Small SUV and bike hauler

419250f
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142
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12/8/2015
Location
NY US
5/11/2021 6:07am Edited Date/Time 5/17/2021 8:15am
Anyone put miles on a CRV or RAV4 ? Tongue weight is 150lbs, so not ideal, but...
Gas mileage would be great vs. an Explorer for example.
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5/11/2021 6:30am
I have an older CRV (2006) and tow two motorcycles in a 5x10 (low roof) enclosed aluminum trailer. I've had this setup for about 6 years. I do local and long haul (6 hours plus) trips with it. It gets by without hassle. Gas mileage is poor though.
419250f
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142
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12/8/2015
Location
NY US
5/11/2021 6:43am
Thanks for the info. I was thinking this. Might be too much though.
5/11/2021 6:57am
No problem. Would be a nice little set up if it can pull it off.
1

The Shop

gmurr1
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14
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4/10/2018
Location
Pittsburgh, PA US
5/11/2021 7:07am
I have a jeep compass and use a hitch hauler no problems.
1
Blackie59
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190
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8/23/2020
Location
Rockwall, TX US
5/11/2021 8:02am Edited Date/Time 5/11/2021 8:03am
I had a two bike hitch carrier that I sold after getting my hands on a 6x10 trailer. Sold it to a guy with a minivan. It worked well for me but the extended part was prone to bottoming out on steep entryways and dips in the road. A single carrier is really easy to manage and I have one of those hanging out in my garage when I don't need to haul three bikes with the kids.
Moto5497
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63
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3/6/2017
Location
Erie, PA US
5/11/2021 8:08am
I have 2018 CRV EX that I tow a 5'x10' open trailer with wood deck from lowes. I haul a 450, 110, 50, plus all the gear, tools, gas, pop ups, without issue. I get about 22-23mpg hauling.
Mx746
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533
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11/30/2010
Location
Marietta, GA US
5/11/2021 4:30pm
keep in mind some of the small suv's list a tow capacity but they often don't indicate that its actually considered a "braked" capacity, meaning the vehicle being towed is thought to have its own braking system. So when you see a small suv with a 5000lb tow capacity, be suspicious.
UGOTBIT
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786
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8/14/2018
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Upstate, NY US
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1775th
5/11/2021 4:34pm
I worry about tongue weight. If you have ever installed a hitch on anything that doesn't have a frame, you would understand why.

What about a small trailer?

I picked up a 3 "vintage" rail Holsclaw trailer and it's sweet, has coil springs and shocks. Referbing it now
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Moto5497
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63
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Location
Erie, PA US
5/11/2021 4:43pm
I bet a 5x10' trailer has less tongue weight than a hitch hauler. I've been towing one with my crv for 3 years now and so far no issues.
1
Single_Sac
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80
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2/12/2017
Location
Albuquerque, NM US
5/11/2021 5:06pm
I always think about the older 1/2 trucks with huge campers loaded to max with the kids in the back when GRVW was nothing to worry about. Carry on.
4
dadofagun
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1697
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3/28/2015
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Satan's Hollow, OK US
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2117th
5/11/2021 6:06pm
419250f wrote:
Anyone put miles on a CRV or RAV4 ? Tongue weight is 150lbs, so not ideal, but... Gas mileage would be great vs. an Explorer for...
Anyone put miles on a CRV or RAV4 ? Tongue weight is 150lbs, so not ideal, but...
Gas mileage would be great vs. an Explorer for example.
What kind of hitch is on that now? Class 1, 3, ? Don't know your year, but there is an older CRV in our family with a class 3 hitch, has a tongue weight of 300lbs. Check out etrailer.com, that's where they bought theirs. Worth a look at least
SLAPAHO
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Newport Beach, CA US
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5/14/2021 1:26pm
Shouldn't be a problem



5
skeef
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1203
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7/18/2018
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AZ US
Fantasy
1571st
5/14/2021 2:03pm
I've done the motojack with a highlander a couple times in college. Super sketchy, but bike made it everytime, Just had to careful on the speed jumps.
FWYT
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3305
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5/25/2014
Location
San Diego, CA US
5/16/2021 12:29am Edited Date/Time 5/16/2021 12:46am
That's exactly the set up I have. Built a rack for the back of my Rav4. Works awesome!
24mpg and cruises right along. Toyota FTW.

The rack is pretty slick, if I do say so myself. Mounts at two points so it's not waving around like those hitch mount carriers. It pulls out and expands to carry a bike and
when not in use, tucks in close and looks like a bumper. Check the vid.


2
Bearuno
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4121
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6/28/2014
Location
AU
5/16/2021 2:31am Edited Date/Time 5/17/2021 4:39am
FWYT wrote:
That's exactly the set up I have. Built a rack for the back of my Rav4. Works awesome! 24mpg and cruises right along. Toyota FTW. The...
That's exactly the set up I have. Built a rack for the back of my Rav4. Works awesome!
24mpg and cruises right along. Toyota FTW.

