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Lack of garage space prompted me to look into Hitch Hauler/Carrier. Something like this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NP82M1T..._OPRtFb9RY3MJT
I have seen only a handful of these at track days however
Other than having a sturdy rusty free frame, what are your opinions on this.
They’re great depending on what vehicle you put them on. My little dirt bike hauler would bottom out my old Jeep Cherokee. Lot of tongue weight , 2 feet out.
The thoughts of putting a #400 bike on one of these is terrifying to me.
From a 5 star Amazon review
While this looks like a disaster, it's actually much worse than it appears.
A normal hitch rating is based on the tow vehicle and the vehicle being towed experiencing different road conditions at the same time. ETA: I don't expect that you can get more than a class III hitch for that vehicle, which is rated at #600 tongue weight. I've never seen a spec for at what point tongue weight is measured (there probably is one), but it isn't where that motorcycle is riding.
In the case of one of these "hitch carriers" the road conditions of the "towing vehicle" are amplified by the distance from the rear wheel.
This scares me.
Last edited by jasnmar; 09-01-20 at 07:09 PM.
100% tongue weight, maybe a dirtbike on a Suburban
RandyO
IBA#9560
A man with a gun is a citizen
A man without a gun is a subject LETS GO BRANDON
It's been mentioned already, but definitely don't forget to account for the weight being further out than a ball would be.
I've seen quite a few dirtbikes on them, and that looks like it works fine. They wobble a bit, and the lighter duty trays sag. Never heard anything bad about them besides the tongue weight considerations. But you're looking at twice the weight, and on a lighter duty unibody vehicle. I'll be surprised if it officially specs that kinda weight, and even if you like to assume there's a wide margin of error, it's still a lot of weight hanging off the back. Swap the bike for a sumo?
nedirtriders.com
I agree with the comments. I think it will be dicey. Maybe, for a very light dirt bike. Again, depends on vehicle - a Grand Cherokee or 4 Runner would be much better at this than a Lexus RX330. The Lexus is a very comfortable and softly suspended cross over SUV.
'15 Ducati Scrambler, '13 Multistrada 1200S, '07 VFR, '14 CRF250L/M, '15 FJ-09, '23 Tuareg
Just run two ties downs up to the roof rack and it isn't going anywhere.
I'm not a physicist, but I'd guess that the allowable numbers might not fully account for the extra levering effect from a moving vehicle over bumpy roads. I saw a fairly big bike sagging off the back of a van a couple weeks ago. It looked like disaster waiting to happen.
It's called a moment load iirc. I have a hitch basket for camping that sags a bit and I thought about your idea but wasn't sure how sturdy the bars on my subaru are because they are designed to hold shit on top not pulling back. Not a physicist but was worried about breaking stuff.
I've been using this for 8 years or so:
https://www.discountramps.com/smc-60...er/p/SMC-600R/
The key is to have a quality anti-sway device like this (I use my electric impact to tighten):
https://www.amazon.com/StowAway-Tigh...motive&sr=1-35
As stated above, check both vehicle and hitch capacities. I've used my carrier with a Jeep Liberty and a Jeep Cherokee without issue. I will say that my current Jeep Grand Cherokee with air-suspension handles it considerably better. I have two trailers but if it's a smaller bike (<500lbs) I grab this almost every time.
oh, and I added an amazon truck-bed LED strip with built in brake, running, and turn signals for visibility.
Last edited by OneCheekRider; 09-02-20 at 07:45 PM.
Just get Chips single rail trailer and call it a day.
I did a bit of digging around and have not found an aftermarket hitch (Curt, Reese, etc) for an RX330 that is rated for more than 350 lbs tongue weight. As the other guys have mentioned, a hitch carrier places the load out further than where you'd have a trailer ball.
I wouldn't do it. If space were a concern, folding trailer.
I went to MMI I know what Im doing here chief
I had one for my dirtbike. I wouldn't put anything much heavier than that on it. I now have a folding trailer for the dirt bikes.
2017 Triumph Rocket III Roadster
Cages: 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4 Diesel, 2005 Escalade
Maybe I will be posting up a hot setup. Diesel pickup with a Lance slide in that tows a Pace enclosed trailer optioned to the max. All extra mint. All you need is a helmet and a bike.
I wouldn't put anything heavier than a dirt bike on anything lighter-duty than a body-on-frame truck.
Hanging 350lbs (or more!) 12-18" rearwards off the trailer hitch on a unibody car does not seem to be a recipe for good times.
'02 Ducati 998, '08 Ducati HyperMotard 1100S, '14 Subaru XV Crosstrek
Rocky Mountain sells Switch Hauler. Weight limit is 350. I use it for KTM 250 SXF on SUV with no issues ever in the last 5 years. This thing is SOLID. Can’t put street bike on it though as they are usually over 350
'02 Ducati 998, '08 Ducati HyperMotard 1100S, '14 Subaru XV Crosstrek
Hahaha PRIUS! Of course. The Switch Hauler works with a class 3 hitch which is 600 lbs tongue weight limit.
-Christian LRRS/CCS HasBeen ECK Racing
2011 Pit Bike Race CHAMPION!