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  • Easy Rider: How to RV with Your Motorcycle

    Easy Rider: How to RV with Your Motorcycle

    Traveling by RV sure is great, but it doesn’t replicate the rapturous, untamed freedom that a motorcycle can offer. And if you’ve ever taken a cross-country motorcycle road trip, then you’ve had a taste of that Tom Petty magic. It’s perfectly wild and free, iconic in every way. That is, until it’s time to set up your tent in the rain, in the dark, after a seven-hour ride. You’re tired, cold, hungry and irritable, to say the least. But it’s possible to indulge in the freedom that a motorcycle brings us without having to tough it out in the rough. Because you don’t really have to choose between traveling by RV or by bike. You can RV with your motorcycle.

    For everyone who would like to have your cake and eat it too, this is the dream. With an RV, you can travel with all the comforts of home and bring your motorcycle with you. You can freely explore your destination. Range far and wide —all while having a nice cozy bed to sleep in at day’s end, rain or shine.

    Here’s what you need to know to make that happen — the methods, the key numbers to know, and the best RVs to do it.

     

    How to RV Your Motorcycle with an RV

    There are a few ways to transport your motorcycle with your RV. You can tow it behind, mount it on the back, or park it inside. With a Class A motorhome, you can either use a lift on the back of the motorhome, or you can tow the bike behind you. With a standard fifth wheel, you’re limited to towing your motorcycle with a lift on the back. While many fifth wheels do not have a frame sturdy enough to support the lift, some do.

    A toy hauler, on the other hand, is an altogether different animal. Toy haulers can come in the form of either a fifth wheel or a travel trailer. With a garage in the rear, a toy hauler can safely store your motorcycle, provided the garage is big enough. In most cases, if you’re buying or renting an RV to transport your motorcycle, toy haulers are the best place to start.

     

    Key Considerations for Motorcycle Transportation

    When look for the perfect solution to RV with your motorcycle, keep the following key numbers in mind:

    Motorcycle Weight

    Ideally, you’ll want to weigh your bike, but you can use the manufacturer’s stated curb weight as a starting point. Include the weight of any equipment (such as spare tires) that will be riding along with your motorcycle.

    Motorcycle Dimensions

    Every trailer and carrier is different, but you can cover all your bases by measuring your bike’s overall height, width, length, and wheelbase, as well as the width of the tires. If you’re looking at an enclosed trailer, add in a little extra maneuvering space.

    Load Capacity

    When shopping for a trailer or mount, look for a load capacity greater than the combined weight of your motorcycle and any equipment.

    Trailer or Mount Weight

    The weight of the trailer or mount itself, which can be much heavier than you might think.

    Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (Towing capacity)

    If you are mounting your motorcycle to your vehicle, you’ll want to make sure that the total weight —motorcycle, mount, and everything else inside — does not exceed the vehicle’s GVWR. If you are towing your motorcycle, then you want to make sure that the combined weight of the motorcycle and trailer do not exceed your vehicle’s towing capacity. Exceeding these limits will affect vehicle stability. It can also cause excess wear and tear on your vehicle. As result, that could potentially lead to expensive repairs or even an accident.

    Axle Weight Rating

    This is an additional limit to consider if you’re mounting your motorcycle. Because the weight of the motorcycle will be resting entirely on the rear axle of your RV, you’ll need to make sure that it can handle the disproportionate weight.

    State Towing Limits

    There are many rules and regulations on towing. Maximum weight for trailers without their own brake. A reduced speed limit. How many trailers you’re allowed to tow. There are many states where it’s not even legal to tow a motorcycle trailer behind your fifth wheel (called double- or triple-towing). Check the local laws for every state along your itinerary so you aren’t caught off guard.

     

    The Best RVs to Transport Your Motorcycle

    Toy Haulers

    Toy haulers are designed to RV with your motorcycle (or other large toys). Therefore, they’re built with the towing capacity and space you need. When shopping, factor in storage for accessories and equipment in addition to the toy that you are hauling. Some toy haulers allot the majority of floor space for the main event, leaving little extra room for other items you may want to bring along.

    Grand Design, Forest River, and Keystone consistently stand out among the crowd of toy hauler makes. The Momentum 376TH Toy Hauler has won numerous accolades, a reflection of Grand Design’s consistent attention to detail and quality product.

    Which toy haulers are the most popular within the riding community? The Keystone Raptor Series received great reviews among veteran Sturgis Harley riders.  Why? It boasts a roomy garage with a flexible floor plan.

    The Forest River XLR series offers a variety of toy haulers, both as fifth wheel and travel trailers. The XLR Hyperlite Toy Hauler comes in a variety of models, offering an enclosed garage, open deck, or open passageway. The floor plans are roomy with a spacious garage to boot.

    If you have two full-size Harley-Davidson motorcycles that you need to transport, then you may want to consider something along the lines of a Forest River Series Platinum Salem Fox Toy Hauler. It’ll get the job done and is reasonably light at 6,500 pounds dry.

     

    Class A Motorhomes

    Generally speaking, gas-powered Class A Motorhomes can tow up to 5,000 pounds, while diesel-powered motorhomes can tow up to 10–15,000 pounds. In many cases, you will be able to tow your secondary car and use a hydraulic lift to transport your motorcycle. A Class A is a heavy-duty vehicle that gives you the many options for your auxiliary travel toys, but you’ll want to double-check your weight limits and towing capacity before deciding.

    If you aren’t towing a secondary vehicle, you can tow your motorcycle behind your Class A motorhome in all 50 states. This is a versatile solution to RV with your motorcycle that is limited only by your towing capacity and trailer configuration.

