Motorcycle - Hitch Mount Rack

lakebum wrote:

06Fargo wrote:
Our Versahaul uses this nice piece of kit for anti-floppage:



No drilling required.

After looking at numerous ones, the versahaul seems to be the heaviest construction and in the videos when they shake the rack he entire vehicle seems to move with it making me think that it would give the less wobble. Looks like the one I will go with...

Got to get some other things for the motorcoach, first but that is high on the list...

What the Versahaul is missing is a platform to set your sidestand on while you tie down... Versahaul has a receiver as well so I am going to fab up a platform to slip in there. Then you load the bike, put the stand down and lean it on the stand. Then grab your tie downs and secure for travel.

Otherwise have a helper so you can steady the bike and get the first 2 tie downs on.

In my opinion you do not need to weld and fab up extra mounts to the vehicle. You should be using a sufficient receiver to handle the 600-700lbs.

Buy any rail rack you want, then have a welder attach a set of 1 1/2 inch receiver mounts to the outside ends of your receiver mount. Buy the square tube stock to fit, drill out the keeper pin holes and bolt to the rail. Now you went from one 2" mount to three spaced apart mounts.

06Fargo wrote:
Our Versahaul uses this nice piece of kit for anti-floppage:



No drilling required.

After looking at numerous ones, the versahaul seems to be the heaviest construction and in the videos when they shake the rack he entire vehicle seems to move with it making me think that it would give the less wobble. Looks like the one I will go with...

Got to get some other things for the motorcoach, first but that is high on the list...

Our Versahaul uses this nice piece of kit for anti-floppage:



No drilling required.

Beware of the ratings the manufacturers place on their racks. My bike (260lbs/CRF450x) was way under the manufacturer rating. After one use I could see the center support was sadly under-designed. I Rebuilt/Reinforced and no problems. To keep my bike from bouncing around I drilled two 1/2" holes / one on each side of the bumper (luckily mine is aluminum) and use a tie-down between the rack and bumper to add stability. I do use the little sway bracket provided at the receiver which is suppose to stabilize but the help is minimal. Another issue is the weight rating is across the rack. When you load your bike ALL of the bike's weight is place on one side which is double the loaded share. I use a scissor jack under the load / unload side when I am loading & unloading to make sure I don't exceed the half load of the load rating. I have a buddy that has a heavier bike like you and he installed two receivers and had a custom rack made. Works great for his heavier bike. Also I haul my bike in the front of my Motorhome as I am towing a Jeep or car with bicycles on the rear. Surprisingly my motorcycle stays cleaner (and bicycles when hauled in the front) than in the rear. Good luck it is possible.

rocmoc n AZ/Fld/Baja

valhalla360 wrote:
I'm not saying it can't be done but 500lb hitch weight is much different from 500lb bike.

If a trailer hitch starts pushing side to side, it's rarely more than 6"(often much less) from in line with the receiver. The center of gravity for your bike is probably going to be upwards of 2' from the center of the receiver. That gives it a lot more leverage.

I wouldn't want to put something that heavy on without a second receiver to help resist the rotational forces.

This is why I stated what I thought would be a way better and more structurally sound system. This is one of those things that, experience and fabrication knowledge plays a big part. Sometimes trying to explain "what will work" and, what's superior, is not always in the cards. Good luck on hauling your bike.
Scott

I'm not saying it can't be done but 500lb hitch weight is much different from 500lb bike.

If a trailer hitch starts pushing side to side, it's rarely more than 6"(often much less) from in line with the receiver. The center of gravity for your bike is probably going to be upwards of 2' from the center of the receiver. That gives it a lot more leverage.

I wouldn't want to put something that heavy on without a second receiver to help resist the rotational forces.

We have a Versa-Haul carrier. They feature a locking device that stops the carrier from flopping around in the receiver. It needs a pad fabbed up for a place to set the side stand of a heavy bike while you tie it down.

www.versahaul.com

camp-n-family wrote:
Agree with the above poster. Ever seen a rack with regular bikes (<100lbs)bounce around on the back of an RV? Now picture it with 500+lbs.

I agree, two or three contact points would be best, but I know others have hauled from east coast out west on 5 week trip without any problems with a single point hitch, but he could not remember the name of the rack he purchased.

nevadanick wrote:
Look at Discount Ramps, there are 600lb rated carriers and you can use ratchet straps to keep it from rocking around if its an issue.

Thanks, looks like a sturdy mount....

http://www.discountramps.com/smc-600-motorcycle-hauler/p/SMC-600R/