scooter hitch/carrier

[docport]

Has anyone tried beefing up the hitch on the 3400 series to carry a motor scooter. Have a 3455sa and would like to mount a carrier on the back, strong enough to carry up to 500lbs. Appreciate any comments or suggestions.

[DQDick]

Saw a great one for that in Elkhart, In last summer. But the guy not only beefed up the hitch he made it a three point connection with two outer tubes connected directly to the frame. Did not wiggle or bounce at all going down the road.

[cdaniels]

We had a friend put his on the front of the truck. Not something we would want to do but at least it's up front where you see it and a snow plow weighs that much.

Let me correct myself...we have a light weight scooter we carry on front of our truck but not one that holds 500 lbs.

[bigskyjimmy]

IN my opinion I would never want my Scooter where I cannot see it I put my scooter up front on a Draw-tite front hitch and a scooter carrier as you see in my pic my scooter weighs 230 lbs and been doing it for years with no problems with air flow to radiator weight issues etc... just do not put a cover on it while traveling or it will block air flow

[Rondo]

Jimmy-- Where do you carry the second scooter?

[cdaniels]

We carry our second in the back of the truck.

[bigskyjimmy]

Same as Bill but you can only fit a 50-80cc scooter/moped back there sideways behind the cab like my Honda Elite 80 scooter, I cannot fit my small frame 150cc in the back that is why I bought the front hitch/carrier for the 150 scoot, loading the Honda is Easy I just move the hitch to one side and I have a ramp and push it up to load and ride it down unloading it only weighs 180 lbs

[WeBeFulltime]

You might want to consider a swivel-wheel trailer.

[Hooker]

The only thing I'd carry on the back of our 07 3400RL was two bikes...never even consider something as heavy as 500#. The frame is the weak link, not the hitch.

[Gorgeguy]

I had a four in square tube welding between 1/2 steel plates that were welded to the frame I beam. Had two receivers welded on to the tube and carry a 300# Kawasaki 250. Have done it for two years with no problems. I heard something about not carrying over 500# on the back of a Monty. With my frame mount and motorcycle rack I am probably a little over 400#. Email me if you would like some pictures. wayne97058@yahoo.com

[docport]

Thanks for all the info. I put 500lbs but scooter is 250lbs. Figured that if it would hold 500 then 250 would be a breeze. Like the idea of supporting tubes to keep carrier rigid. It's the rocking and bouncing that really stress's the hitch.

[Art-n-Marge]

With my rare-timing trailer lifestyle I only have about 600 lbs of weight margin on my towable. Carrying this much weight on the rear end of the Monty has the advantage of probably lightening the pin weight, but the disadvantage of removing whatever margin I have left over on the Gross weight. I'd have to reweigh to ensure axle weights are even.

This is on my list if the need arises for a cart which has less weight and can be carried on the front of my truck. http://www.rvrover.net/
Don't forget to consider the weight of the hitch itself when calculating how much weight is being added. I've already calculated my truck can support this, but removes most of the weightmargin I still have on my truck. However, this only helps for those who haven't bought a scooter or cart yet and this has more limits than a more roadworthy scooter.