Hydralift Trike Lift

[jackson1]

I have a 2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus and I am getting a Harley Davidson trike. I am considering putting a Hydralift trike lift on the back of the Tiffin. The trike lift is 8 ft. (96 in. long) and the trike is 105 inches long. The motor home exterior width is 101 in. and the Federal maximum mandated width on interstate roads is 102 in. or eight and a half feet. The trike will fit on the lift because it's wheelbase is 65.7 inches. However, overall, the trike will exceed the Federal mandate by 3 inches. I am looking for feedback from anyone who may have the Hydaralift trike lift for use with a Harley Davidson trike. I am interested in any input regarding issues they might have encountered as a result.

[Lt Dan]

Which Bus do you have? Unless you have a 45 with a tag axle you will be overloading the rear axle.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by jackson1

I have a 2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus and I am getting a Harley Davidson trike. I am considering putting a Hydralift trike lift on the back of the Tiffin. The trike lift is 8 ft. (96 in. long) and the trike is 105 inches long. The motor home exterior width is 101 in. and the Federal maximum mandated width on interstate roads is 102 in. or eight and a half feet. The trike will fit on the lift because it's wheelbase is 65.7 inches. However, overall, the trike will exceed the Federal mandate by 3 inches. I am looking for feedback from anyone who may have the Hydaralift trike lift for use with a Harley Davidson trike. I am interested in any input regarding issues they might have encountered as a result.

Well Jackson,
When I installed the Hydralift on the back of our '04 Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP, the bike we carried, (and still have) was/is our '08 Honda GL1800 Goldwing. It too was an inch or two, wider than the coach. I thought about that issue for about 5 seconds. I figured if they're gonna pull me over for that, well, it is what it is. Well, in over 8,000 miles and over two years of traveling all over the western U.S. and, being followed occasionally by all brands of law enforcement from just about all those states, not one of them ever pulled us over.

Yes, the rules are in place. There are max widths and all that. Again, it was so minute, that, I just didn't give it a second thought. The coach handled the weight just fine. No one died, the moon still rises, and we didn't loose our first born. Now, a trike, no doubt about it, is considerably heavier than you run-of-the mill full dress Harley or Wing. So, do take that into consideration. Good luck on your project.
Scott

[robertkathy]

for the cost of a hydrolift you can buy an enclosed trailer the the trike will be protected and you get more storage.

for the price of a hydrolift and blue ox tow i was able tp get a 2018 8.5 x 20 enclosed car hauler

[DirtRider]

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Well Jackson,
When I installed the Hydralift on the back of our '04 Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP, the bike we carried, (and still have) was/is our '08 Honda GL1800 Goldwing. It too was an inch or two, wider than the coach. I thought about that issue for about 5 seconds. I figured if they're gonna pull me over for that, well, it is what it is. Well, in over 8,000 miles and over two years of traveling all over the western U.S. and, being followed occasionally by all brands of law enforcement from just about all those states, not one of them ever pulled us over.

Yes, the rules are in place. There are max widths and all that. Again, it was so minute, that, I just didn't give it a second thought. The coach handled the weight just fine. No one died, the moon still rises, and we didn't loose our first born. Now, a trike, no doubt about it, is considerably heavier than you run-of-the mill full dress Harley or Wing. So, do take that into consideration. Good luck on your project.
Scott

Maybe it's not the current state of your rig--but how do people see your brake lights?

[CountryB]

Originally Posted by DirtRider

Maybe it's not the current state of your rig--but how do people see your brake lights?

The HydraLift platform has LED brake lights built in. I added a third light in the center too.

[jackson1]

Thanks for the input. You addressed the two concerns I had - the width issue and as far as the weight issue, I emptied my fresh water and grey water tanks and then I had my coach weighed and added in the additional weight of the trike and trike lift and the rear axle weight as within the acceptable parameters as were the front axle and the GVWR. Thanks again.

