt different and I kept stopping to check. It turned out to be a long journey.
I always try and pick a pitch near to a tree or concrete fence post etc and then chain the bike to the trailer and then pass one of those security cables round the post and put the chain through the free end. You do need to be able to see the bike when towing. When I first towed my Suzuki race bike every time I hit a bump in the road I convinced myself that it felt different and I kept stopping to check. It turned out to be a long journey.
Yeh I was like that when I towed the set-up behind the Bongo.... and then I could see what was happening... goodness knows when I won't be able to see quite so easily.
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