I'm considering the possibility of mounting a platform to the rear of our 26 ft. Jayco travel trailer (not a fifth wheel) for the purpose of carrying a scooter. Thinking of something like a Yamaha Xmax 292 cc with a wet weight of approximately 400 lbs. Knowing that the rear bumper is only good for storing the sewer hose, such a carrier would have to be securely welded to the rectangular tube trailer frame itself. But then with an extra 400 lbs hanging off the rear end I can imagine a potential problem with the sway it might cause. Has anybody ever successfully done this?

A 5th wheel with the heavier hitch weight might be better able to lose a bit, but I don't think a bumper pull will be so forgiving. I would imagine you'll not lose a lot of weight at the ball, but sometimes it doesn't take much.

400 lbs on the rear of a tt is a lot. I've done 220 with a little 80 cc scoot, and it was very noticeable. remember, you take weight off the tongue as you add it to the rear of a tt, making sway more likely. A front hitch and carrier on the truck, or putting the bike in the bed would be a preferable choice in most cases.

X-2 front of truck or in the bed.

In bed of the truck would be your best bet for that much weight. Not only to much offset of tongue weight but to much weight that far back from the rear axle on the frame itself.

across the tongue of the trailer with the WDH adjusted for it.

Carrying a scooter (motorbike, not mobility scooter) ?

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jul 29, 2019
A 5th wheel with the heavier hitch weight might be better able to lose a bit, but I don't think a bumper pull will be so forgiving. I would imagine you'll not lose a lot of weight at the ball, but sometimes it doesn't take much.
wanderingaimles
Explorer
Jul 29, 2019
400 lbs on the rear of a tt is a lot. I've done 220 with a little 80 cc scoot, and it was very noticeable. remember, you take weight off the tongue as you add it to the rear of a tt, making sway more likely.
A front hitch and carrier on the truck, or putting the bike in the bed would be a preferable choice in most cases.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Jul 29, 2019
X-2 front of truck or in the bed.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jul 29, 2019
In bed of the truck would be your best bet for that much weight. Not only to much offset of tongue weight but to much weight that far back from the rear axle on the frame itself.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Jul 30, 2019
across the tongue of the trailer with the WDH adjusted for it.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2019
Looked at carrying a bike on the back of our 5er. Too much weight. The bike we looked at was a Yamaha cross trail 250cc type. Wet weight is about 260#. Figured reinforcement of frame etc. would add at least another 75#. Canned the idea.

That scooter looks nice. In your situation I would carry it in the the truck bed.
trailernovice
Explorer
Jul 30, 2019
We actually DO take a scooter with us..honda pcx 150.. it fits neatly in the truck bed, with tailgate up..have a three-piece, 9-foot ramp..I just ride it in and strap it down

Concur with others that putting it on or at the back of the trailer could adversely affect tongue-weight percentage
JRscooby
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2019
Look at a trailer from side. If you put a bike, (and what all you need to hold it) on the back of trailer, how far behind the axles will that weight be? To counter-balance that weight, you will need 110% of that weight the same distance ahead of the axles. Now, are the axles overloaded?
Maynard
Explorer
Jul 30, 2019
The best solution, and I don't even own a scoot yet, is to carry it in the bed. But then we'd have to take the cap off and I don't want to do that since the bed is full-time storage for various other camping gear. So it looks like this idea is pretty dead. Thanks for all the info.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jul 30, 2019
Maynard wrote:
The best solution, and I don't even own a scoot yet, is to carry it in the bed. But then we'd have to take the cap off and I don't want to do that since the bed is full-time storage for various other camping gear. So it looks like this idea is pretty dead. Thanks for all the info.
They make high rise truck caps that you may be able to fit a scooter underneath.

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Carrying a scooter (motorbike, not mobility scooter) ?

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