motorcycle carrier?

Lio · Post by **Lio** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:23 pm

has anybody used a hitch style motorcycle carrier on their van?

it's a platform that goes into a 2" reciever and has a max wight of 400lbs.
would i need to beef up suspension to carry 350lbs behind the rear bumper?

thanks in advance for anybody's info on this subject.

jrman · Post by **jrman** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:38 pm

An early member here (and since sold his deli) name Steve Mitchell did up his own carrier. The steel I-Beam he used must have been a couple of hundred pounds on its own - then his dirt bike to boot. Can't quote any figures - but I know it worked for him good enough. I'd still recommend an add a leaf or even think about a new set of leafs altogether if you plan on doing any long trips with a dirt bike hanging off the back.
Good luck - and post photos!!!!!

sasquatch-hunter · Post by **sasquatch-hunter** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:55 pm

I have a Princess Auto's motor bike carrier. It works but I still think it's better just to tow a trailer for a bigger bike (> 250cc).

Post by **FalcoColumbarius** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:19 pm

If you are planning to carry that much weight I would suggest adding a leaf to the rear suspension. How often will you have your bike on the van? Will you have it on there all the time, or just now and then? I carry a fair bit of weight most of the time and I added a leaf, I went to Canada Spring. You can see more about it on this page:

http://www.delica.ca/forum/canada-spring-3638.html

Perhaps give them a call and describe to them what it is that you want to do ~ they are very good.

These vans have a pretty beefy suspension, but that suspension is meant to carry weight between the axles. Putting 400 lbs behind you may require a little more. I would also be concerned with how the vehicle would drive with that much weight hanging off the end.

Falco.

TardisDeli · Post by **TardisDeli** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:53 pm

I think GaryO sometimes carries a motor bike on a triple hitch.

Pedro uses a motorcycle trailer.

We sometimes carry our basket on the back, loaded with 200 pounds of firewood, but then we are also carrying camping stuff inside the van, does not affect driving /handling / revs / tach.

Christine.

pedro · Post by **pedro** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:28 am

I use a trailer because my V-strom is almost 475 pounds, the hitch rack would have far to much leverage on the suspension ,and I have the trailer anyway. But for a small dirt bike, it could work if you get a very good hitch well installed. Otherwise , it is far easier to pull a load than to carry it!!!

my 2 cent

Lio · Post by **Lio** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:42 pm

thanks for all the info, i ended up loading my bike in the back of the van this time, but i'm looking into buying a trailer because i'm not allowed to do that again.

Luna-Sea · Post by **Luna-Sea** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:12 pm

[quote][but i'm looking into buying a trailer because i'm not allowed to do that again./quote]
It's sometimes easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission.

Right on!

EnviroImports.com · Post by **EnviroImports.com** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:40 pm

If you do end up going for a rack that goes into a hitch, MAKE SURE you tell the hitch manufacture what your plans are, as its not just the weight of the bike, but any bouncing can add a serious increase in load on the mounting points. a trailer would be best.

joostio · Post by **joostio** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:29 pm

I used one for my trials bike, it does work but it bounces a bit so i usually just load it inside. my bike only wieghs 155 lbs, I will weld up a better bracket to attach the hitch to the van, right now I am using the old bumper brackets welded to a reciever hitch.

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