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09-19-2021, 10:30 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Near Mt. Lassen, Northern CA
Posts: 191
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Motorcycle on a Hydralift experience
I have a 40' Monaco and have a chance to by a slightly used Hydralift at a good price. Can anybody point me to someone with experience with the Hydralift or to a previous thread?
I would really like to know the pros and cons.
Thanks to all who may help.
__________________
Hitting the road from Oregon
1993 Monaco Crown Royal Signature 40'
The "Gentle Giant"
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09-19-2021, 10:50 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 34,171
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Without a tag axle the weight of the lift and motor cycle will probably overload the rear axle .
Discussed here.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/moto...er-446942.html
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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09-19-2021, 11:52 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 10,359
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garage man
I have a 40' Monaco and have a chance to by a slightly used Hydralift at a good price. Can anybody point me to someone with experience with the Hydralift or to a previous thread?
I would really like to know the pros and cons.
Thanks to all who may help.
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garage man,
I participated in that thread that Skip linked. As has been stated, the potential for you to go over the GAWR of your rear axle on your coach is there. What's important here is to:
1. Weigh your present coach, front, rear and combined.
2. If your rear axle GAWR is for example, say, 20,000 lbs. and your actual weight on that rear is say, 16K or 17K, you have 3,000 lbs to play with. This is just an example. Being that your coach is a 40', your rear axle GAWR could even be higher than 20K but, just a guess.
I purchased a used Hydralift and did the install myself. It was a fun and, complex install. I did not, REPEAT, DID NOT weld any part of the main frame of that Hydralift to the coach. I did weld the main cradles to some steel that I used to adapt to my frame. I used 4"x6" x 1/2" thick angle iron. I ended up drilling holes in that angle iron, identical to the ones that held the 10,000 hitch on. By the way, I did remove the factory hitch since it was gonna be useless anyways.
My coach is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP. It's rear axle GAWR is 17,500 lbs. Prior to the install of the Hydralift, I weighed my coach. It came in at 16,900 lbs. in the rear. I knew in advance, I'd be over the weight rating of the rear axle when I would install the lift AND, load my '08 Honda GL1800 Goldwing on it. It's a long story but, I decided to deal with it. I set that Hydralift up so it could be totally removed in just under 6-8 minutes. That included adding a quick release in the hydraulic line from the pump to the lift and, a Weatherpack sealed connector in the electric line to the pump. That way, I could perform engine maintenance etc. without the lift being in the way.
So, if you decide to proceed with this endeavor, I'd be glad to assist in what ever part you may need. I loved that Hydralift. We used it for well over 8,000 miles of carrying that Wing and towing either our Jeep Rubicon or Honda CRV and it worked flawless and, contrary to the weight police, we had absolutely ZERO issues with the coach and or it's handling of the additional weight on the rear.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT Airbag
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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09-20-2021, 06:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Near Mt. Lassen, Northern CA
Posts: 191
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Thanks for the feed back. I am going to stop by the storage yard on the way home tonight and will measure wheelbase and over hang and do the calculations to see where I am at. I weighed the axles separately this weekend.
I will see what the numbers say.
__________________
Hitting the road from Oregon
1993 Monaco Crown Royal Signature 40'
The "Gentle Giant"
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09-20-2021, 11:33 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Near Mt. Lassen, Northern CA
Posts: 191
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I did the weight calculation
OK, I did the weighing with about 80 gallons of water on board and full fuel. I will add 1740 lbs to the rear and 1140 lbs to total weight and I have plenty left over.
I cannot find the data plate that list the axle weights. I have the manual for my 93 Monaco and it says the plate with the axle weights is on the sidewall by the driver. I can find only the plaste with GVW of 35000 pounds.
Now what?
__________________
Hitting the road from Oregon
1993 Monaco Crown Royal Signature 40'
The "Gentle Giant"
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09-21-2021, 01:11 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 10,359
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Somewhere in or on that coach, either up front under the hood area or, inside that coach, maybe behind a closet door, you'll find the specs on your chassis, front and rear GAWR and total GVWR. Yes, typically, it's on the wall, by the left side of the driver. Every once in a while, that sticker either falls off or, a previous owner doesn't think it needs to be there or, maybe in ultra rare cases, it never got put on in the first place.
But, there's other ways too of locating the specs for your chassis. Who made the chassis, Freightliner? Spartan? If it's a Freightliner, you can call your local Freightliner service center and talk with the parts department and, have your last 6 of your VIN ready when you get a hold of the parts guy. He will put those numbers in his little computer and, bring up every single detail that went into the building of your specific chassis, including all the specs of it.
I myself didn't and don't use those "calculations" primarily because I proved them wrong more than a few times. But, if you feel they will be of use to you in your decision to go ahead with this project, by all means, use them. As stated earlier, I knew in advance I'd be over the weight rating of mine when I was all done with the install and added the bike. But, I had a little insight as to the capabilities of the chassis components so, I wasn't too worried.
One of the good things about using a diesel coach, with air suspension for a project like this is, again, contrary to the weight police thinking the world will come to an end if you follow through with it, your suspension has RIDE HEIGHT sensors. If you take a measurement from a point at the rear, bottom of the body, where ever, to the ground, then add the lift and the bike, and start that coach up so the suspension and ride height sensors are aware of what you've added, they will compensate for the additional weight and bring the rear of that coach, to THE EXACT SAME MEASUREMENT as it was WITHOUT all of what you've added.
