Forum Discussion

obiwancanoli's avatar
obiwancanoli
Explorer
Jun 18, 2018

Towing both car & Harley

I've got a 35' Class A with a 5K towing limit, tow my Ford Edge with a Tow Dolly, and would love to take my Road King along. Best option appears to be installing a hydraulic lift on the RV to accommodate the HD, but the life weighs in around $1000 lb., the HD about 800, and of course, then, there's the car, and I'm thinking it's just not possible...

I've contacted the MH manufacturer, but haven't gotten an answer yet...

BTW, I do have a covered trailer I tow the bike in when behind the car, but it'd be a real challenge doing so with the rig...

Is there an easy solution, or do I consider a larger rig with the capacity to tow more weight?

28 Replies

  • wildtoad wrote:
    Swap the car and dolly for a F150 with 4wd, flat tow it, and put the HD in the truck bed.

    That would be my recommendation, as well.
    Now how to easily get the bike in and out of the truck bed, is the question and if mine, I'd just have to find myself a little knoll or hillside somewhere and the way I used to load and unload golf carts in my F-150.
  • wildtoad wrote:
    Swap the car and dolly for a F150 with 4wd, flat tow it, and put the HD in the truck bed.


    A Harley in the back of a F150 is going to be a pain to load and unload. I did it when I pulled a camper with lighter weight bikes and a 4 foot wide ramp. You really need a loading dock. Also I think it would be pushing the weight limit of the 5K hitch.
  • Ivylog wrote:
    1800 lbs that far back is going to put 2500+ lbs on your rear axle and take 700 off the front = NO WAY is this going to work. They make toe dollies that you can put the cycle in front of the car.

    Like Ivylog said;

  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    1800 lbs that far back is going to put 2500+ lbs on your rear axle and take 700 off the front = NO WAY is this going to work. They make toe dollies that you can put the cycle in front of the car.
  • don't forget the weight of the dolly. you could save the dolly weight if the car could be flat towed. and then remember that your max towing weight is not 5K, that's the max weight the hitch can handle. but if your MH's actual rolling weight (actual combined weight of the load on each axle) is more than the combined axle weight ratings you need to deduct a pound for every pound you're overweight.

    in general, the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:

    - the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.) actual weight = the combined weight on the axles.

    - the weight rating of your tow bar

    - the weight rating of your hitch

    good luck.
  • Swap the car and dolly for a F150 with 4wd, flat tow it, and put the HD in the truck bed.
  • “I've contacted the MH manufacturer, but haven't gotten an answer yet...”

    IF you get a response I’ll bet the answer is...5000 maximum!