Any Mountaineer 347THT Owners?

I've got a friend with connections at a machine shop. He told me he could get me a small sheet of metal to put under the rear tire but I wondered if it would be overkill and possibly too heavy for convenience. I'll use a cross board on the rear tire as a precaution and inspect/reassess all the tiedown rings. My data concurs with the 2000# garage limit and 1600# ramp capacity. Pretty much anything I've moved my LT on tends to complain especially if rated around 1000#. The bike weights just under 900# dry and over a grand wet with gear. Then put a 240# rider on it running it up the ramp and the complaints start! Scary the first time but once you know it will take the weight, no problemo. My instinct is to go with the Condor Trailer only. I appreciate everyones input and I'm planning to bolt the base plate through the bottom. Any hints or suggestions on that process such as the best way to reseal the bottom barrier? I've read this entire thread several times and seen the photos of the rear damage.

Perhaps we should start another thread but I'd really like to hear about taking the 347THT up to Alaska.

Here's the link:

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25602872/gotomsg/25602872/p/1.cfm#25602872