BigBlueXC Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Hoping to start a fulltime adventure in the next few years. A lot of good info on here. I was first thinking a F450 or 550 would be enough truck but after all I have read, now I am leaning to a HDT. I drive a MDT everyday and noise and lack of power are issue's in all 4 I have driven to date. Do most campgrounds private/state/federal allow these big rigs? We are avid motorcyclist and will either be buying a toy hauler or having the bike on the back of the tow truck. Currant bike is just at 9ft so I don't think most states would allow across the back of Toter or camper. Any pics or info on this greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickeieio Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 We have a ~40' toy hauler pulled by a Volvo. Truck deck is about 13' boc (back of cab) to the hitch. We have been very fortunate to have gotten into nearly all the places we wanted to go, but that said, we've passed on a few campgrounds because we thought they were a bit tight for maneuvering our rig.. Never denied access. We, too, are motorcyclists. We've gotten lots of positive comments as we unload the bikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 There is rarely an issue with an HDT in campgrounds. I would like to say there is NO issue, but there are a "few" campgrounds that will not allow you in. In 13 years fulltiming with an HDT we have never been denied - the one time I was almost denied I convinced the owner that we were no heavier than the DP just in front of me at checkin, and that I would not screw up his roads. So there is very little issue going into campgrounds, but there "could be"....rarely. As to the 9' dresser.....You will not be able to crossload that on an HDT without attracting some significant additional attention. I DO KNOW of someone that had a 4-seat Rzr side loaded on a DP rear swivel trailer with the car behind it that was stopped. But it REALLY stood out. You will have to decide for yourself on that one. But I would make provisions to put it into a toyhauler, probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dascom Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Many do as you are desiring, we have been from the north most point of the Upper in lake Superior to Ocean Beach San Diego. Go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkoenig24 Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 You might have an issue at older Forest Service, State and private campgrounds due to overall length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis M Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Have never had an issue, but like Jack said it can happen. Once or twice a park owner has expressed concern over weight and asked me to stay off the concrete pads. We mostly do RV Parks, but have been in a couple state parks where roads were tight. In some older, smaller parks I have been able to put the fiver into pretty tight spaces. Basically not an issue, but when we call ahead I always point out that we are "a 37' fiver with a heavy duty truck and 65 feet long." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Dreamer Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Is the bike 9' with the front wheel straight? You could have the bike sit at an angle behind the cab to get you to legal width. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dascom Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Blue: Much more of a concern than wheeling your motor-house around the country, which is generally not a problem as you know from driving the harder to handle straight trucks around, is safely loading and unloading your XC. If you plan on putting that beast up on a deck ~ 50" above the concrete, you sure as heck aren't going to ride it up there. My brother has a 2014 Triumph 2300 and it is almost as heavy as a car. As I looked at options I found they all used winches. Thing is, if pulling it up a ramp less than about 4' wide, you can't safely maintain the bikes balance. Hoisting and swinging were my first choice, just pick the thing up and put it where you want it. Make sure the jib crane is rated and maybe want to hook it down to something too. The biggest advantage there is that you can unload easily without unhooking the trailer so you or the DW, darling wife, can go scope out potential great or not so great locations. What is the bikes length with the steering turned max? Several here on the forum carry on the back of the trailer too, but you got to have understanding what >1000# back there will affect.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickS Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Hoping to start a fulltime adventure in the next few years. A lot of good info on here. I was first thinking a F450 or 550 would be enough truck but after all I have read, now I am leaning to a HDT. I drive a MDT everyday and noise and lack of power are issue's in all 4 I have driven to date. Do most campgrounds private/state/federal allow these big rigs? We are avid motorcyclist and will either be buying a toy hauler or having the bike on the back of the tow truck. Currant bike is just at 9ft so I don't think most states would allow across the back of Toter or camper. Any pics or info on this greatly appreciated. First off let me welcome you to the forum. There many people riding bikes on the forum. If you are going the toyhauler route the easiest way is just to drive them up into the TH'er and leave the deck of the HDT for more toys like a SmartCar or S/S. I have two motorbikes and a SC that we can haul with us and that way if the weather is real bad we can use the car. My DW doesn't like riding on the the bikes that much so lots of times I will go exploring the area we are in and she will take the car into the nearest town and go shopping.....which is one of her favorite pass times. HWHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr. cob Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Hoping to start a fulltime adventure in the next few years. A lot of good info on here. I was first thinking a F450 or 550 would be enough truck but after all I have read, now I am leaning to a HDT. I drive a MDT everyday and noise and lack of power are issue's in all 4 I have driven to date. Do most campgrounds private/state/federal allow these big rigs? We are avid motorcyclist and will either be buying a toy hauler or having the bike on the back of the tow truck. Currant bike is just at 9ft so I