Quote:
Originally Posted by davidsalone
Hello everyone,
I wanted to let you know I did check out the Hydralift, and the quote I received for that unit was $7800.00 installed out of the door. RV Vagabond, I did check out your video a couple of times (nice video, btw).
Additionally, I'm looking at the Cruiser-lift as well! I have also priced having a 7X12 V-nosed trailer manufactured for me, and I can have that built here in Georgia for $3400.00. My initial thought was to not have a trailer, but the prices and tradeoffs for the lifts are slowly changing my mind. Please, let me know what you guys think. I do value your experience, and research your suggestions.
Best regards,
David
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David,
Well Sir, been in the same predicament on and off, for years. I'll make this as short as possible. When I retired, we wanted to go on a "retirement" trip. And, we had a '99, 34' Fleetwood Bounder with the V-10. I wanted to take our 2002 Honda GL 1800 Goldwing along. So, we purchased an Interstate, 7' x 16' V-nosed, tandem axle trailer. Now, of course you can get a smaller trailer, even for your Harley. But, I figured if I'm gonna do this, I'm not gonna cheapen out and get a tiny trailer and, fight the tying down and securing of that Wing, in a tight space, each and every time we packed up to move to some other place.
So, I set up the trailer to haul the Wing, two bicycles, a small trailer that we would tow behind the Wing every once in a while and, some misc other stuff. That scenario worked great for that trip. But, that trip was blessed with GOOD WEATHER, for the entire duration. We were seriously lucky 'cause, we're not wet weather riders. But, if the weather had turned south, we'd have been stuck in our RV for the duration.
So, we changed coaches. And we did the change keeping in mind that, we'd HAUL the Wing on the back of it AND, tow a toad. We'd have the best of both worlds there. So, we got our present coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon, 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP and Allison MH3000 trans. For the lift, I didn't screw around. I knew (as most do) that the Hydralift is the king of the lift/carriers. Some worry about the hydraulics. That thought NEVER even crossed my mind. I, and many others that I've talked with NEVER had one hydraulic leak or problem in the 2+ years we used it.
First off, you don't have to buy one new. If you're lucky, AND PATIENT, you can get a great deal on one from Craigslist, or the sales ads in the forums, ebay, and other places. They, the Hydralift that is, normally runs about $4,500, shipped to your local installer. We got one used, about 250 miles from our home. I paid $1,800, total.
I did the install. I won't go into all the details but, suffice to say, I BOLTED it on instead of welding it on for a couple of reasons. First, just in case, at any time in the future, I wanted that lift off, it's easy, UN BOLT IT. Second, since the factory hitch was rated for 10,000 lbs, I figured I'd just remove that hitch and bolt the mounting steel, right to the same holes in the frame. I then mounted the Hydralift to that steel, DONE.
Now, one more thing. I setup the hydraulics AND the electric side, to use quick disconnects. That way, if I wanted to do maintenance of any type, or any form of repair on the back of that coach and that engine, that lift could be removed in a matter of minutes. As in 6, to be specific. Yep, I could have that lift off the back of the coach in 6 minutes.
Now, here's the deal. Our coach, as stated, is a 36' diesel coach. I knew, waaaaaay in advance, I'd be over the GAWR of the rear axle. But, I also knew that the structure could/would take the overload. With all that being said, we hauled that Wing, and towed our '04 Jeep Rubicon, for well over 8,000 miles, without one single issue. The coach drove straight down the road, no wandering, no porpoising, no ill handling issues whatsoever.
And, contrary to some that think the end of the world was gonna happen if I did it this way, the coach rode at the same EXACT height, both in back and front, WITH THE WING as it did without the Wing and the lift. I lost EXACTLY 109 lbs off the front when the Wing was mounted on the back. Heck, if the wife was driving, and I got up to go to the head, that front end just lost 240 lbs!!!!!! So, again, IT WORKED.
But, we while I knew the structure could and did take the overload, I was skeptical at what the tires could handle. So, long story short, we sold the lift and purchased a truck. And, I bought a Rampage lift that goes into the back of the truck. I built a cart for Rampage because, I don't need that lift in the truck when it's not being used. When it comes time to load the lift, I roll the cart up to the back of the truck, transfer the lift to the truck, and roll the cart away. The lift is bolted to the truck in about 4-5 minutes and we're ready to load the bike.
But, the point here is, there's multiple ways to attack your dilemma. It all depends on your outlook, your values, what you're willing to do and or live with and, of course, what you're willing to spend. We both really, really liked the Hydralift. I'd do it again in a heartbeat if all the load's could be accounted for. The truck, and the Rampage is also a nifty way to go. I left out a lot of detail here but, you got the point. A trailer large enough just for the bike, limits your manuverabilty during wet weather, or at least for us it does.
A lift on the back of the coach, is expensive but, it's one way of allowing for bringing the bike and a toad. The truck and Rampage accomplishes the same goal, just in a different manor. And, for those that think you can't drive around with a 900 lb. motorcycle in the back of the truck, well, they're clueless. There's been a zillion times when we pulled into a campsite for the night and, disconnected the truck from the coach but, wanted to go get some dinner etc.
We just zoomed down and got dinner. The bike is locked into the back of that truck, with EIGHT tie downs. It AINT GOING ANYWHERE!! If you've got questions and would rather PM me, be my guest. I'd be glad to help.
Scott