    A lift can come in handy if you already have something hooked up behind your RV. If you are looking at installing a lift on your Class A motorhome, it’s important to do your research; picking the right lift and the right installation method depends on your needs and your particular RV. Since a lift extends from the back of your motorhome, also check to see how it interacts with your towing setup and that you have the clearance you need to hitch and unhitch a trailer.

     

    Fifth Wheels

    Of the three types of RV we’re talking about today, this is the trickiest when it comes to accommodating a motorcycle — but it can be done. If you have a fifth wheel and you want to install a lift onto the back, keep in mind that you will need to have a frame that’s sturdy enough to support the load. Alternatively, if you decide to tow your motorcycle behind your fifth wheel, make sure you confirm the legality of double-towing (sometimes called triple-towing) in all states along your journey.

  • How to RV the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

    How to RV the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

    The only thing better than seeing America’s wild and rugged landscape is experiencing it. In a car, the breathtaking scenery rushes by outside like scenes from a movie. But on a motorcycle, we are transported into the landscape. On a bike, the smells, the sounds, the wind, the weather, and even the danger surround us with an uplifting sense of life and vitality. And what could be more iconic than taking your bike — and that rugged sense of adventure — to the Black Hills of South Dakota for the world’s largest motorcycle event: the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally?

    The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is 78 years old, and has grown from 9 participants in 1938 to over 700,000 attendees. It’s on almost every motorcycle enthusiast’s bucket list — but did you know that less than half of Sturgis’ attendees arrive by motorcycle?

    Taking the trip by motorcycle will undoubtedly leave you with a lifetime’s worth of golden memories, but it will also leave you with extreme exhaustion, windburn, sore legs, a sore butt, back pain, wrist pain — the list goes on. Let’s save those experiences for the rally itself.

     

    RV Parks Near Sturgis

    There are dozens of campgrounds available for the Sturgis Rally. Days End Campground and Sturgis RV Park are the closest facilities, offering full hookups. Glencoe Campground has over 1,000 RV sites, and more than 200 acres at their disposal. And if you’re interested in something a little more quiet or off the beaten path, here is a link with a discussion on seven other RV parks available during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

    Plan to make your reservation well in advance! In July of this year, the Glencoe Campground was almost at capacity for their RV sites. And every year, as the rally grows, space will only get tighter and be in higher demand.

     

    Traffic Tips

    When planning your RV route to the rally, keep traffic in mind. If you’re arriving after the start of the event, be aware that some of the highways will have reduced speeds, and some will even be closed to four-wheel vehicles. South Dakota’s Department of Transportation has an updated list of temporary road closures, highway speed reductions, and temporary traffic signals during the rally.

     

    Weather Readiness

    If you’ve never been to South Dakota, it’s worth doing a little research on the weather before you go. The heat of the summer will be upon you during the rally, and you will want to be prepared with preventative measures. Most days will be hot, with temperatures in the mid 80s; but thunderstorms can pop up violently and unexpectedly.

    In contrast to the hot sunny days, evenings tend to be chilly. Bring a variety of clothing for all types of weather. Be sure to check the forecast and keep an eye on the weather as you plan your long motorcycle rides. You don’t want to get caught in a hail storm if you can help it! And if you are bringing pets to the event, please keep the heat in mind. The temperature inside an RV baking in the sun could be lethal to animals left inside.

     

    Mastering Meal Prep 

    In my opinion, the biggest benefit to RVing versus camping is the food. There is only so much cooking and food prep you can do in a tent with a cooler. Tent camping is great — until you start trying to grill in the rain, or use your propane stove on a windy day, or all the ice in your cooler melts, leaving your delicious margaritas warm and sad.

    Don’t get me wrong! Culinary magic does happen at the talented hands of camping gurus; but, personally, I find it to be more hassle than it’s worth. In an RV, the kitchen is your oyster. You will have endless opportunities to cook wonders and feed your friends. If you’re really resourceful, you can food prep for the entire 10-day event, and leave the worries of meal planning behind you. Here’s a great two-week food prep meal plan with ideas for potlucks and feeding larger groups of people.  This food prep map is a great place to start even if you don’t like the recipes — you can always insert your own! Meal-planning the Sturgis Rally is an excellent way to free up more time for scenic motorcycle rides and socialization with new and old friends.

     

    Sites and Sights Around Sturgis

    At the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally you will relish in the company and energy of other bikers. Highways are packed with riders, and much of downtown is designated for two wheels only; that alone is one of the more enticing attractions of the event. But veteran Sturgis attendees know that there is so much more to the rally than just the parties.

    The Black Hills of South Dakota is a land with historic ties to the Lakota people. The topography is laden with ancient sedimentary rock and bedrock aquifers. Here is a link to some of the most scenic motorcycle rides around Sturgis that will leave you with unforgettable memories of the American Landscape.

     

    Riding Off the Beaten Path

    If you want to dig deeper into the ancient history of Black Hills of South Dakota, you won’t need to go far. You can see the remains of mammoths and other megafauna dating back to the ice age at a paleontological dig site that you can tour in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Along with many other natural landmarks. Here are some more hidden gems in and around the Black Hills of South Dakota that are rider-friendly. If you have the time to explore South Dakota outside of the Sturgis Rally, you won’t be disappointed. The landscape will leave a permanent footprint in your memory.

    If you’re headed to the biggest motorcycle rally in the world, the best way to experience it is to the fullest. And to do that, you need to bring your RV. (With all good nights of sleep with it.) If you’re still on the fence, here is a great discussion on motorcycle RVing versus motorcycle camping.