Was this dangerous or just foolish?

[doc]

I was on I-24 east out of Nashville yesterday and noticed several MHs with toweds heading east towards Chattanooga. There was a Monaco (maybe 36-38 feet) towing a Durango. The Durango had a motorcycle under a cover and mounted on the back on a hitch mount. Could not see the mount due to the cover, but don't think it was on the bumper. It would bounce slighty as the D hit a bump. This was a bigger MC, not a scooter, but nothing like a Harley cruiser either. The Durango kept switching right and left 3 or 4 inches for several cycles very frequently. As I pulled up to pass, I saw the front wheels on the Durango were just barely touching the ground when the rig would hit a bump. The MC was apparently causing some tracking problems for the Durango . I know the Monaco is a heavy coach, but not enough to keep the handling from being effected. The driver seemed unconcerned and was just driving on down the road - maybe he was used to this contortion.

[Route 66]

Both.

[tncruiser]

i24 in nashville is always dangerous so i will vote
STUPID
brianj

[JC2]

Originally Posted by doc

I was on I-24 east out of Nashville yesterday and noticed several MHs with toweds heading east towards Chattanooga. There was a Monaco (maybe 36-38 feet) towing a Durango. The Durango had a motorcycle under a cover and mounted on the back on a hitch mount. Could not see the mount due to the cover, but don't think it was on the bumper. It would bounce slighty as the D hit a bump. This was a bigger MC, not a scooter, but nothing like a Harley cruiser either. The Durango kept switching right and left 3 or 4 inches for several cycles very frequently. As I pulled up to pass, I saw the front wheels on the Durango were just barely touching the ground when the rig would hit a bump. The MC was apparently causing some tracking problems for the Durango . I know the Monaco is a heavy coach, but not enough to keep the handling from being effected. The driver seemed unconcerned and was just driving on down the road - maybe he was used to this contortion.

Add stupid and irresponsible to that. I would have been on my cell phone calling the Highway Patrol on this moron.

[Parkerrs]

My '01 Jeep Cherokee will move back and forth after hitting a bump or irregularity in the road with nothing in it or on it. It doesn't effect the coach at all handling wise when it happens, I just notice it in the rear view camera.

A motorcycle even as large as a Harley is about 600-700lbs. and this is for a dresser at the 700lbs. end. This would not be enough wieght on the hitch to cause any problems for a vehicle with tow package. I've seen this much wieght in junk piled in the back of SUV toads a lot.

My concern would be whether or not the bike was secured to the Durango properly so as not to become a hazard. If the coach was a diesel pusher it should have a 10,000lbs. tow rating which would handle the load as long as the lash-up was rated for the wieght and done properly.

3-4 inches of sway happens with alot of toads when hitting bumps etc., now if it were large amounts of sway then that's a different story. 3-4 inches of sway isn't even the width of my hand, that is minimal sway for bad road conditions.

[bdpreece]

IMHO just plain crazy!!

[Luv2go]

Originally Posted by doc

As I pulled up to pass, I saw the front wheels on the Durango were just barely touching the ground when the rig would hit a bump.

Sounds like the tow bar angle was way too high. According to Blue Ox:

Blue Ox's recommendation is that the receiver hitch of the motorhome should never be more than 4 inches higher than the baseplate attachment points. Four inches or less keeps the tow bar level with the ground or slightly angled up towards the coach from the car. The tow bar should never be angled "up" towards the car from the coach.

[Nick-B]

Tongue weight of a hitch is normally 10% of the Tow weight. If it was a full 5000 lb hitch that gives him a 500 lb tongue weight. Maybe the bike was only 500 lbs but now add the weight of the carrier and the fact that the whole mess would be cantelevered out another 2 feet or so from the receiver and you got Trouble with a capital "T".

[Wayne M]

Dumb and dumber. A KAW Nomad weighs 830 pounds.

[RoyM]

He is likely peeved about excessive front tire wear on the toad.That sounds downright dangerous.

[Parkerrs]

OK I'm not trying to stir up an argument here. The OP feels that this was a bad situation which irritated or angered him, if not he wouldn't have posted about it.

First no one here has any facts about the situation, only opinion and assumption, including myself. The OP states he "believes" the bike was hitch mounted, but a few words later states that he could not see and determine this for a fact.

Second I know as stated above that a KAW Nomad wieghs in above 800lbs., it's a full dresser minus a front fairing. The OP stated that this unit was smaller than a Harley cruiser but larger than a scooter. Therefore you have no Idea what it is or wieghs. Again we have opinion and assumption.

Third, the vehicle was swaying or as stated by the OP "cycling several times" after hitting a bump or irregularity. Like I posted, my empty Cherokee will do this. Any four down toad will wander slightly unless the steering wheel is tied. It's the nature of the beast, the steering is loose to track as pulled. I've seen this with all types of toads and MH combos. If you think your toad doesn't wander on occasion then you haven't watched your rearview camera much after hitting a bump.

Next the OP said it looked like the front wheels were barely touching the ground. This is opinion also. Without being familiar with the vehicle in question you really aren't sure. Here again opinion and assumption. If this is true then the 3-4 inches of sway stated by the OP would be very negligable. A toad just like a trailer with too little tongue wieght would sway horribly and more like 8 inches or more regardless of a bump in the road or not.

