Trailer hitch motorcycle carrier

I am looking for some reviews on anyone who has purchased a hitch mounted motorcycle
carrier. I have a 1980 harley sportster that weights 530lbs. I am looking for a steel one that is well made. I have looked at a handful on Amazon but they all seem to be cheap foreign made ones. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

 

Bump, anyone have experience with these type of carriers?

 

Your truck is rated for what tongue weight at 8-12” to where a tongue ball would be? Now move that weight out another 12” or more and you double the leverage and half the capacity of your rated tongue weight. Guarantee it exceeds the rating by a substantial amount. I know lots of people who have done this and it is unsafe.

 

Save your truck, save your bike, get a trailer!

 

Trailer is always the best... but not most practical. I’ve used and still use a double mx carrier of a factory hitch. Both bikes weigh in at 300lb. So 600lb + leverage. I’d defiantly suggest airbags or sumosprings if your gonna do it.

 

I have a well built all steel welded one. I carry a dirtbike on it. I would not run a bike as heavy as yours on it with modifying it. I would want 3 points of contact with the truck. You can weld 2x2 sq tube on both ends of the carrier and then matching receiver hitches to your truck usually on a custom subframe. This is how the truck/suv guys blasting thru baja carry their dirtbikes. No rocking and weight distributed.

 

Decided on this one. If it needs anything added to it I can weld to it. I probably should have made my own but didn't think about these until about a week ago and I'm leaving for sturgis 03Aug so time is up. Do you think the dakars will handle it?

 

I'm also looking to get a trailer hitch carrier for my Sportster, and I've got HD Dakars on my taco too. How did the Dakars work for you, and did you have any other issues with the haul?

 

I ended up changing plans last minute and renting a uhaul trailer. I didnt like how wobbly the carrier was after I test loaded my bike, it was also on the upper end of what the carrier could hold. What year is your sporty?

 

@AKTacoParty mines a 2018. I'm hoping I can find a more reliable hitch carrier because I don't have anywhere I can store my Leer shell.

 

Good luck because the most weight allowed that i have found was 600 lbs, which is what the one above is, but it doesnt give piece of mind.

 

Rent a trailer for $50. Buy a trailer for 400.

Standard class 3/4 is rated for 600 lbs tongue. That's at the hitch. You're planning on putting 600 plus at least 2 feet out. The welds at the hitch are likely rated based on the amount of torque they can carry. By putting 600lbs 2 feet out, you're applying 1200 ftlbs of torque.

Assuming the hitch had a 100% safety buffer, you're exactly at it, until you hit a bump. WILL it work? Probably. But do you want full risk of damaging the bike and or everyone behind you on a probably?


Get a trailer.

 

I would recommend a trailer for anything other than a dirtbike. I used to have a trailer until it was stolen...

 

Glad you decided against it. I have a similar carrier and I carried a sportbike on it which was probably 400lbs. Even though I had no issues, it made me nervous the entire 2 hour trip. I would not consider putting a Harley on it. If you're that tight on space and don't want to bother renting every time, there are some folding options.
https://www.stingertrailer.com/product/trailer-in-a-bag/

 

Thats kind of neat. I think im gonna get another enclosed trailer if i do get one again. That way i can move my things when i move.