scooters November 20, 2008, 04:24:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97398Due to certain logistics from my almost-going-fulltime, I purchased an 6x8 enclosed trailer. I needed to take more cargo than my 30ft IB can safely carry. I had the Rig hitch beefed up to the point that I can tow up to 6000 lbs. [for when I rented the U Haul to go and pick my Mother and all her stuff up in Az].--[ tho I don't plan to haul anything near that heavy]--I plan on getting a "scooter", like the old lambreta I used to have in college, to use as my "pollywog" --[like that name, I do!].I figure I can use it generally, and use the RV when weather or other issues are prohibitive. I thought I could make saddle-bags to carry stuff back to the RV. Also that it would be easier to load and unload than hitch and un-hitch a whole 'toad'. No need for tow brakes either--if I keep the trailer load low enough. Otherwise i can get a standard trailer brake assist system.Has anyone done something like this?? Gini FreeCelie and Nihm, Tonkinese kitlets "Kooch" the little red LD that could"Growing old is mandatory. Growing wise is optional."
Re: scooters Reply #1 – November 20, 2008, 04:56:45 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97400On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:26:10 -0800, Gini Free dobergini@...> wrote these inspiring words:QuoteNo need for tow brakes either--if I keep the trailer load low enough This makes me want to ask why your need to save money should affect the safety of others?
Re: scooters Reply #2 – November 20, 2008, 07:29:58 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97405Don,No offense . . . but was that called for?? Gina didn't say she was forgoing a brake system to save money or that she intended to put others at risk. She said brakes aren't needed in a small trailer if the load is light enough. The small sized enclosed trailers are feather weight. They don't even come with trailer brakes, though adding electric brakes to the trailer and a controller in the tow vehicle is easy enough, and much cheaper than toad brakes - - I think that's what Gina was implying. I think it would be almost pointless to put trailer brakes on a 500 lb trailer behind a 10,000 lb motorhome.bumper
Re: scooters Reply #3 – November 20, 2008, 08:03:28 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97407On Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:29:40 -0800, "bumperm" wrote these inspiring words:QuoteI think it would be almost pointless to put trailer brakes on a 500 lb trailer behind a 10,000 lb motorhome. If that is the intent, my apologies. I would guess a 6x8 trailer plus a scooter might be a little over 500 pounds? I am not an engineer and have no idea what weight would be required to enter the unsafe zone. I am not comfortable with others that have my limitations making judgments on what might be safe. Perhaps Gina is accomplished and can determine just how much can be towed safely without brakes. I will keep a good thought that is the case.Cheers, Don
Re: scooters Reply #4 – November 21, 2008, 12:32:05 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97414Gini,A few thoughts based on several decades of motorcycling and five years traveling with our LD, most of the time towing a Wrangler, a bit of towing my motorcycle.Before you buy a scooter I recommend you take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation beginner rider course. They supply small motorcycles (and helmets I believe) and the cost is reasonable. This will expose you to riding aga
Re: scooters Reply #5 – November 21, 2008, 01:02:13 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97416QuoteBefore you buy a scooter I recommend you take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation beginner rider course. AGREED!!! 800.446 .9227 is the numberQuote I wouldn't make my own saddlebags. An insecure load could be dangerous. I'd look for a scooter with a good cargo solution designed and sold by the scooter manufacturer. I also recommend Givi motorcycle luggage which is available to fit a large number of both cycles and scooters. Do check availability though as they don't have mounts for everyone of them. I also agree about the advantages and disadvantages of towing (in my case) Jeep vs. trailer; having said that, I anticipate when I do get to retirement, often taking a Goldwing and a scooter in a trailer, the Wing for day touring and the scooter for errands. But will still take the Jeep most of the time, specially for off roading.Lee
Re: scooters Reply #6 – November 21, 2008, 01:21:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97417A lot of good information by Terry. Only a minor point I would partially disagree with. It's not impossible to back up a towed vehicle. It can be done if you are very careful, and are watching it
Re: scooters Reply #7 – November 21, 2008, 02:01:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97419Quote .... Only a minor point I would partially disagree with. It's not impossible to back up a towed vehicle. ... Don't let the front wheels twist. A trick taught to me by my brother is to send someone to sit in the towed vechicle's driver's seat and hold the wheel straight. Like you said, you are pretty much limited to backing up in a straight line but you don't have to worry about the front wheels cramping. I have done this many times where I needed to back up, even as much as a 100' or so, but I did so going very slow so everyone has time to react to anything going wrong. I have always kept this to myself because it is so tabu, but it works.Linley
Re: scooters Reply #8 – November 21, 2008, 02:06:21 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97421Excellent idea Linley.Dick
Re: scooters Reply #9 – November 21, 2008, 05:01:48 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97435"Before you buy a scooter I recommend you take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation beginner rider course."Amen! The MSF courses are outstanding.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: scooters Reply #10 – November 21, 2008, 06:03:41 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97440QuoteA few thoughts based on several decades of motorcycling and five years traveling with our LD, most of the time towing a Wrangler, a bit of towing my motorcycle.Look for larger diameter wheels and adequate power. The larger wheels handle road irregularities better and inadequate power is a big hazard in my opinion. You need to be able to keep up with traffic and not ride it like a bicycle on the side of the road, etc. Scooters originated strictly as in-town transport. Hence their small size, light weight and low power, all of which become disadvantages on the open road. When RVing you'll often be some distance from where you want to go, so you want enough size, weight and power to make that comfortable and safe. But still small enough to be easily manageable.Early on we considered carrying a scooter like the one in the link above on the rear bumper of our LD as our "toad." And we did haul my (rather larger) motorcycle around a bit on an open trailer. Then we bought our Wrangler and started towing that. I no longer think about a scooter or towing my bike, unless I am considering doing the latter for a motorcycle oriented vacation.That approach simply doesn't lend itself to the sort of casual use that goes with RVing. The car is much easier. Once I got the hitching/unhitching down it takes only about 5 minutes to hook or unhook our car, at most. It takes longer to properly strap down and unstrap a bike. Then you have the gear problem. Where to store your riding gear while traveling and when stopped on the cycle, putting it on and taking it off to go for a ride, being too hot in Quotesummer and cold in winter. And the hassle of carrying things on a bike as opposed to in a car. ALL OF THE ABOVE is true, Terry. But you neglect to mention what a chick magnet that scooter is! {Good thing Loni doesn't read this forum}. -- Jon [23TK Albatross and Grackle, the scoot]
Re: scooters Reply #11 – November 21, 2008, 09:16:13 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97446Well written my man.....
