the V nose trailer actually get worse fuel mileage than a trailer with a gently rounded front with rounded corners.  

Looks like I'll be slowing down a bit , but thats OK , I don't have to be in a hurry for anything.  Life is better in low gear IMHO  
.............

I think a HF 4'x8' x (under 48") tear drop might be the ideal sleeper.   Maybe even FOAM BUILT ?   Anybody ever try  the poor mans Fiber-glass ?
I kind of like the start of this one just to sleep in at the interstate rest area but if the bike would fit in it then that would be just perfect !  

I think to put one of my motorcycles inside would require 60" inside so the bike is still in the truck ... but I almost always get above 25 mpg from the Colorado anyway (a trailer is going to change that -almost for sure)  .

MMRanch wrote on 02/01/25 at 19:37:26:


When I got my little trailer the first thing I did was remove the spring axle and install a rubber torsion axle that lowered the height by 4" - my goal was to get the height more in line with the roof of my little Vibe (which had 1.5" lowering springs installed).

My experience with the little 4x8 trailer that was 4' tall towed behind my cars was this:

Vibe 32mpg on trips - 19-23 mpg with trailer (mpg varied depending on wind direction and number of big hills).  It had a small 4 cylinder and 6 speed manual transmission and it did slow down to 60mph on interstate hills......it was at full throttle when coming up hills.  The slower pace up hills did make the travel time a bit later, and the constant gear shifting kept me busy!  However - it was a nice outfit and worked well for more than 12 years.

Lincoln MKC.  Wife's car with a 2.0 Ecoboost (fancy Ford Edge).  This car gets 24-27 mpg on trips - it dropped to 18mpg with the small trailer behind it.  This car had an automatic and it did the work of shifting, and it did not slow down on hills and we could maintain the 65 or 70mph speed limits going up the interstate hills.  It was far more comfortable and stable with my little trailer behind it.

I have only towed my new 5x10 trailer (5' high) to TN with my Ford Explorer once.  On our trip to that area without a trailer I drove calmly and we got 31mpg - that mpg only happens on longer trips at 65-70 mph on the interstate and mid 20's is more common.  On the trip to the Iron Horse campground in Stecoah (300 miles) I got 18mpg pulling the trailer with a motorcycle in it.

My neighbor and I have a 7'x12' trailer that is 6' tall that can haul two bikes, and he tows it with his Ford 3/4 ton diesel truck.  We just made a trip without a trailer and he got 20mpg - with the trailer behind we get 13mpg.  The truck has plenty of power and never shifts out of high gear or works to pull the trailer.

I have seen several pickup truck/trailer combinations in the campground that have a cap on the bed of the truck and the owners sleep in the back of the truck.  I believe this is the setup I would use if I owned a pickup truck and enclosed motorcycle trailer.  You don't need to do anything but climb in the back to use the bed and get some sleep.  I also believe that this is very likely the best route for getting the best mpg while pulling a trailer - and adding a "wing" or air deflector on the top of the bed cover would likely help as well.  Here is a video of a fellow adding a skateboard deflector that helped his mpg.  I am likely going to try this on my Explorer by using the roof racks as a mount for a deflector........I have been searching for an affordable snow board at the local thrift store and watching Craigslist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bvaEYFTKS4&t=578s


Speed also has a huge impact on mpg when towing.  The sweet speed seems to be 60mph in my RV - going over that significantly affects my mpg.  The following video supports this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqgafHOdn_k


I believe where/how your are driving your truck has an effect on the mpg results of a truck bed cap.  If you are driving around locally with speeds below 60mph, though town with lots of intersections - I believe the extra weight of the truck cap can reduce your mpg.  If you are doing highway driving at speeds over 60mph (or pulling a trailer) - I believe the truck cap can improve your mpg.

There is not doubt a trailer will reduce your mpg - however the cost of the extra fuel may not be as costly as it seems.  On a 300 mile trip getting 30 mpg will require 10 gallons of fuel.  If you get 20mpg you will need 15 gallons of fuel.  The difference is only 5 gallons - about $15 at current fuel prices in this area.  For that $15 you have brought a bed with you, hauled your motorcycle, etc.  You don't need to rent a $60 a night cabin and you can either sleep at a rest area for free - or get a $20 a night spot in a campground.  You have actually saved money!

Hi Paul  

Hay I've put two Savages in the rear of my truck a lot of times with no problem.    The fuel millage does drop a little from the wind of the bikes sticking up , but only a few mpg.   A truck driving buddy of mine had a 18 wheeler that would only do 68 mph that he drove a long time  and in every state .   It's OK not to fly off the bluff just because the guy in front of ya does ...  

I might have to watch for a small , low , dual Motorcycle trailer and a truck  toper.  

