Towing both car & Harley

[obiwancanoli]

I've got a 35' Class A with a 5K towing limit, tow my Ford Edge with a Tow Dolly, and would love to take my Road King along. Best option appears to be installing a hydraulic lift on the RV to accommodate the HD, but the life weighs in around $1000 lb., the HD about 800, and of course, then, there's the car, and I'm thinking it's just not possible...

I've contacted the MH manufacturer, but haven't gotten an answer yet...

BTW, I do have a covered trailer I tow the bike in when behind the car, but it'd be a real challenge doing so with the rig...

Is there an easy solution, or do I consider a larger rig with the capacity to tow more weight?

[wa8yxm]

Dolly towing you are already likely over your weight limit.
Upgrade to a DP and double your tow rating.

[johntank]

mowermech wrote:

johntank wrote:

GottaRunGottaCamp wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
1800 lbs that far back is going to put 2500+ lbs on your rear axle and take 700 off the front = NO WAY is this going to work. They make toe dollies that you can put the cycle in front of the car.

Like Ivylog said;

I hope you never have any t-case problems as Jeep per the owners manual does not recommend towing a Jeep with 2 wheels off the ground, it's either a 4 wheel flat tow or on a trailer. Just for your information

If he removes the rear driveshaft, the Jeep is good to go.

Either that or a driveshaft disconnect (pricey as far as I know and prone to problems if not adjusted correctly), but I would say most people would not want to lay on the ground to do the remove of the driveshaft, then one has to think how to keep the t-case oil from leaking out, one could tie driveshaft up to the side to prevent this but is a lot of work. Was just trying to tell him that towing his Jeep that way could cause a problem with the t-case.

[AllegroD]

Most F150 are at about 4500 dry. Add HD, Ramps and fuel and I'm betting that won't work.

I think you need a lighter vehicle with the GottaRunGottaCamp style solution.

[JaxDad]

Ivylog wrote:
1800 lbs that far back is going to put 2500+ lbs on your rear axle and take 700 off the front = NO WAY is this going to work. They make toe dollies that you can put the cycle in front of the car.

The OP said they have a 35’ Class A with 5k tow limit. That screams ‘gasser’.

A 35’ gasser is going to have a 12+++++ foot rear overhang.

I doubt it would have a 350 pound tongue weight allowance.

[mowermech]

johntank wrote:

GottaRunGottaCamp wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
1800 lbs that far back is going to put 2500+ lbs on your rear axle and take 700 off the front = NO WAY is this going to work. They make toe dollies that you can put the cycle in front of the car.

Like Ivylog said;

I hope you never have any t-case problems as Jeep per the owners manual does not recommend towing a Jeep with 2 wheels off the ground, it's either a 4 wheel flat tow or on a trailer. Just for your information

If he removes the rear driveshaft, the Jeep is good to go.

[johntank]

GottaRunGottaCamp wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
1800 lbs that far back is going to put 2500+ lbs on your rear axle and take 700 off the front = NO WAY is this going to work. They make toe dollies that you can put the cycle in front of the car.

Like Ivylog said;

I hope you never have any t-case problems as Jeep per the owners manual does not recommend towing a Jeep with 2 wheels off the ground, it's either a 4 wheel flat tow or on a trailer. Just for your information

[tropical36]

wildtoad wrote:
Swap the car and dolly for a F150 with 4wd, flat tow it, and put the HD in the truck bed.

That would be my recommendation, as well.
Now how to easily get the bike in and out of the truck bed, is the question and if mine, I'd just have to find myself a little knoll or hillside somewhere and the way I used to load and unload golf carts in my F-150.

[TNGW1500SE]

wildtoad wrote:
Swap the car and dolly for a F150 with 4wd, flat tow it, and put the HD in the truck bed.

A Harley in the back of a F150 is going to be a pain to load and unload. I did it when I pulled a camper with lighter weight bikes and a 4 foot wide ramp. You really need a loading dock. Also I think it would be pushing the weight limit of the 5K hitch.

[Corkey05]

Dual Use Tow Dolly

[GottaRunGottaCa]

Ivylog wrote:
1800 lbs that far back is going to put 2500+ lbs on your rear axle and take 700 off the front = NO WAY is this going to work. They make toe dollies that you can put the cycle in front of the car.

Like Ivylog said;

[Ivylog]

1800 lbs that far back is going to put 2500+ lbs on your rear axle and take 700 off the front = NO WAY is this going to work. They make toe dollies that you can put the cycle in front of the car.

[rk911]

don't forget the weight of the dolly. you could save the dolly weight if the car could be flat towed. and then remember that your max towing weight is not 5K, that's the max weight the hitch can handle. but if your MH's actual rolling weight (actual combined weight of the load on each axle) is more than the combined axle weight ratings you need to deduct a pound for every pound you're overweight.

in general, the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:

- the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.) actual weight = the combined weight on the axles.

- the weight rating of your tow bar

- the weight rating of your hitch

good luck.

[wildtoad]

Swap the car and dolly for a F150 with 4wd, flat tow it, and put the HD in the truck bed.

[Lwiddis]

“I've contacted the MH manufacturer, but haven't gotten an answer yet...”

IF you get a response I’ll bet the answer is...5000 maximum!