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Old 12-11-2013, 08:50 AM   #1
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So what's next? Need suggestions.

My wife and I have been living in our Cari-lite 5th wheel, fulltime, for a couple of years. We don't have a truck so we've never traveled but we're getting ready for retirement and want to travel. Would like to hear from other full-timers for suggestions on the following:

1 - I'm a fulltime biker. I love riding my motorcycle. I'm not sure we can continue with our current 5th wheel when we start traveling because I won't have anyway to haul the bike.

2 - We love our 5er. The interior is just wonderful and we really feel at home. Most of the "toy haulers" we've seen (see #1 above) just don't compare to the luxury / coziness we've grown accustomed too. They feel like weekend campers, not fulltime houses.

3 - Our 5er weighs in at 17,500+ lbs. Looking at trucks and I guess we're going to need a monster truck to pull this beast. And a monster truck is WAY out of our price range.

So...should we be looking at a different type of RV? One that allows taking the motorcycle with us? Is there a way to stay with the Cari-Lite and still be able to haul the bike? Are there other options for us? I'm sure there's got to be other out there in a similar situation. How are you doing it?

Thanks in advance!
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Old 12-11-2013, 08:57 AM   #2
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If you can't buy a big enough truck to safely pull it, then you'll just have to get something else. Big truck/trailer, or MH and toad.
You can make the bike situation work easily.
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Old 12-11-2013, 09:07 AM   #3
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There are several ways of doing this. If you can use your bike as your only mode of travel, you can pull a trailer behind a motorhome. If you need a vehicle plus the bike, you could pull a 5th wheel and attach a lift to the back of the trailer. Here is one of several possibilities for a lift. Lift. Google "motorcycle lift rv" for others.
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Old 12-11-2013, 09:08 AM   #4
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I don't have much experience with any specific big rigs like that. We have had 3 MH's and 3 TT's but they have always been in the 30-35' range. I do realize that the 5-er's have a lot of space. Some have reported that most MH's can't come close to liveable space of a 5-er. However we all have to make choices about what we want and what we can have. If you really want to keep the bike life then I think there's a MH that you could like and then either pull the bike on an open or closed trailer. Today's MH's with all the slides can be very roomy and you may find one that is to your liking so you can have close to the best of both worlds. Best of luck in your search.

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Old 12-11-2013, 03:59 PM   #5
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You can get a 1ton diesel dually truck that is a couple years old set up to tow your 5er. As far as the bike goes, sadrand has a very probable solution. The modern trucks are very comfortable and easy to drive, the only thing that you have to remember is the width and extra length. You need to do your homework on gvwr of the different years, and son't forget about the different gear ratios that effect the capibilities of the different trucks.
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Old 12-11-2013, 05:31 PM   #6
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Look on "trucktrader.com". You'll be surprised at the prices of some trucks in the Chevy 4500, Ford F-650 range already set up to haul a 5th wheel. Then for the motorcycle there are lift that can go on the back of the 5th wheel, or you can get one of the platforms that bolt to the back of the trl that have pivoting wheels under them.
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Old 12-11-2013, 05:31 PM   #7
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You can get a MDT (medium duty truck) like a Freightliner FL60 or FL70 and have a towing bed installed with a motorcycle lift/rack behind the cab.

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Old 12-11-2013, 10:09 PM   #8
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One option is to buy a 1T dually pickup, then buy an Automated Safety Hitch to pull your 5er. Haul your bike in the truck-bed.
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Old 12-13-2013, 06:36 AM   #9
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After you get your truck to haul your 5'r. I would worry about your tires and wheel bearings that have been sitting for a few years. They need a good inspection. The trailer brakes will need to be checked too. Tires may be flat spotted, wheel bearings and brake linkages may need to be lubed.
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Old 12-13-2013, 06:46 AM   #10
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You could go with a TT and lighter truck. Pull the motorcycle in the bed of the pickup. Some nice TT out there.
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Old 12-13-2013, 10:00 AM   #11
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Hauling a bike in a truck works, but getting the bike in and out of the truck is not easily accomplishes with a big bike.
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Old 12-13-2013, 10:06 AM   #12
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Look at these? Folding Swivel Wheel Trailer

The The ultimate motorcycle transport system for use with your fifth wheel travel trailer.

A Custom Motorcycle Carrier on our Fifth Wheel

Shop 4 Motorcycle Trailers
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Old 12-13-2013, 11:44 AM   #13
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Thanks everyone!

You guys are awesome - lot's of great ideas!
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Old 12-13-2013, 01:04 PM   #14
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A little different situation but maybe an idea for you. My wife passed in June and I found myself rattling around a lot of space in a 36 foot fifth, so I considered downsizing a bit. At the same time, this fall, I went back to riding after a long absence and remembered how much fun it was.
I started the search with toy haulers and quickly found that the garage did not really convert to living space so a trailer was going to be the same size as I had. Went and looked at several travel trailers and found one under 30 foot that I liked, not perfect compared to the Hitchhiker but pretty good.An internet search turned up a used Rampage motorcyle lift for sale locally which quickly came home with me. That will let me load my dyna glide by myself so now I'm set with both.

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