Motorcycle on the back of the 5er.

[klr650goldwing]

I'm thinking of having a receiver hitch welded to the 8 I-beams of our 5er. I'm thinking of two pieces of heavy duty square tubing welded at 90 degrees to the I-beams, spaced about 3 or 4 feet apart and welded to each beam. Then the receiver part of the hitch welded to both of the pieces of square tubing.

I'm hoping to haul a 388 lb. motorcycle on this hitch. Tell me what you think; pros and cons, or better ideas. Thanks.

[flyairam]

See pics of my fifth further down the page:

https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28437838/print/true.cfm

[Reng8d]

Hi All,

Not saying it can't or shouldn't be done, or if you throw a lot of money at it to can hopefully get done correctly, not even saying some frames can or can't handle it, but what I am saying is look at the Frame Failure thread that had nothing added to it. I now have a huge paperweight that I am paying faithfully for with out any certainty what may transpire....If you want to carry toys I agree with the memnber that mentioned to get a toy hauler, this is what they are "supposedly" made for.

Guess I'm just gun shy at this point....

[Bowti]

I have 3 two inch receivers on mine, professionally done. I have carried a 280 lb Honda 150 PCX for about 10,000 miles the last 3 years with no ill effects.

I have a rear view camera to keep an eye on it and check all the welds faithfully. I do not experience any of the bouncing that was mentioned. As far as towing and pin weight problems, it tows like the trailer is not even there. The exception is railroad tracts and bridges, I also keep my speed down and am not in any hurry.

[attuco]

Ivylog is right on. I've been carrying a DL650 for years on a similar setup. I bolted my 2 inch receiver hitches to the 8in I beams, used matching 2 inch extensions. The front one (where the front tire rides) is about 3 feet long, the rear one less. I used steel loading ramps from Harbor Freight for channels and loading ramps. It mounts and dismounys just by removing the pins. Tie the front down beneath the bikes suspension so the straps cannot bounce loose. I also tie the back end down using the swingarm. This subject keeps coming up over and over. One time an engineer with a sophisticated stress analysis program ran this scenario and it had no problems (max stress was 9000 psi). It does reduce your pin weight but I haven't noticed it on my 10000# 5th wheel.

[topjimmy]

it is just you're basic Chinese Scooter as they are all the same ,this one is called a Roketa Sicily 150cc but they were also called MC-17-150, Schwinn Hope, Kait/JMstar Capri etc.. they are a small frame 150cc Scooter that go about 60MPH and pretty dang reliable and PLENTIFUL parts as they use the Most popular Motor in the world the GY6 and cheap to buy and a HOOT to ride and this is coming from a guy that has a 1200cc Ninja

klr650goldwing wrote:
TopJimmy,

Thanks for that information. What brand and model scooter is that?

[avvidclif1]

While you are trying to figure it out keep an eye out for a vehicle with a bicycle rack on the back connected to the receiver hitch. Follow it and look at how much the bikes jump up and down. Now imagine a lot more weight and a lot further back from the axle and you will get an idea of what everyone is trying to tell you.

If you do it then load everything up and have your wife pull the trailer for 10-15 mi and you follow in another vehicle and watch it. You might change your mind.

It's your trailer and you can do what you want but if that bike falls off and someone hits it you're in trouble.

[otrfun]

klr650goldwing wrote:
Ivylog has actually done this and seems happy with the result. Do those of you who are advocating against doing this have first-hand experience in doing it? Have any of you mounted a motorcycle on the back of your trailer and had ill-effects from it? Has anyone mounted a motorcycle on the front of their truck and had ill-effects from that?

Given enough money, I'm sure mounting a motorcycle on the rear of any 5th wheel, safely, is possible. Given less than enough money, one's odds (possibility) of doing so safely will likely diminish accordingly.

Without frame data, engineering input, and a budget, all we have is simple conjecture.

[klr650goldwing]

TopJimmy,

Thanks for that information. What brand and model scooter is that?

[R12RTee]

Here is how my motorcycle rides, minus the cover. It can be done but it does get costly to do it right. Extra steel in the frame. Third axle added to eliminate so much overhang and carry extra weight. There is a lot of weight cantilevered 10 feet or more behind the rear axle and rough roads will give it a workout.

[harley_hitchike]

I have been doing it for 12 years probably 70'000 miles .I think there is a photo on my profile from 05 with a Harley softail on a Everest 5th wheel .10in I beam frame
Check out mightyhauler.com they say they can install on a 5th wheel.
of course carrying capacity and pin weight are very important. Don't exceed the axle rating and loaded the pin should be between 15 and 20 percent of GVW. A good wheel chalk is important as well as a hefty tiedown system and a camera to keep an eye on it.

[topjimmy]

Been asked that before and No I have not had any overheating problems in 90-100 degree weather up and down Big passes with my Duramax/Allison here in the West for 6 years but DO NOT travel with a cover on it or you will AND no it does not block my headlights with MY 150cc Scooter but every Scooter/Bike is different and you can adjust the Scooter forward or back on the carrier to adjust for that if it is a problem and here is a Pic of my set up http://s1275.photobucket.com/user/topjimmyz/media/new%20truck%20scooter_zps5yxvzute_2.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

[klr650goldwing]

topjimmy wrote:
My 2 bits and I have been doing it for 5 years now all over the country is I would never put that much weight on the back of my 5er what I Do is carry my 220lb scooter on the front hitch/carrier and it works Awesome and you can SEE it,so anyway for you I would get a little lighter Bike and do the front hitch setup like you mentioned again just my 2 bits

Thanks for replying to my inquiry.

Have you had any issues with overheating on the truck as a result of hauling the bike on the front? Have to traveled through any steep terrain with that setup? Has that scooter covered up any lights? If so, what did you do about that?

[Us_out_West]

Go for it OP....good luck and safe travels.

[klr650goldwing]

Ivylog wrote:
OP, guess I should have added to my first post that NO I have not carried one motorcycle on the back of my 34' 5er, I carried TWO. I did more than just weld the two receiver hitches to the bottom of my frame rails... I boxed the I beam with plates that were 2' long on the bottom and 3' long on the top on one side and the opposite on the other side... 3' on the bottom. I used 6' long receiver tubes and loaded the cycles from opposite ends so no way to lower one end making it the loading ramp.
If you were wanting to do this to a TT I'd have some concerns about taking too much tongue weight off it, BUT a 5er has closer to 20 percent tongue weight so even taking 550 lbs off (like I did) will not make it unstable.

Ivylog has actually done this and seems happy with the result. Do those of you who are advocating against doing this have first-hand experience in doing it? Have any of you mounted a motorcycle on the back of your trailer and had ill-effects from it? Has anyone mounted a motorcycle on the front of their truck and had ill-effects from that?

[Ivylog]

OP, guess I should have added to my first post that NO I have not carried one motorcycle on the back of my 34' 5er, I carried TWO. I did more than just weld the two receiver hitches to the bottom of my frame rails... I boxed the I beam with plates that were 2' long on the bottom and 3' long on the top on one side and the opposite on the other side... 3' on the bottom. I used 6' long receiver tubes and loaded the cycles from opposite ends so no way to lower one end making it the loading ramp.
If you were wanting to do this to a TT I'd have some concerns about taking too much tongue weight off it, BUT a 5er has closer to 20 percent tongue weight so even taking 550 lbs off (like I did) will not make it unstable.