Traveling with a scooter on Class C

Few... we have a 31 ft class c and carry a Suzuki Boulevard S40 (650cc) our hitch is rated at 500lbs tongue weight. The carrier weighs 88lbs, (the carrier is rated for 650lbs) and the bike around 375lbs the rv has Helwig helper springs on the rear axle also. (Not sure if a previous ower put them on or the factory) I really don't feel it back there. I will more than likely do what another person said and add more side support. But it does work and if you think about it, the v10 in the front of the rv weighs more than that probably, along with the class c overhang, etc. But be safe.

2500TS has wheelbase:length of 56%, decent for a Class C. Still, two of its three slides are behind the rear axle. Another few hundred pounds...?
Is the chassis a Ford E450? If so, I doubt the rear axle with its 9500 pound rating will actually be overloaded.
But still, if the wheelbase and rear overhang combine to make a light FRONT end, it won't handle well with extra weight hung farther out back.
You really need to weigh the coach! As loaded for travel, people and all. Ford expects to see 1/3 of loaded weight on the front axle. Many here use a bogey 75% of front axle capacity. That'd be 3750 pounds. Weigh it and come back.
So... I say we don't have enough facts to say you'll be happy with a scooter back there.
I can offer what IS fact however. The weight carrying rating of a hitch is based on an ordinary drawbar in its ordinary position in the hitch receiver. So a rating of xxx pounds means placed on a ball less than a foot from the hitch pin in the receiver. NOT on a lever a couple feet longer.

While not a scooter, I've had an 80cc Yamaha Raptor mini-quad that weighs about 250 lbs, carried on a hitch mounted platform of about 100 lbs, for many trips attached to the back of my E450 Sunseeker 2300. It is not even close to being noticeable. In fact, I sometimes turn on the back-up camera, which is pointed down at the hitch area, to confirm it's still there!

Twice while we've seen a car be towed with a dolly and a motor cycle on the dolly in front of the car.

Dusty

We carried a honda helix 250cc scooter on the back of our first class c. Had local shop weld two more attachments so the carrier was supported left, right, and center. Worked great. Now have a 400cc scooter and its too heavy, have to use a trailer.

Skyfarmer wrote:
Thanks for your thoughts everyone! Called Forest River and my hitch can carry 500 lbs., so 375 lb. scooter and 100 lb. carrier will work. Unit has Firestone airbags that can inflate to help weight, so we'll consider it. Lee

As was suggested, you might be wise to borrow that carrier and test it. As has been mentioned, the weight is behind the rear axle, when this 500 lbs of bike and carrier are loaded behind the back axle, a corresponding amount of weight is lifted off the front axle. This is the see-saw effect. So be sure you have enough rear axle capacity to haul that extra weight. You might want to do a weighing before and after the extra load and adjust tire pressure accordingly.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! Called Forest River and my hitch can carry 500 lbs., so 375 lb. scooter and 100 lb. carrier will work. Unit has Firestone airbags that can inflate to help weight, so we'll consider it. Lee

tpi wrote:
I've always used 5X8 utility trailer for various scooters, motorcycles and ATV. It is very easy to get the bike up on the trailer with built-in ramp. The trailer is not much problem on it's own. It's light, and when disconnected can easily be rolled around by hand. So backing can be as easy as no trailer at all-remove bike, remove trailer, and roll it around to your heart's content.

Above all, no need to pivot 350-400+ pounds on the back of class C which already has (IMO) too much weight behind the axle.

Exactly what I do. Just hook up my trailer and tow the scooter or quad easily.

I've always used 5X8 utility trailer for various scooters, motorcycles and ATV. It is very easy to get the bike up on the trailer with built-in ramp. The trailer is not much problem on it's own. It's light, and when disconnected can easily be rolled around by hand. So backing can be as easy as no trailer at all-remove bike, remove trailer, and roll it around to your heart's content.

Above all, no need to pivot 350-400+ pounds on the back of class C which already has (IMO) too much weight behind the axle.

I carry a DR650 on the back of my 26 ft Tioga.
It has a lot of ccc so it works well. I would not do it
on a thirty footer.