Motorcycle Carrier

7974 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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PerazziMx14

· #41 · Feb 13, 2021 (Edited)

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PerazziMx14

· #42 · Feb 13, 2021 (Edited)

The weight of the DL650 according to 469lbs. But then strap on a skid plate, pannier racks, 15 pounds of tool for roadside rebuilds and 7 pounds of tire repair equipment + all the other little farkles that adds up. DL may leave the showroom floor at 469lbs but they don't stay at that weight for long.

Big Boy

· #43 · Feb 13, 2021

3

tomstromr said:
......I know used are out there but is TIAB still in business?.....

Yep Stinger's 'Trailer in a Bag' is still for sale new for approx. $1500 as shown on their website.

And they fold up fairly compact for storage.

I have a line on a used one for approx. 1/3 of the new price if anyone is interested.

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PerazziMx14

· #44 · Feb 13, 2021

^^^^ Those tiny tires (8" wheels) whirling down the tarmac at 70 or 80 MPH for miles on ends make me cringe. They are probably spinning 3X faster than the tow vehicles tires. I do see they are rated for continuous speed of 70 MPH and around here thats the approach speed for entering the highway. Its not until you're chuffing along at 80/85 are you keeping pace with traffic in the slow lane.

oldjeep

· #45 · Feb 13, 2021

PerazziMx14 said:
^^^^ Those tiny tires (8" wheels) whirling down the tarmac at 70 or 80 MPH for miles on ends make me cringe. They are probably spinning 3X faster than the tow vehicles tires. I do see they are rated for continuous speed of 70 MPH and around here thats the approach speed for entering the highway. Its not until you're chuffing along at 80/85 are you keeping pace with traffic in the slow lane.

You ever seen a snowmobile trailer?

PerazziMx14

· #46 · Feb 13, 2021

oldjeep said:
You ever seen a snowmobile trailer?

I don't care what trailer it is the smaller the tire the faster it will spin and small diameter tires being dragged down the tarmac at tripe the revolutions of the host vehicle makes me cringe.

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Big Boy

· #47 · Feb 13, 2021

Just buy bigger wheels/tires.

Solarguy

· #48 · Feb 13, 2021

When I was a broke student in 1999, I bought the cheapo 4 x 8' Harbor Freight trailer. I still have it. They still sell them:

www.harborfreight.com

1195 lb. Capacity, 48-5/8 in. x 96-1/4 in. Heavy Duty Folding Trailer

Amazing deals on this 1195Lb Heavy Duty Folding Trailer at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Throw some plywood on, buy a nice ramp, you're still in business for under $500.

PerazziMx14

· #49 · Feb 13, 2021

Solarguy said:
When I was a broke student in 1999, I bought the cheapo 4 x 8' Harbor Freight trailer. I still have it. They still sell them:

1195 lb. Capacity, 48-5/8 in. x 96-1/4 in. Heavy Duty Folding Trailer

Amazing deals on this 1195Lb Heavy Duty Folding Trailer at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Throw some plywood on, buy a nice ramp, you're still in business for under $500.

But in States like Pennsylvania where trailers are required to be titled and tagged if the trailer is new and does not come with a MSO (Manufacturers Statement of Origin) you are SOL. IF I were to get a HF trailer with no MSO I would have to go through the process of titling a home built trailer. This means filling out and paying for an application then taking the trailer to a certified inspection station where they will verify it meets state requirements then this all gets submitted to the state for processing and eventually if everything is correct they will issue a title.

While not impossible its a PITA and easier to find a trailer with a title.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiJ2_z30efuAhVJMlkFHeWSCU8QFjAJegQIAhAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dmv.pa.gov%2FVEHICLE-SERVICES%2FTitle-Registration%2FDocuments%2FSpecially_Constructed_Vehicle.pdf&usg=AOvVaw38-ged0S7sfKiF39YwkRew

oldjeep

· #50 · Feb 13, 2021

The one I bought years ago came with an mso, so did the cheap northern tool trailer I bought.

muleskinner

· #51 · Feb 14, 2021

Sometimes you can just look at things and know they don't make any sense and are a bad idea. I consider myself fortunate that I recognize that motorcycle hitch carriers and 8" trailer tires are bad ideas.......

It's not only the diameter of the tire. Who's going to manufacture a high-quality 8" trailer tire? Answer: Nobody does.

The Trailer In A Bag? What exactly are you paying $1500 for? A high school shop class could probably make one of those for around $200.