That's the job of the ride height sensors, to control the ride height, even when weight is removed, they see that and, compensate.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT Airbag
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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09-21-2021, 05:38 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garage man
I have a 40' Monaco and have a chance to by a slightly used Hydralift at a good price. Can anybody point me to someone with experience with the Hydralift or to a previous thread?
I would really like to know the pros and cons.
Thanks to all who may help.
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I also have the Hydralift.
Pros: It is very easy to lift the bike (push a button) and the hydraulics are very smooth.
Cons: It adds a bunch of rear overhang. And it can be difficult to find an installer familiar with your chassis with regards to fabricating the mounting plates/brackets (I did the install myself).
But if your going to carry a bike, you're going to have rear overhang.
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09-21-2021, 07:33 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 7
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The tag from my 1993
It's a 38 on the dmv paperwork
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09-22-2021, 06:10 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Near Mt. Lassen, Northern CA
Posts: 191
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryB
I also have the Hydralift.
Pros: It is very easy to lift the bike (push a button) and the hydraulics are very smooth.
Cons: It adds a bunch of rear overhang. And it can be difficult to find an installer familiar with your chassis with regards to fabricating the mounting plates/brackets (I did the install myself).
But if your going to carry a bike, you're going to have rear overhang.
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Thanks for the information. Maybe it is the angle of the picture but yours is the second one I have seen that appears to have the bike leaning backwards slightly. Is it and has it always?
__________________
Hitting the road from Oregon
1993 Monaco Crown Royal Signature 40'
The "Gentle Giant"
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09-22-2021, 06:22 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Near Mt. Lassen, Northern CA
Posts: 191
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GWARN
The tag from my 1993
It's a 38 on the dmv paperwork
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Hey, thanks for the shot. I was able to find my tag. It is on the wall by the driver's seat almost down to the floor and can only be seen with the seat moved forward. Because the seats are electric I hadn't ever moved it that far forward.
I am Golden. The calculations show me well under my GVWR or 35,000 even with full water and fuel and the bike and the lift.
My axle in the rear is rated at 23,000 and it will be 2000 under that after doing the calculations.
Also all of the ratings are with the standard 295/75R/22.5 tires. The Green Beast has 285/75R/24.5 tires on Alcoa rims.
Next step is talk to a welder that has done these before.
__________________
Hitting the road from Oregon
1993 Monaco Crown Royal Signature 40'
The "Gentle Giant"
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09-22-2021, 08:46 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 10,359
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Good for you, you found the tag.
Now, as stated in and earlier post, I did the install and I set that Hydralift up so it could be very easily removed. If you do the same, you will be very thankful to yourself you did. By adding a hydraulic quick release and either a Weatherpack or sealed connector of your choice to the electric line from the unit to the pump, that allows for the unit to be disconnected rather quickly.
Then, all I would do is, lower the unit to a Harbor Freight furniture dolly and, that would take the strain off the mounts. Then, I'd use an air gun to remove the bolts from the cradle caps and, I'd have another HF furniture dolly with a Jack stand on it, that was setup/adjusted so it was almost the same height as the receiver on the Hydralift. I'd then remove the cradle caps and, lift that end of the Hydralift onto the Jackstand.
I'd simply roll the Hydralift away from the coach so I could perform any maintenance and or work that was needed, without having the Hydralift in the way. Way cool and ultra convenient.
Now, also as stated, the components used to adapt the Hydralift to the cradles were NOT WELDED to the coach frame. I did that for a very specific reason. If, IF I ever wanted to remove the total system, all I had to do was UN BOLT IT ALL, PERIOD. There was no cutting of metal or welds, to rid that rear part of the coach frame of the mounts if there was ever a need.
And, by doing it that way, I could then re-mount my original 10,000 receiver.
Now, I don't know the seller of your potential Hydralift is selling the cradle mounts or not but, if not, you'll need to contact Hydralift for a pair. Last time I checked, they hover around $500 or so. You can see what they look like in the pics below. They are clamped onto the adaptive angle iron that I used to mount to the frame, exactly where the original hitch was bolted to.
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT Airbag
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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09-22-2021, 09:57 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Near Mt. Lassen, Northern CA
Posts: 191
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The seller has the coach portion of the mounts as they were a bolt on also. There is a piece welded to each mount that can easily be cut off.
I have found an installer that is a lraege structural welding shop only 130 miles away and they have done many of them. The last was 2 weeks ago on a 1 year old coach.
I am almost ready to go make an offer.
__________________
Hitting the road from Oregon
1993 Monaco Crown Royal Signature 40'
The "Gentle Giant"
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09-23-2021, 05:20 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,826
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garage man
Thanks for the information. Maybe it is the angle of the picture but yours is the second one I have seen that appears to have the bike leaning backwards slightly. Is it and has it always?
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The angle of the Bike on the lift just depends on how the ratcheting hold down straps are tightened.
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12-11-2021, 06:29 PM
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#14
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Junior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 8
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The lift still looks like it is not level if you look at the tie-down arms, they cant down to the rear...
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