Like I said I'm not trying to start a flame war. I come to this site for information from informed or experienced individuals. I appreciate "opinions" from first hand users of a product or service. But these opinions are based in fact with experience. Here a poster has made assumptions without all of the facts and thrown it out here for others to "judge". It seems everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon to condemn without facts, pictures, or first hand knowledge. I'd rather keep to useful information, so I'll leave the subject alone.

I will repeat a few qoutes taught to me through the years.

"When you "assume" you make an a** of u and me."

"Opinions are like a**holes.Everybody has one and they all stink but your own."

"Judge not less ye be judged"

[doc]

[QUOTE][/
OK I'm not trying to stir up an argument here. The OP feels that this was a bad situation which irritated or angered him, if not he wouldn't have posted about it.

First no one here has any facts about the situation, only opinion and assumption, including myself. The OP states he "believes" the bike was hitch mounted, but a few words later states that he could not see and determine this for a fact.

Second I know as stated above that a KAW Nomad wieghs in above 800lbs., it's a full dresser minus a front fairing. The OP stated that this unit was smaller than a Harley cruiser but larger than a scooter. Therefore you have no Idea what it is or wieghs. Again we have opinion and assumption.

Third, the vehicle was swaying or as stated by the OP "cycling several times" after hitting a bump or irregularity. Like I posted, my empty Cherokee will do this. Any four down toad will wander slightly unless the steering wheel is tied. It's the nature of the beast, the steering is loose to track as pulled. I've seen this with all types of toads and MH combos. If you think your toad doesn't wander on occasion then you haven't watched your rearview camera much after hitting a bump.

Next the OP said it looked like the front wheels were barely touching the ground. This is opinion also. Without being familiar with the vehicle in question you really aren't sure. Here again opinion and assumption. If this is true then the 3-4 inches of sway stated by the OP would be very negligable. A toad just like a trailer with too little tongue wieght would sway horribly and more like 8 inches or more regardless of a bump in the road or not.

Like I said I'm not trying to start a flame war. I come to this site for information from informed or experienced individuals. I appreciate "opinions" from first hand users of a product or service. But these opinions are based in fact with experience. Here a poster has made assumptions without all of the facts and thrown it out here for others to "judge". It seems everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon to condemn without facts, pictures, or first hand knowledge. I'd rather keep to useful information, so I'll leave the subject alone.

I will repeat a few qoutes taught to me through the years.

"When you "assume" you make an a** of u and me."

"Opinions are like a**holes.Everybody has one and they all stink but your own."

"Judge not less ye be judged"
QUOTE]

Now I realize that you were not there, but I was. This M/C hung on the back of the Durango was behind the bumper, that much was obvious. Simple physics will tell you the lifting force is multiplied the further back from the fulcrum a weight is added. It was also obvious the weight on the rear was causing the front tires to be very light as there was more than normal space between the top of the tire and the top of the front wheel well. Further, the amount of contact of tire to road was not nearly what one normally sees - indicating loading of the rear. As the towed bounced, the front tires became even lighter, nearly clearing the roadway. As it came up the towed would switch back and forth several cycles. Since you figure this is normal, then perhaps you need to take a look at the way you have your towed loaded. I have towed all over this nation and have never had that kind of situation. Nor, have I ever seen this kind of action on the end of a towbar either. My present and past toweds must be exceptions as they don't and never have wandered. Better check the front end on that Cherokee.
The M/C was covered certainly and the entire rig was nice looking so doubt the owner or driver had any sort of chop job on the mount. However it was mounted, the M/C hung out behind the bumper and the affect on the geometry of the towed would be the same whether it was tied on with baling twine or hardened steel bolts.
As for facts - reckon which of us has the most and best information about the observed situation - me who observed it or you who read a brief description I provided?
As for being irritated or angered - why would I be either since I am only reporting what I observed as interesting and probably dangerous by some guy who was either unaware or just didn't care? If you feel that this is appropriate towing procedure and is safe, then have at, but apparently you are the only one here who feels this way.
I wish you safe travels.

[powerboatr]

Now I realize that you were not there, but I was. This M/C hung on the back of the Durango was behind the bumper, that much was obvious. Simple physics will tell you the lifting force is multiplied the further back from the fulcrum a weight is added. It was also obvious the weight on the rear was causing the front tires to be very light as there was more than normal space between the top of the tire and the top of the front wheel well. Further, the amount of contact of tire to road was not nearly what one normally sees - indicating loading of the rear. As the towed bounced, the front tires became even lighter, nearly clearing the roadway. As it came up the towed would switch back and forth several cycles. Since you figure this is normal, then perhaps you need to take a look at the way you have your towed loaded. I have towed all over this nation and have never had that kind of situation. Nor, have I ever seen this kind of action on the end of a towbar either. My present and past toweds must be exceptions as they don't and never have wandered. Better check the front end on that Cherokee.
The M/C was covered certainly and the entire rig was nice looking so doubt the owner or driver had any sort of chop job on the mount. However it was mounted, the M/C hung out behind the bumper and the affect on the geometry of the towed would be the same whether it was tied on with baling twine or hardened steel bolts.
As for facts - reckon which of us has the most and best information about the observed situation - me who observed it or you who read a brief description I provided?
As for being irritated or angered - why would I be either since I am only reporting what I observed as interesting and probably dangerous by some guy who was either unaware or just didn't care? If you feel that this is appropriate towing procedure and is safe, then have at, but apparently you are the only one here who feels this way.
I wish you safe travels.


well said,
i get nervy seeing the toads pulling TRAILERS loaded with atvs behind the dp