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Xodot
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 09:04 am: |
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Motorcycle hauler hitch - 500 pound capacity. Do you think my tuber be OK on it? Seems easier than using a trailer.... |
Etennuly
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 10:33 am: |
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I couldn't open that. If you mean one of the front tire brackets that mount in a hitch receiver where the back tire is still on the road, they work pretty well. I built one for a guy with a trike that had a really long rake. The only problem was he had never towed a trailer before and would turn his car so sharp in parking lots that the bumper corner would nearly hit the bike, and the the dummy would try to back up. The other draw back is wear on the rear tire, belt, and transmission output shaft. These things already eat rear tires. IMHO, short trips when you would really need to, it would be OK. But overall the bike is better off being on a trailer or back of a truck, if it has to be transported. If it is one that loads the bike sideways and carries it off the ground, it shouldn't be a problem at all. The bike will get dirty though. (Message edited by etennuly on April 17, 2009) |
Froggy
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 10:40 am: |
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Mr_grumpy
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 10:42 am: |
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Put my tuber on one of these, right between the headlights, hurt a bit though.
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Etennuly
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 10:48 am: |
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Ft_bstrd had one like that a year or two ago. He claimed to have liked it, if memory serves. |
Krassh
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 12:23 pm: |
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I had one similar called a tilt-a-rack. I used to take my XB9S to the dealer on it. http://www.atvsolutions.com/ |
Methed
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 06:32 pm: |
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Beware that many a frame and/or hitch have been bent by these rigs when guys put "490lb dry weight" bike on one of these, as many common hitches can only handle 500lbs max. We've had a Hitch Haul for ages, but I'd never throw a bike over 300 on it, as its weight, plus fluids, and the weight of the Haul itself plus g-forces from drag and bad roads add much strain. Just my too sense. |
Woody1911a1
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 06:41 pm: |
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a friend of mine who's a musician just did a 4 month tour from the east coast to the left coast with his triumph speedmaster on the back of his van using one of those with no problems . personally it makes me cringe but .... |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 06:51 pm: |
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I have one and really like it. Dobr24 has one as well. They are much more convenient to store than a trailer. The main concern isn't the capacity of the hauler. It's the tongue weight of your vehicle. Make sure the hitch and vehicle can take the weight of the carrier AND the bike. Mine is rated at 600lbs. Carrier + bike is below that but not by much. |
Mortarmanmike120
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 11:02 pm: |
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I want one also but dont think my TJ would like it. That's way too much tongue weight for my short wheelbase. Can you say "jeep-wheelie" |
Ourdee
| Posted on Friday, April 17, 2009 - 11:24 pm: |
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My TJ has carried 500 pounds on the hitch. I only had to make it 25 miles. I drove under 50 and under 35 on rough roads. Nose had some altitude. That was a yard tractor. I wouldn't put my bike on it. |
Xodot
| Posted on Saturday, April 18, 2009 - 09:13 am: |
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Thanks all for your advice.I just re-checked the S3 specs in the manual. Wet weight is 496 lbs.... the max for the hitch on my Buick. Allowing for a fudge factor makes it so close but no go. When I started looking at these haulers I thought the bike weight was just over 400 lbs |
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