Just Ordered an Aspen Classic

[Chief]

I've been contemplating getting a pop-up for a few years but never did it. I was getting tired of not taking trips because it was too much trouble to pack for 2-up camping and we were really tired of the condition and price of motels these days.

So, they had a sale that ended today and I couldn't resist. Supposed to go pick it up on Sep 5.

Now, what to pull it with??????

[Mr. Guy]

That'll be a little tough to pull on the TAT won't it? ;)

It'll be nice for the 2-up trips. Hope you have a lot of fun with it.
Don't forget the pics when you get it.

Guy

[Mellow]

That's cool.. you could have just got a piggybacker trailer.. cheap and would hold a good bit of gear.

Let us know the bike you end up getting ... LOL

[ImRubicon]

Could you pick mine up then also LOl as I dont want to go to Ill to get one .
I will wait till next winter anuway as I am still on the fence on brand and style

[motomac]

Chief, I have seen a lot of Harley Ultras pulling Bunkhouses and Aspens. Of course a lot of Wingers pull them too. Can't say I've ever seen one behind an LT.

[Chief]

That's cool.. you could have just got a piggybacker trailer.. cheap and would hold a good bit of gear.

Let us know the bike you end up getting ... LOL

I have an old Time-Out Dart trailer at the house that I used to pull with my Valk but it is old and faded and needs a paint job.

Mainly I just decided the pop-up sure looked easy to set up and comfy to sleep in.

[Chief]

Chief, I have seen a lot of Harley Ultras pulling Bunkhouses and Aspens. Of course a lot of Wingers pull them too. Can't say I've ever seen one behind an LT.


Yeah, to me its either the comfort and pleasure of the Harley or the power and weather resistance of the Wing. And the Wing has reverse!

I'm a little nervous about a new Harley with only 70HP pulling a 500 lb trailer.
My Harley I have now has 81HP (dyno'd) but before I put a hitch on it I have to decide whether to keep it or trade for something new. I've had it 4 1/2 years, that's a record for me, the only thing that came close was my first 1500 Wing.

[motomac]

One thing to think about when getting another bike is BRAKES! I had brakes on my Bunkhuse and still crashed twice last year cause I didn't stop soon enough!!!

[bvail]

Enjoy your new trailer. I have put about 15k miles on my Aspen and it pulls real easy behind the GL1800. No brakes for me. Thanks, but no thanks. I gots a car tire on the back of my Wing - plenty of stopping power. Just remember to give yourself a bit more room to stop when you can. IMHO, those Dexter brakes can be downright dangerous if they're not working right. Trailmaster advises against using them, but will install if the customer insists. I bought my Goldwing with abs brakes, mainly for towing the trailer.

I towed similar trailers with a royal star that had 60 h.p. It was a struggle for that RS, but with proper gear selection, it would go anywhere. Also towed a Roll-a-Home behind an FJR, but the ultimate rig is a Bunkhouse/Aspen Classic with the GL1800 IMHO. Steady as a rock and as fast as you would care to go.

As far as the Piggyback, the Harbor Freight/Sears Cargo combination costs 1/2 the Piggyback and is every bit as good. I built 3 of them and they served me well, but you can beat a camper for comfort and convenience.

If you like Chicago style pepper and beef sandwichs, there's a restaurant near where you pick up the trailer. I'm sure they can tell you where it is.

[Chief]

Thanks for the info Bob. I'm still undecided about which bike. I'm gonna go talk to the local Honda dealer tommmorrow but I saw the new Ultras the other day and really like them. I'm almost leaning towards keeping my Road Glide right now but I'm very wishy washy.:confused:
Everything has some trade-offs for what I want. I want a 100hp, 40mpg, 8gallon gas tank with a foot-forward position that has a good stereo with intercom??

