Motorcycle - Montana Owners Club

bigbob7777 · 01-28-2007, 01:10 PM

Does anyone have any idea on how to carry a motorcycle (a small one) while towing?

wileecoyote985 · 01-28-2007, 01:30 PM

The only real option would be to equip your truck with a front mount for the cycle. It'd have to be a small cycle to keep within your axle weight though.

Okie Guy · 01-28-2007, 01:35 PM

I have seen some guys with a mount on the back of their units which stored the cycle sideways while traveling. I have no idea who manufactures these carriers.

bigbob7777 · 01-28-2007, 01:56 PM

Are front hitches OK as far as headlights and airflow? I was looking at a small 250cc bike. Also, do you know if they are expensive?

mtheo · 01-28-2007, 01:59 PM

It is easy and I've been doing it for 12 years now. Find a shop to mount two recievers, one to each frame with a cross member between them for strenght. I have two beams that carry two rails that carry the bikes. I also mount a reciever to the cross member so that I can us a trailer if needed. I carry 2-250lb bike without any problem. The monty is heavy enough not to notice the weight in the rear. I go to the desert all the time a it is very common. Be sure you have a good welder that knows how to weld.
Let me know if you would like some pics and I'll post them.
mark

If your in the Merced area I can help.

bigbob7777 · 01-28-2007, 02:11 PM

mtheo,

Are you talking about a hitch on the trailer, I guess? About what does it cost? And actually, I'm in FL right now.

kmh3212 · 01-28-2007, 02:14 PM

Check my post in the Technical Help section. The axles on my trailer were underrated for the specifications. I was rated to put 2,682 lbs of gross carrying capacity. An overhung load on the back of my unit would contribute to the disaster I have now. My axles were rated for 11,200 lb and the load is 10,120 lbs on the axles. If I put 500 lbs of motorcycles and 150 to 200 lbs of iron on the back of my trailer I would have a nightmare. Especially once I put water, grey water and black water. Full LP as well as a case of cold ones in the fridge.
My axles are bent now!
I would prefer to double tow.

wileecoyote985 · 01-28-2007, 02:53 PM

BigBob7777;

I installed my own trailer hitch on my Monty and got a good look at the frame in the process. To put it mildly, I was not impressed with the frame strength. The frame I-beams are fairly light gauge material and I certainly wouldn't even consider hanging a motorcycle off the back of my rig. I tow a fairly light aluminum boat and I figure I'm pushing things as it is, and I make sure the tongue weight is very reasonable.

Before someone thinks I'm knocking the Monty, I'm sure they're built at least as well as most. It's just that they're not designed for additional weight hanging cantilevered off the frame.

Bottom line is - you can do whatever you want. I certainly do that myself. You just need to know that you'll void your frame warranty (like I have mine)if you start hanging things off the back of your rig.

To answer your questions about the front carrier. I guess it depends on how the bike is positioned once you get it mounted up. If it obscures your headlights/turn signals you can get stalk mount lights like those used when a snowplow blade is mounted. I wouldn't think airflow would be a serious issue unless your bike has a very enclosed (read extensive fairings) design.

Gary

gungho · 01-28-2007, 04:09 PM

I would like to see some pictures of your hitch on the back of the Monty mtheo. thanks

kjtogo · 01-28-2007, 11:45 PM

I asked the same question some time ago and received a response from someone that front mounted a mid-sized BMW on the front of an F250. The only problem he stated was a cooling issue that could be resolved with a cooling fan change from Ford for trucks with snow plows. I am planning on a similar setup with a 200# scooter. Let us know how it works out. Take care.

ols1932 · 01-29-2007, 02:34 AM

One thing to to think about before you put a hitch on the rear of your Montana, your frame warranty will be voided. This has been discussed several times and there have been pros and cons, but the big thing is you are at risk.

Orv

bigbob7777 · 01-29-2007, 03:44 AM

Thanks to all. I've pretty much decided to forego the hitch on the 5th. Too many ?????

However, I may put it on the front of the truck. I've never driven a Motorcycle and will be using it to ferry me to points while hiking/backpacking (planning on the Appalachian Trail in April).

So, the bike will probably be a 250cc size or thereabouts.

bob

mtheo · 01-29-2007, 12:18 PM

Well I never thought about the warranty issue, and I guess it is to late now to worry now, hope I don't have any problems. My last trailer had a smaller frame and I used it for about ten years with no problem.
Gungho can't figure out how to post the pic's here, I'll try to e-mail them to you direct.

You might want to think about the warranty issue.

Mark

mtheo · 01-29-2007, 05:29 PM

Hope you an see these, I'll have to figure out how to make them smaller.

Great pictures. Please reduce them to comply with MOC policy.
Thanks, RVWheels, MOC Admin.

http://i5.tinypic.com/4gi2a69.jpg
http://i7.tinypic.com/2ldd4ir.jpg
http://i9.tinypic.com/29ffjx2.jpg

bigbob7777 · 01-30-2007, 03:29 AM

mtheo,
Thanks for the photos. Do you not use your middle receiver? Also, about what did it cost to have this done? What do your bikes weigh and what size trailer do you have? Hope my questions aren't too bothersome.

Does anyone know what the frame warranty is?

bob

mtheo · 01-30-2007, 07:45 AM

Bob:I have about $40.00 to $50.00 into the hitch and probably alttle less in the carrier. I put 2-3 hours in making and mounting it.

Good Luck
Mark

mtheo · 01-30-2007, 07:52 AM

I was thinking about the weight problem and it seems that the weight of one bike, 200 to 250 would be less than 2% the wieght of the trailer and would be no different than one of those cargo carriers you can get at CW and then stick a generator and other things back there.
You know I have a little OCD in me and I will loose some sleep thinking about this now.

exav8tr · 01-30-2007, 08:47 AM

Gentlemen, I spoke to Vaughan, in service and warranty, at Lippert yesterday. They are the ones that warranty the frame. He stated that a receiver hitch could be added to carry bicycles, which was my intent, but ONLY bicycles and no more than 80-100 lbs. The written waranty on their website specifically states: This warranty does not cover any product which is found to have been modified or altered in any way, including, but not limited to, installation of any aftermarket hauling attachments such as gooseneck adapters, pinbox extensions, TOW HITCHES, load bearing devices, or other attachments to the product". He also stated that if you are going to attach a receiver hitch for hauling bicycles it must be attached to BOTH side rails. He was pretty adamant about bicycles only limited to 80-100lbs.

I think something worthy of considering.

Montana Rog · 07-29-2007, 05:06 PM

I have mounted a receiver on my 3670 Monty and am going to haul my Harley Davidson on the back...but I will be using my swivel wheel trailer...go to www.swivelwheel.com and you will see what I have bought, and it puts very little weight on the trailer frame. I have a 550lb cycle, and at most, I will have about 100 lbs on the frame. I welded 2" heavy wall square tubing on the frame rails, and a full width 1 1/2 heavy wall to the cross beam. I am confident it will make the trip from Wisconsin to the Rio Grande Vally. Just to make sure everything is good back there, I went to Wally world and bought a wireless remote camera to keep an eye on everything.
http://www.cruiserlift.com/swivelwheel.html

clutch · 07-29-2007, 06:34 PM

I had a local welding shop make a hitch for our Mountaineer. I am not worried about towing our small quad trailer with two quads on it as the toungue weight is very little. I don't have a camera to watch things

but my wife will follow me in her car to Az in the fall.

You may also like: