Secondary Transportation Advice

The Gearspace 34 weights 120 lbs and can carry 380 lbs max. Many people use them and although they are a tongue weight factor they can be used. I have one.

omjones wrote:
Wow!!! How do you guys figure this stuff out? I get it when you spell it out like that but gees Louise where do you get this stuff. JSYK I never passed math at any time.
john 'I am Canacian'

Here is the simple math - This subject comes up fairly frequently. There are several things you need to check. You need to know what your current "ready to go" weight is on the rear axle compared to the GAWR. Know the capacity of the receiver hitch - usually 350 or 500 lbs. Know the weight of your small scooter. Add the weight of the carrier for the scooter. Measure the distance from the front axle to the rear axle. Measure the distance from the rear axle to the center of your scooter carrier. Now multiply the weight of the scooter plus the carrier by the distance behind the rear axle. Divide this answer by the distance between the axles. This is the amount you are lifting off the front axle (the see saw effect). If for example:
1. scooter weighs 250 lbs
2. carrier weighs 75 lbs
3. the scooter is being carried 8 feet behind the rear axle
4. wheelbase is 12 feet.
(250+75=325 x 8 feet divide by 12 = 217). In this example the scooter is adding 542 lbs to the rear axle and the front axle would be 217 lbs lighter.

Wow!!! How do you guys figure this stuff out? I get it when you spell it out like that but gees Louise where do you get this stuff. JSYK I never passed math at any time.
john 'I am Canacian'

Davydd wrote:
That I know for a fact, not opinion, in regard to handling on a T1N Sprinter. I found 250 lbs to be too much. Tongue weight of a trailer is different than tongue weight just levering on the back end. Keep in mind your carrier is going to weigh 100 lbs plus and the weight is not directly on top of the tongue as it is magnified by offset lever.

Correct! If one thinks of the hitch as a 3rd class level where the fulcrum is the mount on the frame and the object you want to carry is the Load Force, then the weight applied to the hitch where Tongue weight is measured is the Effort Force. A simple example of a 1 lbs weight 1 ft from the end of the hitch that is also 1 ft from the mount point on the frame show that that 1 lbs weight is actually exerting 2 lbs of (Tongue weight) force.

So in this simple example, 250 lbs at more than a foot distance from the hitch point could very easily exceed the 500 lbs Tongue weight of the vehicle.

Tongue weight is the weight or weight force at the hitch point, not a weight at some arbitrary distance from the hitch point.

What if you hung your scooter off the back of your cj7 and towed the cj7 all 4 wheels down?

That I know for a fact, not opinion, in regard to handling on a T1N Sprinter. I found 250 lbs to be too much. Tongue weight of a trailer is different than tongue weight just levering on the back end. Keep in mind your carrier is going to weigh 100 lbs plus and the weight is not directly on top of the tongue as it is magnified by offset lever.

DougE wrote:
But the specs say the B's are good for a 500# tongue load/5000# trailer load. How does your experience apply?

I think Davydd is referring to handling problems when you take that much weight off the front end.

can't speak for your choice.

i have a chev based van.

my tow capability is 5000/500

I use a 35 pound harbor freight carrier for my honda trail 90 which weighs under 200.( the HF is poor quality...you have to be smart enough to identify and fix any weak spots...or choose a heavier duty carrier)

the trail 90 has a fairly even weight balance on the 2 wheels the motor is in the middle- some scooters have all the weight on the back ( motor mounted aft), which will break some carriers...you could roll it off center to balance the load to the centerline of the hitch.

calculate the extra weight of a "dynamic load" when bouncing around.


That's how I do it.

Mike

But the specs say the B's are good for a 500# tongue load/5000# trailer load. How does your experience apply?

Two things. One, either diesel engine is going to last a lot longer than you will have the B.

Two, I don't think you will be able to hang a 400 lb. scooter off the back.