Hauling a 500 lb motorcycle behind a Montana 3791RD

[Samthetramp]

Looking to see it it's possible to haul a 500 lb+ bike on a frame mounted platform. Anyone doing this? If so on what and how is it mounted? I travel alone so no extra driver that can pull a trailer. Right is a 2019 3791RD. Rear elevated living room.

 

[St. Michael]

Probably all kinds of reasons you wouldnt want to do this but if your looking at using the bumper hitch the 300lb tongue weight limit would be first on the list

 

[Mikendebbie]

I think you can search the forum for threads on this topic. I have read where some folks “beef up” the 300 lbs OEM hitch. Some build a new beefier hitch. Legacy models with a fiberglass rear cap force a longer hitch tongue to get out past the cap, which adds to the cantilever and increases the torque on the whole affair. I dont recall ever reading a “safe” weight provided by Keystone to hang off the back (other than what the 300 lbs OEM hitch might handle). Rear kitchen models often experience a considerable bounce and they are FULLY SUPPORTED on the lippert frame. Just thinking about the bounce and jarring your cargo will experience hanging off the back end…hopefully someone will post to this thread with advice on how to overcome the rear-end earthquake.

 

[Samthetramp]

Definitely won't be using just the OEM hitch. I searched here prior to posting and nothing relating to what I'm needing. May have to consider a small trailer. Hopefully someone that has done this will post.

 

[BB_TX]

Having been behind 5ers with bike racks on the rear and seeing how bad those bikes were bouncing, I would be hesitant to put a heavy expensive motorcycle back there.

Torque, simplified, is essentially force (weight in this case) times distance (the distance being from the bike to the rear axle (the fulcrum). That amounts to a lot of torque centered at the rear axle.

 

[Samthetramp]

After looking at the back of my rig I realize that to attach any type of frame mounted platform or to add receivers would be very labor intensive so I'm abandoning that idea and creating a different post.
Thanks for the replies.

 

[LeftOverParts]

I eventually want to do this and added a front mounted hitch on the truck after reading a member on the forum is already doing this.

Edit: Added picture. License plate covers it when not in use. Rated for 1000lb tongue weight.

 

[Samthetramp]

I eventually want to do this and added a front mounted hitch on the truck after reading a member on the forum is already doing this.

Edit: Added picture. License plate covers it when not in use. Rated for 1000lb tongue weight.

View attachment 2462588

I have one that I use for a T bar that I use to haul my 14' kayak and the 5ver together.

 

[Mark77]

I built a pretty substantial hitch on the back of my 3295, but there is no way I would hang a 500# bike on it without either a really good caster wheel or a steering axle of some kind back there. No way would i trust the frame of the RV to carry that weight. Just my opinion.

 

[jmb98]

We’ve been fulltiming for 8+ yrs & hubby is mobility challenged. He needed a new, larger scooter & putting a lift on the back of our 2017 3921FB wasn’t going to work. Our Crew Cab couldn’t accommodate the scooter base as easily as his last one, so our only option was a front lift. We had a hitch added to the front of our F-350 DRW, then had the lift installed. It carries the scooter well with little bouncing & doesn’t impede my vision when driving. Parking with the scooter on the lift can be a challenge (disabled spaces are short), but having the lift has made my life a little easier.

 

[BB_TX]

Does that front rack affect your engine temps driving in really high temperatures (100+)?

 

[jmb98]

We overwinter in AZ when it’s cooler & don’t travel under load till May. We’re only affected on inclines regardless of weather, though >100° isn’t in our travel repertoire these days. It’ll run between 216° & 225° in normal weather, but temp comes down with the road flattening out. We lose the grill camera, also, because the lift blocks it, but it hasn’t been an issue. We have a dash cam to offset.

 

[Majorpolk]

I have been towing a swivel wheel trailer behind my 3781RL for three years. I have two Vstar motorcycles on top. One a 250cc and the other a 650cc. Did a tire change on it last month after about 10K miles. Have worn out 4 of those tires. Been all the way from Texas to NY to FL to California up to Oregan and back to Texas. When I pull into a campground everyone comes and takes pictures. So far so good.