Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-19-2010, 08:38 AM   #31
Senior Member
 
LeadDoggy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Posts: 296
Re: Motorcycle Carriers

Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperSuz
Anyone ever use the HIGH-LOW hitch extenders with their hauler? What kind, how many inches? I want to raise my hauler with one.

Thanks, Suz
I wouldn't feel too safe with a receiver extension, nor would I feel safe with a High-Low extender. My reason is that you are adding more lenght and leverage to the receiver and you are then in turn lowering the weight carry capacity of your rack. What I would do is purchase another 2"sq tube and weld it to the bottom of the orginal tube mounted to the rack after cutting off some material to keep it the same distance from the tow vehicle. Modifying it this way will raise your rack, but will also remove any liability from the orginal manufacture.

Here's a shot of the rack that I built. You can see what I described about welding on a tube. I spaced mine with another piece in the middle for extra height.


__________________
07 E350, Custom and Lifted
08 Harley Davidson Street Glide
09 KTM EXC 530
LeadDoggy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2010, 07:59 PM   #32
Senior Member
 
jage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 7,643
Re: Motorcycle Carriers

You're still increasing the leverage arm, thus effectively decreasing the capacity of your carrier, no?
__________________
it was good to be back
jage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2010, 08:11 AM   #33
Senior Member
 
LeadDoggy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Thousand Oaks, CA
Posts: 296
Re: Motorcycle Carriers

Quote:
Originally Posted by jage
You're still increasing the leverage arm, thus effectively decreasing the capacity of your carrier, no?

No, you would not be increasing any leverage. As long as you keep the rail the same distance from the tow vehicle, you will not be putting any more pressure on to the receiver.

Quote:
Originally Posted by leaddoggy
What I would do is purchase another 2"sq tube and weld it to the bottom of the orginal tube mounted to the rack after cutting off some material to keep it the same distance from the tow vehicle.
__________________
07 E350, Custom and Lifted
08 Harley Davidson Street Glide
09 KTM EXC 530
LeadDoggy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-23-2010, 10:53 AM   #34
Senior Member
 
bitburger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Seattle-ish, WA
Posts: 269
Re: Motorcycle Carriers

The Versahaul Sportbike version was just reviewed at Cycleworld.
http://www.cycleworld.com/article.as...rticle_id=2138
__________________

2008 SMB EB-52, Quadvan 4x4, 6.0 PSD SOLD
2017 Ford Transit T250 148WB mid-roof w/ Quadvan 4x4
bitburger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2010, 01:13 AM   #35
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 21
Re: Motorcycle Carriers

anyone hang a street bike off the back like that? Not some monstrous tourer, but something more in the sport bike weight range - 450-500 pounds or so - hardly a lightweight, but no BMW GS, either.
__________________
1994 5.4l E250 sportsmobile van, 2WD w/ 4" lift and larger tires.
cornercarver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2010, 11:33 AM   #36
Senior Member
 
Roonie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PNW WA
Posts: 618
Re: Motorcycle Carriers

Quote:
Originally Posted by cornercarver
anyone hang a street bike off the back like that? Not some monstrous tourer, but something more in the sport bike weight range - 450-500 pounds or so - hardly a lightweight, but no BMW GS, either.
LOL my BMW F800GS weighs in at 450 lbs wet. that said not sure I would want that weight hanging off the back of my van.

Has anyone used any of the motorcycle carriers with the spare tire and aluminess box on the back of their van? Mine has both.
Roonie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2010, 12:09 PM   #37
Senior Member
 
stiggs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 236
Send a message via ICQ to stiggs Send a message via AIM to stiggs
Re: Motorcycle Carriers

I have put on my Triumph on mine, doesn't seem to be much of a problem, its somewhere close to 400 pounds. Most the time my CT90 goes on the back
__________________
2000 Ford RB30 PH 2WD -- Eagle Rock California
stiggs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2010, 12:42 PM   #38
Senior Member
 
Roonie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PNW WA
Posts: 618
Re: Motorcycle Carriers

Basically looking for a motorcycle rack to clear my spare and soon to be aluminess box on the back (replacing the tray). Can this be done with hitch extenders or does this put too much strain on it? Will be carrying a 200lb bike on the back (Yamaha WR250R).


Roonie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2010, 01:40 PM   #39
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 193
Re: Motorcycle Carriers

We have traveled with a cbr600f3 hung off the back with a versahaul. Since it is only single hitch system it sways a bit and I probably wouldn't be comfortable with extended off road travel; but we've driven a number of thousands of highway and back road miles without trouble.

One time we hit a major pothole in colorado. The suspension compressed and it bounced enough to have visibly shifted the bike, but it stayed in the track (we had a nice adrenalin rush). The position of the bike on the rail is not fixed and as you can see in the photos we have seen it shift/slide a bit (it uses friction bolts to hold it in place and I'm better about checking them now) .

Bottom line: I'll probably replaced the f3 with a light enduro anyway, but I'm not in a rush to buy a different rack.



__________________
2017 Sprinter 4x4 144LR. Dialin' it in.
[RIP] 2004-2017 SMB PH, 4x4, E250v8. The wheels fell off.
Pritikin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2010, 03:51 PM   #40
Senior Member
 
KTMRIDER's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 560
Re: Motorcycle Carriers

Quote:
Originally Posted by Roonie
Basically looking for a motorcycle rack to clear my spare and soon to be aluminess box on the back (replacing the tray). Can this be done with hitch extenders or does this put too much strain on it? Will be carrying a 200lb bike on the back (Yamaha WR250R).

I am having Joe Hauler build a custom M/C carrier for me to clear the Aluminess box and gas tray. It will also have a spot to carry a few gas cans. Was at his shop about 3 weeks ago for measurements and he helped me install a front hitch on the van as well. He has a nice shop, an engineering background, rides and has built a lot of production and custom racks which makes me feel much more comfortable. He can also build racks to hold street bikes and quads (check his site for photos). I expect to receive it in the next few weeks so will see how it fits. He could probably use the same specs and build one for other folks with the Aluminess bumper and box.

http://www.joehauler.com/
Eric
__________________
2006 Ford E-350 V10 Agile 4x4 SMB EB50

2000 Ford E-350 7.3L Quigley 4x4 hard top with custom interior by Xtreme Fab - Sold
KTMRIDER is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Sportsmobile Registry

TumbleWeed

Sarah

Vanna

gahamby
Add your Sportsmobile
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.