Towing Motorcycle and car or truck

I have the tandem tow dolly and really like it. My Harley rides beautiful back there. We explored buying a small truck with the bike in the back, but my getting older makes getting the bike off of such a height a little scary unless you buy a slider type loader. We bought a new gas model so the hydraulic lift was out because of the weight. My hitch is rated at 500lb and 5000 tow, and we are under for both ratings.

OP, it would help if you put your 2000 Holiday Rambler Endeavor in your sig. You should have enough CCC on the rear axle to put it on the back of the MH. Around 2003-4 the CCC decrease to where I would not suggest putting it on the back. I would not rely on just one receiver if it's a heavy bike.

msmith1199 wrote:

Whiten wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
It's called the Tandem Tow Dolly. Also I wonder if the guy in this photo realizes you are not supposed to tow 4x4 vehicles on a dolly?

It depends on the vehicle, the jeep in pic is fine 4down or on a dolly

When I had a Jeep Wrangler the owns manual said don't tow it on a dolly. My Dodge Dakota 4x4 says the same. That is unless you remove the drive shaft or have a disconnect on it.

The manual is wrong, its a carry over from the yj series. The jeep in pic has a np231 t-case just like my Cherokee, I have towed on a dolly for thousands of miles. A quick search on many Jeep forums would give many examples of people towing on a dolly.

Whiten wrote:

msmith1199 wrote:
It's called the Tandem Tow Dolly. Also I wonder if the guy in this photo realizes you are not supposed to tow 4x4 vehicles on a dolly?

It depends on the vehicle, the jeep in pic is fine 4down or on a dolly

When I had a Jeep Wrangler the owns manual said don't tow it on a dolly. My Dodge Dakota 4x4 says the same. That is unless you remove the drive shaft or have a disconnect on it.

Flanz wrote:

JoeH wrote:
I put my Harley in the back of my Ranger with a rampage lift. I picked the ranger due to it's relatively light weight and 4 down capability.

Hi Joe,

Is that a gas coach you have? I also have a RG Ultra and a gas coach. I tow a Toyota Tacoma behind my coach. Do you use a breaking system with your truck with the RG in it? How well does your coach handle the setup?

-paul

Yes, that was a gas coach-- 1999 Pace Arrow Vision with the first year v-10 . It worked fine. On the coach, I had previously put on front and rear trac bars and a full Banks setup. I had pulled a enclosed 20 ft trailer before I went with the Ranger. It handles both ways fine. Been to Laconia and Sturgis many times as well as the North Carolina mountains. I did pick up a brake buddy off Craigslist ( that's where I got the Rampage too) and use that in the Ranger. I also put airlift bags on the rear of the ranger to better accommodate the 1000 lbs of the road glide
I sold the Pace Arrow last year and have a Newmar Dutchstar now and pull the same setup.

msmith1199 wrote:
It's called the Tandem Tow Dolly. Also I wonder if the guy in this photo realizes you are not supposed to tow 4x4 vehicles on a dolly?

It depends on the vehicle, the jeep in pic is fine 4down or on a dolly

MrWizard wrote:

d0n1 wrote:
The big ruckus - Cool scooter - Basically, a naked elite 250 or helix.

A big ruckus , is a bigger better heavier machine than either of those other two

Every RV should come with one, their perfect for the RV'ing life style.

mchero wrote:
WOW, I must be one lucky SOB! LOL I just aquired an 07 with a Hydraulic Hydrolift. I "believe" it will hoist 1200lbs.
Might put a couple vespas on it!
Can only tow my toad with the hydrolift on. Can't hae ANY toung weight.


RM

RM,
Well Sir, if it's the standard "Hydralift", they only make models that will hoist 1000 lbs. not 1200. That is of course unless they have some model I don't know about which, I guess is possible. And, yes, if you're carrying the larger motorcycles like full dress Harleys or, like ours, a Honda Goldwing, then there's no allowable tongue weight on it. As I stated earlier, the Hydralift is without a doubt, the best lift/carrier on the market. It has the least amount of moving parts, and is the most stable. Good luck with yours.
Scott

MrWizard wrote:

d0n1 wrote:
The big ruckus - Cool scooter - Basically, a naked elite 250 or helix.

A big ruckus , is a bigger better heavier machine than either of those other two

It is a little heavier but not bigger in terms of length at least. I've never ridden one but with a wheelbase of just 57 inches, it must be very unsettling at highway speeds. I've owned 3 helixes and 3 Elite 250's.

They all share a nearly identical 250cc water cooled single cylinder engine.

Elite 250 weighs 346 lbs --- wheelbase is 64 inches
Helix weighs 349 lbs --- wheelbase is 63.8 inches
Ruckus weighs 362 lbs --- wheelbase is 57.3 inches

d0n1 wrote:
The big ruckus - Cool scooter - Basically, a naked elite 250 or helix.

A big ruckus , is a bigger better heavier machine than either of those other two