Posts
438
Joined
3/13/2017
Location
Avon, IN
US
Edited Date/Time
7/27/2017 7:27pm
yeah yeah, go ahead and laugh
but seriously, has anyone done this or considered it? I drive a ton of miles per day, most trucks get shit MPG and I dont use a truck bed for anything other than the bike, which even that is rare. Ive seen some guys at locals with the ramp that you drive up on, hell even a guy with a newer Audi with one and a brand spankin new ktm 450 on it. bropinions welcome
but seriously, has anyone done this or considered it? I drive a ton of miles per day, most trucks get shit MPG and I dont use a truck bed for anything other than the bike, which even that is rare. Ive seen some guys at locals with the ramp that you drive up on, hell even a guy with a newer Audi with one and a brand spankin new ktm 450 on it. bropinions welcome
I just bought this one and did 2000 miles in a week with it. To be honest I don't even know the brand, just picked it up at my dealer. I can check in the morning. Worked great though!
http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle-carrier/p/AMC-400/
Go buy a cheap Tractor Supply trailer for $500 and you'll be much better off. I tow mine with my 01 Acura with no problems
The Shop
I would say it probably takes me 30 - 45 minutes at the minimum to load up (that's changing kid's dvd player to my wife's car and pulling out all of the kiddie essentials she'll need while I'm riding). Putting the thing on is a pain in the rear, storing the thing is a pain in the rear. Its just a process that makes riding more of a chore honestly. I long for the day that I can get another truck.
The problem with that one was for my wife's ford explorer, it was too low to the ground and would scrape all the time. They are better suited for trucks.
This new unit is super stout and has the bike very high up, it also doubles as a stand at the track. This style is a must for SUV's imo, but you would not be able to put a tailgate down with it hooked up.
What brand is that one you just recently got? When you lower the stand (bike off) can you open the tailgate?
out off the back of the car at the frame rails, going directly under each wheel of the bike.
Skip the whole trailer hitch thing.
I paid like $380 OTD with tax from my dealer. Yes the tailgate opened, but it is close. I've gotta move my hand gaurds in a tad.
The track type is easy but I don't find it to be high enough off the ground depending on the vehicle it is on.
The other solution others have mentioned is a small utility trailer, which is what I have ultimately ended up with myself. It is just so much easier to throw everything on the trailer, plus mine is small enough where I can put the EZ-Up around it and have a cool place to sit between motos and not have to worry about gear bags etc sitting in the mud! I tow mine with my VW Golf and still get around 25MPG to boot.
Pit Row
https://www.cyclegear.com/accessories/trackside-motorcycle-carrier
loose their shit saying no way you should go with that much weight on a unibody car. Had any issues?
Does the front end of the car get light and wander? Can the rear suspension handle it? Does the carrier drag
on driveway entrances and the like?
Pros:
Takes up hardly any room in garage when not in use.
Keeps bike well off the ground. Never drug it going through a dip.
Nothing touches car.
Able to lower bike to open rear hatch or tailgate if you need to access without unloading bike
Cons:
Heavy as fuck to carry when off car and to line up the receiver male/female parts
No way to haul fuel (they sell a fuel jug carrier.- I got it but my jug didn't fit)
Carries the bike and that is about it
If the bottle jack goes your fucked (there is a locking pin so your bike won't flip down and get drug down road)
Must buy locking hitch pins but I guess they all need that
And it's pricey. Around $400 I think, It is called the Ultimate MX hauler.
What are the class ratings for this stuff?
I guess they break down between the 'platform' type and the 'rail' type. If it's made out of aluminum it shouldn't be that heavy when off the vehicle?
What else is there to look out for?
I only have experience with this one product and it's solid. I wish it was lighter but that is my only real complaint. I say that knowing that there really is no way of making it lighter. I don't think making it out of aluminum is possible or perhaps that is to cost prohibitive.
You need to find out what the hitch mounted to your car is rated to carry and what your car is rated to carry. Be sure to find out the load limit using a rack (not the tongue weight) as these two numbers are very different in some cases.
Post a reply to: bike rack on back of a car.