Community Forums

richp5 · 02-20-2020, 10:27 PM

If my RV has a 500/5K hitch rating does that mean the motorcycle should be under 500 lbs when placed above the hitch and then do you add that weight to the toad your pulling (4 wheels down) meaning 4K lbs toad + 500 lbs cycle = 4,500 lbs?

Also, I have seen carriers on the back of RVs but never combined with pulling a toad. If this is possible does anyone have a referral or two to provide to purchase such a carrier/rack?

Lastly, I have been throwing both bicycles in the back of the toad when transporting them but have to work hard to make them fit. Is there also a combo rack or something to carrier the bikes also? I'v read bad reviews on the carriers that mount on the rear ladder stating that they bend/break easily due to excessive weight and our mountain bikes aren't the lightest.

Thanks much in advance for your assistance with these questions!

txcpl · 02-21-2020, 04:45 AM

We carry our bicycles using the trailer hitch on the back of our toad. Can't say for motorcycles.

**Spdracr39** · 02-21-2020, 05:07 AM

500 = tongue/hitch weight 5000 = total weight being towed. If your motorcycle is on a rack that simply hangs on the hitch the total weight of bike and rack cannot exceed 500 lbs. If towing a vehicle whether flat or on a trailer/dolly the total weight cannot exceed 5000 lbs and the tongue weight cannot exceed 500 lbs. On a flat tow the tongue weight is not an issue so you would concentrate on the toad weight plus anything attached to it or stored in it. A good quality rack like my Kuat rack will carry two bikes off the rear of the toad without any problems.

chunker · 02-21-2020, 07:07 AM

If you do suspend a motorcycle, or any 500# object, to the trailer hitch, I would suggest a trip to the scales. That much weight, that far aft will unload the front suspension, assuming we are talking about a motorhome, and potentially over laid the rear. Think lever and forces applied well away from the fulcrum. The fulcrum being the rear wheels, the force applied being the items on the hitch. Many motorhome, generally smaller, have long rear overhang aggravating that issue.

Flat towing does not put any heavy forces on the rear of the tow vehicle but you do have the weight of the tow bar and equipment and some can be rather heavy so it's not weight neutral.

FIRE UP · 02-22-2020, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richp5

If my RV has a 500/5K hitch rating does that mean the motorcycle should be under 500 lbs when placed above the hitch and then do you add that weight to the toad your pulling (4 wheels down) meaning 4K lbs toad + 500 lbs cycle = 4,500 lbs?

Also, I have seen carriers on the back of RVs but never combined with pulling a toad. If this is possible does anyone have a referral or two to provide to purchase such a carrier/rack?

Lastly, I have been throwing both bicycles in the back of the toad when transporting them but have to work hard to make them fit. Is there also a combo rack or something to carrier the bikes also? I'v read bad reviews on the carriers that mount on the rear ladder stating that they bend/break easily due to excessive weight and our mountain bikes aren't the lightest.

Thanks much in advance for your assistance with these questions!

Well Sir,
All you have to do is look around in campgrounds/RV parks across America. There are thousands of RV's carrying motorcycles and towing toads everywhere. There are numerous brands and models of lift/carriers that will be also capable towing at the same time. We did it for a few years with our '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP and Allison MH3000 trans. I installed a Hydralift on the back of it and would load our '08 Honda GL 1800 Goldwing on it, then, attach our '04 Jeep Rubicon to the tow section of it and, take off. We did it like that for over 8,000 miles all around the western U.S. and not one single problem occurred.

Then, we changed for various reasons and, we now have two different toads. I sold the Hydralift and, one of the toads we tow is an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Extended Cab. I load a Rampage Lift/carrier in the back of that truck, then, IT loads the Goldwing into the back of the truck. I secure it, load the bicycles into mounted fork captures on the front bed edge and, we're off and running.

The second toad we tow is a '15 Jeep JKUR. I insert a Versa-hauler in the receiver of the coach, lock it down and, load my little Yamaha TW200 on it and strap it down. Then, I hook the JK up to the receiver on the Versa-hauler, secure everything and, we're off and running. Now, when the bicycles are wanted, I insert a bike rack into the receiver on the back of the Jeep and, load the bikes. DONE! Some people overthink so much of RVing that it's exhausting just watching them.
Scott

FIRE UP · 02-27-2020, 09:53 AM

Well,
Must not be too worried about answers.
Scott

richp5 · 02-29-2020, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE UP

Well,
Must not be too worried about answers.
Scott

My bad, I must've forgot to post a thank you to all who took the time to reply. I didn't subscribe which was also a contributing problem. Based on the replies I will either use the toad or motorcycle trailer.