Ducati Monster Forum

I am being sent to San Diego (from north of Boston) for work.  I am bringing my monster with me. [moto]  I do not have enough leave saved up to ride the 3000+ miles.  [thumbsdown] So I will be flying (courtacy of the Navy)  [thumbsup]  A coworker IS however driving out with his (soon to be) wife, taking a scenic northern route across the states, he also wants to bring his bike (a '94ish Suzuki Intruder)

Now the dilhema.  Do we outfit his wifes car (Nissan Sentra) with a hitch and rent a uhaul bike trailer for a 1 way shot to Cali, or do I pay $750+ to ship the bike.  Pros/Cons.  Trailer is cheaper, but not as secure and can the car handle it.  Transport is more secure and safe, more expensive.

Any thoughts??

First, I would not put a friend in a position to be responsible for something that expensive for that kind of distance.  You never know what might happen.

Second, a sentra pulling a trailer and two motorcycles that far is not something I would attempt.

Both excellent points.  He his trailering his bike regarless of what I choose to do.

how much jail time do you get for a week of AWOL?

your buddy is already trailering, he's already got to deal with it. You can share cost.

I'd only be concerned if the Sentra's tranny can handle it.

sentras weren't made to pull ANYTHING... sounds like a torturous trip across the country.  I'd be surprised if the car made it.  The bike may be pulling the car by the time they get there. 

when I was a kid the 4 of us used to drive around the country with a 1989 Camery with a 4banger, over 130k and a popup trailer...if that thing made it, I think the sentra should be ok with under 100k.  I think I have JUST enough leave to make the trip, but they are going to be newly weds at that point and...no.

Question is, how much more gas will the Sentra use hauling (conservatively) an extra 1000 pounds over 3000 miles.  It's probably not $750, but the extra cost combined with the probable strain or damage to the tranny would be the deal breaker for me.  One bike, maybe.  Dos?  Forget about it.

At first I thought great, a friend is already trailering a bike and trailering two would not be a problem. I assumed your friend had a pickup or an SUV. But then I read about the Sentra. You will kill that car's transaxle. Two people in a Sentra packed full of stuff and trailering two motorcycles across the country, over mountains, desert, etc. Not a good idea. I know you are going by the prior success you experienced doing a similar thing with your folks in a Camry. However that Camry's transaxle very likely suffered big time doing that. If your parents don't own it anymore and it's still running I guarantee it's had the transaxle replaced. The transaxles in those little economy cars are fragile and are not designed for towing. Simple as that. Add the cost of the trailer hitch as well. That's easily a couple hundred bucks.

My advice would be at least to get an aftermarket transmission cooler installed and the tranny filled up with some really expensive transmission fluid designed for harsh conditions. Then flush and fill immediately upon arrival. That is if your friend intends to use the car anymore after he makes the trip.
This is if course assuming your friend's wife's car has an autobox. If it's a manual it might have a better chance, but not much better. The three of you would be better off if you rented a box truck with a car dolly and towed the car with the bikes inside.

It's no fun being stranded several hundred miles away from either end of a journey. Me, I'd ship the bike.

Thanks all, I think I am leaning toward shipping it now too. I saw a very humbling picture of a small car with a bike/trailer on its side behind it.  bergdoefer, I know hes edging toward looking to replace the car (pretty much after the trip)  and yes it in an auto, and (not that this matters much..) it would just be the two of them plus gear, i have to fly due to time constraints.  his justification on taking an extra bike is that my duc clocks in at 341lbs dry.. thats barely more than a 3rd passenger and all his stuff.  uhaul lists then sentra as being capable of a 2000lb haul, but it will really depend on getting into it and seeing if the car is up to the challenge, I think it is, but like you said, it would be the final hurah.

Sort of. A quick browse on their website shows that their motorcycle trailer is not an option for that car/trip. I assumed a 2000 Sentra w/ a 2000lb hitch, from Boston to SD. The next closest thing is a 5x9 utility trailer w/ a ramp, which only shows an allowable cargo of 760 lbs. I don't know what the other bike weighs but you're gonna end up right at max weight, if not more. That's gonna be 3000 mile rodeo. And you can kiss the 30-ish mpg goodbye. Probably in the 15-20 ballpark.

So here's my incredibly rough figures:

$360 trailer rental
$525 gas (3000 miles/20 mpg/$3.50 gal avg)
------
$885 total
$442 your share if you're going halvsies. Just making broad assumptions here.


You can get terminal to terminal shipping in the $550 ballpark. And your moto insurance isn't on the line if things turn into a rolling yardsale. Also, you don't have to worry about your bike being stranded somewhere like Provo, UT when the tranny in the Sentra goes tits up.





***edit: Jesus, I need a make the beast with two backsing job. Way too much time on my hands.***

Yes those are roughly the number we were looking at as well, with the exception of the shipping figure of $550.  I havent found anything less than around $775.  If you have any thoughts of a shipping company to go with, I'm all ears.

www.shippingmasters.com (http://www.shippingmasters.com)      Advertising $495 coast-to-coast.

www.freightcenter.com (http://www.freightcenter.com/motorcycle_shipping.aspx)  $550 terminal-to-terminal

+1 to shipping masters. My supermoto bike was trailered from Pittsburgh to SoCal for 500.  It made it remarkably fast (4 days) and I had no problems whats so ever.  If you decide to go with them ask them if Tank is available for transport as he is very knowledgeable.  Good luck with the move and the Navy base in San Diego is GORGEOUS!

I just sent freightcenter an email based on the fact that they advertize 5-10 day shipping, multi bike discount (as there are now 3 of us looking to ship) as well as they quote $550 which includes all fees and fuel costs etc...(and with diesel at what? $4 and change now)  I think some sort of locked in quote right now might be the way to go.  I will send shippingmasters an email as well and see if i can get some sort of price battle going   ;D

Isnt the Navy suppose to pay for a sized container to ship your household goods? the motorcycle is allowed to be in that shipment. thats how 3 of my friends moved their bike (well they are Marine Corps, but Dept of Navy so im going by assumptions)

Well if it was a permanant relocation that would be more of a possibility, however this is a temporary reassignment, they will fly you out with all your bags, and rent you a car as well as paying for your lodging for the durration of the trip plus per diem.  If I should choose to drive out, they will give me up to the cost of the plane ticket for gas/lodging/whatever while traveling.  Shipping the bike is a bonus option=no go for free  :(