[bvail]

Thanks for the info Bob. I'm still undecided about which bike. I'm gonna go talk to the local Honda dealer tommmorrow but I saw the new Ultras the other day and really like them. I'm almost leaning towards keeping my Road Glide right now but I'm very wishy washy.:confused:
Everything has some trade-offs for what I want. I want a 100hp, 40mpg, 8gallon gas tank with a foot-forward position that has a good stereo with intercom??

Road Glide and Ultra is a nice bike, but for mile munching nothing approaches the GL1800. It's for the most part trouble free, has gobs of power and handles like a great bike sport bike (ask Yellow Wolf, who did an Iron Butt on Deals Gap in just under 24 hours on his yellow GL1800). I installed a run flat car tire on my Goldwing recently and did an all Colorado Iron Butt a couple of weeks ago. In addition to great handling, I had superior traction during a mighty hail storm in Lake City CO. This bike is the best I have ever owned for touring and trailer draggin', but this is what I would do if I were you. The big outlay is usually for the trailer, so why don't you put a hitch on your RG and see how it likes draggin' a trailer. You might be pleasantly surprised. If it doesn't satisfy, then start shopping around. There are plenty of people towing a trailer with a Harley, you wouldn't be breaking new ground :)

I can tell you this. I have never had an issue pulling a trailer behind the Wing, even on roads like Deals Gap (the Dragon), or worse. Did a USA 4 Corners run with this combo last year and was very impressed. I made a run towards Prudhoe Bay this June on my V-Strom DL1000 (no trailer), but didn't complete, due to a crash on the highway between Dawson City Yukon and Chicken Alaska. So I'm thinking on riding up on the Wing and dragging the trailer along at least up to the Arctic Circle. I should make it easy on one tire with the car tire on - they last 20-30k miles or more.

Whatever you decide on, I'm pretty sure that you will love that trailer. I like mine very much. Could have gone with their Sentry model, since I travel alone, but I'm spoiled and like to travel LARGE :)

Here's a good website to answer your Harley question, tell them Bob sent you :) http://forums.delphiforums.com/MCTrailertowing/messages

[Chief]

Well, after all the thinking and shopping for a new bike it came down to a choice between a new Gold Wing or a new Harley Ultra. I couldn't ever decide so I took my wife down to see which one she was the most comfy on. We went back and forth several times before she decided that she was just fine on the bike we have!
About that time I found a Harley factory custom paint set to fit my bike on Ebay for about half it's original cost from a Harley dealer in Illinois. After seeing detailed pictures of all the bodywork and being assured that the only flaw in it was a small ding on the bottom of the front fender, I bought it. I've been working on designing the bike all over again ever since. New wheels and more custom touches are all worked up in my head and the old body work is half off the bike already.

UPS delivered all 5 of the big boxes this evening and I got them in the house and got ready to go with opening my new bike!
I picked one of the biggest boxes and started unpacking-it was the gas tank all wrapped up almost with bubble wrap and I could see the shiny black paint with bright red flames gleaming thru!! I carefully picked it up and sat it on a table. I was just about to unwrap the bubble wrap when I noticed a gap in the bubble wrap on one side. I looked again and there was a big dent on the widest part of the tank, right in the middle of the bright red Harley letters!:mad: I looked on the other side of the tank and sure enough there are 2 small dents on the other side also:(
I re-checked the pics he had sent me and there are definitely no dents in those pictures so it was obviously dented by UPS.
So, unpacking stopped, I took pictures and sent them to the guy I bought it from. Now I have to deal with trying to get my money back and I'm leaving in the morning to go pick up the new camper.

Now I'm back to square one. No new customizing on the current bike and I was already looking forward to something new and shiny.

I think I'll buy a new bike!:eek:

[motomac]

I think I'll buy a new bike!:eek:

Dang, the headlight is out on the KLR and the right driving light is out on the Wing, maybe it's time for me to get a new bike too. Two!!!

