| Motor Scooter [message #261778] |
Sat, 13 September 2014 16:08  |
djester
Messages: 145
Registered: January 2014
Location: Indianapolis
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Just bought a Honda Helix motor scooter that I intend to put on rear of GMC with a hitch mount ramp. Anyone have any experience with such a rig? Traded a beat up old golf cart for it, only 5700 miles on the scooter and is like new. If my idea doesn't work out, I expect I'll make money on the deal.
Dave
David A. Jester
Indianapolis, In
1975 Palm Beach
djester@comcast.net
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261779 is a reply to message #261778] |
Sat, 13 September 2014 16:13  |
stick miller
Messages: 1036
Registered: March 2010
Location: Americus, Georgia
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Ray Bingham has a hitch mounted small scooter rack? for sale. pm if you're interested and I'll put the 2 of you in touch. It is located in Tennessee.
Stick Miller
'78 Royale - "White Trash" - she left me for another man
'76 Eleganza - "Cousin Eddie" Sold
'84 Bluebird Wanderlodge - "Past Tents"
Americus, GA
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261782 is a reply to message #261781] |
Sat, 13 September 2014 17:31 |
djester
Messages: 145
Registered: January 2014
Location: Indianapolis
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Do I understand you hang the scooter and tow a vehicle, too? Interesting thought, I also have a VW Bug, to tow.
Dave
David A. Jester
Indianapolis, In
1975 Palm Beach
djester@comcast.net
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261797 is a reply to message #261778] |
Sat, 13 September 2014 20:49 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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I have a Honda 250 cc. Helix also known as an Elite. I carry it on my Blaine Merrell through the bumper hitch almost everywhere I go in the GMC.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261799 is a reply to message #261797] |
Sat, 13 September 2014 21:36 |
djester
Messages: 145
Registered: January 2014
Location: Indianapolis
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Thanks, Ken, that's exactly what I have in mind. Does it cover up the GMC tail lights?
I have a trailer hitch, but not Blaine's. I'm going out to Blaine's soon to get wind wings and I'll have him look at the hitch to see if it is adequate.
Dave
David A. Jester
Indianapolis, In
1975 Palm Beach
djester@comcast.net
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261801 is a reply to message #261799] |
Sat, 13 September 2014 22:31 |
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WD0AFQ
Messages: 7111
Registered: November 2004
Location: Dexter, Mo.
Karma: 207
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djester wrote on Sat, 13 September 2014 21:36Thanks, Ken, that's exactly what I have in mind. Does it cover up the GMC tail lights?
I have a trailer hitch, but not Blaine's. I'm going out to Blaine's soon to get wind wings and I'll have him look at the hitch to see if it is adequate.
Dave
Dave, I also use the merril hitch that he and I installed at his shop. We pulled my old under bumper hitch off and installed thru the bum per hitch. And yes, I tow the vdub baja behind the scooter, or whichever vehicle I am using at the time. No, it does not interfere with the tail lights. I probably have pictures on the photo site, can't remember for sure. I mounted the hitch back in 08. My scooter is a 150 cc and weighs about 100 pounds less than Kens.
Dan
3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers
One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm
355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng.
Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System
Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows
Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261803 is a reply to message #261801] |
Sat, 13 September 2014 22:50 |
djester
Messages: 145
Registered: January 2014
Location: Indianapolis
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I'm having a hard time picturing how you can use the hitch for the scooter carrier and also tow a 4 wheel vehicle. Another question: does the weight on the rear effect the front end of the GMC?
Dave
David A. Jester
Indianapolis, In
1975 Palm Beach
djester@comcast.net
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261816 is a reply to message #261799] |
Sun, 14 September 2014 08:24 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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djester wrote on Sat, 13 September 2014 21:36Thanks, Ken, that's exactly what I have in mind. Does it cover up the GMC tail lights?
I have a trailer hitch, but not Blaine's. I'm going out to Blaine's soon to get wind wings and I'll have him look at the hitch to see if it is adequate.
Dave
In my case one of the lights get covered by the motorcycle or scooter that I carry. It really depends on the scooter length and height of the windshield on the scooter that you are carrying. I made up a set of magnetic / clip-on lights that I put on the tray that the scooter sits in. I plug those into the trailer plug in the rear of the coach. This way everywhere in the rear there is a clear view to at least one tail light on each side.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261862 is a reply to message #261853] |
Sun, 14 September 2014 13:48 |
djester
Messages: 145
Registered: January 2014
Location: Indianapolis
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That brings up another question: with added weight in back, will "travel mode" keep coach at same ride height? In other words, does the air system compensate for the additional weight in the rear?
