Motorcycle loading on a hitch

Concerning the height of the bike once on the stand why not used the coach levelers/jacks to raise the front end up? Considering the length of an average coach a three inch change in height at the front could amplify to 12 inches at the rear. Rasie the front end enough and you might not even need the ramp.

If you do not have a platform wide enough that you can sit on the bike with both feet down for support from ground up to load level, do not use bike power to load the bike. You may get away with it but eventually it will end ugly. Either with the bike falling and you barely getting out of the way. Or the bike falling and you ending up under it. Like stated above there are systems out there that do this safely. $2000 might seem like a lot but it looks like a really good deal when you are laying in a hospital after being pulled out from under a motorcycle.

caymann wrote:
Not sure where to post, so i thought i try here...

I would like to haul a motorcycle on a Blue Ox SC2000 hitch. It takes up to 1000lbs. I am wondering how to load the motorcycle on this hitch?

It is suggested, there be two people, one handling the bike and other pushing it from behind to load it up/dn the ramp. Unfortunately i mayn't have two people as sometimes i am by myself.

Is there a winch mechanism i can add to this loader so that using a remote control and by myself i can load/unload the motorcycle?

thank you
jim

PS> My MH is capable of carrying this load with no problem so let's not discuss that.

Cayman,
Well Sir, We've carried a Honda GL 1800 Goldwing on the back of our Itasca Horizon 36GD with the 330 CAT and used what is called the Hydralift motorcycle carrier/lift. It's by far, the highest quality lift on the market. But, they're very proud of it too. That lift is around $4500.00 BEFORE taxes, shipping and install. But, it's an outstanding lift and does ALL the work for you.

We recently changed our mode of operation and now, we haul the Goldwing in the back of our new toad, a GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4. What we use now is called the "Rampage" motorcycle lift/carrier. It too does all the work for you. You tie it down at ground level and then push a button and, the winch takes it up and loads it just like those "roll-back" wreckers you see for retrieving cars. It's a great lift and works well.

And, the good part, you can mount it across the back of your coach. It's an outstanding system for that purpose.

Now, it's entirely up to you if you want to "Balance" that kind weight (your bike, not mine) at that high. If anything goes south and that bike starts to have a mishap of some sort, your ability to stop it from falling is slim and none. With that system, you don't have to do ANY work or, balancing. And, you can still tow. Those Rampage lifts are less than half of the Hydralift but, with a bit of perseverance, you can find them on Craigslist for around half or less. We got ours for $1500 and it had only been used once.
Scott

P.S, Cayman, you have a PM.

One other VERY important issue. When you load and unload the bike, the ramp should be set up to go toward the passenger side of the vehicle. The reason is that if you ever break down on the side of the road, and need to take the bike to pick up parts, it will be much easier to unload it down toward a ditch, than into 2 lanes of traffic. I made this mistake with mine. While I did not need to run any errands, I did however need to unload the bike, to get at my spare tire. I was fortunate enough to be able to pull into the median to unload the bike.

We have a street/trail on a front rack and a scooter on the rear rack that I walk along side as I power them up the ramps. They both are very easy to load as the scooter you don't have to control the clutch. The other one is loaded so as to keep the clutch handle on the side I'm walking on. I built the racks and was able to set them up specifically for their respective bikes. Here is a copy of a previous postpost with pictures

There are other lifts out that that do come with winches. I've actually looked at these before and I've never even seen one like this where you would have to get a heavy bike like that up the ramp. The ones with winches lower all the way to the ground and can be loaded with one person. Just ride the bike on, tie it down, and raise the lift.

I load mine on the back under its own power. I do use some throttle and just slip the clutch some. As it turns out, the width of my ramp actually squeezes on the tires just a touch, which means the bike will not fall over even with out being bolted down. If I where you, I would have someone help me load it and hold it the first time. Once it is in place, mark the spot on the ramps where the tire stops, and weld short vertical plates on either side the tire about 2 inches high. That way, it will stay in place, and you don't have to hold on to it, while you strap it down. I would also suggest making sure your jacks are down on the coach, so the coach can not shift with the weight and surprise you. If your coach has air bags, you could always dump the rear bags, (leave the front one up). That will lower the rear some and make your life easier. My bike weighs 640 lbs and I never have help.

One other thing I did. Since I custom built my own rack, I welded vertical supports that actually bolt onto the bike frame (HWY board mounts). This way I do not use any straps. Just 2 bolts tightened down and the bike is rigidly held to the rack.

pics start here:
http://s213.photobucket.com/user/Daveinet/media/PC800/DSC06906.jpg.html?sort=3&o=7

450lb BMW lol my VTX is near 800. My KLX650 was ~330lbs and I never had any issues loading it on my hitch carrier on the back of the truck, but it wasn't quite that high off the ground (I'm 6'2" as well).

Some cinder blocks and a 2x12 on the ground to stand on and make you a little taller.

I bet you could weld a little something on the back of that carrier, use one of those tri-wide loading ramps for 4 wheelers (so you could use your feet) and then just ride the bike on to the carrier.

I can't imagine using a winch. Then you have to use half a hand to run the winch remote and then you have 1.5 hands to control the bike.

I ride into my toyhauler. Unloading I leave the bike off and in 1st gear. As soon as the rear tire gets out of the trailer and onto the ramp I drag the clutch and use the front brake to control my speed. Front brake alone and the front slides (and I don't want to lift a foot for the rear). I know some BMWs had the integrated braking so the front applies partial to the rear (K1200GT)...

I never thought about loading the bike on its own power and was not sure of that is a good idea.

One thing is, the bike handles are 44" off the ground
The hauler itself is 25" off the ground
So that is a total of 44+25=69" off the ground, for the bike handles.
And i have the ramp, that is 72" long to help the bike load.

I am 6'2" = 74" so the bike handles are literally at the eye level.

Also this BMW bike is 450lbs but in future i might go for heavier BMW adventure bikes that weighs 650lbs

I cannot imagine loading a 450lb bike at my eye level on its own power.
That is why i was thinking a winch or something that i could possibly weld on the other end of the loader

Do people load heavy bikes in gear (no throttle)?
Looks like i might need a ramp for myself to walk up along side the bike.
If so, what kind of ramp could i look for that i can fold and store away at the basement of the MH?

thanks
jim

Prepare your ratchet straps on the front tie downs (near the front tire). Have them already hooked to the carrier, and laid out where you will be able to easily access them.

Start bike, place in gear, and let it climb onto the carrier itself with you walking next to it. When the front tire is against the stop, shut off bike, reach down and grab your straps and attach them to the bars, berg rings, triple-trees, wherever you are going to attach them.

If I was to load my VTX1800 on a carrier like that, the above is how I would do it. It IS how I do it for my dirt bikes on my hitch carrier (yes I know they weigh less).