Motorcycle Rack?

[Smooth]

I am in the process of purchasing my first pop-up (used-I'm cheap!)and would like to be able to carry my motorcycle (enduro- 230Lbs) along with the pop-up.  I know that they make pop-ups with front end decks for carrying ATV's and the like, but that is a bit much for just one motorcycle.  I have seen pop-ups with a receiver hitch in the rear, but I do not think that is designed to carry that much weight.  I was thinking of having something fabricated that allows the motorcycle to be carried on the front of the pop-up, but am concerned that when turning the vehicle that it may crunch the motorcycle.  Has anyone else had this delimma and come up with a solution?

[Recumbentman]

You are asking to much of a PU if you are not going to get one made for this (IE: front end decks). You would be better off getting a pickup for a TV.
just my 2 cents

[zamboni]

Sounds familiar...

Back in the 70's, our family camped in our 1976 Starcraft Galaxy PUP.  One year, they bought a Kawasaki KE175 (enduro) for my oldest brother.  To transport it, we'd remove the gas tank (1 screw?), and lay the bike down on the floor of the popup.

Then, all 6 of us would pile into our Ford LTD station wagon, and tow that now-probably-dangerous-weighted-combination all over the country

Of course, in those days, trailer towing safety was along the lines of "hmmm, it looks like this Ford Pinto can tow a horsetrailer, so I will!"  That said, with no slideout, potty, etc, the popups might have been lighter back then.

I digress...

Could you put it on the floor of your PUP?  That way, the weight would straddle the axle.  Assuming you don't surpass your gross weight capacity...

[ScoobyDoo]

One vacation in the early '70s I put my Panhead in the back of my pick-up and pulled a tent trailer behind.  By the next year didn't have the wife so didn't need the tent trailer, rode the bike.

[Smooth]

I do have a Pickup TV, however, my wife's ATV will be in the bed there is not enough room for both the motorcycle and the ATV.  I did find this http://www.versahaul.com/vh55ro.html.  It is a hitch carrier that has a receiver hitch to attach a lightweight trailer.  The spec say not to exceed 3000LB towing, but it looks kinda spooky.

[tknick]

I do have a Pickup TV, however, my wife's ATV will be in the bed there is not enough room for both the motorcycle and the ATV.  I did find this http://www.versahaul.com/vh55ro.html.  It is a hitch carrier that has a receiver hitch to attach a lightweight trailer.  The spec say not to exceed 3000LB towing, but it looks kinda spooky.

the problem you are going to run into is the tongue weight on your TV.  I ran into the same thing trying to carry bikes back there.  you will be adding the weight of the carrier and your MC, and then you have to multiply the PU's tongue weight by the extended distance or something like that.  I'm not exactly sure about the math, but extending the tongue of your PU even farther away from the hitch on your TV has a multiplicative effect on the PU's tongue weight.  That may or may not be a problem, depending on the hitch you have and the TV's respective weight ratings.  Just something to keep in mind.

travis

[SpeakEasy]

Yeah, I took one look at that last photo and I thought, "holy cow, do you have any idea of the tongue weight that bad boy would have?"

(I know, from an unfortunate experience, that exceeding the tongue weight can destroy a trailer hitch. You don't want to do that. Also - that would probably be the least disasterous outcome of a seriously-overloaded tongue.)

Just my 2 more cents.

-Speak

[ScaryFast]

This is my set-up:

http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/100562/nov_2005_055.jpg

I had a local trailer manufacture weld up a motorcycle receiver hitch carrier similar to the link above (versahaul). I wanted to be confident that it would do the job without being "spooky". Also, I wanted the shortest tow bar extension as possible to keep my motorcycle very close to the tow vehicle and give the tent trailer the least amount of tongue weight leverage.

My Discovery has a 550 pound tongue weight limit. I also have the Self Leveling System (SLS) air suspension. I've had this unit for over 4 years without problems.

I'd recommend this set-up for a single motocross or light enduro motorcycle with a small pop up trailer. Make sure your puller can handle the weight.