I'll sell the left-overs when I get done. !  
....................

Hay Paul , if you've got a full size truck then you could get one of those 2" receiver hitch 800 pound motorcycle carriers ?  
I know a Motoguzzi guy that put one on the front of his truck and pulled a 16' enclosed trailer/camper on the rear ... He said "no I never checked the fuel millage , I just keep putting it in when it needs it . "

Yes , if they post it at 55 then they should enforce it to be 55 !  

wouldn't that really be something !  

Just think  how that would change daily life !
....................

An alternative might be to join "Bunk a Biker"    https://www.bunkabiker.com/
Just Ride every where ya want to go !    
but then
there are all the trash mouth folks and the boarder line alcoholic people , ya just never know who ya going to find ?      

I'll just have to build a camper !  

Paul:  Yes I have room to store stuff outdoors.....25 acres.  Maybe someday the time/place will be right for you to have a trailer.  Perhaps you can find someone in your area to share the ownership with - somebody who has room to store the trailer.

I loved my little 4x8 trailer and Pontiac Vibe - they were the right combination for my life from 2009 until 20023.  I likely put 30,000 miles on that trailer!

The 5x10 trailer that I have now is bigger and better - I am sure it will see many miles and many smiles in the years to come.  It is perfect for me to haul a single bike and sleep in - with or without the bike inside.  I do not have any kind of toilet, fridge or other amenities inside - it is basically a rigid gent on wheels!  I can haul a cooler if I need to store food, and I pack a 10x10 pop up canopy to cover the bike once I get to my final destination.  My trailer did not get as much use last year, as my neighbor and I each bought 1/2 a bigger trailer that can haul both our bikes, and I have traveled with him several times last year.  We slept in a tent, cabin or hotel - the cabins at Cherohala Mountain Trailers are $60 a night and are heated, and we used the heaters as it was cold after dark the two times we went there.

MMRanch:  I hope you build your trailer with a flexible arrangement so you can put the bike inside if you want to....make the beds in a way they can be moved or folded out of the way to make room for the bike.  With a 6' wide trailer you will have room for a bike and a sleeping bag/pad next to the bike when you are on a solo trip.....you may even have room to sleep crosswise in the trailer.

I could do the math - but I had a friend who researched the costs of traveling.  The cheapest way to do it is use your car/truck, stay in a tent in the campground and cook your own meals.  The more expensive way is to travel by car, eat in restaurants and stay in hotels - or - Drive an RV or camper, staying in campgrounds and eat your own food.  The cost of fuel/food/travel is about the same for those two - so it really just depends how you want to travel.  (The cost of a new car and a used RV or camper can be about the same....and if you already have a truck that cost is already paid).

Deb and I both had full time jobs and we were very frugal with our money - and I did as much maintenance on the house and vehicles as I could  (I hate paying folks to do stuff I can do).  Now we are in our senior years and we need to enjoy the years we have left together - time for us to travel and spend the money we saved for retirement!

 

Well the 6'x10' should be finished in a week or so.   I have a two Blue motorcycles so I got a Blue Trailer  to haul one of them in !  

I should find out about the fuel millage on the way home from Chattanooga !
Driving at a relaxed pace the mpg may be just fine ?    

Hay Paul I can save the "Can't Drive 55" for the Day Rides when your leading !       I wonder how many sleeping bags we can fit into a 6'x10' floor space if need be ?      ?   I'm sure my wife will not be getting far from home while she can still go visit her mom.  

I'd think it would take years to fix a Camper to perfection ?  

Dave: Surprisingly, there’s something I knew and you didn’t already know.  I’m stunned!

Yes, at least as many blankets under you as on top of you with an air mattress or sleeping on the ground.  That goes back to my Cub Scout camping days when I was 12-13 years old.  Camping in the Smokey Mountains around SC/NC/GA along the Chattanooga Trail.  

I also use a very thick furniture protector/blanket between the air mattress and the floor of the tent.  It makes a huge difference.  It’s one of those blankets you can buy/rent from U-Haul.  I got mine for free when I rented a trailer from U-Haul and the previous renter didn’t remove it from the trailer and U-Haul didn’t remove it either.  So, free to me no questions asked when I kept it.  It also helps in the summer as it kinda collects condensation and moisture in the tent at night.  If it gets “wet”, drag it outside and air it out during the day.

Go for it, MM!  I’d go for a 1 man 1-bike setup for starters.  I personally wouldn’t want to experiment with 3-4 people in there.  I’d also skip building cots/bunks/Murphy bed type setup and just use an air mattress (Queen or full size - biggest that will fit).  My need would be sleeping for 2 (wife and I).  My needs would be kept very simple - like “less is more” approach.