hitch carriers...

[Chippertheripper]

The TTD crew is "testing" that day at NYST.

In that case, I'll carpool with you, petah.

[Garandman]

There are a number of threads on Advrider about these.

[breakdirt916]

johnny vissaaaaahhh!!! your post is worthleszzzz without pics!!

[brady]

It may be just me, but I've never trusted the engineering that goes into most of those, not at anywhere near their rated weight anyway. Tongue weight for a trailer is a pretty static load, but add some normal suspension bouncing with a load on one of those carriers and it turns into a big lever acting on the hitch receiver and carrier at possibly many times the force of it's rated capacity.

[nerijusj]

I wouldn't trust those hitch carriers. I remember we helped loading Ducati for one of the guys at the track. The thing flexed so much with a bike on it, I don't know if he made it back with it in one piece lol

[Trouble]

I didn't trust them until I tried one. Kitt let me borrow one of the typical ones for my dirt bike and he almost didn't get it back. I was very impressed how stable the bike remained. Granted that was a 250 four stroke dirt bike. I found a good deal on a very lightly used high end hitch hauler (Boss) and have been extremely happy. It incorporates a system that takes the wiggle out of the receiver hitch so there's less torque on the hitch.

If the suspension on the bike is traveling up and down much while the bike is on the hauler you don't have it tied down well enough. The suspension on the "tow" vehicle is doing almost all the work, especially if its a sport bike on board. The weight rating on my hauler depends on the hitch capacity of the tow vehicle up to a maximum of 450 lbs. I've put maybe 350 lbs on it no problem. I wouldn't hesitate to put more on but I don't think I'd try my 1150gs.

[OreoGaborio]

Cool, thanks guys.

Didn't get a chance to hook up with Johnny's dad so I'm grabbin one from Harbor Freight today. If I don't like it I'm sure I can return it & pick up the one JV's pops at a later date.

[brady]

I didn't trust them until I tried one. Kitt let me borrow one of the typical ones for my dirt bike and he almost didn't get it back. I was very impressed how stable the bike remained. Granted that was a 250 four stroke dirt bike. I found a good deal on a very lightly used high end hitch hauler (Boss) and have been extremely happy. It incorporates a system that takes the wiggle out of the receiver hitch so there's less torque on the hitch.

If the suspension on the bike is traveling up and down much while the bike is on the hauler you don't have it tied down well enough. The suspension on the "tow" vehicle is doing almost all the work, especially if its a sport bike on board. The weight rating on my hauler depends on the hitch capacity of the tow vehicle up to a maximum of 450 lbs. I've put maybe 350 lbs on it no problem. I wouldn't hesitate to put more on but I don't think I'd try my 1150gs.

Good to know there are some that do the job well. The number of cheaper ones out there still scare me.

[breakdirt916]

and fyi - most newer ones come with the anti-wobble device...and if you don't have it, you can buy one separately

here's the one that came with mine:



this slides inside the hitch carrier, so when you put in that threaded hitch pin, you tighten it and it pulls the carrier very snug into the receiver

here's an aftermarket $8.80 alternative:



you can buy one at uhaul for $17.95 too:


^ that one locks!

[OreoGaborio]

Got the Harbor Freight jobby. $115 well spent!


I wouldn't wanna put anything on there that's a whole lot heavier than my race bike, but I got the bike from PK's to the North Shore safe & sound w/o any worries at all.

The ramp is a little short so I need a longer ramp, curb, or something to prop up the ramp a little so that it's a shallower angle but other than that it works great.

The anti-wobble device is incredibly simple on this thing. I'll have to snap a pic when I get a chance. It's literally two thicK "L" plates with a big bolt. Simple but effective. PK was cool enough to drill a hole in the main spar to slide it a little further into the hitch to get everything in the right position, but once he did that install & transport was flawless.

It IS a little tricky to load/unload the first time and requires a second person but once I get a little practice I shouldn't have any problems.

[breakdirt916]

bitchen

I actually tried my 7' arched ramp and it makes it stupid easy to roll a bike up

IIRC - so you don't have anything that stops the bike's front wheel?

