My trip with a trailer

[Viberrrr]

I just got back from a long trip trailering my motorcycle and here is my report.2390 miles from Mpls. MN to Austin TX and back.Trailer and bike at the limit of 1500 lb.I averaged 18.9 MPG (99% of this is highway miles.)My speed was between 65 and 70 mph the whole way.I installed a tranny cooler and did a total tranny flush including pulling the pan and cleaning the screen plus an oil change before the trip started. The Vibe is a bit underpowered for this much trailering but it handled well in all driving conditions even during some real heavy rain when it started to hydro-plane.You can't use cruise control with this much weight.With the wind at your back you can drive all day in 5th gear at 70mph, with a head wind it's 65 and 3rd gear.Overall I would say it performed quite well for being just a 4 banger.

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[Viberrrr]

Here it is in Austin

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[Kamikaze]

Nice Haul! I'd have to say 18mpg is pretty darn good for what you were carrying!

[Viberrrr]

Yeah, nothing wrong with that mileage tho with the wind at my back in the flat lands one tank was giving me 23.5 mpg. The other nice thing was the gas prices stayed low. The most I paid was 2.69 with the lowest being 2.45 with most of it priced right around 2.53 and as soon as I get home it jumped to 2.82

[cerulean]

Nice car, nice trailer and nice bike!Could you give some particulars on the trailer? I can't quite make out the name.Thanks,Bob

[djb383]

Yep, need trailer info. Thanks.

[djb383]

Is your Vibe automatic or manual tranny. I'm confused (happens frequently), 5th gear and tranny cooler??????

[Viberrrr]

This is actually a 18 year old Chariot trailer but it looks brand new. It's only 700 lb empty. They are considered some of the best in the light weight trailers. http://www.chariot-trailer.com...mid=1It is an auto tranny.I may be wrong but I understand that the Vibe has both a 4th and a 5th gear overdrive. I installed a tranny cooler (small radiator) in front of the Vibe's radiator.

[GrayFox]

Quote, originally posted by Viberrrr »I may be wrong but I understand that the Vibe has both a 4th and a 5th gear overdrive. The auto tranny is a 4-speed. 4th gear is overdrive.Quote, originally posted by cerulean »Nice car, nice trailer and nice bike!haha I agree

[zionzr2]

next time you are in Austin...Look Me Up!!

[ITcar]

Quote, originally posted by Viberrrr »Yeah, nothing wrong with that mileage tho with the wind at my back in the flat lands one tank was giving me 23.5 mpg. The other nice thing was the gas prices stayed low. The most I paid was 2.69 with the lowest being 2.45 with most of it priced right around 2.53 and as soon as I get home it jumped to 2.82I hate michigan...i have been paying over $3 a gallon for at least a year...at least it feels that way. The whole premium gas thing doesnt help, lately we have been averaging at a nice low price of $3.10, which sadly makes me happy

[Viberrrr]

Zion I'll try next time I'm there but I was in town to ride the Hill Country with 22 other Harley riders and my time was very limited. That's one of the reason I had to trailer the bike down. 36 hours of driving for just 4 short days of riding. But Man was it fun, and the weather was just perfect last weekend and we had lunch at Cooper's BBQ my God that brisket melts in your mouth. Hand's down the best BBQ I have ever had.Here's on of our stops along the way.

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[kevera]

The Indian's hot.

[jwalcik]

Very impressive. I've wondered a few times if there was a reasonable way to pull my bike with my Vibe. I've got a new co-worker who just moved to Austin from Boston, MA. He used some sort of towing harness that lifts the front wheel off the ground to tow his bike down.Nice work!