Motorcycle Carrier

7977 Views 75 Replies 29 Participants Last post by bighammer, Feb 28, 2021

kimberkat74

Discussion Starter · Feb 10, 2021

2

The curb weight of the 650 is approximately 475lb. Has anybody used this type of a rack that has a 500lb or 600lb weight capacity? Any feedback would be appreciated.

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badjuju

· #2 · Feb 10, 2021

I had one of those that claimed to have a 600# capacity. Used it to carry my 225# dirt bike with no issues.

Biggest problem is that all Cat3 and Cat4 2" hitches are only rated to carry 500-600# tongue weight. By the time you figure the weight of the Strom--which BTW is actually >525# with fluid, fuel and accessories like skid plate, crash bars, etc--plus the weight of the carrier, you're at the max recommended tongue weight. The way those carry the bike, they put a tremendous amount of torque on the hitch...far more than if you were towing a trailer with a similar tongue weight. Bumps and dips would likely send the tongue weight way over the limit. Not saying it can't be done, but you'd be opening yourself to a huge liability if the hitch or carrier failed, plus you'd be looking for a new bike.

Strongly recommend looking into a light trailer instead.

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oldjeep

· #3 · Feb 10, 2021

Most decent cat 4 hitches are rated for 1000lbs tongue weight. My ram is rated for 1100.

badjuju

· #4 · Feb 11, 2021

Didn't realize there were Cat4 carriers rated that high for tongue weight without a WD hitch. My Ford has a payload rating of 1970# but the carrier is rated to 600# or 1100# WD. That's a butt-load of weight to hang 3-4 feet behind the rear axle! Not sure I'd want to haul very far or fast that way. Anyhoo, I'd still recommend going with a light trailer unless you're hauling with a 3/4 ton.

kd70qc

· #5 · Feb 11, 2021

I have one that carried my Strom to Colorado and back a couple of years ago.

when I get home I’ll get you the info

PerazziMx14

· #6 · Feb 11, 2021

Levering 500lbs past the back bumper to me is not a good idea.

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oldjeep

· #7 · Feb 11, 2021

badjuju said:
Didn't realize there were Cat4 carriers rated that high for tongue weight without a WD hitch. My Ford has a payload rating of 1970# but the carrier is rated to 600# or 1100# WD. That's a butt-load of weight to hang 3-4 feet behind the rear axle! Not sure I'd want to haul very far or fast that way. Anyhoo, I'd still recommend going with a light trailer unless you're hauling with a 3/4 ton.

I doubt your ford has a class 4. They have typically stuck with class 3 hitches on their half tons.

oldjeep

· #8 · Feb 11, 2021 (Edited)

PerazziMx14 said:
Levering 500lbs past the back bumper to me is not a good idea.

On a modern half ton you would hardly notice it. My hemi ram tows/hauls better than 1 tons I had in the 80s. It weighs more too

kimberkat74

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 11, 2021

badjuju said:
I had one of those that claimed to have a 600# capacity. Used it to carry my 225# dirt bike with no issues.

Biggest problem is that all Cat3 and Cat4 2" hitches are only rated to carry 500-600# tongue weight. By the time you figure the weight of the Strom--which BTW is actually >525# with fluid, fuel and accessories like skid plate, crash bars, etc--plus the weight of the carrier, you're at the max recommended tongue weight. The way those carry the bike, they put a tremendous amount of torque on the hitch...far more than if you were towing a trailer with a similar tongue weight. Bumps and dips would likely send the tongue weight way over the limit. Not saying it can't be done, but you'd be opening yourself to a huge liability if the hitch or carrier failed, plus you'd be looking for a new bike.

Strongly recommend looking into a light trailer instead.

Thanks for the feedback. I kind of thought so- I don't think I would be able to rest easy transporting the V-Strom this way with my Wrangler. I need to buy a carrier for my dirt bike so wondered if I could make it work for both bikes in going with one that had a higher weight rating..

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PerazziMx14

· #10 · Feb 11, 2021

When I put a 500lb bike in the bed (most of the weight between the axles) of 2017 Tacoma (1/2 ton truck) it squats 3 to 4 inches. If I were that the same 500lb and move it 30 inches or so past the rear axle the bumper would probably drag over speed bumps while I was looking towards the stars as the front suspension would be 90% unloaded.

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oldjeep

· #11 · Feb 11, 2021

PerazziMx14 said:
When I put a 500lb bike in the bed (most of the weight between the axles) of 2017 Tacoma (1/2 ton truck) it squats 3 to 4 inches. If I were that the same 500lb and move it 30 inches or so past the rear axle the bumper would probably drag over speed bumps while I was looking towards the stars as the front suspension would be 90% unloaded.

