All revved up
More than 10,000 motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to cruise down to the Inland Northwest Motorcycle Show next weekend at the Spokane Convention and Agriculture Trade Center.
The Glidewell family of Rockford, will be among those admiring the hundreds of shiny choppers, cruisers and dirt bikes.
“I’ve been riding my whole life,” said Travis Glidewell, 35. “It’s something I did with my family when I was a kid.”
Travis and his wife, Michele, 31, continued the family tradition. All their children, Taylor, 12, Teigan, 9, and Trinity, 6, ride dirt bikes.
Five years ago the family became actively involved in motocross and today both Taylor and Teigan compete on regional tracks.
“We love motocross because it has become such a big family activity,” said Travis. “You see everyone from kids to grandparents out there. It is a lot of fun.”
Because they spend every other weekend between April and October camping or at motocross competitions, the Glidewells decided a long time ago to purchase an RV.
Recently they bought their second “toy hauler” trailer, a 2005 25-foot Rage’n which they pull with a 2002 1/2-ton Dodge quad cab.
Toy haulers come under the umbrella of sport-utility trailers. They are also called toy boxes, garage units and cargo haulers. These versatile recreational vehicles combine living space, cargo area and loading ramp.
SUTs have become extremely popular in the last few years and are designed for active RVers who travel with sports equipment such as motorcycles, Jet Skis, snowmobiles and four-wheelers.
The Glidewells’ rig is fully self-contained and can sleep the family of five comfortably. There is a pull-down queen-size bed and convertible dinette. It has a three-burner stove, a refrigerator with freezer, a generator, an air conditioner/furnace and a full bathroom with shower.
“My wife’s favorite aspects of the toy hauler are the shower and ability to cook hot meals,” said Travis. “Or maybe enjoy a hot meal that I cooked, because we share the responsibility – but my cooking is nothing to write home about.”
RV options for bikers
Motor home owners have a couple of different options available for transporting motorcycles. They can mount a carrier on the coach’s bumper or tow a small trailer.
“I have ridden motorcycles for many, many years,” said Bill Fishfader, former owner of RVs Northwest. “I’ve always towed it in a small open trailer because the bike I used, up until very recently, was a big Harley. Because of its weight and size, it was easier to use the trailer tow system.”
Combining RVs and motorcycles is a great lifestyle, said Fishfader from his “semi-retirement” home in Anthem, Ariz.
“When you have an RV you have the flexibility to take advantage of great scenery and leisurely cruising back roads because you take your lodging with you.”
For more information
“Two RV dealerships will be at the motorcycle show: RVs Northwest, toll free (888) 493-3874, Valley store: (509) 891-5854, North store: (509) 466-4328, www.rvsnorthwest.com; and R ‘n’ R RV Center in Liberty Lake, (509) 927-9000 or (800) 873-9002, www.rnrrv.com.
“Rage’N is manufactured by National RV Inc., out of Perris, Calif. For a brochure call (800) 322-6007 or see www.nationalrv.com.
“Check out Toy Hauler online magazine at www.toyhaulermagazine.com.
“Information on area motorcycle clubs is available at www.spokanebiker.com.
Lightweight tent trailer
If you enjoy camping and seeing the country from the seat of a motorcycle, yet don’t like sleeping on the ground, there is a clever lightweight tent trailer you might want to check out at the motorcycle show.
Lees-ure Lite out of British Columbia manufactures two super-light pop-up tent trailers that can be towed by a touring bike or small car.
The original 48-by-66-inch model weighs only 230 pounds unloaded and costs around $3,595 (U.S.). The 54-by-66-inch Excel model weighs 255 pounds dry and retails at $3,895 (U.S.) The cargo space can hold up to 450 pounds.
If you can’t make it to the motorcycle show, check out their Web page at www.leesurelite.com, or write for a brochure to Lees-ure Lite, P.O. Box 1330, Osoyoos, B.C. V0H 1V0, toll-free (800) 660-0933, e-mail: info@leesurelite.com.