kendon trailer

mike1952 · 03-15-2013, 09:10 AM

I am retiring soon and want to take extended trips and tow my bikes. I am thinking about a Kendon dual place that is supposed to allow you to ride up onto it. Anyone experience with this unit? They also make one that is not a ride up on model.

mike54 · 03-15-2013, 09:33 AM

I'm not familiar with the new ride on models. I looked really hard at the kendons for a while. I liked the stand up feature and they seemed to be pretty well built. I talked to a few folks who had them and heard nothing but praise. But they were too much $$$ for me. I found a 5X8 landscapers trailer locally for 1/4 the price of the kendon. I bolted some caulks in the front and it carries 2 bikes fine. It has a fold down ramp that allows me to ride on for loading. I've used it for dirt bikes, track bikes, and touring bikes. It's heavier than the kendon and doesn't fold for storage but I'm happy with it.

I'm sure you'd be happy with the kendon too if you decide to go that way. Like I said, nothing but praise from the people I talked to that owned them.

Congrats on your retirement.

tundra61 · 03-15-2013, 10:31 AM

I have one. I would not ride on using the stock ramps, they are way to narrow and the risk of dropping the bike is way to high. If you got a wider ramp I think you would be OK though.

The trailer does easily fold and stand up when you need to store it.

Overall, I would say the trailer is good and solid - but depending on your budget - there is absolutely no doubt the Aluma MC2F folding trailer is better. It is truly ride on and is much more solid.

scarysharkface · 03-15-2013, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike1952

I am retiring soon and want to take extended trips and tow my bikes. I am thinking about a Kendon dual place that is supposed to allow you to ride up onto it. Anyone experience with this unit? They also make one that is not a ride up on model.

A friend of mine has one (3-rail model) that has the optional HD suspension. That thing is scary-dangerous to pull. I suspect that the HD suspension is achieved by shortening the axle arms to increase weight capacity, which would move the wheels forward. With two bikes loaded it's impossible to have any tongue weight whatsoever (even short dirt bikes). I will never pull one of those trailers again.

And beyond this personal experience, I've never heard a negative comment about them.

John

thebugslayer · 03-15-2013, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarysharkface

A friend of mine has one (3-rail model) that has the optional HD suspension. That thing is scary-dangerous to pull. I suspect that the HD suspension is achieved by shortening the axle arms to increase weight capacity, which would move the wheels forward. With two bikes loaded it's impossible to have any tongue weight whatsoever (even short dirt bikes). I will never pull one of those trailers again.

And beyond this personal experience, I've never heard a negative comment about them.

John

I'm not quite tracking this concern, although I don't know anything about the HD suspension. I bought mine off Craigslist--slightly used for just over half the price of new. The construction is very high quality and it pulls beautifully. I've carried a single dirt bike, two dirt bikes, and two road bikes on it for many hundreds of miles. It loads and rides smoothly and easily. The tongue is short which makes it a bit tough to back up, especially unloaded as you can't see the trailer. Expensive, but worth it if you're going to use it for any real distances.

scarysharkface · 03-15-2013, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebugslayer

I'm not quite tracking this concern, although I don't know anything about the HD suspension. I bought mine off Craigslist--slightly used for just over half the price of new. The construction is very high quality and it pulls beautifully. I've carried a single dirt bike, two dirt bikes, and two road bikes on it for many hundreds of miles. It loads and rides smoothly and easily. The tongue is short which makes it a bit tough to back up, especially unloaded as you can't see the trailer. Expensive, but worth it if you're going to use it for any real distances.

Yep, very well built.

Xeraux · 03-16-2013, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebugslayer

I'm not quite tracking this concern, although I don't know anything about the HD suspension. I bought mine off Craigslist--slightly used for just over half the price of new. The construction is very high quality and it pulls beautifully. I've carried a single dirt bike, two dirt bikes, and two road bikes on it for many hundreds of miles. It loads and rides smoothly and easily. The tongue is short which makes it a bit tough to back up, especially unloaded as you can't see the trailer. Expensive, but worth it if you're going to use it for any real distances.

Same here.

I have a dual and I've had a single 12GS and two 12GSs and a Vespa on it and it pulls beautifully. You almost don't know it's back there.

mike1952 · 03-16-2013, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tundra61

I have one. I would not ride on using the stock ramps, they are way to narrow and the risk of dropping the bike is way to high. If you got a wider ramp I think you would be OK though.

The trailer does easily fold and stand up when you need to store it.

Overall, I would say the trailer is good and solid - but depending on your budget - there is absolutely no doubt the Aluma MC2F folding trailer is better. It is truly ride on and is much more solid.

Is it the standard or the new ride on model? Could me and my wife load the bike? Vstrom, Ninja 650 or DR650.

Lucky Explorer · 03-17-2013, 07:44 AM

Have owned a single rail for 20 years, and only problem was the spare fell off a couple years ago! And owner of company went out of his way to solve it and get me the proper (old style) spare. great product and great people to deal with. Rides smooth as new. Third set of tires now. Love the folding flip-up feature.
Allen.

scarysharkface · 03-17-2013, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xeraux

Same here.

I have a dual and I've had a single 12GS and two 12GSs and a Vespa on it and it pulls beautifully. You almost don't know it's back there.

My point is don't order the heavy suspension. The trailer geometry isn't designed for it, however tempting it might be. My friend's concern was that he was hauling a KLR, a KTM 990 and a dirt bike, and that exceeds the normal Kendon 3-rail gvw.

