I'm trying to figure out the best way to carry my Honda Helix scooter on my 1982 Dodge Xplorer 228 camper van. I would prefer to carry it on the front because the rear of the van is already extended several feet and it would have trouble backing out from an incline (like a driveway) and hit the road. The van is a 1982 Dodge Ram B350 that was extended and converted into a motorhome by the Xplorer company. GAWR Front: 3600 LB GAWR Rear: 5360 LB The scooter weighs 350 lbs dry and has a wheelbase of 64 inches. I've messaged the experts at etrailer.com and they say that they don't make a hitch receiver for the front of my van. :?But there's got to be something I can do right? Maybe one of the rear hitches will fit on the front? Maybe it can be modified somehow? Is there something I'm overlooking as an option?Any advice or tips on how to figure this out is greatly appreciated.

The Helix has a pretty fair sized full body and would block a very large amount of air from getting to the radiator. Not allowing the engine full cooling would be my concern if mounting in front. A small motorcycle trailer would be my choice. Maybe not as handy, but probably easier to load and unload too.

“I would prefer to carry it on the front because ...”What is the front axel max and with the rack plus 350? I see FJ has other concerns. An ‘82? Thirty-six years old.

Harbor Freight, e-trailer and many others sell motorcycle carriers that are mounted on 2" receivers, front or rear.Add on, Idaho tote would be another option.

Helix is a tank. You’re not going to want that on the front. I carried a Yamaha XC180 on the front of a Dodge Ram diesel and it really made the cooling system work hard.

Ok, so everyone seems to agree that carrying it on the front would make the engine overheat. So that leaves me with carrying it on the back or pulling it on a trailer. Does anyone have any insight on the possibilities of carrying it on the back of an extended van?

How to carry a motorcycle/scooter on Class B? | Good Sam Community

okhmbldr
Explorer
Feb 07, 2018
Harbor Freight sells a small 4'x8' trailer that would be perfect for hauling a small motorcycle. $300-400 range. I've had one for about five years and it's great. It folds up so you can stand it up in the garage. It's about 1200# capacity. Be sure to get the one with the 5.30 tires. Some assemble required!
eHoefler
Explorer II
Feb 07, 2018
Swivel wheel are not considered trailers, since they do not pivot at the attachment point to the vehicle. They are actualy called an extended platform
DougE
Explorer
Feb 07, 2018
Be aware that the Harbor Freight and Northern Tool trailer kits come with metric axles and 55 mph rated tires. I replaced the axle and tires on my build.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Feb 07, 2018
eHoefler wrote:
Swivel wheel are not considered trailers, since they do not pivot at the attachment point to the vehicle. They are actualy called an extended platform
There's no real proof of this in all states. Some states figure that anything added that isn't OEM is a trailer. Even the swivelwheel builders will tell you to check with local laws.

And they do pivot at the attachment point, only they pivot in a vertical direction.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Feb 07, 2018
MrWizard wrote:
the rear clutch engages from the engine turning the belt

you can spin the rear wheel all day the clutch and trans and belt drive will not engage

It still would not be choice for travel carry, for other reasons
NOT the transmission

the transmission will not be affected
and the rear end has oil in it for the drive gears on the output side of the clutch
those gears will be driven by the rolling real wheel
the torque and wear will be opposite from normal applied driving force
as the wheel will be the driving force, but it will also be limited as it is NOT pushing the scooter down the road
I don't know if the Reflex works differently than a SilverWing, which is what Peggy has now. But the SilverWing will spin the engine while coasting above a certain speed. Below about 20 mph the scooter will simply coast, above that speed the transmission is engaged. Might be worth checking to make sure the Reflex doesn't work similarly.
daboognish88
Explorer
Feb 07, 2018
I don't think Harbor Freight sells their trailer anymore. I've read that on some other forum and visited the site and couldn't find it. Probably a liability issue. Dang.
DougE
Explorer
Feb 07, 2018
Northern Tool Trailers
DrewE
Explorer II
Feb 07, 2018
daboognish88 wrote:
I don't think Harbor Freight sells their trailer anymore. I've read that on some other forum and visited the site and couldn't find it. Probably a liability issue. Dang.

That seems to be a quite recent change...

Northern Tool sells a few very similar trailers (and one or two others that might fit the bill).

Edit: Doug beat me to the punch.
daboognish88
Explorer
Feb 07, 2018
Thanks for the links DougE and DrewE. (why do you both have capitalized "E"s at the end by the way?)

So if I get a trailer I'm thinking of going with the Ironton 40in. x 48in. Utility Trailer Kit from Norther Tool (because its cheap) and then modifying it to make it more long term road worthy as well as able to carry my scooter.
Any ideas on how I should modify it to improve the design for my use? Apparently its only rated for speeds up to 45 MPH so that's gotta change.

Thinking of adding a steel grate and aluminum channel and adding 12" wheels. I guess it'd be hard to get this registered.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Feb 07, 2018
If you're wanting to go cheap have you checked Craigslist or your local Swap and Shop on Facebook. I've seen a few small trailers with full sized tires going for less than $500. There is a Shoreland'r 3 rail motorcycle trailer locally, and they're asking $350 for it and it's already licensed. Why buy new when used can possibly be cheaper.