What Size Trailer Do You Need to Haul a Motorcycle?

Renting or borrowing a motorcycle trailer is straightforward once you know what size you actually need. Get it wrong and you end up with a deck too short for the wheelbase, a trailer too narrow for your cruiser's width, or a tongue weight too high for your hitch class. Get it right and load-up takes ten minutes and you're on the road. Here's the sizing breakdown, by bike type and trailer configuration, so you can book with confidence.

Motorcycle Dimensions That Drive Trailer Size

Every sizing decision starts with your bike. The three numbers that matter are overall length, handlebar width, and loaded weight. Here's a practical reference by category:

• Cruisers (Harley-Davidson, Indian, metric cruisers): Typically 90–98 inches long, 36–44 inches wide at the bars, 550–850 lbs wet weight.
• Sport bikes (600cc–1000cc): 85–92 inches long, 26–32 inches wide, 380–500 lbs.
• Adventure / dual-sport (BMW GS, KTM 1290, Africa Twin): 88–96 inches long, 34–42 inches wide including panniers, 480–600 lbs.
• Dirt bikes and enduros: 80–88 inches long, 28–32 inches wide, 220–300 lbs.
• Touring bikes (Goldwing, Road Glide Ultra): 97–106 inches long, 38–44 inches wide, 800–1,000 lbs wet.

With those numbers in hand, you can match a trailer deck that handles your bike without overhanging the ramp or squeezing the bars against the fenders. Rule of thumb: the deck should be at least 8 inches longer than your wheelbase (front axle to rear axle, not overall length), and at least 4 inches wider on each side than your widest point.

Single-Bike Trailer Sizes: What Fits What

Most peer-to-peer motorcycle trailer rentals fall into a few standard deck configurations. Here's what they handle:

Compact Open Deck (6x10 or 5x10)

A 6x10 open channel-deck trailer is the workhorse for sport bikes, dirt bikes, and smaller metric cruisers. The 10-foot deck handles wheelbases up to 62 inches comfortably with room for a wheel chock and tie-down spread. The 6-foot width fits most bikes 32 inches and under at the bars without the bike sitting uncomfortably close to the rail. These trailers typically gross at 1,500–2,200 lbs, meaning even a 500-lb sport bike with gear leaves your tow vehicle well within its hitch rating.

If you're moving a lighter bike a short distance, this is the cheapest and most common rental option. Expect $40–65/day from a local owner. Weight distribution on a compact deck is easy: load the bike so roughly 60% of the trailer weight is ahead of the axle.

Standard Single-Bike Open Deck (7x14 to 7x16)

A 7x14 or 7x16 open deck is the right call for full-size cruisers, adventure bikes, and most touring bikes. The 14–16-foot length handles overall bike lengths up to 98 inches without the rear tire riding near the edge of the deck. The 7-foot width gives Harley-Davidson Road Glide bars, fairings, and wide adv mirrors a few inches of clearance on each side.

At this size you also get more tie-down options: most 7x14 and larger trailers have multiple E-track rows or D-ring anchor points, so you can run four straps with proper angles. Gross weight capacity runs 3,500–5,000 lbs, well clear of even a loaded bagger. Rental rates from local owners on BigLoads run $55–80/day for this class.

Enclosed Cargo Trailer Sizing for Motorcycles

Enclosed trailers sized for motorcycles are typically sold as 6x10, 6x12, or 7x14 with a 6-foot interior height or taller. The critical enclosed-trailer dimension beyond deck length is interior height clearance when the bike is loaded on the ramp and rolls in: handlebars plus mirrors on a tall adventure bike can hit a 6-foot door opening on the way through. Check the door opening height (not just the interior ceiling), especially for GS-class bikes with high bars.

A 6x10 enclosed trailer handles dirt bikes and sport bikes with room for gear. A 6x12 or 6x14 handles cruisers. A 7x16 enclosed is the right tool for a touring bike or when you want to fit two sport bikes side by side. Enclosed trailer rental rates from private owners start around $80–$120/day for smaller units and $100–$160/day for a 7x16.

