I'm getting my first toy hauler soon. Where is the best place to strap a bike weighing between 800 and 1200 pounds ? Behind the axle, closer to the ramp, or over the axles? Thanks

Have to assume you’re getting a towable and not a 5ver. I’d assume their tie downs are placed for optimal loading.I’d think it’d be set up more over the axles. On my 5ver, I keep it in the center of the garage and the weight is behind the axles. However, pin weight is essentially the same whether the bike is loaded or not.

There usually isn’t going to be a whole lot of options. If you are happy with your tongue/pin weight directly over the axle is best. If you’re needing to add pin weight move the bike as far forward as possible …. move it back to reduce pin weight. My bike and carrier weighs about 1000 lbs and is about 17 feet behind the centre of the tandem axles. That is about the worst place to carry that much weight but it works. My rv handles noticeably better without the bike.

pjs1660 what type of toy hauler are you looking at? Bumper pull or 5th Wheel? Any idea of length yet? For the vast majority of Toy Hauler owners there is very little impact on the tongue weight of the larger haulers, but it does vary so knowing what you are looking at helps.

Generally, the garage is already in place, so you don't really have a choice.Yes, 1200lb can significantly impact the hitch weight. The further behind the axles, the more it impacts. They usually design toy haulers with higher hitch weights, so when it loses weight due to loading, it's still got a decent percentage on the hitch. Also, a big 5th wheel is less impacted than a smaller travel trailer. A big 15,000lb 5th wheel, likely starts around 3000-3500lb hitch weight and the axles are set further back, so if a 1200lb bike takes 400lb, off the hitch, it's still got 2600-3100lb (17-21%) on the hitch. That's the lower end of acceptable but still OK. A 6000lb bumper pull is likely starting around 700-900lb hitch weight, so if you lose 400lb, it's down around 300-500lb (5-8%) on the hitch. That's in the range where stability becomes an issue while towing.

Pin weight, or tongue weight, won't change that much with just a motorcycle, independent of placement.I've done all of the weight measurements and vehicle placement.The biggest item to change pin/tongue weight is water or no water.My sand rail is 3000lbs and the pin weight in my 5er is still 3600lbs with the motor/trans hanging 5' behind the rear axle.My water tanks are 80% in front of my front axle and I always tow with full water.

Placement of motorcycle for towing | Good Sam Community

LowRyter
Explorer
Sep 01, 2021
Use the built in tie downs. Strap down a wheel shock in the middle on a rubber mat. Then park the bike in the chock and strap down the bike.

Even room for my rollout generator.
nayther
Explorer
Aug 31, 2021
we had a 30' fiver with open floor plan like the link posted. I hauled our Gold Wing in it once, I put it a bit back from center over the axles, towed it about 800 miles once and never felt any difference, but then again it was sitting right over our single 150 gallon water tank, which is 1250lbs.
pjs1660
Explorer
Aug 24, 2021
Thanks for the responses, I'll either be putting a bike or a trike in there.
dedmiston
Moderator
Aug 24, 2021
The size of your hauler and the bumper pull vs. fiver will have a little bit of an effect, but I doubt you'll feel a difference in any case.

I've seen a few people who have to back in their SxS to get the weight just right, which leads me to assume they're too close to their limits anyway.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Aug 24, 2021
Dirtclods wrote:
The best place is - over the axles.

Maybe, but must understand that toyhau1ers are generally designed tongue heavy to account for a good deal of weight behind the axles (the toys).
Granted the heavier the tail behind the axles, and the greater distance aft, the greater the propensity for the trailer to wiggle a little bit. (The tail gathers a little more sideways momentum due to the weight in back exaggerating the small side to side inputs to the trailer.

That said, our 31' toyhauler, ready to camp, full water (over axles) with no significant weight in the "garage" is over 1500lbs. I could use some weight shifted aft of the rear axle, as could most I imagine.
Y-Guy
Moderator
Aug 24, 2021
I agree 100% with what lincster just said. I will add that you want to check the tie down points to make sure they are secured to the frame, if not you probably want to add your own or some type of back plating. With the weight of your bike and that trailer you may want to look at getting a Sherline trailer scale
lincster
Explorer
Aug 24, 2021
That's a small hauler. I think just by available space, the bike will be over the axles.
With that dovetail, I wouldn't put the bike close to the ramp.
Just my opinion on how I would load it.
4x4ord
Explorer III
Aug 24, 2021
^^^ Click What are you putting in your garage that weighs 1200 lbs?
pjs1660
Explorer
Aug 24, 2021
https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2021-Forest-River-CHEROKEE-WOLF-PACK-24PACK14%2B-5017338133
pjs1660
Explorer
Aug 24, 2021
https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2021-Forest-River-CHEROKEE-WOLF-PACK-24PACK14%2B-5017338133