Car hauling bike?

imoto316
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imoto316 3/14/2017 11:47am
3/14/2017 11:47am
Mazda 3 Hatchback:

It works with my 2008 Mazda 3 Hatchback. But it voids the warranty. Read the owner's manual. If it's still under factory warranty you might not want to risk it. All they need to see is a hitch on the car and even if you've only been using a bicycle rack they might deny warranty work.

I got my hitch from etrailer.com Very good customer service and good installation videos. It can be a pain fishing the bolts through the frame and hitch though.
Titan1
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Titan1 3/14/2017 11:52am
3/14/2017 11:52am
I've got a VW Golf TDI...I've towed up to three bikes on a three place bike trailer all over Utah, parts of Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado...it still gets 25mpg...and does fine, everywhere but hills (I have to down shift on steep hills).
JustPuttinAround 3/14/2017 12:25pm
3/14/2017 12:25pm
Madmax31 wrote:
Saw a guy pulling a small enclosed trailer to the track with a VW Passat the other day. A lot of people use small Civics, etc...
Saw a guy pulling a small enclosed trailer to the track with a VW Passat the other day.

A lot of people use small Civics, etc, to pull small open trailers anymore. Not everyone can afford $4 gas, when you drive a truck getting 10 MPG.

Here's my setup.

A toy hauler on a Honda Element.
Is that a class 2 or class 3 hitch?

The Shop

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project racer 3/14/2017 12:29pm
3/14/2017 12:29pm
One of the Pro Singles riders showed up last year at Daytona in this.

mikec265
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mikec265 3/14/2017 12:46pm
3/14/2017 12:46pm
I wish I had pics of my friends RM250 apart in his car about 16 years ago. That crazy sob went racing for months like that!
logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 1:07pm
3/14/2017 1:07pm
mikec265 wrote:
I wish I had pics of my friends RM250 apart in his car about 16 years ago. That crazy sob went racing for months like that!


This is my buddy's in his parents jeep.. haha
crossrut
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crossrut 3/14/2017 1:08pm
3/14/2017 1:08pm
I towed one bike with a Honda Civic and harbor freight trailer...good setup
JohnMatrix
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JohnMatrix 3/14/2017 1:09pm
3/14/2017 1:09pm
I have been happy with the Add-a-bike tie down carrier. Notice that it has a folding wheel chock on the back of my front tire. It's very fast to load and unload the bike, and is very sturdy for an aluminum carrier.



crossrut
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crossrut 3/14/2017 1:11pm
3/14/2017 1:11pm Edited Date/Time 3/14/2017 1:15pm
At Corona Raceway in the early 80's I seen two guys assemble an entire bike boxed up in a Citron car.

I got a wild hair and dissembled my yz125 and put it in my hatch back civic
Wasn't too bad to assemble
logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 1:11pm
3/14/2017 1:11pm
JohnMatrix wrote:
I have been happy with the Add-a-bike tie down carrier. Notice that it has a folding wheel chock on the back of my front tire. It's...
I have been happy with the Add-a-bike tie down carrier. Notice that it has a folding wheel chock on the back of my front tire. It's very fast to load and unload the bike, and is very sturdy for an aluminum carrier.



Weigh it down a lot?
JohnMatrix
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JohnMatrix 3/14/2017 1:19pm
3/14/2017 1:19pm
logan_140 wrote:
Weigh it down a lot?
Not sure if this answers your question, but it doesn't really make the carrier flex or bend in any way sitting static from the weight of the bike. When you're driving it can rock a little bit since I don't have an anit-rattle mechanism yet. Being that it's aluminum I expect that, but it's nothing that ever had me concerned. It also doesn't affect the feel of my suv much but that's obviously going to vary from one vehicle to another. The carrier itself is very light weight, maybe 25lbs if I had to guess.
logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 1:22pm
3/14/2017 1:22pm
logan_140 wrote:
Weigh it down a lot?
JohnMatrix wrote:
Not sure if this answers your question, but it doesn't really make the carrier flex or bend in any way sitting static from the weight of...
Not sure if this answers your question, but it doesn't really make the carrier flex or bend in any way sitting static from the weight of the bike. When you're driving it can rock a little bit since I don't have an anit-rattle mechanism yet. Being that it's aluminum I expect that, but it's nothing that ever had me concerned. It also doesn't affect the feel of my suv much but that's obviously going to vary from one vehicle to another. The carrier itself is very light weight, maybe 25lbs if I had to guess.
Would you feel a trailer would distribute the weight better then a carrier?
JohnMatrix
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JohnMatrix 3/14/2017 1:30pm
3/14/2017 1:30pm
logan_140 wrote:
Would you feel a trailer would distribute the weight better then a carrier?
Yes I definitely think the trailer would distribute the weight far better, but since I don't have the space for storing a trailer the carrier is a compromise. The carrier is easy to store and very convenient to throw on the truck and load the bike. There's no doubt though, with a carrier you are putting a lot of tongue weight on the vehicle. Consider that the weight of bike is mounted another 12-18" from the hitch and the carrier is just working as a lever to put more weight on the back of the vehicle.
FWYT
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FWYT 3/14/2017 1:59pm
3/14/2017 1:59pm
I'm thinking I'm going to go this route for my next bike hauler. I'm going to get a late 90's Toyota Rav4 and fab
a rack to carry the bike on the back.

