| Topic: Placement of motorcycle for towing |
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Posted By: pjs1660
on 08/22/21 09:29pm
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I'm getting my first toy hauler soon. Where is the best place to strap a bike weighing between 800 and 1200 pounds ? Behind the axle, closer to the ramp, or over the axles? Thanks
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Posted By: arhayes
on 08/22/21 10:41pm
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Have to assume you’re getting a towable and not a 5ver. I’d assume their tie downs are placed for optimal loading.I’d think it’d be set up more over the axles. On my 5ver, I keep it in the center of the garage and the weight is behind the axles. However, pin weight is essentially the same whether the bike is loaded or not.
Alan and Kathleen
2015 Grand Design Momentum 380TH (RVD2)
2014 F350 6.7L Diesel DRW (Stormtrooper)
2012 Honda Goldwing NAVI/ABS (Land Speeder)
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Posted By: 4x4ord
on 08/23/21 04:02am
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There usually isn’t going to be a whole lot of options. If you are happy with your tongue/pin weight directly over the axle is best. If you’re needing to add pin weight move the bike as far forward as possible …. move it back to reduce pin weight. My bike and carrier weighs about 1000 lbs and is about 17 feet behind the centre of the tandem axles. That is about the worst place to carry that much weight but it works. My rv handles noticeably better without the bike.
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/PptWEarl.jpg)
* This post was
edited 08/23/21 04:08am by 4x4ord *
2023 F350 SRW Platinum short box 4x4.
B&W Companion
2008 Citation Platinum XL 34.5
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Posted By: Y-Guy
on 08/23/21 04:16am
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pjs1660 what type of toy hauler are you looking at? Bumper pull or 5th Wheel? Any idea of length yet? For the vast majority of Toy Hauler owners there is very little impact on the tongue weight of the larger haulers, but it does vary so knowing what you are looking at helps.
2007 Winnebago Sightseer 35J
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
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Posted By: valhalla360
on 08/23/21 05:48am
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Generally, the garage is already in place, so you don't really have a choice.
Yes, 1200lb can significantly impact the hitch weight. The further behind the axles, the more it impacts. They usually design toy haulers with higher hitch weights, so when it loses weight due to loading, it's still got a decent percentage on the hitch.
Also, a big 5th wheel is less impacted than a smaller travel trailer. A big 15,000lb 5th wheel, likely starts around 3000-3500lb hitch weight and the axles are set further back, so if a 1200lb bike takes 400lb, off the hitch, it's still got 2600-3100lb (17-21%) on the hitch. That's the lower end of acceptable but still OK. A 6000lb bumper pull is likely starting around 700-900lb hitch weight, so if you lose 400lb, it's down around 300-500lb (5-8%) on the hitch. That's in the range where stability becomes an issue while towing.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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Posted By: lincster
on 08/23/21 07:02am
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Pin weight, or tongue weight, won't change that much with just a motorcycle, independent of placement.
I've done all of the weight measurements and vehicle placement.
The biggest item to change pin/tongue weight is water or no water.
My sand rail is 3000lbs and the pin weight in my 5er is still 3600lbs with the motor/trans hanging 5' behind the rear axle.
My water tanks are 80% in front of my front axle and I always tow with full water.
2019 F350 PSD CC 4X4 Dually to pull 2006 LE3905
Lincsters Truck/Trailer
Lincsters Rail
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Posted By: Grit dog
on 08/23/21 09:37am
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Agree, unless it is a very small toyhauler, it likely won’t make a huge difference, except toyhaulers are generally tongue heavy without a load in the garage, so you may find loading it as far rearward as possible will do the most to combat excessive tongue weight.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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Posted By: noteven
on 08/23/21 10:01am
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That 1200lbs … is it just the one motorcycle or two of them?
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Posted By: Dirtclods
on 08/23/21 08:33pm
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The best place is - over the axles.
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Posted By: pjs1660
on 08/24/21 05:17am
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https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2021-Forest-River-CHEROKEE-WOLF-PACK-24PACK14%2B-5017338133
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Posted By: pjs1660
on 08/24/21 05:19am
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https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2021-Forest-River-CHEROKEE-WOLF-PACK-24PACK14%2B-5017338133
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Posted By: 4x4ord
on 08/24/21 06:00am
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^^^ Click What are you putting in your garage that weighs 1200 lbs?
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Posted By: lincster
on 08/24/21 07:22am
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That's a small hauler. I think just by available space, the bike will be over the axles.
With that dovetail, I wouldn't put the bike close to the ramp.
Just my opinion on how I would load it.
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Posted By: Y-Guy
on 08/24/21 08:34am
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I agree 100% with what lincster just said. I will add that you want to check the tie down points to make sure they are secured to the frame, if not you probably want to add your own or some type of back plating. With the weight of your bike and that trailer you may want to look at getting a Sherline trailer scale
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Posted By: Grit dog
on 08/24/21 10:14am
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Dirtclods wrote: The best place is - over the axles.
Maybe, but must understand that toyhau1ers are generally designed tongue heavy to account for a good deal of weight behind the axles (the toys).
Granted the heavier the tail behind the axles, and the greater distance aft, the greater the propensity for the trailer to wiggle a little bit. (The tail gathers a little more sideways momentum due to the weight in back exaggerating the small side to side inputs to the trailer.
That said, our 31' toyhauler, ready to camp, full water (over axles) with no significant weight in the "garage" is over 1500lbs. I could use some weight shifted aft of the rear axle, as could most I imagine.
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Posted By: dedmiston
on 08/24/21 10:49am
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The size of your hauler and the bumper pull vs. fiver will have a little bit of an effect, but I doubt you'll feel a difference in any case.
I've seen a few people who have to back in their SxS to get the weight just right, which leads me to assume they're too close to their limits anyway.
2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. AISIN trans & 4.10 rear. B&W RVK3600 hitch • 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") • Hooligan #3
Toys:
- 18 Can Am Maverick x3
- 05 Yamaha WR450
- 07 Honda CRF250X
- 05 Honda CRF230
- 06 Honda CRF230
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Posted By: pjs1660
on 08/24/21 01:26pm
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Thanks for the responses, I'll either be putting a bike or a trike in there.
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Posted By: nayther
on 08/31/21 04:41pm
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we had a 30' fiver with open floor plan like the link posted. I hauled our Gold Wing in it once, I put it a bit back from center over the axles, towed it about 800 miles once and never felt any difference, but then again it was sitting right over our single 150 gallon water tank, which is 1250lbs.
DIRT BIKES RULE
'12 Duramax CC short bed
2019 Wildcat Maxx 285RKX
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Posted By: LowRyter
on 08/31/21 09:03pm
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Use the built in tie downs. Strap down a wheel shock in the middle on a rubber mat. Then park the bike in the chock and strap down the bike.
Even room for my rollout generator.
![[image]](https://g4.img-dpreview.com/BE09325E11CD4D749B3E9F7D5E6EC479.jpg)
John L
WW SL 2805 5th Wheel
2004.5 Chevy 2500HD Allison Duramax X Cab
Ducati 939 SS, Moto Guzzi V11 Sport, Moto Guzzi EV California and Suzuki 1200 Bandit
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