Hitch hauler

Looking for advice regarding using a hitch hauler to haul my 240# dirt bike.

*2002 Toyota Tacoma xtra cab, 2.4l 4 cyl. Helper springs installed, otherwise bone stock.

I'm planning on installing a Curt class III hitch receiver and a Black Widow hitch hauler rated for a 300# dirtbike.

Will I run into handling issues with this much weight off the back?
Would airbags help?

thanks for any responses

 

If the rest of the bed is empty it could effect things .

Throw 300 pounds against the tailgate see how it handles

 

I asked a friend about this and he told me to go to Home Depot and throw 300#'s of cement on the tailgate!!

What if i have 400# in the bed too....better or worse?

thx

 

Steering might be a little light, but it wouldn't be much different than a trailer with a 300# tongue weight.

 

A more balanced load will ride better .

If you take notice of those trailers and trucks with the fork lift hanging on the back they handle very poor with no cargo

 

The only thing airbags will do is make it so it doesn't squat as much. The balance and weight distribution won't change.

If you're adding more weight to the bed, try and put it as far forward as possible (in front of the axle) to at least help weight the front end more.

Other than that, yeah, it's not going to handle like a sports car, lol...

I'm getting old and fat, so I just use a trailer. I can load that trailer with the 3 dirtbikes and the kitchen sink and because that's still FAR less than the weight capacity, the truck doesn't really even notice it.

 

I carried this 320 pound KTM from Carson City NV back to the Bay Area, about 220 miles. I have load bearing bump stops. The truck drove pretty okay. You could feel the extra weight.

Edit - If I did this all the time I'd just get a trailer.