Dave
David A. Jester
Indianapolis, In
1975 Palm Beach
djester@comcast.net
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261865 is a reply to message #261862] |
Sun, 14 September 2014 14:12 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
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djester wrote on Sun, 14 September 2014 13:48That brings up another question: with added weight in back, will "travel mode" keep coach at same ride height? In other words, does the air system compensate for the additional weight in the rear?
Dave
Yes. A working air ride system will adjust for the extra weight.
A pressure based system will let air out and sag more....
Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261867 is a reply to message #261801] |
Sun, 14 September 2014 14:14 |
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wally
Messages: 643
Registered: August 2004
Location: Omaha Nebraska
Karma: 5
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WD0AFQ wrote on Sat, 13 September 2014 22:31djester wrote on Sat, 13 September 2014 21:36Thanks, Ken, that's exactly what I have in mind. Does it cover up the GMC tail lights?
I have a trailer hitch, but not Blaine's. I'm going out to Blaine's soon to get wind wings and I'll have him look at the hitch to see if it is adequate.
Dave
Dave, I also use the merril hitch that he and I installed at his shop. We pulled my old under bumper hitch off and installed thru the bum per hitch. And yes, I tow the vdub baja behind the scooter, or whichever vehicle I am using at the time. No, it does not interfere with the tail lights. I probably have pictures on the photo site, can't remember for sure. I mounted the hitch back in 08. My scooter is a 150 cc and weighs about 100 pounds less than Kens.
Dan
Dan's scooter hauler pics on photosite
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g4713-the-scooter.html
Hope you don't mind I linked this Dan.
Wally Anderson
Omaha NE
75 Glenbrook
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261913 is a reply to message #261865] |
Sun, 14 September 2014 22:00 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Here is my motorcycle / scooter carrier
Start here and go forward for about 5 pictures.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/member-galleries/p26079-motorcycle-carrier.html
It is shown here on the back of my Blazer. Like most things around the airport, it is a shared resource and many people have used it. It has many thousands of miles hauling various motorcycles and scooters. It is home brew out of 2" OD square tube. The tray is a piece of sheet metal bent at a local fab shop for $5.00 because our brake would not handle an 8" piece. The whole thing weighs around 30 pounds or so. I made it just before the GMC Western States rally in Albuquerque. Whenever that was. I'm guessing it was 2004.
Here is another way to carry both a scooter and a trailer or towed.
http://www.harborfreight.com/dual-hitch-extender-69881.html
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Motor Scooter [message #261933 is a reply to message #261922] |
Mon, 15 September 2014 02:28 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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The total parts are:
1. One hoop at the end for the front wheel.
http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-chock-97145.html
2. Six or eight bolts and nuts and washers. The quantity depends on whether you weld or bolt the center hinge to the tubing. 4 go in the front tire hoop
3. About 9 feet of 2" od square tubing. I got mine from the local fab shop out of their scrap pile. If fact mine is 2 different wall thicknesses.
4. Two eye bolts and nuts to tie down the front of the motorcycle.
5. One piece of flat sheet steel 10" x 8 feet for the tray. This was the most expensive part. I think I used 16 or 18 gage. It might be 14 gage.
6. Two little pieces of scrap about 3" x 1" to act as guide when the tray is down to keep it from moving forward and backward.
7. Two 2 5/8" grade 8 bolts, lock washers, and flat washers from TSC. These are used instead of a receiver pin.
1. Cut the tubing to the desired length with a chop saw. 2 pieces of about 2.5 feet and 1 piece of about 3.5 feet. We will have to measure mine for the exact sizes.
2. Drill two holes in the long center tube for the center receiver pin to go into. Mine are under size because I threaded the hole for a 5/8 bolts. Then I drilled the center tube again about 2" down the tube so a 5/8 receiver pin could be used if I ever wanter it. All you do is pull the tube out of the receiver 2" and the hole are exposed. I have never used these holes.
3. Drill two vertical holes in the end piece about 5/16" or 3/8" to be used for the tie down eye bolts.
4. Lay the tubing on the floor and have someone weld the three pieces together.
5. Have a fab shop bend the center tray with 5" across and 2 and 1/2" vertical sides.
6. Assemble / bolt the tray to the hinge on the center tube. Make the tray centered on the tube since it is 8 feet and that is the maximum width for a vehicle going down the road.
7. On the ground drive the scooter on to the tray and determine where the end hoop needs to be mounted. Keep keep the scooter just slightly heavy to the driver's side of the carrier. Drill the holes and mount the end hoop / stop for the front wheel. I have two set of holes. One for my Honda scooter and one for Honda 400. My daughter's Honda 250 fits fine in the Honda 400 holes.
That is about all there is to it.
I clip and mag mount a set of tail/brake lights directly to the tray.
Hey look at what I just found at Harbor Freight
http://www.harborfreight.com/400-lb-receiver-mount-motorcycle-carrier-99721.html
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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