That having been said, the current truck is a '94 Toyota with 430k miles and still runs like a champ so the
"next bike hauler" might not be seen for a while!! Smile
Steve125
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Steve125 3/14/2017 2:15pm
3/14/2017 2:15pm
I thought about trying to stuff a bike in one of these AM General MV-1 things.
I'm a little freaked out by it's intended purpose though.


MBR
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MBR 3/14/2017 2:21pm
3/14/2017 2:21pm Edited Date/Time 3/14/2017 2:23pm
My first car was Citroen DS (and I still have it) and I used it to tow the bike to the track.
logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 2:34pm
3/14/2017 2:34pm
FWYT wrote:
I'm thinking I'm going to go this route for my next bike hauler. I'm going to get a late 90's Toyota Rav4 and fab a rack...
I'm thinking I'm going to go this route for my next bike hauler. I'm going to get a late 90's Toyota Rav4 and fab
a rack to carry the bike on the back.

That having been said, the current truck is a '94 Toyota with 430k miles and still runs like a champ so the
"next bike hauler" might not be seen for a while!! Smile


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logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 8:09pm
3/14/2017 8:09pm


Found this trailer. Guy added a leaf spring axle to it as well.
DYE
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DYE 3/14/2017 8:37pm
3/14/2017 8:37pm
Saturday was the first time testing the new trailer I got for my car. 4cyl 6spd Cruze did just fine and at 28 mpg

Figured since I was racing a off-road series in another state it would save me a lot of money this summer. Won't be driving this again unless I have more people with me. No point in it, and it's way easier to load after a long day of riding!


logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 8:39pm
3/14/2017 8:39pm
DYE wrote:
Saturday was the first time testing the new trailer I got for my car. 4cyl 6spd Cruze did just fine and at 28 mpg [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/03/14/181369/s1200_IMG_1085.jpg[/img] Figured...
Saturday was the first time testing the new trailer I got for my car. 4cyl 6spd Cruze did just fine and at 28 mpg

Figured since I was racing a off-road series in another state it would save me a lot of money this summer. Won't be driving this again unless I have more people with me. No point in it, and it's way easier to load after a long day of riding!


