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hitch-mount carriers. Experience? Opinions?


redkow97

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unfolding my HF 4x8 and reinstalling the wheel chock just to move my bike across town to load my buddy's truck is a pain in the ass.

I'm considering a hitch-mount carrier for short trips, and any time I have to travel toll roads (where the trailer is a money pit!)

the harbor freight model is inexpensive. Anyone used it?

http://www.harborfreight.com/400-lb-receiver-mount-motorcycle-carrier-99721.html

This would just be for my XR100. Never a sportbike. My max tongue weight is supposed to be 200 lbs, so the XR should be well under that.

Assuming these things work decently well, I would also like to potentially use it as a gear-carrier. This is where people who have one can help me out. Could I bolt a sheet of plywood onto the rail, and stick a generator and gas can on the thing? Or a lawn mower? Or even just a big tupperware container of camping equipment?

That would vastly increase its usefulness, and (without having seen one...) I don't think it would be hard to do.

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rslocum has one that he's let me borrow in the past and it worked great for moving my scooter and i forget what else. he might be selling his (that was a while ago though), and his is a pretty nice unit.

just be sure your tongue weight rating covers the bike you're mounting.

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just be sure your tongue weight rating covers the bike you're mounting.

That has been my concern from the start, but I have a 2" receiver hitch, and it would only ever be moving my XR100 (150 lbs?)

So even if my max tongue weight is 200 lbs (which is what I recall reading in my manual, although the internet says 350), I should be fine, no?

eBay has these things for $80, which is about what the HF model comes out to after the 20% off coupon. The eBay specials are steel, and the HF is aluminum.

the reduced weight of aluminum probably makes it worth it, I guess.

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What class is your hitch? 200 lbs seems low to me.

200 does seem low. 350 or 400 is what Ive seen for most that can actually mount a 2" receiver.

Remember you have to account for the weight of the rack in your limits. Since a stock crf100f is 174 you are probably over when including the rack. A steel rack will be worse than the aluminum one. However at 350# rating you should be good.

Craig

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Preserved for eternity.

i would not contradict that statement, regardless of edits

it's like a 10 jumbo marshmallows stacked on top of the other. i dont know how he doesnt faint, he could probably give a vampire diabeetus.

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I'm pretty sure my receiver is rated for 500 lb tongue load. It could have to do with the vehicle' date=' itself. :dunno:[/quote']

Tongue weight rating is a vehicle rating, based on suspension and frame.

200# is probably a reasonable number for a car but I would be surprised to see a 2" receiver available for such a vehicle.

Craig

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Tongue weight rating is a vehicle rating, based on suspension and frame.

200# is probably a reasonable number for a car but I would be surprised to see a 2" receiver available for such a vehicle.

Craig

I have looked at these types of carriers with great interest. There are pics of guys loading 800lb Harleys onto them.

I have a Honda Oddesey with a Uhaul hitch. I asked around and Honda and Uhaul couldn't confirm if the hitch would hold a 400-800lb bike on a 2" reciever. I really wanted to use one instead of having to deal with a trailer.

I am still interested and would love to ditch the trailer. I have only carried two bikes twice and having the trailer in the yard is a PITA.

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Tongue weight rating is a vehicle rating, based on suspension and frame.

200# is probably a reasonable number for a car but I would be surprised to see a 2" receiver available for such a vehicle.

Craig

it's a 2007 Hyundai Tucson, so not exactly a beefy truck-based SUV.

I believe my hitch is a class IV receiver, and I know it's 2". The hitch can likely handle more than the suspension.

For as infrequently as I plan to use this, I'm not too worried, even if the bike is 175 and not 150 as I was calculating.

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For anyone else using or considering one of these, I did get a helpful tip in the reviews section of the HF website.

Stick a jack under the end of the carrier when loading or unloading. This holds it level until the bike is more balanced, and eliminates a LOT of stress on the carrier and hitch when loading or unloading.

Necessary? Maybe not. But it definitely can't hurt.

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