Cargo Carrier

Small enclosed trailers are another option to consider.

Just drove from Utah to Saint Pie de Guire (Quebec) to purchase and have installed a Combo 101 from the good people of Nicova. Yes, they are expensive but we LOVE it.



Pic taken at Sturgeon Falls, Ontario KOA May 11, 2013

I purchased a regular cargo carrier (steel with 500 pound capacity)for around $80.00 at Camping World. I went to Target and purchased a fifty gallon tub/container with lid. It works great, does not cover your tail lights and if you need to get into the back of your van, just remove the bungee cords and set/move/slide the tub over to the edge. I also used a mike carton next to the tub for incidentals. Tied everything down with bungee cords. Just got back from Florida and it worked great. My wife collects rocks when we are on the road and it is great for that too.

Thanks Gene in NE
Your equation makes sense. The carrier load is not far from the rear axle. The Cat III tongue weight allowance is adequate and since I intend to add only about 150 lbs to the 120 lbs of the unit, I dont anticipate any front end 'wigglies'. The Pleasureway Plateau tracks well and with 55 PSI up front, I do not experience any oversteering, even in moderate sidewinds. The Gearspace 34 looks huge but it sits snugly on the rear hitch assembly. GOod points re front end/rear end weight factors. The Gearspace 34 can be used to carry two bicycles and tie-downs are available, for the person who mentioned that particular need.
AL

Fastpaddler wrote:
Hi Davyyd.
Yes. I am going to keep the inside load well under 150 as the total allowable is 300....

With a Class B, you should be okay as most Class B's do not have a large rear overhang. There is the see-saw effect of the weight you add in a rear carrier that lifts a proportional amount off the front axle. That amount is added to the rear axle.

To calculate the amount of that see-saw effect, determine the weight of the carrier plus cargo multiply by the distance of the center of that weight behind the rear axle. Take that value and divide by the distance between the axles.

Using a wild example -
250 lbs cargo and carrier x 6 feet = 1500
divided by distance between front and rear axle say 11 feet
gives you the value 136.4 lbs.

Approximate effect on rear axle - 250 + 136.4 = 384.6 lbs added with
front axle 136.4 lbs lighter.

I posted two photos (different forum - sorry) of the Combo 101 I saw when I visited Safari Condo in Quebec.

Two photos of the Combo 101

Photo #2 shows the hitch attachment.

It was an expensive item at $1,700 or $1,800 but it looks very well built. I haven't seen any other options for two assembled bikes and cargo. It includes the rack with wheels. I probably would have bought it but for the price. We were tempted though.

This link: http://tinyurl.com/8lazpap is the Nicova website translated by Google.

Safari Condo - 1-866-836-6664 - builds Sprinter based Class B Vans so maybe they'd be able to answer your questions if the folks at Nicova can't.

markopolo wrote:
The Vélo Combo 101 swing-away carrier looked very well made when I saw it at the Safari Condo showroom.

http://www.nicova.ca/velo_combo/velo_combo.htm

Youtube video
http://youtu.be/AD2T24EGN74

Bike are carried on top of it.

Thanks for the heads-up on Nicova. Finally it looks as though we may be able to solve a problem. We want a cargo box upon which we can carry our bikes. But, there are attendant issues.
1. Their website is in French, don't know if they have an English version.
2. Will it (Model 101) clear the spare tire? We have a 2010 Winnebago ERA?
3. Since our existing hitch also supports the spare tire would their hitch do the same?
Lots of issues yet to overcome, but it looks like a really good idea.

Hi Davyyd.
Yes. I am going to keep the inside load well under 150 as the total allowable is 300.About 120 or so should be ok. I have 60 psi in my rear airbags and 80 rear and 55 front to keep it from oversteering.It is a big unit but we need the cu ft space especially for my Lexus Lite scooter and gazebo. I couldnt fit my scooter(52 lbs),folded up in the smaller cargo carrier. We upended the unit today in the garage and folded out the landing gear, then uprighted it again. WHen we get a chance I have to back the Plateau up to the garage door and wheel the unit in close to plug it into the hitch(Cat III). Thanks for letting me know about your experience with your former Pleasureway unit. I had thought about the extra weight on the rear but,in the end(small pun) it would have been stored inside the MH anyway in the couch area. We will back the Gearspace off the hitch when not needed for a trip and when located down South(AZ or Palm Springs) this winter. The gazebo will be located just outside the sliding door to afford increased living space--a sort of family room extension due to limited living space inside. My only suggestion for the manufacturer is to install at least one wheel lock so the unit doesnt roll all over the place in our garage.Otherwise, it is an excellent looking unit if it will stay on the back of our motorhome(hopefully).
PS: I enjoy your comments and have read a lot of them going way back on the B blogs etc. Of course, I used to travel to Minneapolis from WInnipeg when I was young and loved the city.
Al

I have the lighter GearSpace 20 with landing wheels and found on my former 2005 Pleasure-way Plateau that putting more than 150 lbs. in it made the front end feel a little bit squirrelly. On our first trip out I had it full and ended up taking stuff out and putting back in the van. I haven't used it yet with my Great West Van. We bought it to haul our two inflatable kayaks (70 lbs total) which tended to smell if stored under the sofa and bed after use on an algae pond. You'll have to load it up and see what is comfortable to you.

Received the Gearspace 34 today.Took one week from Colorado to Vancouver Island, which is pretty good considering the distance and logistics. I like the fact it is American made too. Good for cross-border trade. Very well packed and in good shape. Excellent quality construction and fittings.Unit was assembled with heavy duty 4 wheel landing gear installed.Twin tube frame assembly and twin tube spine assembly are heavy duty and oup to the job. Let'sGoAero had called me to make sure all was fine a couple of days ago.Good customer service. Tomorrow I install it on the Pleasureway Plateau TS hitch. It will look pretty big back there but, heh, what a good shock absorber if I get rear ended--groan,obviously not...! It is certainly the biggest cargo carrier I have EVER seen, anywhere. I will advise how it worked out after i get it hooked up and road tested. The unit weighs 120 lbs and is rated to carry another 180, for a 300 lb total.Adequate for us.
Al