Re: scooters Reply #12 – November 21, 2008, 09:24:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97447Hey Andy, if and when we pose a question on this forum and would love to hear your point of view, how is that accomplished? Regards All!
Re: opinions Reply #13 – November 21, 2008, 10:44:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97449"Hey Andy, if and when we pose a question on this forum and would love to hear your point of view, how is that accomplished?"Well, um... if I *have* an opinion, I'll generally shove in my oar. And if I don't, well, I won't. Of course, like most opinions, mine are worth what you pay for them. ;-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: opinions Reply #14 – November 21, 2008, 11:11:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 97450Quote "Hey Andy, if and when we pose a question on this forum and would love to hear your point of view, how is that accomplished?"Well, um... if I *have* an opinion, I'll generally shove in my oar. And if I don't, well, I won't. Of course, like most opinions, mine are worth what you pay for them. ;-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/ I'm going to copy that reply and save it for the next person that asks for my point of view if you don't mind. Word for word. It's perfect. :^) Maggie
Re: scooters Reply #15 – November 22, 2008, 11:17:17 am Yahoo Message Number: 97462"ALL OF THE ABOVE is true, Terry. But you neglect to mention what a chick magnet that scooter is! {Good thing Loni doesn't read this forum}."JonI'm deleting this message from my computer so my wife does not accidentally read it and report back to your wife at the Live Oak Caravan. You know the girls do talk a lot, especially after a couple of drinks LOLWatching out for you. Larry
Re: scooters Reply #16 – November 24, 2008, 07:41:56 am Yahoo Message Number: 97509Tossing my two cents in to the fray... If the trailer (empty) is 500, brakes are pointless. There would not be enough vertical load on the trailer axle to develop any substantive braking force due to insufficient friction, tire to surface. If one puts 2000 pounds of stuff into the 500 pound trailer, brakes would be useful. The scooter, if mounted to the RV rather than in the trailer, makes no difference to the issue. The value of brakes for the trailer depends on the ratio of loaded trailer weight to total system weight. I suspect that any load over about 10% (1500 pounds) would benefit from added braking. Just a retired engineer's ramblings. Ken
Re: scooters Reply #17 – November 24, 2008, 08:27:55 am Yahoo Message Number: 97511Never forget that trailer brakes must meet the requirements of ALL the states you plan to travel in, including going to Canada.Dick
Re: scooters Reply #18 – November 25, 2008, 04:49:06 am Yahoo Message Number: 97523My 6-pack mobile (pollywog??) is a scooter and I haul it on a hitch rack. It's a 49cc Honda Ruckus, so it's too small to be freeway legal and doesn't go but 37mph flat out, so I put a slow vehicle caution triangle and a flag for visibility on the back. It does get 90mpg and is a hoot to run around town. (Yes, I too wear a full face helmet, boots, riding clothes with proper pads and gloves at all times.) It's amazing how many groceries I can get on it, but the big shopping is planned for when the RV moves. I would recommend if you can afford it you get a lift if you use a hitch rack (and make sure the combined weight of polywog + rack doesn't exceed the tongue weight rating of your hitch).As for the question of Toad vs Pollywog? .for me it came down to not wanting to buy/maintain yet another vehicle after not finding anything that fit my home needs which was also light enough for my rigs towing capacity.I would like to join the others strenuously recommending the MSF Beginning Rider course and suggest you ride some scooters before you make up your mind. Scooters are not as safe feeling (to me) as a motorcycle, partly because of nothing to hang onto-you're perched on a scooter with no gas tank to grip. Not all scooters ride the same-they're balanced differently and the wheel base and wheel diameter make a big difference.And for you seasoned riders out there, it's also recommended that you take the one day MSF Experienced Rider course every couple of years and when you get a different bike. It's amazing the habits we can get into and the new info we learn.Lori and the girls 22ft SOB w/Piglet the pollywog (other people have Hogs; I've downsized to a Piglet)[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Topic: scooters (Read 6 times)
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