wheelbase consideration and motorcycle lift

[FireGuard]

Is anyone using one of the motorcycle lifts on the rear of their MH? If so, how does it work and what size is your MH.
I'm talking about the elec or hyd model that will carry a full size touring bike and still allow you to flat tow a dinghy.
Aside from the normal GVW and axel rating is there a wheel base minimum or formula that works. I'm assuming you would be looking at a minimum off 800 lbs or so depending on the bike.
I'm sure the longer the better, but how would a 34-36' MH work?

[Dennis4809]

I carry a 750 lb VTX on a CruzerLift on the back of our 41' GulfStream. 750 lb bike plus 400 lbs of lift added 1,800 lbs to the rear axle. Pulled about 650 off the front.

[FireGuard]

Thanks for all the great info, I'm just starting my research on a MH so no hurry.
I also like the idea of flat towing a P/U and putting the bike in the bed.
I would only be carrying a bike around 600 lbs.

[ldshaf]

you will want a DP. it has enough rear frame to support lift installion,and air-bag suspension will help displace load front to rear. Adding 1000 lbs to rear of motor home will add 2000 lds at rear axle , I speak from experience.

[We_Cant_Wait]

FireGuard, run the numbers using the Blue Ox calculator. I'm afraid that you'll find the an 800 lb bike and 3-400lbs of lift will put you way over on your rear axle gross. My solution to having both my bike and vehicle is to set my Dodge Dakota up to flat tow and put the MC in the bed.

[jerseyjim]

IMHO...after considerable research, a gasser is NOT the motorhome for one of these motorcycle lifts. There are a few "formulas" out there and all are pretty close to each other when it comes to weight and length.

My personal motorhome...wanting to install such a lift for my Harley dresser...the bike weighs 750 pounds...the lift weights 200 pounds. Elevate it around 3 feet, you've got about 1400 pounds bouncing around back there. That...by itself should not really be a problem. However...the weight would put my rear axle 300 pounds from max. Again...I can live with that. HOWEVER...it would REMOVE 700 pounds from the front. THAT scared me off.

A DP should have no problems with this weight. But be VERY careful with a gasser. Look to a trailer...or a pickup that can be towed 4 down...put the bike in the bed and off y'go.

[FireGuard]

Ivylog
It would be a DP like a Winn Journey 34-36'
Thinking about it, I don't see the difference towing a heavy trailer with an 800 lb tounge weight, although the WD hitch would help.

[Ivylog]

FGuard at 34-36' are you looking at a gasser? If so then I'd be looking for one with a 10K/1000 hitch. There is a reason on a 5K hitch for not putting more than 500 lbs on it or the back of the MH. Like Rpilot said you are looking at 1000 lbs which could put 1400 lbs on the rear axle and take 400 off the front. There are not many 35' gas MH with enough CCC or rear axle weight to do that.
Now if it's a DP there is a good chance it has a 10K hitch and enough CCC to handle the extra 1400 lbs.

[FireGuard]

Thanks Roadpilot,
Good info, what I was looking for.

[Roadpilot]

We had an Overbilt lift on a 40' and then a 45' MH. When you My motorcycle weighed 800 pounds and the lift weighed about 200 pounds. That's 1000 pounds behind the rear axle, which adds quite a bit more then 1000 pounds to the rear axle and removes weight from the front axle.

The amount of weight added to the rear axle is a function of the wheel base of the MH compared to the distance the motorcycle and lift is behind the rear axle. Shorter wheelbases and longer distance to the motorcycle equal more weight on the rear axle and less on the front axle. Longer wheelbases are the reverse.

Blue Ox has a calculator on their site. It's at"

Blue Ox calculator