[Lt Dan]

Originally Posted by jackson1

Thanks for the input. You addressed the two concerns I had - the width issue and as far as the weight issue, I emptied my fresh water and grey water tanks and then I had my coach weighed and added in the additional weight of the trike and trike lift and the rear axle weight as within the acceptable parameters as were the front axle and the GVWR. Thanks again.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just pointing out some things you need to consider. If all you have done is add the weights, you have to take into consideration the cantilever effect of the rear overhang. Adding weight back there multiplies the weight on the rear axle and lightens the load on the front axle, which can cause instability. Here is a document from another company that will let you calculate load. Their distance for the lift is 23" but you will need to make that closed to 40" for a trike lift. Just using the Bus wheelbase and a general weight, it shows a 1200lb load (trike & lift) may be putting up to 1800lbs load on the rear axle in addition to lightening the front end. I know others have done it, but lifts are generally not recommended on non-tag axle motor homes.

[jcussen]

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just pointing out some things you need to consider. If all you have done is add the weights, you have to take into consideration the cantilever effect of the rear overhang. Adding weight back there multiplies the weight on the rear axle and lightens the load on the front axle, which can cause instability. Here is a document from another company that will let you calculate load. Their distance for the lift is 23" but you will need to make that closed to 40" for a trike lift. Just using the Bus wheelbase and a general weight, it shows a 1200lb load (trike & lift) may be putting up to 1800lbs load on the rear axle in addition to lightening the front end. I know others have done it, but lifts are generally not recommended on non-tag axle motor homes.

X2 Do you plan to do all your travels with empty fresh water
and grey water tanks?

[HJLowell]

Most of the patrolmen following you were checking out your nice bike.

Or your rig overall.
They think of retirement sometime also.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by DirtRider

Maybe it's not the current state of your rig--but how do people see your brake lights?

The picture you're looking at was when I first installed the lift and was testing it out. I knew then that, the tail lights on the coach would be almost non existent. So, I added some 15" long LED "stop/turn/tail" lights on the Hydralift, (not "Hydolift"). Those lights were SERIOULSLY bright in both running and turn/brake.

Originally Posted by CountryB

The HydraLift platform has LED brake lights built in. I added a third light in the center too.

Well CountryB,
Our Hydralift did not come with any lights of any form. As stated above, I searched for some that would fit and not get damaged when the lift was landing or sitting on the ground yet, would still provide a high quality presentation of rear tail lighting. The "Partsam 15" LED lights fit the bill just fine.
Scott

To both of you, if you look closely at the floor plate that the bike is sitting on in the pic below, you'll see the very nice lights that work outstandingly and are very well protected.
Scott

[jackson1]

Originally Posted by jcussen

X2 Do you plan to do all your travels with empty fresh water
and grey water tanks?

If I, in fact, do put the trike lift on the back, then the answer is yes, whenever I am traveling from point A to point B I do intend to run with empty fresh water and grey water tanks.

[jackson1]

Originally Posted by Lt Dan

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, just pointing out some things you need to consider. If all you have done is add the weights, you have to take into consideration the cantilever effect of the rear overhang. Adding weight back there multiplies the weight on the rear axle and lightens the load on the front axle, which can cause instability. Here is a document from another company that will let you calculate load. Their distance for the lift is 23" but you will need to make that closed to 40" for a trike lift. Just using the Bus wheelbase and a general weight, it shows a 1200lb load (trike & lift) may be putting up to 1800lbs load on the rear axle in addition to lightening the front end. I know others have done it, but lifts are generally not recommended on non-tag axle motor homes.

Thanks for the input. I will take what you said into consideration. In my conversations with the owner and builder of the Hydralift trike lift, he mentioned the cantilever effect and he described to me what he did to compensate for it to a substantial extent. At this point, I don't know if I will install the lift. I am still evaluating all of the input that I have been getting. And there are still some more items in the coach and cargo bays that I can remove ignorer to lighten the load even more if I decide to get the lift. Thanks again.

[96 Wideglide]

Originally Posted by HJLowell

Most of the patrolmen following you were checking out your nice bike.

Or your rig overall.
They think of retirement sometime also.

This is true!

I've had a border guard, go through the same thing.
It's odd, your sitting there wearing your poker face, cause you are going through a border crossing, and your guard is in lust with your rig !