Motorcycle carrier off back trailer hitch?

[astrungis]

Anyone ever put a motorcycle off the back trailer hitch? What brand/kind of device did you use? What is the maximum weight?

[PackerFan]

The sticker on my hitch states a 150 lb. load limit. It is mostly designed to just carry bicycles.

[mhs4771]

And it won't hardly carry two bicycles without some type of re-enforcement. To keep our bikes from bouncing around we used a ratchet strap to the ladder to take some of the bounce out. So I wouldn't even consider any type of Motorcycle/Motorbike without some major modifications which could possibly void your warranty.

[DQDick]

I know of some folks that have done it, but it took major reconstruction by a welding shop and probably voids the frame warranty.

[Art-n-Marge]

By specification, there is not much weight allowed on a stock Monty. However, there have been plenty of MOCers who have gone to expert welding shops and had suitable hardware welded on and didn't mind voiding their warranty. I am no expert and would contact a reputable hitch shop that has done a lot of this work. With this done right, members have carried all kinds of things from generators, to bicycles, to motorbikes to hitches that support another vehicle, boat, or other substantial load.

Then you must be aware what your driver's license allows, too. For example, in California where I live if you tow more than a GVWR of 10,001 to 15,000 lbs, you need an RV endorsement (and I know 90% of drivers don't probably do this). Over 15,000 and a different type of license is needed (up to 26,000 lbs?). In your case, you'll probably add at least 1,000 lbs with motorcycle and whatever hardware you use to support it.

[ols1932]

It would really need a lot of "beefing up" in order to carry a motorcycle. On top of that, Keystone frowns on trailer hitches. The chassis is not designed for a rear trailer hitch that will carry a lot of weight or tow anything.

Orv

[mazboy]

we carried my wife's motor scooter on the front of our truck....thought the back of the trailer would not work.

[mtheo]

I've done it for years on three trailers
You don need to have a heavy duty weight distributing hitch made.
I made mine to transfer part of the weight and strain back into the frame not just to the back six inches of the frame

[bigskyjimmy]

do not know how big your bike is but we just put our Vespa in the bed behind the cab of our 3500 long bed dually, when we dump off the 5th I just roll it down a wood ramp that I made

[cdaniels]

We take 2 50 cc scooters. We put 1 in the bed of the truck and one on the front. We use to put one on the back of the RV 2955 until someone tried to pull the pin on the hitch and we rode from Kentucky to MD with no pin. After we got home and saw the Pin was MIA .... we refigured it. Scarey thought not being able to see things back there.

[Gorgeguy]

I had an attachment welded on to the frame. I carry a DR200 Suzuki, less than 300 lbs. This is my second year and no problems so far. I have the motorcycle rack made with two receiver mounts so it does not twist at a single receiver mount.

[Illini Trekker]

I use a Swivel Wheel trailer by that brand trailer. It's rated to carry 1000 lb. I build the hitch from scratch from $100 of metal and welded it to the frame. The Swivel wheel trailer mounts with two receivers to the hitch. My 1300cc bike weights 700 lbs. I carry the bike near the back of the trailer so my hitch weight is around 300 lbs. Been using both for two years with no problems, the added length to the Montana is 6 ft. That length keeps the total length at 56 ft which is legal in my state.

http://www.cruiserlift.com/swivelwheel.html

[robert285rld]

Look at the photo of the storage box on my unit. The box is stainless steel and the contents are tools and parts, cleaners, patio mats, etc. It must be a similiar weight to medium size motor cycle. I was mindful of the hitch and axle weights - am well within all weight limits.

[ruben]

Robert285rid; nice looking add on. What are the dementions of your storage box, and how did you deal with the ladder issue?

[Hooker]

I'd talk to Keystone before putting anything that heavy on the back of one of these frames. The problem is not the GW or axle weight, it is the weak frame on these units.

[ctomwood]

I have a swivel wheel trailer also carry 650lb scooter for 4 years works great.
see picture

[DebbiePalamar]

We have a 3625RE. We took off the stock hitch and had a custom 5,000 lb hitch welded to the frame. We pull a droptail trailer with two motorcycles for a total of about 2,000 lbs. We are 64 1/2 feet long with this configuration.

[astrungis]

With this swivel trailer connected at the end of the FW, do some states not allow a triple towing arrangement?

[pineranch]

A couple of sites for your review.

http://towingworld.com/towinglaws.cfm

http://www.readybrake.com/state_laws.html

Mike

[steelpony5555]

I have a different question on using a swivel wheel trailer. Let's say for some reason your trailer has a castrophic failure and dumps your bike out on the interstate????? Which insurance or better yet will your insurance cover the bike or the trailer. Those of you with the swivel wheel trailers, have you asked and gotten verification from your insurance company that it will cover your trailer and bike.