Forum Discussion

toyhaulinharley's avatar
Nov 09, 2013

Toy Hauler Ramp Door defective

Anyone else having this issue? How do you load your heavy motorcycle?
Brand new 2013 300MP Raptor. Aug 15, 2013 we put our 2012 Electric Glide Classic into the toy hauler for the 1st time, directly up the middle of the ramp. The first time we loaded it I noticed a line down the center, looked like someone took a Sharpie marker and drew a line down the center. The following week we loaded up the bike, excited for our maiden voyage to the Missisippi river. I noticed the line now looked more like a bubble all the way down the door. Arriving at our destination we unload bike and notice bubble is wider and there is a line on the outside of door as well. Finish our trip, load bike and decide to contact the dealer when we get home. The bike has been in contact with the ramp door less than 10 times. It is August 30th. The dealer says to bring the trailer for them to assess and make a warranty claim. Keystone decides to replace the door under warranty, we picked it up with the new door yesterday, Nov 8th.

Throughout this process of 2 months we have been trying to get clarification if this door can handle the weight of a 900 lb motorcycle with rider. The service manager at the dealer said he was going to submit claim but tell Keystone that we didn't load the bike up the center of the ramp, we disagreed and said he should tell them it was loaded up the center, a total of 5 times. We continually asked for clarification on door specs and all we were told is it should handle it but don't go up the center go to one side or the other, now anyone who rides a large bike knows that there isn't a whole lot of room to "move over" on an 8.5 foot wide ramp. We also need to consider balanced weight within the trailer when towing as well. I prefer the 900 lbs centered over the rear axles. The ramp specs are 3000 lbs and 1000 PER tire. Shouldn't be a problem but everyone advises to not go up the center. We continued to peruse this as we wanted something in writing from Keystone guaranteeing this door and how they recommend loading and unloading. The salesman said he had an email that he would forward to us, he never did and now can't find the email. The warranty runs out in February and we live in a cold climate so the bike isn't going to be going up and down. What happens if this occurs a year from now or 5 years from now? The first door split in less than a month.

When we picked up the trailer with the new door yesterday the sales manager finally called Lippert and he said "Spoke with Lippert Components regarding any restrictions on where the motorcycle should be loaded on ramp door. There are no stated stipulations on where motorcycle should be loaded, however, he suggests loading the bike off center or running bike up at an angle. There is a seam that does run up the center of the door." Before leaving dealrship, we contact the same person at Lippert components, he says "I do not know if there is a seam in the center or not. Personally, if it were my Harley, I wouldn't put it up that ramp door AT ALL." Back into the dealership I go and tell the salesman that he needs to either warranty that door for the life of trailer or he can buy the trailer back for every penny. We were very upfront about our planned use for the toy hauler, we were told by the salesman and factory rep it would be no problem.

Everyone thinks it's an anomaly of the door itself. We hope so, BUT and that is a very expensive BUT once the warranty runs out. We are supposed to hear from the RV dealers owner on Monday.

The service manager even suggested WE make the door stronger. UMMMMM.....NO, the whole reason I spent A LOT of money on a toy hauler was so I didn't have to rig up my own ramp......

Other warranty items repaired
New cushion, seams were separating, closet door latch, triangular cut in floor, moulding tape on garage to kitchen door frame creased, causing door to look cracked.

How do others load there large motorcycles?

UPDATE WITH HAPPY ENDING

Thank you for all the feedback. We received a call from Lippert and were told there isn't a seam in the door at all nor does it contain plywood. We were told to continue to load the motorcycle in the manner we choose and if any problems were to arise in the future that Lippert stands by its products. We did receive an email from them stating this as well.

Happy Travels and Safe Rides to All

2013 Raptor 300MP
2012 Harley Electric Glide Classic
2012 Ford F350 DWD Diesel CrewCab with full bed

29 Replies

  • It would make sense, but it sure would frost me to have to reinforce a brand new door that should be able to handle the weight.
  • While its only 900 pounds, its a concentrated 900 pounds compared to a RZR which weighs about the same but rides on floatation tires. It might make sense to take an 24" strip of 3/4" CDX Plywood and screw it to the door and run bike up that strip of plywood
  • Both of our bikes go up the ramp slightly to one side of center on our Fuzion.

    I wonder if you had a bump stop in the center that contacted the ground and helped support the door if that would help. It at least might stop the door/ramp bending at the very end. Ours just has one rubber bumper at each corner, none in the middle.
  • fj2ryder

    You are correct, we certainly intend to ride up and down to test out this new door.
  • I ride my Ultra up the right side of the ramp on my '13 Fuzion with no issues so far.
  • We have loaded and unloaded our 2 motorcycles (a 760 lb and 600 lb bike) numerous times over the last 3 years. No noticeable problem with the door on our Forest River toy hauler. We ride up each side of the ramp and have never used the middle. I would just keep an eye on it.
  • My Raptor is used to haul both my ATV and Harley Ultra at the same time. So I load off center by need, ATV one side and Harley on the other side. I load the Harley first, up the right side, as close to the wall as I can get it, right into a locking front wheel chock. I agree that the center of the ramp door is the weak point, and although that ramp is supposed to be rated for 2,000 lbs, it seems to be maxed out at much less. I assume that 2000 lbs is a distributed load, not a point load. I have not had any cracking of the ramp yet, but it flexes a lot with the 850 lb Harley and my 250 lb butt sitting on it.
    Like many items in most RV's, they provide the minimum they can get away with. When my Raptor was brand new, I spent the first month making improvements & corrections to factory mistakes. I'd rather do it myself and know its done right, than waste my time going back & forth to the dealer and depend on their minimum wage help.
  • I have a Ultra classic also and load it right up the center of the ramp..07 Forest River. Thankfully no problems with the ramp...yet
  • JMO, but even if it were cold I would be out there loading and unloading the bike to check out the door. Just run it up and down a few times, close and open the door, and then do it some more.