Motorcycle Carriers

So I'm in the market for a motorcycle carrier. I don't really want to buy a whole trailer so I was thinking one of the trailer hitch motorcycle carriers would work?

Anyone have any opinions on them?

http://www.discountramps.com/smc-600-motorcycle-hauler.htm



Bike is 415lbs.
Rack is 100lbs.

So it looks like it will be under the 650lbs. tongue weight rating for the truck but is the rating I'm suppose to be looking at?

 

Probably will make your truck sag a bunch because of how far weight is off the hitch.

 

x2 if i had a hitch id probably make one. If id do it id want the bike to site closer to the tail gate and put the ramp further back. Opposite of the picture

 

those things have always seemed really weak to me

 

Bump. Anymore ideas.

 

I wouldn't want that much weight that far behind the bumper. Seems like it'd sag and sway horribly. There are foldable trailers also, I know you said you didn't want one but the folding ones don't take much room when stowed.

If you're only hauling one bike, why not just use the pick-up?

 

It's pretty hard to load and unload with a ramp isn't it? I'm a pretty small guy.

 

My dad uses one on his 08 4runner it works just fine. I would buy one to haul my bike around.

 

Not to mention they seem really expensive.

 

I had one back in the early nineties - factory built from virgin Canadian steel, and my bike only weighed 235 lbs. The unit itself was so heavy, it took four men and a boy to carry it. I never trusted the thing and with all the weight back there, it made my vehicle handle weird. I'd say only if you must, otherwise, get yourself a nice, wide aluminum ATV ramp and run it up into the bed. With 400+ lbs. there, everything works as it should.

 

i use a 3 fold ramp from harbor freight, its ok and i can ride my bike up into the bed and roll it back off by myself. the front wheel slides a bit on the plastic bed, but i can modulate that.

another way to make is easier is to have 2 ramps, one to walk on and another for the bike to roll on. thats what i used to o with my buddy's truck before i had my own.

 

Nope, I do it with my bike all the time and I'm not overly large (5' 9" 170lb and my bike weighs 450ish, it's a Katana 750). If you can find a ditch to back into so the climb up the ramp isn't as bad, or even a level drive in, it helps tremendously. Even backing up to a curb to pick up 6 inches helps out. I have a set of the folding aluminum ramps. You just need 2 ramps, one for the bike, one for you and you walk beside it and feather the clutch and walk it up the ramp. If you're nervous about it, have a spotter the first time. If you're really really nervous about it, you're probably better off finding another solution like the hitch mount or a trailer.

 

I wouldn't be apposed to getting a ramp but just nervous about falling with it. Spotter isn't a bad idea.

I'd want a really easy to use I guess. Like this one is pretty cool and seems easy but expensive as hell.

http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle_ramps.htm

 

That looks like it'd be a pain to haul around with the motorcycle in the bed. I like the folding ones because they're light weight and fold down small so you can put them in the bed of the truck along with the motorcycle.

As far as getting a bike on the back of a pick-up with ramps, take your time, let the bike do the work, this takes an even hand on the clutch and make sure you warm up the engine because you don't want it to stall on the ramps. Line it up, I usually run it up the ramp a foot or two to make sure the line I'm on is correct, then back it down and go for it. Keep the RPM's constant (about 1/3-1/2 throttle depending on the bike, about 1/2 for your sport bike) and vary the power and speed with the clutch. If you find a ditch, hill or curb to back up to, you can cut down the angle so it's almost no incline for a ramp at all.

When you take it off the truck, use the front brake while you back it off. You don't want the tire to lose traction and skid so use the brake to slow it down, don't attempt to stop it on the ramp. Make sure you have plenty of room behind the truck so you can roll it off the ramp and still have 5 - 6 foot for it to roll without hitting anything.

I make a chock for the front tire for my truck out of random 2x4's I had sitting around. The front wall on the composite box isn't very stiff and allows the bike tire to turn. I transport the bike straight in the box, I don't angle it like some people here. I have a short bed so angling still will not allow me to close the tail gate, and angling makes it harder to load/unload vs straight in, straight out.

 

What about this one?

http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle-bike-ramp.htm

Cheaper and folds but it's shorter.

 

dude i have used one for many years with my dirt bike and one for a few years that held my quad.....
your truck will sag a bit but it is well worth the convience
i loved it ....it worked amazing......
g/l

 

hope your cheap ass tail gate doesnt crumple under

 

So what about a motorcycle ramp and a Timbren kit to take control of the sagging?

 

i wouldnt worry about the timbren kit just yet...
its not like you are gonna drive around with it hangin off the back all the time just occasional i assume...
just dont drive it like a sports car......

 

oh mine cam with the ramp right on the bike carrier.... it was sweet and easy
lazy man bike carrier