fjrchuck
Full Member
Loving both my FZ10 and my FJR!
Posts: 122 
Likes: 71
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Post by fjrchuck on Jan 8, 2018 13:22:41 GMT -7
Just thinking on a haul from Michigan to Texas, how nice to not have to deal with a trailer? So asking the collective if they have any experience with a particular brand, model, etc. hauling a 450# bike? I have a trailer available, just looking at an alternative.... Pro's and Con's?  ?  Thanks, Chuck |
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Post by RedAndBlack on Jan 8, 2018 13:48:20 GMT -7
Moved to General Discussion from Part and Accessory Reviews.
You're talking about hitch mounted carriers that hold the bike perpendicular, correct? I have not personally used one but did research it and I know a few people that use these for the track.
The key with these is your vehicle's Tongue Weight. Tongue weight is the downward force that the weight of whatever you're towing puts on the hitch. My car can tow 2000 pounds easily but unfortunately my vehicle's tongue weight is only 200 lbs. So with a trailer, I could theoretically tow probably 3 FZ-10s as long as I load them as to not put more than 200 lbs of downward force onto the hitch. However, without a trailer, the weight of the carrier and the 450+ pound bike will not have any trailer tires to help distribute the weight, so the entire weight of the bike and carrier puts its force onto the vehicles hitch. So even though I could theoretically tow over 3 times the weight of my bike, my hitch cannot sustain the direct weight of even one FZ-10 without a trailer distributing the load through its tires.
So as long as whatever you're towing is under your vehicle's tongue weight, they seem to be great options as long as you tie the bike down correctly.
Your vehicles towing limits will be in the owners manual. |
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fjrchuck
Full Member
Loving both my FZ10 and my FJR!
Posts: 122
Likes: 71
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Post by fjrchuck on Jan 8, 2018 19:38:50 GMT -7
Sorry, should have included that my tow vehicle is a 2007 GMC Envoy. I think it is listed for a 400# hitch weight. Has your typical 2X2 receiver. Thinking the vehicle is capable, just seeing what others have used?
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latte
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Registered: Jan 19, 2017 2:06:59 GMT -7
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Post by latte on Jan 8, 2018 22:44:14 GMT -7
I would advise against using a carrier. Typically the hitch hauler sticks out a bit to help handlebars clear the back of your SUV. The further out it sticks, the greater the leverage of the bike's weight. You're already exceeding the tongue weight with the bike alone, now add on the carrier and the leverage it provides, and you're asking for trouble (instability, bent subframe). Trailer if you can!
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Deleted
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Registered: Nov 24, 2024 19:05:46 GMT -7
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2018 11:45:30 GMT -7
I did it with my WR250R which is only about 300lbs ready to ride (160lbs less than a FZ-10) This is what I got www.amazon.com/Direct-Aftermarket-Motorcycle-Scooter-Carrier/dp/B014VC5H64/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515522652&sr=8-1Short version - Get a trailer. I used it once for a 2hr trip to a 2-day ride, left my bike with friends at the campsite overnight, went home to get my trailer, put the carrier on Craigslist the following week. The biggest problem I had with the carrier is that it is not that stable. A single bar fits into the receiver on your truck and a threaded pin locks it in place. Even with the pin tightened down the entire carrier sways quite a bit. On my first fuel stop I noticed that the carrier had started to sag and tilt the bike rearward, away from the truck. After I saw this I decided I wasn't going to trust my bike to one piece of Chinese square tubing that is under constant twisting stresses. The ramp provided with these things is about 2.5ft long and way too short to be of any use unless its going on a very low vehicle. I have a lifted Tacoma so I had to get 8ft ramps from Harbor Freight (I knew this going into it). Basically if your hitch is over a foot off the ground its going to be impossible to get a 460lb bike up there on the provided ramp. If you manage to get the bike on the carrier, now you have to strap it down. The carrier will not hold the bike at all if it is not strapped down and there is no way to let the bike go so you can put the straps on unless you have a buddy or are willing to lean it against your vehicle. I solved this by making a wooden platform that attaches to the carrier so I could set the bike down on the kickstand. Get a trailer. |
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