Gina Williams shares a few safety tips on trailering motorcycles behind your RV

Gina Williams is a young writer whose dear friend died as the result of a motorcycle accident "after driving too fast over a highway overpass."

That accident gave her life focus. She began writing about motorcycle safety and established Motorcycle Accident.org. She herself is a hobbyist biker "on the weekends. I don't have my dream bike yet, but one day I'd like to get a Yamaha VMax Cruiser."

The 20-something lives in Houston, Texas, and although she's not an RV owner, she does love the outdoors and has been drawn back into camping after being away from it since her childhood.

"I love camping on the beach," said Williams, "even though it is a mess."  Two of her other favorite camping locations in Texas are on Lake Travis, in Austin; and Lost Maples State Park near Vanderpool in the Hill Country.

As for the percentage of women motorcyclists, Williams, said that "the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety released statistics in 2008, which states that 12-percent of motorcyclists were women, but only 4-percent of fatal motorcycle crashes were female."

Women RVers.com asked Williams to write about safety tips for trailering motorcycles behind RVs.

'Motorcycle Towing: Safety Tips' by Gina Williams

Traveling in your RV is too much fun; you get to see things you wouldn’t ordinarily and at the end of the day, you don’t have to sleep in a hotel room where only God knows how many other people have slept.

Even more fun is bringing your beloved motorcycle along with you. However, towing it by trailer can be dangerous if you don’t take the proper safety precautions.

Choose the Right Trailer 

To ensure the safety of yourself and the motorists behind your tow, who are the ones most at risk, you must ensure that you have the proper trailer for what you’re towing.

The trailer you choose must safely and properly fit your vehicle and sustain the weight of your motorcycle.

These are the basic types of trailers for towing a motorcycle: Open flatbed, Enclosed, Two-wheel, Lifts, Towing cradles.

Properly Connect Everything 

Here are four imperative steps you must be sure you complete in order to properly connect your trailer to your RV:

1. After connecting your trailer to your RV, ensure that the trailer hitch pin is in, and in the whole way. This reinforces the towing apparatus to your RV. 
2. Ensure that the hitch coupler and spring bar hinges are secured. 
3. Utilize your safety chains; secure them from the trailer to your RV. If your trailer detaches for any reason, the safety chains will ensure that your trailer does not fully detach from you vehicle and harm other motorists. 
4. Secure the light wires to your trailer. Test them to make sure that drivers behind you will see when you initiate your turn signal and brakes. 

Triple Check… Everything

Once you’ve connected everything, make sure you double and triple check all of your connections. Secure Your Motorcycle on the Trailer Motorcycles are one of the most difficult things to transport by trailer as they are on two wheels, and two wheels simply do not provide much balance for your bike when you are towing. 

What you’ll need:

1. Towing straps. 
Utilize towing straps by placing them through your motorcycle’s frame, wheels, etc., and securing the straps to the sides of the trailer. Ensure that the straps are locked and tight to prevent your bike from shifting during transport.

2. A wheel rail, cradle, or chock. 
All three of these devices prevent your bike from rolling around by securing its wheels. Additionally, you should ensure that your motorcycle will not put more weight on one side of the trailer more so than the other; make sure your bike is centered on the trailer.

Practice Safe Driving Techniques 

• Always practice safe driving techniques, including:
  - If you’re inexperienced or will be towing a new trailer, practice in a safe, empty area before driving on a busy road.
  - Always remember that you’re towing a trailer, which requires different driving techniques and considerations than when driving your RV. 
• Take wider, slower turns than you ordinarily would. 
• Drive slower than you ordinarily would. 
• Begin braking sooner than you normally would; the additional weight that you are towing means it will take you longer to stop. 

Reach Gina Williams at: 
Url: www.motorcycleaccident.org/

 To read more of Julianne Crane's writing, go to RVWheelLife.com 

RVer Malia Lane shares her favorite RV holiday memory

Full time solo RVer Malia Lane who is spending this holiday season in her homebase of Austin, Texas, sent in this story about a favorite holiday memory in her recreational vehicle:

"The first Christmas I celebrated in my new rolling home was in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2001.

"I was traveling with my best friend who had introduced me to RVing - the best Christmas present ever. I cooked a full-on Christmas feast in my tiny kitchen and it turned out to be one of the best meals and times ever, complete with a wreath, fragrant candles and wine from plastic glasses.

"We decorated a rather sad looking little tree outside the RVs and laughed about it looking like a real Charlie Brown Christmas tree. We took a trip to the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC, and were excited as little kids with how they had each room elaborately decorated with huge trees and different themes celebrating the holiday.

"Several times I've been asked if I was sad about being away from 'home' during the holidays. From the very beginning, my little 350 sq. ft. space has felt like home and no matter where it's parked, I celebrate being home for the holidays.

"Sometimes I've celebrated with family and other times I've embraced new friends who feel like family by the time the new year has arrived. Either way, I am thankful for the freedom and gifts this lifestyle brings. Merry Christmas to all and to all happy trails!" 

Read Malia's "Inspiration's Journey"

Photo: Malia Lane sitting at her first Christmas dinner on the road. Courtesy of Malia Lane.

To read more by Julianne Crane, click on RVWheelLife.com

Fran Reisner -- photographer, author, RVer

Professional photographer and author Fran Reisner began traveling the highways fulltime in mid-September 2011, just a few weeks after selling her home in Frisco, Texas (about 30 miles north of Dallas).

She bought her motorhome "only days before having to hand over the keys to my home," says the solo RVer who travels with her two rescue dogs, Jazzy and Sadie.

Recreation Vehicle: "I got a SWEET deal on a very slightly used 2010 Winnebago Adventurer, affectionately referred to as The Beast" -- 35.5’ long, 12.5’ high, and 8.5’ wide. "In high winds this baby can rock and roll," says Fran.

"With the three slides out it is very spacious, which was important to me since I'm traveling with two dogs. I've never owned an RV and went cold turkey into full time RVing."

"The visibility is great, especially with the back-up camera and side cameras. Without the back-up camera I would not be able to see the car unless in a tight turn."

Toad: “Zippy,” Honda CRV EXL, weighs in at about 3,200 pounds. "I went with the Blue Ox system and I’m very happy with my choice." The toad added 17-feet behind her motorhome, equalling "a whopping 52-feet. "The benefit of adding the tow car is that I am now able to travel down many 'roads less traveled' without the worry about getting stuck," says Fran.

"You cannot be in a hurry in a big RV, which is just as well because I don’t want to be in a hurry any more. You also can’t be worrying too much about the guy behind you when there’s nowhere to turn off and ya just can’t go any faster. I’ll use the turn outs when they’re available, but otherwise … I’m just going to be another one of those old farts toodling down the road like I’ve got all the time in the world."

Customizing RV for traveling companions:

"I built a portable platform (doubles as a table) that fits over the passenger seat with space enough for both Sadie and Jazzy to ride eye to eye with the 'big boys' out there.  They love it," says Fran.

"After leaving a two-acre fenced property where they could run freely, I though it might be a big adjustment for them. Not so. They're happy to be with me and jump in willingly when I ask them if they're ready to go for a ride."

URLs: Follow Fran's travel adventures by clicking on:  Journey in Focus
Check out her professional photography at: Fran Reisner Photography

Books:
'The Dogs of Central Park' (Hardcover, $19.95) 2011. (Order direct from Fran Reisner at Fran@FranReisner.com and a percentage of the purchase price goes to support animal rescue organizations.)
'The Mountain Dogs of Colorado' (In process).

Photographs: Courtesy of Fran Reisner.

Read more by Julianne Crane at RVWheelLife.com