A tacoma is not a half ton truck. At least not in the sense of every other modern half ton. The tundra is a half ton. Tacoma is in the same class as a chevy colorado.

muleskinner

· #12 · Feb 11, 2021

I used one of these "caddies" to haul a Suzuki SP600 on the back of a Dodge Ram 1500 back in the 1990's: logged a few thousand miles. I don't recall how much the SP weighed. A few things to consider:

-The weight on the back will make your vehicle squat and throw your headlights off to where they're way high and as the above post notes, it will seriously unload your front end. I had to add extra leaf springs to the rear suspension to level things up. So, of course, when the motorcycle wasn't back there, the ride was pretty hard. Plan on some airbags unless you're using it on the back of a big RV or something.

-The motorcycle sitting sideways across the back of your vehicle is going to obscure your tail lights, license plate, etc.

Even though I did it, it's just a bad idea with anything larger than a 250cc dirt bike and even then probably not a good idea. I consider myself lucky and wouldn't do it again. It's just way too much weight suspended way too far behind the rear axle. Forgot the tongue weight rating of the hitch and all that. It just doesn't matter.

If you're gonna do it, pass a hefty log chain through both the frame of the motorcycle and the frame of your vehicle (not the hitch). That way, if the thing rips loose it will just flail around behind your vehicle and cast off shredded pieces instead of flying as one piece into the vehicle behind you and landing you with a manslaughter charge. I really can't believe they still get away with selling these things. They're just a bad idea: period.

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muleskinner

· #13 · Feb 11, 2021

And I would note, no matter how many pickup commercials you watch while watching football games, it doesn't matter if you have a half-ton pickup, a 3/4-ton pickup or a 1-ton pickup. A pickup is not a "truck."

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oldjeep

· #14 · Feb 11, 2021

Meh, it seems to handle weight past the bumper just fine. Not on the bumpstops fwiw.

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Solarguy

· #15 · Feb 11, 2021

oldjeep said:
A tacoma is not a half ton truck. At least not in the sense of every other modern half ton. The tundra is a half ton. Tacoma is in the same class as a chevy colorado.

My 2018 tacoma is rated for 1685 pounds in the bed, and rated to tow 7,800. How much does it take to be a "real" 1/2 ton?

I noticed with some interest that the 2020 and 2021 Tacomas are rated a bit lower on towing, 6,500 or something.

oldjeep

· #16 · Feb 11, 2021

Solarguy said:
My 2018 tacoma is rated for 1685 pounds in the bed, and rated to tow 7,800. How much does it take to be a "real" 1/2 ton?

I noticed with some interest that the 2020 and 2021 Tacomas are rated a bit lower on towing, 6,500 or something.

Which is on par with a chevy colorado midsized truck. My ram is rated to tow 10k, which is on par with most full sized 1/2 ton trucks.

Solarguy

· #17 · Feb 11, 2021

oldjeep said:
Which is on par with a chevy colorado midsized truck. My ram is rated to tow 10k, which is on par with most full sized 1/2 ton trucks.

This is like grade inflation. "1/2 ton" doesn't mean what it used to mean I guess. It used to mean your base level pickup. Certainly, the Tacoma is that. I wanted one a bit smaller yet for the fuel economy, but the pickins were pretty slim. The chev is lower on both hauling and towing ratings, but your point is well taken. I am tickled pink with 21+ mpg in the winter and 24 in the summer. What does the ram get?

PerazziMx14

· #18 · Feb 11, 2021

Maybe the difference is the Dodge is rated for a 1/2 ton of lead and the Tacoma is rated for a 1/2 ton of feathers?

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oldjeep

· #19 · Feb 11, 2021

Solarguy said:
This is like grade inflation. "1/2 ton" doesn't mean what it used to mean I guess. It used to mean your base level pickup. Certainly, the Tacoma is that. I wanted one a bit smaller yet for the fuel economy, but the pickins were pretty slim. The chev is lower on both hauling and towing ratings, but your point is well taken. I am tickled pink with 21+ mpg in the winter and 24 in the summer. What does the ram get?

Ram gets 21mpg highway and around 14mpg in town 400HP is thirsty

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Big Boy

· #20 · Feb 11, 2021

2

kimberkat74 said:
Thanks for the feedback. I kind of thought so- I don't think I would be able to rest easy transporting the V-Strom this way with my Wrangler. I need to buy a carrier for my dirt bike so wondered if I could make it work for both bikes in going with one that had a higher weight rating..

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