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

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Toads and Motorhome Related Towing
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-12-2014, 02:08 PM   #1
Member
 
gamechanger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oceanside, NY
Posts: 82
To Toad or not to Toad.

Need advice:
We have a DSDP 4038 on order. First time owning a MH. Rented in past.
Never pulled a toad before but seems most folks do.
We have a 2013 Harley Tri-glide and want to take it along.
Here are our options:
I can get a Hydra-Lift that attaches to the rear of the frame and to the existing hitch. Its completely hydraulic so no steel cables. Once the trike is loaded it does however block the MH's rear tail lights quite a bit. But its lifted up and tucked in pretty close to rear cap.
This would then be our primary mode of transportation once the MH is all hooked up and stationary.
The next option is to get a F-150 with a 8' or 6' bed and pull it with the trike tucked inside bed. This would eliminate the hydraulic lift scenario.
It seemed to make sense to have the trike on the lift and not have to pull an extra vehicle.
But maybe the better arrangement is to have the pickup with the trike.
Just concerned about hauling 40' plus and another 20' down the road.

Yeeesh, I thought deciding on which MH to get was difficult.
gamechanger is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 03-12-2014, 02:18 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
palehorse89's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,308
To many toy's....

I just went through this over the years.......car dolly first, got tired of the dolly, new Jeep JK, installed tow bar set up.......Enclosed custom bike trailer(already owned this).....had to make a decision every time on what to take.......sold the custom bike trailer yesterday.......ordered this new custom built trailer today........now we can take what ever we want. Sure has been a lot of upgrading! to get to this point. I like my equipment clean, and the enclosed trailer is the only way to achieve this, A bike on the rear of your Coach......, you know what the rear of it is like after driving in the rain....... Just my thoughts and my journey on what to tow or take with us.......

__________________
2012 Essex 4544 2011 Jeep JK, M&G Braking, 2014 MTI 27' Hog Hauler, Wireless brake control, 2006 Ultra & 1989 Springer, 2003 Harley-Davidson
FLHR Road King Anniversary
palehorse89 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 02:29 PM   #3
Registered User
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2008
Location: N. Palm Springs CA (in winter)
Posts: 2,420
I carried my Ultra Classic on a lift behind a pusher. I added LED signal and brake lights to the lift. Only problem was my bike got might dirty on long trips.
If you're not full timing, I see no reason to go through the expense of a truck, tow bar, and bike ramp. If you need 4 wheels, you can always rent a wreck/car for bad weather.
Doggy Daddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 02:55 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Bamber Lake
Posts: 500
Once you TOWD you never go back.
RayJr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 03:08 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
tricotec's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Leesburg, FL
Posts: 385
Quote:
Originally Posted by RayJr View Post
Once you TOWD you never go back.
I agree, but towing a motorcycle is a bit different. I see towing a full size pickup behind a motorhome as a bit extreme just to carry a motorcycle. The way I see it you have three options that make sense.
  1. Carry the motorcycle on the back of the RV like your original idea and add extra tail/signal lights to compensate so your signals can be seen.
  2. Get an open trailer. Understand that your motorcycle will get dirty.
  3. Get a closed trailer like the above. Probably the costliest option.

I think the first makes the most sense.
__________________
Bobby & William Mukaisu
2005 Monaco Windsor 40PST 400HP ISL Cummins
2014 Chevy Equinox LS
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
tricotec is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 03:23 PM   #6
Administrator in Memoriam
 
Route 66's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Retired Fire Service RVer's
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
I was 63' going down the road. Length was never a problem.
__________________
Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP

Route 66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 03:48 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
chuckinthebus's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Posts: 1,796
I don't think it would be any longer than our combination. Maybe a bit more weight, but not longer. Only you can make the decision, but remember, there are some days the sun doesn't shine all day.
__________________
Chuck, Sara (RVM 50.5) & Chopper (the fuzzy 1)
2003 DSDP w/2015 Jeep Wrangler, 2 Kayaks & 2 bikes. Living and Loving life.
RVM50
chuckinthebus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-12-2014, 10:49 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
FIRE UP's Avatar


