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Tow Dolly / Bike Hauler

TugCE
Explorer
Explorer
I've been seeing things like this pop up on some Bike sites and have to wonder what the Tongue Weight is like. A full dress Harley weighs over 900 pounds. With a design like this all that weight has to be hanging on the tongue.

Has anyone tried a Dolly like this and if you have did you check the Tongue Weight?

I am a Retired U.S. Merchant Marine Chief Engineer
05 Chevy 2500 4x4 D/A with Helper Springs and Air Ride Air Bags
(06 R-Vision RW3360 Fifth Wheel Toy Hauler) - Totaled by Irma 2017
97 FLTCI converted into a Roadsmith Trike by The Trike Shop of Daytona
7 REPLIES 7

drwwicks
Explorer
Explorer
The brand is TandemTow and the car plate is adjustable for and aft to change tongue weight. I had one for a while but didn't like the car carrying part, swivel plate and got a Demco KarKaddy and a Hydralift for the bike. Decided I would rather flat tow so got a Jeep and that's what we do now.
2007 Itasca Horizon 40FD
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
2015 Harley Davidson FLHTKL

discovery4us
Explorer
Explorer
I have looked at these but also was concerned with tongue weight. Talked to a local trailer builder and he suggested doing a two axle design where the bike, or in my case the RZR, weight would mostly ride on one axle and then the car would rest mostly on the back axle.

ThomBoles
Explorer
Explorer
I had one... for a month. It was a home-built unit. Built to withstand a class 5 hurricane, I think, or maybe it was to move other RV's. Either way it was heavy and would have extended our 33' coach another 15 or so feet before adding the car so I re-sold it. The weight of the car behind the axle (depending on how far back) will offset the weight of the bike. I scrapped the entire idea (and left the bike home) and got a convertible (Mini cooper Roadster) to tow behind 4-down. I miss my bike sometimes but I don't miss the trouble that I would have had trying to get the trailer to work for me. I think I'd only want to do this if I had a DP and not try it with a gasser.

If I do try to do something with my motorcycle in the future I'll likely go with one of the lifts as then I can still tow 4-down.
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Thom and Diane Boles
2010 Winnebago Vista 32K

STBRetired
Explorer
Explorer
It also appears that the car is sitting back from the dolly axle. That would have the weight of the car offset some of the weight of the motorcycle.
1999 Newmar MACA 3796 F53 6.8L
2016 Ford Edge Sport
Roadmaster Sterling A/T with Brake Buddy Select

Ivylog
Explorer III
Explorer III
Several things make it a lot less than you might think...as above, the weight of the bike is close to the axle and the car's axle/tires are behind the axle taking weight off the tongue. The tongue of the dolly is 4" square tubing good for 5-600 lbs.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
Sold 04 Dynasty to our son after 14 great years.
Upgraded with a 08 HR Navigator 45’...

Roadpilot
Explorer
Explorer
If the bike we're halfway between the ball and the dolly tires, half of it's weight would be on the ball and half on the dolly tires. Looks to be closer to the dolly so maybe 1/3 to 1/4 on the ball.
Tiffin Wayfarer 25TW
15 Mini Cooper S

TugCE
Explorer
Explorer
Here's another angle of it.

I am a Retired U.S. Merchant Marine Chief Engineer
05 Chevy 2500 4x4 D/A with Helper Springs and Air Ride Air Bags
(06 R-Vision RW3360 Fifth Wheel Toy Hauler) - Totaled by Irma 2017
97 FLTCI converted into a Roadsmith Trike by The Trike Shop of Daytona