My brother has a '94 4runner, and he is thinking about buying one of these: http://www.motorcycleramps.com/motorcycle-carrier.htm to carry his rm125 on. Does anyone know if it would be bottoming out, or wearing his suspension badly? he is also thinking about getting a trailer like this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90154 Has anyone had experience with harbor freight trailers, will the go on the freeway, and do they seem like they will last a while?

 

My '94 4runner with tow package is rated for 3500lbs. Normal ops for trailer towing is no more than 10% of total trailer weight as tounge weight. In other words, the trailer hitch on the '94 runner should be good to 350lbs, if you have the factory tow package.

All 2Gen 4runners suffer from "butt sag". Some worse than others. Do a search, there are lots of threads. There are several solutions.

DO NOT, under any circumstances, get a trailer with 8" wheels. Make sure that you get one with 12" wheels. I didn't look at the link, so I don't know which one you are considering.

I had a HF trailer for a while. It was OK, but not spectacular. By the time I assembled it, cut, fit, and assembled plywood for the deck and sides, tracked down a motorcycle rail, etc, I had a lot of time into it. A good 15-20 hours, at least. It started to rust as soon as it got wet. The paint was thin, the hardware marginal, and all in all it wasn't that impressive.

Keep an eye on Craigs List and you can come up with a better trailer used. Take a look at the cheapo trailers that Home Depot is stocking nowadays. They go on sale pretty regularly and are a better quality trailer than the HF ones. They aren't that much more expensive. Take a look at the local trailer vendors. The low end trailers can be had pretty cheaply, depending on what you are looking for.

 

get some airlift 1000 airbags off the 'net for less than $80 and install them inside the rear coils. adjustable suspension that can easily handle the load...

 

OME rear shocks and HD coils can support that no problem lol

 

(so can a $80 set of air bags and the stock suspension)

 

Id say with just 250 lbs u should be good. Knew a guy that did the same thing with an r6 which of course weighs a ton more one of the other kind of trailer hitch caddys and it went through his rear window. what an idiot. So just make sure it doesnt move ur arse end may squat a little but u should be fine.

 

I do it all the time, carrying a 240 lb motorcycle. It's about the same as towing a medium trailer.

 

The motorcycle thing.... you'll be fine


The Harbor Freight trailer... I was gonna say okay, then saw you wanted to take it on the freeway, so no, get one from Homo Depot when they go on sale...they're better built

 

Since it such a simplistic trailer you need just go to Northern tool and get the springs and spindles and pick up some steel and bang one out that will be much better cost wise than you can pick up your self.

Me and Pop's built a 6x12 flat bed to haul bikes to Laguna Seca for way under what one would have cost us to buy and we get them @ cost from a buddy who sells em.

 

Thanks for all of the responses. It sounds like I should tell him to go with a home depot trailer or a hitch carrier and air bags. Has anyone here welded up a hitch carrier, it seems pretty do-able, but I'm not really sure what thickness steel to use. I wouldn't want him to lose the bike on the freeway...

 

1/4" THICK. seriously. go with something that you KNOW will handle the load. the price difference isn't all that much, but the confidence level is WORTH EVERY PENNY.

 

The HF trailer is good for light duty usage. I had one that I used to move from Alaska to Colorado, and by the time I got out of Canada the tongue, axle, and springs had been rebuilt. When I got rid of it the frame was cracked, nothing some welding would not of cured. They are cheap, and built to stay that way.

 

Where are you located?

Might help someone find you a local deal...

 

I'm in Tucson, AZ, but my brother is in Ventura.

 

I have. Start with a standard hitch extension, I think it's 10GA... That's the basis of your support. The rest of it can be made out of similiar gauge angle.

 

i'm prob repeating but...as to the hitch accessory, if the 4runner's already noticeably sagging then maybe look into replacing the suspension. i spend about $500 for a downy hd kit and bilsteins all around. been nothing but happy...spec when it comes to loading down the back. but if you'd rather go with a more temporary route go with the airbags. lot cheaper and they're perfect for when you want to carry a heavy load every once in a while; just air up.