[Chief]

Well, I took the wife's Toyota and made the run to Chicago and picked up the trailer. It is really nice and the head guy up there took a good deal of time showing me how to set it up and take it down.
I left Chicago and drove up to Milwaukee to see the new Harley museum they just opened. Spent a couple of hours there and want to go back with my wife so I'll have time to read everything.
Left Milwaukee Friday afternoon and made it home Saturday night. The trailer didn't really make any difference in the gas mileage on the car but I was fighting a strong headwind on the way up there and there was no wind on the way back. I was worried about the gas mileage since me and Trailace pulled a trailer with our 650s on it to Big Bend and the mileage sucked.

The guy agreed to take the custom paint body work back and will refund my money as soon as he gets it.

I spent Sunday and most of today putting my Harley back together and getting the wiring hooked up. I took it out for a test spin and it seems to pull fine. I can definitely feel it back there. The only problem was that my too loud exhaust was bouncing off the trailer and was obnoxiously loud.

I'm still thinking on a new bike. I may buy a new Harley but I'm thinking more along the lines of trying to find a good deal on a used Wing and keeping the Harley also. If I do that the BMW will have to go.

I may have to use the trailer to run away from Ike this weekend!!

[John T]

Where are the pics?

I am a bid sad I could not find the time to pick mine up and had it shipped.

[Chief]

Update on this:
The trailer has just been sitting in my parent's garage since the storm. I'm really itching to get it out and hit the road, maybe next week.

I'm still mulling the bike situation but my options are more limited now. I found another set of the exact same Harley custom bodywork so I decided to buy it and keep the Road Glide again.

UPS delivered it to my parents house yesterday and I rushed over there to check it out last night. Guess what??? the tank is dented in the exact same spot almost!:mad: not quite as bad and only on one side this time but dented nonetheless. Now emailing back and forth with the seller trying to decide whay to do. I'm thinking I may keep it anyway but don't know.:confused:

[bvail]

I think maybe fate is telling you that you need to buy a GL1800 :) They were made for trailer dragging and no dents in gas tank, since it is hidden under all that Tupperware.

Seriously though, you might conside taking the tank and showing to one of those 'paintless' body shops, like Dent Doctor. They might be able to remove the dents.

[Chief]

Yeah, I'm gonna keep it and try to get it fixxed and also try to get UPS to pay for some of it.

[greybeard]

don't know about you but I think I would be looking for a new way to have things shipped as UPS doesn't seem to be able to deliver your things in one piece without damage as they like to claim they are so good at

[Krashdragon]

So just get an FJR! <G>The specs are close... and you can put forward pegs on .. I did on the one I had...<G>
Mary aka Krashdragon

[Bipeflier]

We use an '06 GL1800. Never have to worry about lack of power or comfort.
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?pictureid=262&albumid=17&dl=1226115392&thumb=1

[G wizz]

I have an Aspen camper also, and have NO problem what so ever pulling it with my 08 Harley classic. Used to pull it with a Road Glide, and a Road King before that. You have to remember, maybe they are only 70 hp. but they have gobs of torque. (can you say stump puller) If you deside to use the bike you have, or go for new, either way, I don't think you will be disapointed pulling a trailer with a Harley. And don't forget, Harleys do have real good brakes.
I'm getting 37-38 mpg when I'm pulling the camper, no reason you won't get the same, or better.
We pulled our Aspen to Alaska last summer, slept in it for a month straight going up and back. Sure beat sleeping, on the ground, and saved a bundle not having to motel it.
I'm sure you'll love your camper, we do ours.

[Chief]

Well, I solved my trailer pulling problem. I remodeled the Harley with all new body-work, wheels and a hitch, so it's good to go.

And today I went and traded the BMW GS on a brand new 2009 Honda School Bus. So, as soon as I get a hitch on the Honda It'll be good to go.

Now, I'm ready to hit the road.

[Trailace]

Well, I solved my trailer pulling problem. I remodeled the Harley with all new body-work, wheels and a hitch, so it's good to go.

And today I went and traded the BMW GS on a brand new 2009 Honda School Bus. So, as soon as I get a hitch on the Honda It'll be good to go.

Now, I'm ready to hit the road.
Cool, I take it will be yellow.