Towing Capacity: Match the Trailer to Your Hitch

A motorcycle trailer with a loaded cruiser on it weighs 1,500–2,500 lbs on a bumper-pull. That's a modest tow for most half-ton trucks and most mid-size SUVs. What actually matters is matching the hitch class to the trailer's tongue weight and total gross weight:

• Class I hitch (up to 2,000 lbs GVWR, 200 lbs tongue): Handles a dirt bike on a lightweight 5x8 trailer. Barely. Check the trailer's tongue weight before relying on this.
• Class II hitch (up to 3,500 lbs GVWR, 350 lbs tongue): Works for most single sport-bike and cruiser setups on a 6x10 or 6x12 open trailer. Compact cars, smaller SUVs.
• Class III hitch (up to 8,000 lbs GVWR, 800 lbs tongue): The standard for any full-size cruiser, bagger, or dual tandem-axle trailer. Most trucks, SUVs, and minivans have this or can be equipped with it.

Always confirm your vehicle's tow rating and hitch class before booking. The trailer owner will usually know the tongue weight and GVWR. When in doubt, ask before you commit to a pickup day.

How Many Bikes Can One Trailer Haul?

Two bikes on one trailer is common and saves money when you're riding to a rally or track day with a buddy. The math on fit:

• Two sport bikes (600cc class): Fit side by side on a 7x16 or wider open deck. Sport bikes average 26–29 inches wide. Two at 30 inches each = 60 inches, fits a 7-foot-wide deck with 24 inches total margin.
• Two cruisers: Trickier. A Road Glide or Indian Chieftain runs 38–42 inches wide. Two won't go side by side on most 7-foot decks. You'll need an 8.5-foot-wide trailer or load them nose-to-tail in a longer deck if the trailer allows.
• Dirt bike plus cruiser: Often fits on a 7x16 side by side since the dirt bike is narrow.

For multi-bike hauls, check the trailer's GVWR against your combined loaded weights. Two 850-lb cruisers plus gear = 1,800 lbs of bike alone. Add trailer weight (1,800–2,500 lbs for a tandem-axle 7x16) and you need a trailer rated for 5,000+ lbs and a truck to match.

Trailer Size Checklist Before You Rent

Run through this before you book a motorcycle trailer on BigLoads or anywhere else:

1. Measure your bike's overall length and bar width, not just the wheelbase.
2. Confirm the deck length is at least 8 inches longer than your wheelbase.
3. For enclosed trailers, check door opening height, not just interior ceiling.
4. Verify your tow vehicle's hitch class and rated tongue weight.
5. For two bikes, add bar widths plus 20–24 inches total margin and compare to deck width.
6. Confirm ramp angle: short ramps on long trailers mean a steep load-up, tough on low-slung cruisers.
7. Ask the owner about E-track or D-ring tie-down positions before you commit.

Ready to find the right size? Search motorcycle trailers to rent near you on BigLoads — open decks, enclosed cargo trailers, single-bike and multi-bike options from local owners. Filter by location and message the owner directly. No booking fees.

How to Rent a Motorcycle Trailer Through BigLoads

BigLoads is a peer-to-peer marketplace for trailer rentals. You find an owner near you, message them directly (free), agree on dates and price, and handle pickup between yourselves. There's no mandatory platform booking fee and no call center middleman. Owners set their own rates and pick who they rent to.

For sizing questions, message the owner with your bike model and dimensions. Most trailer owners know their equipment and can tell you instantly whether it's the right fit for a Road King, a GS 1250, or two KTMs side by side. That conversation doesn't happen at a rental counter.

Browse the full motorcycle trailer rental listings near you and compare open deck vs enclosed options, single-axle vs tandem, and 10-foot vs 14-foot or longer decks in your area. Most owners also offer multi-day discounts — ask.

Have a Motorcycle Trailer? List It on BigLoads

If you own a motorcycle trailer that sits unused most of the year, listing it on BigLoads takes less than ten minutes and earns real money. Most motorcycle trailer owners rent out 5–12 days per month during riding season and earn $400–$900/month. You control your schedule, your pricing, and who rents it. Inquiries come straight to you on the BigLoads platform — no cut on the message, no forced booking system. It's the simplest way to offset trailer ownership costs.