Is that one of those single rail trailers that come apart?
DYE
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DYE 3/14/2017 8:43pm
3/14/2017 8:43pm Edited Date/Time 3/14/2017 8:44pm
logan_140 wrote:
Is that one of those single rail trailers that come apart?
Yeah. It's called "trailer in a bag". Can't remember if that's the name of the company or the model of the trailer, I picked it up used. You can google or YouTube it tho they have videos on it...only weighs 200lbs
logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 8:46pm
3/14/2017 8:46pm
logan_140 wrote:
Is that one of those single rail trailers that come apart?
DYE wrote:
Yeah. It's called "trailer in a bag". Can't remember if that's the name of the company or the model of the trailer, I picked it up...
Yeah. It's called "trailer in a bag". Can't remember if that's the name of the company or the model of the trailer, I picked it up used. You can google or YouTube it tho they have videos on it...only weighs 200lbs
Someone is selling one right now for $600 on Craigslist near me.
DYE
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DYE 3/14/2017 8:51pm
3/14/2017 8:51pm Edited Date/Time 3/14/2017 8:52pm
logan_140 wrote:
Is that one of those single rail trailers that come apart?
DYE wrote:
Yeah. It's called "trailer in a bag". Can't remember if that's the name of the company or the model of the trailer, I picked it up...
Yeah. It's called "trailer in a bag". Can't remember if that's the name of the company or the model of the trailer, I picked it up used. You can google or YouTube it tho they have videos on it...only weighs 200lbs
logan_140 wrote:
Someone is selling one right now for $600 on Craigslist near me.
That's exactly what the guy listed this one for lol.. I ended up getting it for $500. I think they are $1,500 new.
logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 8:53pm
3/14/2017 8:53pm
DYE wrote:
Yeah. It's called "trailer in a bag". Can't remember if that's the name of the company or the model of the trailer, I picked it up...
Yeah. It's called "trailer in a bag". Can't remember if that's the name of the company or the model of the trailer, I picked it up used. You can google or YouTube it tho they have videos on it...only weighs 200lbs
logan_140 wrote:
Someone is selling one right now for $600 on Craigslist near me.
DYE wrote:
That's exactly what the guy listed this one for lol.. I ended up getting it for $500. I think they are $1,500 new.
I think he is firm on 600... maybe 500 from my hand to his hand would change it all
logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 8:54pm
3/14/2017 8:54pm
logan_140 wrote:
Someone is selling one right now for $600 on Craigslist near me.
DYE wrote:
That's exactly what the guy listed this one for lol.. I ended up getting it for $500. I think they are $1,500 new.
logan_140 wrote:
I think he is firm on 600... maybe 500 from my hand to his hand would change it all
It literally goes in a bad? Haha how sturdy is it? I like how it's just one rail
DYE
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DYE 3/14/2017 9:06pm
3/14/2017 9:06pm
logan_140 wrote:
It literally goes in a bad? Haha how sturdy is it? I like how it's just one rail
Haha no it didn't come with a bag or anything I guess that's just what they call it...well it was my first time using it and I pulled it to a local track 40 min away to test it. I was nervous as shit. The thing was wobbling all over the place, but I have the tie downs with the carabiners so it couldn't fall off so I kept going. When I got to the track I realized my mistake. I don't know if you can see in the pic, but there is 2 spots to hook a 2nd pair of straps on top of the axel out by the lights. I'm guessing that will stabilize the side to side motion with an extra set of straps hooked to the pegs. It was rocking back and forth like crazy on the ball with just the 2 straps up front. Lesson learned lol
logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 9:08pm
3/14/2017 9:08pm
logan_140 wrote:
It literally goes in a bad? Haha how sturdy is it? I like how it's just one rail
DYE wrote:
Haha no it didn't come with a bag or anything I guess that's just what they call it...well it was my first time using it and...
Haha no it didn't come with a bag or anything I guess that's just what they call it...well it was my first time using it and I pulled it to a local track 40 min away to test it. I was nervous as shit. The thing was wobbling all over the place, but I have the tie downs with the carabiners so it couldn't fall off so I kept going. When I got to the track I realized my mistake. I don't know if you can see in the pic, but there is 2 spots to hook a 2nd pair of straps on top of the axel out by the lights. I'm guessing that will stabilize the side to side motion with an extra set of straps hooked to the pegs. It was rocking back and forth like crazy on the ball with just the 2 straps up front. Lesson learned lol
How did the actual trailer drive?
logan_140
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logan_140 3/14/2017 9:09pm
3/14/2017 9:09pm
logan_140 wrote:
It literally goes in a bad? Haha how sturdy is it? I like how it's just one rail
DYE wrote:
Haha no it didn't come with a bag or anything I guess that's just what they call it...well it was my first time using it and...
Haha no it didn't come with a bag or anything I guess that's just what they call it...well it was my first time using it and I pulled it to a local track 40 min away to test it. I was nervous as shit. The thing was wobbling all over the place, but I have the tie downs with the carabiners so it couldn't fall off so I kept going. When I got to the track I realized my mistake. I don't know if you can see in the pic, but there is 2 spots to hook a 2nd pair of straps on top of the axel out by the lights. I'm guessing that will stabilize the side to side motion with an extra set of straps hooked to the pegs. It was rocking back and forth like crazy on the ball with just the 2 straps up front. Lesson learned lol
logan_140 wrote:
How did the actual trailer drive?
I see the 2 spots. Just hook from foot peg to the d ring?
DYE
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DYE 3/14/2017 9:14pm
3/14/2017 9:14pm
logan_140 wrote:
I see the 2 spots. Just hook from foot peg to the d ring?
Yeah I'm hoping that will be the solution to it rocking back and forth. Here is a pic from the company's website of it hauling a street bike and you can see the extra straps


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