If you're going to tow a motorcycle, why not just drop the coin on a quality trailer that's up to the task? The only advantage I see to a hitch carrier or tiny trailer is storage space when you're not using it.

Solarguy

· #52 · Feb 14, 2021

Harbor Freight trailers come with an MSO and the proper labels/stickers to plate them. No worse or different than plating any other trailer. That particular HF trailer is designed to fold and stand vertically when not in use, so storage is not so bad either. I pulled that thing quite a few miles (for a trailer). Eventually, the tires got dry rot in the sidewalls, but that was after 15 or 16 years.

Reactions: 1

Big Boy

· #53 · Feb 14, 2021 (Edited)

Another option:
Instead of buying any trailer, just visit your local U Haul store and rent a motorcycle specific trailer on a (limited) daily basis.

Reactions: 2

RichDesmond

· #54 · Feb 14, 2021

Big Boy said:
Another option:
Instead of buying any trailer, just visit your local U Haul store and rent a motorcycle specific trailer on a daily basis.

LOL, dunno about "daily", but if you only trailer a few times a year the U-Haul route makes lots of sense.
I still have a 6x12 enclosed from my racing days, and it's occasionally still useful. But I'm about to sell it and just go the U-haul route, be easier and cheaper

Reactions: 1

oldjeep

· #55 · Feb 14, 2021

Big Boy said:
Another option:
Instead of buying any trailer, just visit your local U Haul store and rent a motorcycle specific trailer on a daily basis.

That is mostly what we do now. Didn't use the car trailer or various utility trailers enough to be worth storing them. Still keep a snowmobile trailer up north, but it is only used for the sleds. I do also have a mad dog ramp for loading sleds or bikes into the truck, but that requires the tonneau to be removed so I rarely use it.

Reactions: 1

realshelby

· #56 · Feb 14, 2021

If the hitch mounted 600 lb capacity rigs actually worked they would be everywhere with everyone using them. You don't see anything but dirt bikes and scooters on them. Just watch those bounce around and think about what adding 200 lbs will do for stretching the parts to the limit.
The swivel wheel trailers work VERY WELL. You do have to buy a new tow hitch with the 3 ports on them, but those are bolt on ( for many vehicles ). The only problem with these is the height still means loading is not so easy.
For my motorhome I bought the Cruiser Lift from the same people that make the swivel wheel in the earlier link. I have seen Gold Wings and Harleys on them.
There is a right way to do things. In today's world of litigation with so many traffic cams....do you want your bike to fall off the hitch carrier and cause a major accident?
If money is the factor that limits what you buy, even the cheap trailers can be made to haul safely and are by far the easiest thing to load.

oldjeep

· #57 · Feb 14, 2021 (Edited)

....

Big Boy

· #58 · Feb 14, 2021

realshelby said:
.....If money is the factor that limits what you buy, even the cheap trailers can be made to haul safely and
are by far the easiest thing to load.....

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Manuel Reyes

· #59 · Feb 17, 2021

kimberkat74 said:
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.

View attachment 282470

I would not recommend to cantilever close to 500 lbs. off a hitch. The bike is heavy and it will stick out quite a bit since it is wide, so the torque you are placing on the hitch is quite significant, particularly with a load that is in movement when you go down the road. From an engineering point of view, doing this is just not a good idea and you will have trouble sooner or later. Probably sooner.

I would agree 100% with the recommendation that you get a Kendon trailer. I have one and it is, by far, the best option out there. It is well built and the bed of the trailer is below the axle since it has a suspension, so it's easier to load and unload. They also ride well and you may forget it's there, which is another issue to be mindful of. The one shown below is a very good option for one bike. I would also recommend Craigslist if you can find one in Canada. They come up in the US. Try to get a reasonably new model as they have improved over time. Don't get anything that is too rusted or appears to have any structural issues. If not, get a new one. You will not regret it. It's easy to store in a garage.

The only issue with a Kendon is that ground clearance is not great if you are going on dirt roads but this is not a fatal flaw. Just don't ever use it with a spare tire on the bottom. I even removed the mounting hardware on the bottom since it sticks out. Less chance of something catching there.

Good luck.

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tractormel

· #60 · Feb 17, 2021

kimberkat74 said:
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.

View attachment 282470

kimberkat74 said:
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.

View attachment 282470

That would be a disaster waiting to happen. Don't do it!

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