The rack is pretty slick, if I do say so myself. Mounts at two points so it's not waving around like those hitch mount carriers. It pulls out and expands to carry a bike and
when not in use, tucks in close and looks like a bumper. Check the vid.


Now that's bloody Trick! Cool

I've been contemplating a 'rack' to use on my 22yr old Ford banger, just for the ease of use. No messing around with vans , trailers etc, and, I think I might be able to deal with the paranoia of the bike being exposed to rear ends / wheels being clipped ............Unsure

I'll have a squizz at potential 'outboard' mount points to get the stabilization you've got. I know the tow hook mount point would be great for one side, at least. The flapping about of the bike on racks that I've seen, really is a worry. You've sorted that.

One thing I really do believe in ( whichever way I transport a bike ) is chocks under the fenders, or frame rails - Not to 'save' the springs, but to make the bike solid - so the bikes suspension can't compress and have ties downs etc coming off. I've seen that happen far, far to many times in my 60+ years.
1
bodean123
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305
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1/7/2014
Location
CA
Fantasy
1987th
5/16/2021 5:30am
The only downside to small vehicles and hitch mounts is you’re way over tongue rating. That not to say it can’t be done, just something to consider. Our small trailer with 2 bikes has less then a 100lbs on the tongue.
yzf162
Posts
259
Joined
6/23/2020
Location
Grant Park, IL US
5/16/2021 7:48am
Hauled my bikes alot for 2 years with a harbor freight bike rack on the back of a chevy uplander. Hauled a bike from chicago to as to Cali and back twice never had a problem just have to be careful pulling into and out of places with a steep angle. Was great getting 26mpg in the mountains vs 8 with the truck and trailer or 12 with the truck.
Zachintosh
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283
Joined
12/11/2015
Location
Orange County, CA US
5/16/2021 1:40pm
Ran a hitch carrier on a 2018 CR-V for a few years. No issues.
1
BikePilot
Posts
311
Joined
9/27/2014
Location
Golden, CO US
5/16/2021 3:29pm
Imo I wouldn’t run a hitch carrier on a small suv. Hitch carriers put a huge amount of leverage on the hitch as compared to a trailer. On a vehicle with a hitch rated for multiples of bike+carrier weight sure, but if you are anywhere near rated capacity use a trailer instead.

Fwiw no problems hauling my 300 on the hitch on my LR4 or F250. The LR4 is rated for 800lbs on the hitch and 7700lbs total trailer weight for reference.
mxtryon231
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1891
Joined
2/9/2009
Location
Beverly Hills, CA US
5/16/2021 3:34pm
419250f wrote:
Anyone put miles on a CRV or RAV4 ? Tongue weight is 150lbs, so not ideal, but... Gas mileage would be great vs. an Explorer for...
Anyone put miles on a CRV or RAV4 ? Tongue weight is 150lbs, so not ideal, but...
Gas mileage would be great vs. an Explorer for example.
I had a 2018 Rav4 for a work vehicle. Put a Uhaul tow hitch on it, harbor freight Joe Hauler.. Moto'd every weekend, never had an issue, besides the car being completely gutless.
1
Timo
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764
Joined
1/9/2021
Location
Wichita, KS US
5/16/2021 6:20pm
Lots of small trailer options that would have significantly less tongue weight. I had a 4x8 folding trailer from northern tool. I changed the hitch to a 2 inch ball and put hi-run tires tires on it. Dragged it all over TX, OK, and KS with a diesel Jetta getting 30 mpg. The trailer would fold up and fit in my regular height garage.
1
hyler199
Posts
621
Joined
4/23/2017
Location
CA
5/16/2021 7:54pm
I rocked a pretty mint 2003 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4 w/ v6. Was awesome, just had to let it go 2 weeks ago after reaching 310,000kms. It got me through RedBud MXDN mudswamp parking lot with absolute ease while I saw several higher priced trucks and Jeeps getting pulled out. I just merely turned traction control off and fuckin sent full throttle w/ 3 of my best buds completely sideways coming in and going out. it was awesome.

It is a gas guzzling v6 but it is small, has some balls, leather options nice and is crazy reliable if you find a mint condition one on the cheap.

I just "upgraded" to a fully loaded 2009 Lexus RX350 w/ 2" hitch I will be putting my bike on a hitch hauler. Within a week I can tell im going to be saving a lot in gas compared to the Pathfinder but I still going to miss that thing.
1
kNewc
Posts
1113
Joined
3/17/2017
Location
IN US
5/17/2021 8:14am
Folding Harbor Freight trailer is a classic and works great. I would say your vehicle doesn't support a hitch mount system. If the tongue is built into the frame I wouldn't see an issue using a hitch mount though. But I wouldn't cheap out, get a good hitch mount like the Add-A-Bike or something.
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