I tried removing a couple pins so the wheel "drops" in, but I still don't think it's that great

and don't the bars twist side to side?

[OreoGaborio]

Handlebars don't turn at ALL. The front wheel drops down between the rails and there's a clamp that grips onto the tire/rim and kinda keeps it upright like a wheel chalk. Still kinda need one hand to balance till ya get the straps on there. Haven't tried loading/unloading by myself yet so can't say for sure if it's doable or not. Should be though.

[Rambunctous]

Oh, thanks. I'll get right on that. Cuz, you know, I got all the shit to do that with me right here.

Lemme just drop my pants, bend over & pull steel and a welder outta my ass.

Make it with bamboo and rawhide then.

[Trouble]

Looks good!

I put the bike on the hauler, lean the handlebar against the truck, put the inner strap on (loosely) and then do the outer strap. I'm guessing if it was that easy with your setup you'd have figured it out already though.

How much time did you spend looking in the rear view mirror on its maiden voyage? Hah! Every bump, look back. Every time you stop, look back. Every time you go, look back.

[SVRACER01]

he would know if something went wrong. the handlebar will go through the back window

[Trouble]

Finally found this photo:



Better late than never I guess.

[OreoGaborio]

I put the bike on the hauler, lean the handlebar against the truck, put the inner strap on (loosely) and then do the outer strap. I'm guessing if it was that easy with your setup you'd have figured it out already though.

Good tip. Dunno if it's too far away from the tailgate to do that though.

How much time did you spend looking in the rear view mirror on its maiden voyage? Hah! Every bump, look back. Every time you stop, look back. Every time you go, look back.

yup!

[breakdirt916]

oh snap...mine doesn't have that clamp thing...I can see how that can help

but ya, I have the straps laid out before I get there, and I'm pretty lanky so I can hold the bike in place and reach down to pick up the straps

will that front wheel thingie hold the whole bike in place well enough to grab the straps? if so:

1.) roll bike and secure front wheel

2.) add straps

3.) ???

4.) Profit!

[breakdirt916]

and while we're all playing:



personally, I love 'em...you don't need space/storage for a trailer (which works for me since I'm in an apt), and in CA there's a 55mph speed limit while towing...with the carrier I can drive like normal

[Rambunctous]

Oh, thanks. I'll get right on that. Cuz, you know, I got all the shit to do that with me right here.

Lemme just drop my pants, bend over & pull steel and a welder outta my ass.

I think a welder is not needed but nice. Find some rear axle spring heavy duty U bolts. I think a set are 30 bucks at Advance Auto Parts. Sullivan Metal has everything else. Cheaper would be a scrap yard.

[OreoGaborio]

THANK YOU FOR THE HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE INPUT. YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT AND INVALUABLE MEMBER. YOU ARE TRULY APPRECIATED AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

[csmutty]

and while we're all playing:



personally, I love 'em...you don't need space/storage for a trailer (which works for me since I'm in an apt), and in CA there's a 55mph speed limit while towing...with the carrier I can drive like normal

Why don't you just put it in the back of the truck?

[nhbubba]

That bed space is obviously reserved for beer. Duh...

[pontifex]

personally, I love 'em...you don't need space/storage for a trailer (which works for me since I'm in an apt), and in CA there's a 55mph speed limit while towing...with the carrier I can drive like normal

55 MPH speed limit while towing anything!? Craziness.

[breakdirt916]

Why don't you just put it in the back of the truck?

gotta take the bed cover off (need a couple guys to lift it & no friends out here...particularly at 11pm and 6am when I'd take it off)

and I live in an apt with no parking spot - no place to store it

bed cover is handy - truck is where I store the hitch carrier, gas can, & gear without it getting stolen and stinking up the 1br apt

tell ya what - if you send me an extra $400/month for me to get a place with a garage to store the bed cover, and you move to CA and live in that garage, then be available at 6am and 11pm to help me remove the bed cover 2-3/month, I'll put the bike in the back of the truck *just* for you