Hauling a DR650 with the Tacoma

Anybody done this? probably. Is it sketchy. Maybe Taking it about 360 miles (one way) and back. I have overload springs in the rear suspension so it doesn't sag too bad. Got the rack off of Amazon. Ecotric. Similar to the Black Widow style. 600 lb. capacity. Class 3 hitch on the Taco with 600 lb. tongue weight. Lots of straps and easy to load by myself actually.

 

Hows the steering feel?

 

I would highly suggest plating the rear frame- especially with the cap + the bike. Most of us with rear swing outs plate the frame for basically the same reason.

 

You’ll be fine. Nice set up.

 

Feels pretty good. It's a little "lighter" than usual but surprisingly not that bad.

 

I am hoping so! lots of people have done it. My frame is still really solid back where the hitch is attached. I regularly treat the surface with some rust killer stuff that keeps it in check.

 

It's not a rust thing. It's about placing a relatively large amount of weight on a lever out of the back of the un boxed frame sections and then repeatedly bouncing that up and down. You can easily bend your frame. If you are going to do it once, no big deal. But if you plan on doing that on a regular basis, it would be extremely foolish not to plate the frame. TC makes a kit.

 

Who is TC that makes these plates? I might end up getting a trailer to pull eventually but this will have to do for now. I agree though. That is most of my worry.

 

I actually don't see them on TC (Total Chaos) anymore. But I did find them on trail gear: https://trail-gear.com/tacoma-rear-frame-reinforcement-plates.html

Pulling a trailer is a completely different thing, as the trailer wheels support (a majority) the weight of the load.

Just keep in mind that we plate for the swing out, and the extra mass is essentially within 6-10" of the frame rails and only is in the 100-150 pound range. Your bike is 18" or so from the end of the frame, and weighs ALOT more. It wouldn't take much to fubar the frame with that long of a lever and weight involved.

 

Moto Hauling Options (Trailers/Hitch Haulers/Bed Loading) | Tacoma World

Seems most people are okay doing it.

 

Also seems most of those people have newer trucks (which have boxed rear frame rails).

 

On second thought, just because the hitch is rated for 650 lbs, doesn't mean the mounting points are - 350 lb is your max.

 

The DR and the hauler are right at about 500lbs. and you are right. It's pretty much 18" out. Thanks for the link! I will check that out.

 

Once and done depending on how rough the roads are.

Take your time you should be fine.

More then once small road trailers can be bought very cheap at times.

I don`t like having to drop the bike to access most anything in the truck bed.

 

I haul bikes all the time. You’ll be fine.

 

There is a MASSIVE difference between how you have your bike in the bed of your truck, and how the OP has his attached out the back of the hitch. They are not comparable in the slightest.

Do you understand levers and mechanical advantage?

 

This.

I believe someone posted an excerpt from the manual stating 350lbs max tongue weight. His bike alone is much more than that. If I had no choice and the had to drive it a few miles...sure...maybe. But I wouldn't personally do it for any real distance myself. I would toss it on a trailer.

 

I hauled it 800 miles. Used extra straps and nothing ever got loose or came apart. Went on all kinds of terrain. Maintained the speed limit and used common sense. Gas mileage in my pickup didn’t even suffer that bad. Avg 19mpg. Gonna pick up a 2006 tundra soon and I’ll use it on there. Even though I had overload springs the rear suspension wasn’t that happy. It was a great trip and some awesome motorcycle riding!

I have a 650 lb tongue weight and when I called the manufacturer of the curt class 3 hitch the guy told me that you can carry 650 lbs. and be ok. There is a factor of safety built into it in hopes you don’t overdo it. I was 150 lbs under that. Not gonna do it regularly but it wasn’t too bad. No room to store a trailer so I will not be getting one of those.