don't think most states would allow across the back of Toter or camper. Any pics or info on this greatly appreciated. Howdy BigBlueXC, I am also a rabid motorcyclist, sometimes when I am going to nearby rally or one that I know I can't get my toy hauler into I put the bike, bikes on the rear deck and use the truck as a stand alone motor-home. There is enough room on the rear deck for me to carry a full size bike like my Road King Classic and still tow the toy hauler but not enough turning clearance to tow the trailer if I have one of the sidecar rigs on the rear deck. Heres my truck with a Sidecar rig and a Rokon on the deck and the ramps to load them. The new toy hauler has an 18 foot garage in it so I can carry two sidecar rigs, or up to four full size bikes in the garage, I am thinking about getting a Smart Car, the garage is large enough to carry a Smart Car and a sidecar rig or the Smart Car and two full size bikes. There is no comparison between an MDT and a HDT, most MDT's have the same or slightly larger engine as the better LDT's but that engine is pulling a lot more weight in the MDT. My advise having learned the hard and expensive way, go with the HDT you never regret it, guaranteed. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldRush Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Love more pics and details on your set up Dave & Jenny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0kartracer Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 I'm a biker and kart racer along with weekend camping, and I bought this project truck that suits all my needs in one. It's 2' longer than my Prevost bus conversion and that's never been denied do I doubt I will have any issues. Plus my bike stays clean and out of the weather while traveling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldRush Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 Do you have photo of your truck without the rear bags dumped. The rear looks so low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0kartracer Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 No but it goes up about 5" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdonlybob Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 Only way to go in my opinion. Here is my past HDT with my Brothers Bike on it. My Harley stuck out a bit, but never any issues... Cheers, Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shallow Draft Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 I cross load my Suzuki c90 with no problem. It is just barely wider than the fairing. I was stopped by DOT for not stopping at a scale {livestock} and he never mentioned the bike. I built a 12 foot folding ramp out of 2 6ft trf-folds with bent connecting sections that minimize the break over angle.Tthey store right behind the back wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noteven Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 I liked this setup when I saw it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtRa17ymM3k . They also haul a Sidekick/Tracker on the truck. We sometimes haul south on mucky winter roads so we prefer our motorcycles in an enclosed conveyance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adept99 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Here's my '02 Springer ready to roll. We use "bowed" ramps about 10' long and 4' wide. I just ride 'er up or down as needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIBERNUT Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 I'm not into cycles, so don't claim to know anything about loading. Just wanted to comment that at least one CG we go to says bikes cannot be ridden within the CG, must be wheeled or left at front gate parking lot. ( 1/4 mile and uphill) Most leave them at the front lot, guard on duty, etc. Myrtle Beach Travel Park, SC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDR Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 I'm not into cycles, so don'tim to know anything about loading. Just wanted to comment that at least one CG we go to says bikes cannot be ridden within the CG, must be wheeled or left at front gate parking lot. ( 1/4 mile and uphill) Most leave them at the front lot, guard on duty, etc. Myrtle Beach Travel Park, SC SIBERNUT; How can they stop you from riding your street legal motocycle to and from your camp spot? What's next your (toad) car? Curt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIBERNUT Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 It's THEIR property, and THEY can make the rules. Ever been anywhere that there is a bike week? Well, that's ground zero. Just saying, people with cycles should ask or get surprised on arrival. I think it is on their website, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 There are a number of parks I have seen that restrict bikes inside the park. LIke Ron said. You have to leave them outside. I've been a couple of places that I wish they had that rule.....bikers sitting at their sites revving up their Harleys to see who can make the "neatest" sounds. I like bikes just fine and rode for years. But I really don't want to hear them like that. So in some cases the MC owners bring the rules on themselves. And the parks are private property - they can make any rules they want..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CDR Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Jack: I guess they can since it is their property. Would they make you pull it off the bed of the truck to leave it outside the park? Or out of the toyhauler garage? Curious? Curt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Mayer Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Jack: I guess they can since it is their property. Would they make you pull it off the bed of the truck to leave it outside the park? Or out of the toyhauler garage? Curious? Curt No, they just don't want you driving it in the park. It is a pain, and almost unbelievable....But more than a few parks have issues with motorcycles disturbing the "peace".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rif Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Jack: I guess they can since it is their property. Would they make you pull it off the bed of the truck to leave it outside the park? Or out of the toyhauler garage? Curious? Curt There is at least one park I know of where they would. Normandy Farms in Foxboro, MA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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