Motorcycle Carrier

These lifts are OK for DPs...but for gassers? I'd really be cautious. MY situation, (owning a 750 pound H-D dresser) using a math formula, I found that the bike, lift, and elevating all of it up about 3 feet....I was about 300 pounds from my max rear axle max weight. Fine. BUT....I found I would LOSE 700 pounds off the front-end. Nope. No way.

Getting a trailer for my gasser was the only sensible thing for me.

My experience, my OPINION, my 2 cents (well...maybe 3)

I installed a Hydralift carrier on my 2015 Tuscany 45 at. Works well made some brackets with 1/2 steel that bolted under the hitch using longer bolts that held hitch in place to the frame. Put the pump in rear side compartment. Simple install

ScubaJim wrote:
Read the posts and love the feedback. Have a Honda Goldwing 1800 and also tow a car so am interested in getting a Hydralift installed since a trailer is not practical. Anyone know of any preventative measure to avoid the bike getting all scratched up. Any help would be appreciated.

ScubaJim,
Your 39' coach will have no issues when utilizing a Hydralift for the Wing. As you see in the pics, I did it with a 36' Itasca Horizon. I'm also going to assume you have a CAT in that Discovery until you say otherwise. The primary concern you need to take is, mounting height of the lift itself, on the coach.

The Hydralift is by far, the most superior lift/carrier on the market, without a doubt. But, it's also the costliest. They normally run around $4,500.00 plus or minus, BEFORE tax, shipping and installation. Installation can be anywhere in price. I did mine. I've got a ton of pictures of various stages of the install, if you'd like to see them, PM me and, I'd be glad to share and explain.

The primary concern with mounting the Hydralift is, it needs to be as low mounted as possible but, still allow for good ground clearance when angle of departure is acute. You don't want to scrape that Wing off the back of that coach, that's for sure.

But, when that Hydralift is mounted as low as possible, it allows for the LEAST angle of the lift arms, in relation to the floor of the lift. You see, as you well know, the GL 1800 is WIDE at low points, i.e. the front crash bars and the valve covers. So, the lower the lift is mounted, the less of an angle the lift arms are when lift is at bottom for loading/off loading the Wing.

Obviously, the higher the lift is mounted, the more acute the lift arms are when the lift is in the loading/off loading position and, that means the Wings front crash bars and valve covers are in severe danger of colliding with those lift arms, while you're trying to ride it onto the lift.

Anyway, I'd be glad to help you with questions on the lift, mounting, additional support sub-structure specifically for the Wing tie-down points (front fork) and more. PM me if you'd like to know more. By the way, to answer your original question about not scratching the Wing up either while loading/off loading or, while it's on the lift, You won't. I explained in another thread, the use of an "Ultra-gard" travel cover for it I ordered from Wingstuff.

It fits like a glove. It's about the same density of a Mummy Sleeping bag. It's thick and does not flap around like cheesy bike covers you use in your garage. But, one thing. It's a pain in the a$$ to cinch down, with all the buckles on it, while the bike is on the lift. And, it still allows for some dust and debris to collect in and on, various parts/components of the bike. So, I just write off the fact that it's going to get DIRTY, PERIOD! I take care of that dirt at the next campsite.
Scott

Here is an idea, a tandem tow dolly;

Read the posts and love the feedback. Have a Honda Goldwing 1800 and also tow a car so am interested in getting a Hydralift installed since a trailer is not practical. Anyone know of any preventative measure to avoid the bike getting all scratched up. Any help would be appreciated.

I carried a Yamaha 250 on the front bumper of a 24' class C and a friend carried a Suzuki 450 on the front bumper of a 26' class C. We just lifted the front into the hoop then the rear. Pretty heavy lifting though, I wouldn't want to pick my BMW 650 up. It worked fine although it did interfere with the headlights so I added some driving lights. I travelled the whole country that way with no problems, 25 years ago.

Dachristianman wrote:
Has anyone considered putting the bike on the front of the motorhome? Seems to me, the front has less frame sticking out in front of the axle and therefore would cause less stress to the structure by installing the hitch/assembly to the front.

Tom

Seems like a reasonable thought. Plus you can see the bike and that would make me happy.

If I were going to take a big bike (HD Fatboy) I would not be considering a carrier. I get that. I do have a bunch of old vintage bike that are all under 500 pounds and those are the bikes I would like to take with me.

Has anyone considered putting the bike on the front of the motorhome? Seems to me, the front has less frame sticking out in front of the axle and therefore would cause less stress to the structure by installing the hitch/assembly to the front.

Tom

With this little bit of additional information, I would do the following:

(a) find a good welding shop;
(b) have them add two hitch receiver tubes of 2 1/2" square 1/4" wall tubing
(c) fabricate a nice aluminum platform to load the bike onto with a ramp (aluminum will cut the weight by half);
(d) load the bike and go.

If the owners manual for your coach indicated what the tongue weight of a trailer being pulled by the coach is WITHOUT weight distribution equipment will be close to the carrier and the bike, I think you have a winner.

If your owners manual gives you a tongue WITH weight distibution and it is more than your carrier and bike, I still think you have a winner as you have spread the weight out over the two or three receiver tubes you have added to your hitch.

Now, lets get some decent weather, load those bikes, and head out on a new adventure!!!

Another option is a swivel wheel 58dw