OP,
We have an '04 Itasca Horizon, 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT engine and I installed the Hydralift on the back of it to haul our '08 Honda GL 1800 Goldwing. That system worked absolutely flawless. I won't bother going to all the details but, suffice to say I was considerably overweight on the rear axle. Now, we carried that bike and towed three different toads for well over 8,000 miles and I never bent, broke, damaged anything, including the frame of the coach, mounting points, suspension parts, tires, NOTHING!
But, due to circumstances that were changing, we changed the way we bring along the bike now. Since then, I've sold the Hydralift and, purchased a Rampage lift/carrier. We tow an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 and, I've mounted the Rampage lift in that truck to now carry the Wing. The lift hovers around 300 lbs. and the Wing, right close to 900 lbs.
As others have stated, pushing a button to lift that 900 lb. bike into the back of that truck is a cake walk. Yes, it's not "quite" as stable as on the Hydralift but, it's never even came close to falling as it's being loaded or un loaded from the truck.
Once it's loaded, I add 4 additional tie downs to strategic locations to make that big monster as stable as a rock. When taking on the weight of the bike, the truck lowers approximately 2.5". No big deal. The payload of it is 1500 lbs. The bike and carrier are close to 1200 plus or minus. Our truck, weighs right at 5300 according to a certified scale I weighed it on.
So, what you're aiming at is a well proven practice. Many on here and, motor cycle forums use this method for hauling their big cruisers. Good luck.
By the way, I set that Rampage up so that it's removable in approximately 1-2 minutes. It slides out half way on the bed and, I lift it a small amount while the wife rolls a cart I built for it, right under the center of it. I lower it onto the cart and, roll it away to it's parking place in the corner of the garage. Our truck is then ready for service in short order.
Scott
We have an '04 Itasca Horizon, 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT engine and I installed the Hydralift on the back of it to haul our '08 Honda GL 1800 Goldwing. That system worked absolutely flawless. I won't bother going to all the details but, suffice to say I was considerably overweight on the rear axle. Now, we carried that bike and towed three different toads for well over 8,000 miles and I never bent, broke, damaged anything, including the frame of the coach, mounting points, suspension parts, tires, NOTHING!
But, due to circumstances that were changing, we changed the way we bring along the bike now. Since then, I've sold the Hydralift and, purchased a Rampage lift/carrier. We tow an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 and, I've mounted the Rampage lift in that truck to now carry the Wing. The lift hovers around 300 lbs. and the Wing, right close to 900 lbs.
As others have stated, pushing a button to lift that 900 lb. bike into the back of that truck is a cake walk. Yes, it's not "quite" as stable as on the Hydralift but, it's never even came close to falling as it's being loaded or un loaded from the truck.
Once it's loaded, I add 4 additional tie downs to strategic locations to make that big monster as stable as a rock. When taking on the weight of the bike, the truck lowers approximately 2.5". No big deal. The payload of it is 1500 lbs. The bike and carrier are close to 1200 plus or minus. Our truck, weighs right at 5300 according to a certified scale I weighed it on.
So, what you're aiming at is a well proven practice. Many on here and, motor cycle forums use this method for hauling their big cruisers. Good luck.
By the way, I set that Rampage up so that it's removable in approximately 1-2 minutes. It slides out half way on the bed and, I lift it a small amount while the wife rolls a cart I built for it, right under the center of it. I lower it onto the cart and, roll it away to it's parking place in the corner of the garage. Our truck is then ready for service in short order.
Scott
OP, since you are just looking... look for something in the 36-40. In those size most Monaco's do not have the trailing arm issue. I made the mistake of starting with a 36' because of posts on here about getting into SP, NP, Blm. Did not take long to realize that is not that big an issue so went 40' and now 42'. You might want to click on "How I tow" in my first post.
Many short DP's are already lite on the front axle. What are your axle weights? I would have probably put it on the front.
