RE: bringing a scooter

[Paul W]

 
Does anyone know if there is a hitch that will hold a small motorcycle and still connect my Coleman popup? Or, any other ideas?

[tlhdoc]

 Paul W
I think a scooter and a PU would put a lot of tongue weight on the hitch.  You would have to check to see what the tongue weight your hitch can support.  Find out the tongue weight of the trailer and the weight of the scooter.[]

[mike4947]

 Paul W
Almost impossible to answer without knowing your tow vehicle and which Coleman.
 IMO the biggest problem would be overloading the rear axle of your tow vehicle. I d look up what the maximum gross rear axle weight is and weight your tow vehicle rear axle and see if you can add both the tongue weight of the PU and a motorcycle.
 I ve had people brag how they put a Harley in the bed of their pickup and tow a TT.  I broke down and pull one TT home while the owner rode the Harley and the truck sat with burnt out wheel bearings. Come to find out he was only 700 pounds overweight on the rear axle for 2 years. It pays to do a lot of homework.

[Gamecock Camper]

 Paul W
I agree on the homework part.  If you still have enough tongue weight left for a small scooter, then you might be able to use a stacked hitch like I use for bicycles.  I ll explain the best I can how this hitch contraption looks.  Imagine a 2"  receiver hitch with another 2"  receiver hitch mounted about 1-1/2"  above the other receiver hitch.  It is like a plug that allows two plugs....  I hook-up the camper to the lower receover (hitch) and put a bike rack on the top receiver.  It really works great for us..... and yes, my tongue weight / towing weight is ok.

[Paul W]

 Paul W
Thanks for the replies...I have a 1997 Coleman Niagra being pulled by a 2002 1/5 ton Suburban. I have the camper stored so can t tell you the tongue weight. I am looking at bringing a Yamaha Zuma that weighs about 195 lbs. Gamecock Camper...is this a setup you can buy or did you have this made?

[Gamecock Camper]

 Paul W
I didn t have it made, I bought it at Northern Tool a hardware and tool type store.  I believe they have a store online where you can view it if this link works.
 
 http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&langId=-1&catalogId=4006970&PHOTOS=on&TEST=Y&productId=492929&categoryId=7385
 
 If the link does not work, then go to www.northerntool.com , click on Automotive and look for the Dual Hitch Extention.  It is Item# 330685 .

[Paul W]

 Paul W
Gamecock....
 It looks like a possible idea! I ll have to see if there is enough clearance between the carrier and the camper hitch and battery. I appreciate the input. Here is the link to the carrier I am looking at...do you think it will work?
 http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle_carrier.htm

[mike4947]

 Paul W
Very nice carrier, BUT, at about 30 inches of extension The double receiver setup will cause the carrier to ride well over the tongue of the PU and severly limit your ability to turn without binding the PU into the motorcycle.
 Plus at 68 pounds for the carrier, 195 for the motorcycle, you ve only got 237 pounds left of the 500 for a class III hitch. Not enough to cover the tongue weight of a Niagara.
 Like they say in their advertising you might want to consider a class IV hitch which has 1000 pound rating for weight on the hitch. Another thing you might want to contact the carrier people about is it looks like a receiver hole in the center of the ramp. You might be able to use it with a drawbar to hitch up the PU. That would give you more turning clearance if they say the load won t be to great.

[cavman]

 Paul W
Paul
 
 Looks like a great carrier.  However, I think you need to look a the points of clearance.
 
 By this, I mean the turning radius and spacing between the tow vehicle and the camper   and   the tongue mounted items ie.  jack, battery box, propane tank etc.
 
 I don t think you will have sufficient room to mount the carrier and still be able to make turns when towing without bending or breaking something.
 
 I really would take a good look at these clearances.  (You got any pictures of the Tow vehicle and camper ready to roll?  Might be a good reference to get an idea.)
 
 Good luck.

[Gamecock Camper]

 Paul W
As others have stated, clearance could be a problem.  You might also require a hitch that has a 2"  or greater drop, which might put more tongue weight because the camper would probably be tilted forward when hooked up and sitting on level ground.  
 
 Have you seen one of these carriers?  If there is a store / dealer that has them near you, you might want to put one on your truck and have a look-see to determine if it is worth considering.  Good luck as I know my DW wants to carry the whole house when we go camping.

[Paul W]

 Paul W
Thanks for all the input. I think I may try a front receiver and put the carrier there.
 

[jackgoesthepopup]

 Paul W
Mounting it on the front of your Truck might be a very good idea.  . But i would check to see if it interfeared with your sight though.

[Paul W]

 Paul W
Tried the " double"  receiver and it didn t have enough height between the two receivers to put the trailer on the lower. Here is what I am trying: Versahaul that has a receiver built in to the hauler. Through their computations, you can only haul 1/3 of approx 55% of the suburban s listed gross vehicle weight. I have talked to a local steel fabricator (builds barges, etc) and he said that the gross vehicle weight should not change...just make sure that I don t go over the tongue weight.
 
 This may only apply to a small amount of you PU ers, but I would think more would want a Zuma or a Vespa on a PU trip.
 
 Any thoughts?