GMCforum
For enthusiast of the Classic GMC Motorhome built from 1973 to 1978. A web-based mirror of the GMCnet mailing list.

Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers
Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #326011 is a reply to message #325997] Tue, 14 November 2017 20:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Hmmm...I'm not so sure about that "...back axle...fulcrum...". More
accurately, I think, the "rear axleS" act as a fulcrum. That is with the
OEM air bag distributing load between the center and rear wheels, causing
the actual "fulcrum" to lie at the bogie. With my 4-bag, or a Quad bag
suspension, the fulcrum would move aft from the bogie toward the rear as
the down force increased.

At least that's how it seems to me off the top of my head at this time of
night. :-)

Ken H.


On Tue, Nov 14, 2017 at 1:38 PM, John Phillips
wrote:

> Keith, you are correct. The back axle does act as a fulcrum and load
> applied to the hitch does remove weight from the front wheels. I was in the
> method of calculating the mode. Sorry.
>
> When doing the calculations in effect you do two torque calculations. The
> distance from the front axle to the hitch in feet multiplied by the
> tongue weight gives a value in foot-pounds.
> Divide the foot-pounds by the wheelbase in feet to come up with the force
> in pounds the rear axle must exert to support the tongue weight.
>
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org



Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #326012 is a reply to message #326000] Tue, 14 November 2017 20:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
On Tue, Nov 14, 2017 at 3:00 PM, Keith V wrote:

> Clearly we need a center mount receiver, 1/2 way between the axles......
>

​Which is approximately what an "equalizer hitch" provides. You just need
to incorporate another wheel aft of the added load to act as the new
fulcrum. :-)

Given all this load problem, please tell this non-cyclist why you don't
just use a "cradle" in the receiver for the cycle's front wheel and let the
cycle's rear wheel tag along on the ground bearing most of the weight. I
know such devices exist, I just don't know the pros and cons of them.

Ken H.
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org


Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #326015 is a reply to message #325991] Tue, 14 November 2017 21:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
Senior Member
The cons are a few.
1. Try backing up one of those when you can not see it.
2. Wear and tear on the motorcycle tire and drive train.
3. It gets filthy with road dirt and debris.



Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #326016 is a reply to message #326012] Tue, 14 November 2017 21:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bullitthead is currently offline  Bullitthead   United States
Messages: 1411
Registered: November 2013
Karma: 5
Senior Member
The other con is the angle of the bike steering stem does not match the swing angle of the rear of the RV, so sometimes it will slide the rear tire sideways instead of pivot at the stem. Or bend up the bike or the mount.

Terry Kelpien ASE Master Technician 73 Glacier 260 Smithfield, Va.

[Updated on: Tue, 14 November 2017 21:42]

Report message to a moderator

Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #326018 is a reply to message #326003] Wed, 15 November 2017 07:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMC Jimmy is currently offline  GMC Jimmy   Canada
Messages: 199
Registered: September 2016
Location: Niagara, Ontario
Karma: 2
Senior Member
Rob wrote on Tue, 14 November 2017 15:54
I use a similar rack (from Princess Auto) - it works OK for a light scooter.

I'm amazed at how much weight some people carry on their GMC's - I switched last year from a ~230 pound scooter to a ~290 pound scooter and really noticed an undesirable change in the overall handling. I can't imagine putting my BMW GS back there!

Rob
Victoria, BC
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath

> On Nov 13, 2017, at 10:45 AM, Dutch Marc wrote:
>
> I have been using this cheapo with my through the bumper hitch from Applied
>
> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014VC5H64/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
>
> Works great for my Honda Big Ruckus 250 (480 lbs)
>
> Good luck !
>
> Dutch Marc
> --
> 1973 26' Canyon Land (Mello Yello) (TZE063v101302)
> Los Angeles, CA ('98 NL 2 USA)
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org



Hi Rob, any chance you have a few photos of your set up?
Thanks for the response,
Mike
Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #326023 is a reply to message #326016] Wed, 15 November 2017 08:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Hmm...I don't think I'll use one of those when I take up cycling. (Which
ain't gonna happen until after SHE's gone!) :-)

Ken H.