John

catalina38 · 03-17-2013, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarysharkface

My point is don't order the heavy suspension. The trailer geometry isn't designed for it, however tempting it might be. My friend's concern was that he was hauling a KLR, a KTM 990 and a dirt bike, and that exceeds the normal Kendon 3-rail gvw.

John

Those three bikes don't exceed the 2000# capacity of the Kendon. I carried two KLR's and a Dr650 with ease and two 990's just as easily. The real benefit besides easy loading and towing is the ability to stand it up in the garage out of the way.

scarysharkface · 03-18-2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catalina38

Those three bikes don't exceed the 2000# capacity of the Kendon. I carried two KLR's and a Dr650 with ease and two 990's just as easily. The real benefit besides easy loading and towing is the ability to stand it up in the garage out of the way.

It's definitely well-built and being able to stand it up in the garage is a great feature. Not sure about the weight thing, but my friend asked them to increase it and they did. It *has* to have been by shortening the length of the trailing axle arms, because his Kendon pulls like a back-loaded trailer full of horses. It's downright scary on everything but the smoothest of straight asphalt.

I'd be interested in towing a standard-configuration 3-rail for comparison. I'm certain it's a significantly better experience, since Kendon trailers are highly-regarded and never discounted that I've ever seen.

John

Albie · 03-18-2013, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catalina38

Those three bikes don't exceed the 2000# capacity of the Kendon. I carried two KLR's and a Dr650 with ease and two 990's just as easily. The real benefit besides easy loading and towing is the ability to stand it up in the garage out of the way.

Actually, the 3 rail trailers only have a 1500 LB capacity. The dual rail trailers have a 2K lb capacity.

scarysharkface · 03-18-2013, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albie

Actually, the 3 rail trailers only have a 1500 LB capacity. The dual rail trailers have a 2K lb capacity.

That 'splains it, and now that I think about it the third bike was a V-Strom, not a dirt bike.

John

Tsotsie · 03-18-2013, 06:35 PM

I have a dual rail 2005 that I have pulled about 10k+ miles, sometimes with a Goldwing and BMW K1200 GT on it. Great trailer- tracks beautifully. Easy to walk a bike up into the front wheel catch system.

Great bearing arrangement too - grease through the center of the axle to the back bearing which then pushes the old grease out.

Balance the wheels and make sure you pump the tires to 40 + psi

03-15-2013, 09:10 AM	#1
mike1952 ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2008 Location: north of ann arbor michigan Oddometer: 1,112	kendon trailer I am retiring soon and want to take extended trips and tow my bikes. I am thinking about a Kendon dual place that is supposed to allow you to ride up onto it. Anyone experience with this unit? They also make one that is not a ride up on model.

03-15-2013, 09:33 AM	#2
mike54 You don't get me Joined: Mar 2004 Oddometer: 12,404	I'm not familiar with the new ride on models. I looked really hard at the kendons for a while. I liked the stand up feature and they seemed to be pretty well built. I talked to a few folks who had them and heard nothing but praise. But they were too much $$$ for me. I found a 5X8 landscapers trailer locally for 1/4 the price of the kendon. I bolted some caulks in the front and it carries 2 bikes fine. It has a fold down ramp that allows me to ride on for loading. I've used it for dirt bikes, track bikes, and touring bikes. It's heavier than the kendon and doesn't fold for storage but I'm happy with it. I'm sure you'd be happy with the kendon too if you decide to go that way. Like I said, nothing but praise from the people I talked to that owned them. Congrats on your retirement. __________________ A genius is the one most like himself. - T. Monk via S. Lacy Do stand up guys lie?

03-15-2013, 10:31 AM	#3
tundra61 Studly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2008 Location: There Oddometer: 853	I have one. I would not ride on using the stock ramps, they are way to narrow and the risk of dropping the bike is way to high. If you got a wider ramp I think you would be OK though. The trailer does easily fold and stand up when you need to store it. Overall, I would say the trailer is good and solid - but depending on your budget - there is absolutely no doubt the Aluma MC2F folding trailer is better. It is truly ride on and is much more solid. __________________ 2007 BMW K1200R (just like my women - fast and naked) 2007 BMW K1200GT (man this bike is fast) 2009 BMW G450X (hard to beat a bike with FI) 2007 ktm 250 xc-w (light as a feather - sold) 2007 BMW r1200gs (awesome bike - but sold) 2007 BMW X-Challenge (SOLD) 2008 ktm 530 exc (SOLD) 2006 xr 650 r (SOLD) brute force 650i (SOLD) klr 650 (SOLD)

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03-17-2013, 07:44 AM	#9
Lucky Explorer Traveled the world Joined: Sep 2001 Location: Northern Arizona, usa Oddometer: 285	Have owned a single rail for 20 years, and only problem was the spare fell off a couple years ago! And owner of company went out of his way to solve it and get me the proper (old style) spare. great product and great people to deal with. Rides smooth as new. Third set of tires now. Love the folding flip-up feature. Allen.

03-18-2013, 06:35 PM	#15
Tsotsie Semi-reformed Tsotsi Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Texas Oddometer: 785	I have a dual rail 2005 that I have pulled about 10k+ miles, sometimes with a Goldwing and BMW K1200 GT on it. Great trailer- tracks beautifully. Easy to walk a bike up into the front wheel catch system. Great bearing arrangement too - grease through the center of the axle to the back bearing which then pushes the old grease out. Balance the wheels and make sure you pump the tires to 40 + psi