 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,867
Quote:
Originally Posted by gamechanger View Post
Need advice:
We have a DSDP 4038 on order. First time owning a MH. Rented in past.
Never pulled a toad before but seems most folks do.
We have a 2013 Harley Tri-glide and want to take it along.
Here are our options:
I can get a Hydra-Lift that attaches to the rear of the frame and to the existing hitch. Its completely hydraulic so no steel cables. Once the trike is loaded it does however block the MH's rear tail lights quite a bit. But its lifted up and tucked in pretty close to rear cap.
This would then be our primary mode of transportation once the MH is all hooked up and stationary.
The next option is to get a F-150 with a 8' or 6' bed and pull it with the trike tucked inside bed. This would eliminate the hydraulic lift scenario.
It seemed to make sense to have the trike on the lift and not have to pull an extra vehicle.
But maybe the better arrangement is to have the pickup with the trike.
Just concerned about hauling 40' plus and another 20' down the road.

Yeeesh, I thought deciding on which MH to get was difficult.
Gamechanger,
Strictly speaking from direct experience here with both your scenarios, I'll give you some first hand experience. We have an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330 HP. We own an '08 Honda GL 1800 Goldwing and wanted to bring it with us in our endeavors. So, we also went through all the research and investigation of how to bring it along. But, we wanted a toad too. We want the best of both worlds.

So, we ended up purchasing the best lift on the market which, is the Hydralift. I installed it on the back of our coach. I was told all kinds of things would happen if I did that. First, I'd get some very bad handling, NEVER HAPPENED! I was told I'd do damage to the frame, NEVER HAPPENED! I was told there would be severe unevenness of ride height, NEVER HAPPENED!

In short, that rig handled flawlessly. It ran straight down the road with no issues, handling, problems, breakages, damage what so ever. And, like stated, we also towed our '11 Honda CRV at the same time.

But, I decided after over 8,000 miles, I was taking a chance. You see, on our rig, we have a 17,500 lb. rear axle. I was running down the road, with the lift and the bike, at just over 21,000 lbs. I knew the frame system could take it and the suspension but, I just figured it was time for a change.

So, we sold the lift, and purchased a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 for a toad. And, we also purchased a "Rampage" lift/carrier for the truck. So, now the truck carries the Goldwing and, there's no tongue weight on the coach at all. We like the GMC much better than the CRV anyways. Our coach, with that C-7 330 HP CAT, tows that truck without issues. It has great acceleration and braking, even without using a Ready Brake on the truck. It slows down on the grades a bit but, it does that anyways, with or without the truck in tow.

You can equip that Rampage lift to carry a trike as I understand it. It's a very simple system to load and or, unload the bike using that Rampage. I've also setup the Rampage to be installed or, removed from the truck, in about 1 minute. All I do is remove the 5 bolts that hold it to the bed and, I lift it up and slide it half way out while the wife rolls a nice cart that I built for that specific purpose, right under it. I then lower that lift, right onto the cart and, it's out of the bed as stated, in about a minute.
Scott






__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
FIRE UP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-13-2014, 10:24 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
StevieG's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Milton, NY
Posts: 923
Palehorse - nice Trailer Congrats!

Fire Up - Sweet Rubicon... I guess you got rid of it. I could see the progression needs...

I agree with RayJr... once you TOWD you never go back!
__________________
Steve & Beth - Milton, New York
2009 Monaco Diplomat 41 SKQ
2016 Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4
StevieG is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
toad



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
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


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Charge Line for toad Hrudey Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 19 03-08-2014 05:43 AM
Some Thoughts On Auxiliary Toad Brakes wil01 Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 4 02-16-2014 12:01 PM
Clear bra on toad S-n-L Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 5 02-06-2014 12:59 PM
TST APMS When Toad has Factory APMS ProjectPro Class A Motorhome Discussions 2 02-05-2014 05:13 PM
Protect Toad from MH and MH from Toad? Full.Monte Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 3 09-04-2013 11:51 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.