Placement of motorcycle for towing

[pjs1660]

I'm getting my first toy hauler soon. Where is the best place to strap a bike weighing between 800 and 1200 pounds ? Behind the axle, closer to the ramp, or over the axles? Thanks

[LowRyter]

Use the built in tie downs. Strap down a wheel shock in the middle on a rubber mat. Then park the bike in the chock and strap down the bike.

Even room for my rollout generator.

[nayther]

we had a 30' fiver with open floor plan like the link posted. I hauled our Gold Wing in it once, I put it a bit back from center over the axles, towed it about 800 miles once and never felt any difference, but then again it was sitting right over our single 150 gallon water tank, which is 1250lbs.

[pjs1660]

Thanks for the responses, I'll either be putting a bike or a trike in there.

[dedmiston]

The size of your hauler and the bumper pull vs. fiver will have a little bit of an effect, but I doubt you'll feel a difference in any case.

I've seen a few people who have to back in their SxS to get the weight just right, which leads me to assume they're too close to their limits anyway.

[Grit_dog]

Dirtclods wrote:
The best place is - over the axles.

Maybe, but must understand that toyhau1ers are generally designed tongue heavy to account for a good deal of weight behind the axles (the toys).
Granted the heavier the tail behind the axles, and the greater distance aft, the greater the propensity for the trailer to wiggle a little bit. (The tail gathers a little more sideways momentum due to the weight in back exaggerating the small side to side inputs to the trailer.

That said, our 31' toyhauler, ready to camp, full water (over axles) with no significant weight in the "garage" is over 1500lbs. I could use some weight shifted aft of the rear axle, as could most I imagine.

[Y-Guy]

I agree 100% with what lincster just said. I will add that you want to check the tie down points to make sure they are secured to the frame, if not you probably want to add your own or some type of back plating. With the weight of your bike and that trailer you may want to look at getting a Sherline trailer scale

[lincster]

That's a small hauler. I think just by available space, the bike will be over the axles.
With that dovetail, I wouldn't put the bike close to the ramp.
Just my opinion on how I would load it.

[4x4ord]

^^^ Click What are you putting in your garage that weighs 1200 lbs?

[pjs1660]

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2021-Forest-River-CHEROKEE-WOLF-PACK-24PACK14%2B-5017338133

[pjs1660]

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2021-Forest-River-CHEROKEE-WOLF-PACK-24PACK14%2B-5017338133

[Dirtclods]

The best place is - over the axles.

[noteven]

That 1200lbs … is it just the one motorcycle or two of them?

[Grit_dog]

Agree, unless it is a very small toyhauler, it likely won’t make a huge difference, except toyhaulers are generally tongue heavy without a load in the garage, so you may find loading it as far rearward as possible will do the most to combat excessive tongue weight.

[lincster]

Pin weight, or tongue weight, won't change that much with just a motorcycle, independent of placement.

I've done all of the weight measurements and vehicle placement.
The biggest item to change pin/tongue weight is water or no water.
My sand rail is 3000lbs and the pin weight in my 5er is still 3600lbs with the motor/trans hanging 5' behind the rear axle.
My water tanks are 80% in front of my front axle and I always tow with full water.