Pulling a trailer

[KawiGuy]

I've got a question for you guys who are experiences at pulling a trailer. I've only pulled a smaller cargo trailer twice with my old Nomad. Now I have a 2014 Voyager and just got an Aspen Classic.
My question is pretty general, should we keep our speed to a max of 55 like the road signs say or is it ok to go a little faster? I'm not stupid enough to go for any top speed runs but my top cruising speed is usually 65-70 on the highway. Your help would be appreciated.

[doug of so fla]

65/70mph, your MPG is going to go down!! and you are pulling a lot of weight so remember stopping has to cross your mind.
The harder you pull, the harder it is in on the M/C. 55/60mph should be a comfortable speed to run, just find the sweet spot that you are comfortable with.
I try to stay off high speed hyways anyways and usually speed limits are less and you get there more relaxed in about the same amount of time with a lot more scenic views. After all it is about the trip.
"Backroad America" is way more fun nowadays than the interstates with a lot less traffic, and the interstates are there if you have to. Good luck and "RIDE SAFE"!!!

[Neal]

As long as your suspension system is up to handling the increased number of potholes and rough edges because they aren't maintaining those roads.......

[hank43]

I've got a question for you guys who are experiences at pulling a trailer. I've only pulled a smaller cargo trailer twice with my old Nomad. Now I have a 2014 Voyager and just got an Aspen Classic.
My question is pretty general, should we keep our speed to a max of 55 like the road signs say or is it ok to go a little faster? I'm not stupid enough to go for any top speed runs but my top cruising speed is usually 65-70 on the highway. Your help would be appreciated.

KawiGuy;

I assume you are pulling with a 2 wheel MC? I have a trike and pull a large Hanigan, and have watched my MPG drop to 25 MPG on the flat lands, and less when going uphill. I ride a 2009 VV1700 Voyager and ride 2 up, never faster than 60 when pulling a trailer.

For shorter trips, I have a rack that "plugs in" to my trailer hitch receiver, and on that I am able to get 2 small wheeled suitcases, and a 1 gallon gas can. That does not seem to affect my MPG much at all, and permits me to ride a little faster if I want. The trike also has a trunk for other stuff like rain suits, coat liners, etc. The top box is where I carry a 2 meter radio, and where my wife carries her purse, (Probably as heavy as one of the suit cases!) My last trip, to Colorado, I averaged about 32 MPG overall, The trip was from Sacramento to Estes Park, Colorado for the rally last year. 2 Years before that we pulled the Hanigan to Ohio, Tennessee, and North Carolina for a trip on the dragon. Lots of fun, but got terrible gas mileage!

hank43

[KawiGuy]

Thanks for your input guys.
I also tend to stay off freeways, I see them as a necessary evil sometimes but try hard to take secondary roads. The gas mileage I'm getting is probably my least favorite think about my Voyager, I've been wondering what the trailer will do to it.
Hope to see you on the road.

[HMB Don]

This is coming late but:

The only trailer I've pulled with a motorcycle is a Time out trailer. The motorcycles are a 2002 Voyager 1200 Lots of miles and a number of cross country trips. Most of the time speedo on the M/C displayed 65 mph. The Voyager 1700 has pulled the same trailer but only for 4,000 miles. The fuel mileage on the 1200, 39 to 40 mpg where the 1700 get 35 to 37 mpg. Fully loaded the Time Out trailer weighs about 500 lbs.

This summer I'll tow the Time Out trailer to the AVA Rally in Hurley, WI. The big difference this time when I tow the Time Out is that my Voyager 1700 will have Cobra Tri-Flow mufflers and Cobra fuel management. Hoping for better fuel mileage with the mods.

[hank43]

This is coming late but:

The only trailer I've pulled with a motorcycle is a Time out trailer. The motorcycles are a 2002 Voyager 1200 Lots of miles and a number of cross country trips. Most of the time speedo on the M/C displayed 65 mph. The Voyager 1700 has pulled the same trailer but only for 4,000 miles. The fuel mileage on the 1200, 39 to 40 mpg where the 1700 get 35 to 37 mpg. Fully loaded the Time Out trailer weighs about 500 lbs.

This summer I'll tow the Time Out trailer to the AVA Rally in Hurley, WI. The big difference this time when I tow the Time Out is that my Voyager 1700 will have Cobra Tri-Flow mufflers and Cobra fuel management. Hoping for better fuel mileage with the mods.

Don;
So you are pulling your TOT this summer? OK, Me too, and here's an offer to anyone in the membership:
I would like to sell my Hannigan trailer, so I don't have to pull it back home. Any offer over $500 will definitely be entertained, or, I do haggle over prices. See you all at the rally!

hank43