Ken Burton
10:35 PM (11 hours ago)
to gmclist
The cons are a few.
1. Try backing up one of those when you can not see it.
2. Wear and tear on the motorcycle tire and drive train.
3. It gets filthy with road dirt and debris.​

On Tue, Nov 14, 2017 at 10:40 PM, Terry wrote:

> The other con is the angle of the bike steering stem does not match the
> swing angle of the rear of the RV, so sometimes it will slide the rear tire
> sideways instead of pivot at the stem.
> --
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org


Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #326025 is a reply to message #326023] Wed, 15 November 2017 09:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kosier is currently offline  Kosier   United States
Messages: 834
Registered: February 2008
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Ken, Ken, Ken......... Have you forgotten that the one who goes last has
to dispose of
all the "stuff". Three or four rollback dumpster containers would be
expensive and
a lot of work to fill. Go first and get the last laugh. LOL

Gary Kosier
77PB w/500Cad
Newark, Ohio

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Ken Henderson"
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2017 9:53 AM
To: "GMC Mail List"
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers

> Hmm...I don't think I'll use one of those when I take up cycling. (Which
> ain't gonna happen until after SHE's gone!) :-)
>
> Ken H.
>
> Ken Burton
> 10:35 PM (11 hours ago)
> to gmclist
> The cons are a few.
> 1. Try backing up one of those when you can not see it.
> 2. Wear and tear on the motorcycle tire and drive train.
> 3. It gets filthy with road dirt and debris.>
> On Tue, Nov 14, 2017 at 10:40 PM, Terry wrote:
>
>> The other con is the angle of the bike steering stem does not match the
>> swing angle of the rear of the RV, so sometimes it will slide the rear
>> tire
>> sideways instead of pivot at the stem.
>> --
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #326026 is a reply to message #326025] Wed, 15 November 2017 11:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Oh, that's definitely my plan! Which makes my cycling days likely to be
rather limited.

Ken H.

On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 10:45 AM, Gary Kosier
wrote:

> Ken, Ken, Ken......... Have you forgotten that the one who goes last has
> to dispose of
> all the "stuff". Three or four rollback dumpster containers would be
> expensive and
> a lot of work to fill. Go first and get the last laugh. LOL
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org



Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #328743 is a reply to message #326018] Thu, 01 February 2018 11:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Rob is currently offline  Rob   United States
Messages: 651
Registered: November 2013
Location: Victoria, BC
Karma: 3
Senior Member
A VERY old thread bump...

Mike:

Sorry - when you sent this request, I had just got on a cruise ship for several weeks and am *just* getting caught up on the GMCnet now!

I uploaded some pics:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g7139-scooter.html

Rob
Victoria, BC
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath

> On Nov 15, 2017, at 5:04 AM, Mike wrote:
>
> Hi Rob, any chance you have a few photos of your set up?
> Thanks for the response,
> Mike

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org



Rob - Victoria, BC - 76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath
Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #328744 is a reply to message #328743] Thu, 01 February 2018 12:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMC Jimmy is currently offline  GMC Jimmy   Canada
Messages: 199
Registered: September 2016
Location: Niagara, Ontario
Karma: 2
Senior Member
Thanks Rob, do you notice any instability with your scooter on the carrier?

I considered this type from Princess Auto then looked at the aluminum tilt-ramp style offered from Discount Ramps.

Thanks again,
Mike
Re: [GMCnet] Hitch mounted Motorcycle - Scooter carriers [message #328747 is a reply to message #328744] Thu, 01 February 2018 13:36 Go to previous message
Rob is currently offline  Rob   United States
Messages: 651
Registered: November 2013
Location: Victoria, BC
Karma: 3
Senior Member
Mike:

It's fairly "bouncy" - but I've hauled the scooter for many thousands of KM's and had no issues. I think the steel racks have a higher weight rating, compared to the aluminum ones.

My hitch receiver is sloped slightly (you may see it in some of the pics) towards the rear - which gives me some clearance issues from time to time. I'd like to get it levelled and re-welded, but it's not very high up on the priority list...

I don't like the degradation of the handling when the scooter is on the hitch. I notice it a lot - others have said they don't. YMMV

Rob
Victoria, BC
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath

> On Feb 1, 2018, at 10:47 AM, Mike wrote:
>
> Thanks Rob, do you notice any instability with your scooter on the carrier?
>
> I considered this type from Princess Auto then looked at the aluminum tilt-ramp style offered from Discount Ramps.
>
> Thanks again,
> Mike
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org



Rob - Victoria, BC - 76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath
Previous Topic: Good Clean Oil Pan Needed
Next Topic: Caddy motors, anyone?
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Thu Mar 28 18:47:17 CDT 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.01144 seconds