Carrying a motorcycle on the back of my Forester - Page 2

TowPro · 03-24-2020, 05:59 PM

go ahead and try it. but please put a chain around the bike and attach that chain well to the RV frame. so if the hitch does fail the bike will not fall in front of me or my family.

even if it does work, I bet its going to lighten the hitch weight of the trailer enough that you start to have a sway problem.

emm-dee · 03-24-2020, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TowPro

go ahead and try it. but please put a chain around the bike and attach that chain well to the RV frame. so if the hitch does fail the bike will not fall in front of me or my family.

even if it does work, I bet its going to lighten the hitch weight of the trailer enough that you start to have a sway problem.

It’s not a trailer.

emm-dee · 03-24-2020, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BehindBars

There are several that are shorter than 27 feet. For example, the Forester 2251SLE on Ford E chassis specs at 23’ 10” overall length. Forester MBS and Transit models are short, too, but they wouldn’t have a hitch rating as high as shown in the first post.

Oops, I was thinking of the Forester Classic line. Yep, the 2251 is 23’10”. Everything else is shown at 24 and change or more.

TowPro · 03-24-2020, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emm-dee

It’s not a trailer.

but IF the hitch breaks off the trailer, the motorcycle will become a trailer as the chain drags it down the road instead of allowing it to fly out into traffic uncontrollable.

I carried a 250 lb dirt motorcycle on the back of a 5th wheel using a rack I built that slide into the box frame of a 30' 5th wheel using double stacked 1.5" tubing.

The bike still bounced so bad the handlebars put a dent in the RV siding.
I also recall the weight transfer off the rear of the truck caused the only time I have ever has a way problem with a 5th wheel. I only used that rack once.

Mike Busch · 03-24-2020, 06:26 PM

Depends on how much you like the bike!

mharold101 · 03-26-2020, 10:45 AM

Thanks for all the responses. I guess I was hoping for an easy answer to this but after thinking it through I am not going to try this.
I still think it may work but in the interest of public safety I would not want to endanger whoever is riding behind me.
To answer a few other questions:
Yes, this is Forester RV that is 23 ft. long.
That bumper attachment to the RV frame could be a little suspect...not sure.
The rack will support the 600 lb bike according to it's ratings...but it's made in China!
Bottom line...how much does that 600 lb bike weigh when you hit a bump and it bounces?
I don't like towing a trailer so I'll keep the lower weight 230 lb bike on the rack.

Roberte52 · 03-26-2020, 11:07 AM

I would not do it! IMHO

67L48 · 03-26-2020, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mharold101

[...] I guess I was hoping for an easy answer to this [...] The rack will support the 600 lb bike according to it's ratings [...]

But your hitch won't support 600 lbs. This has been well covered above. Your hitch is rated to 500 lbs. 600 > 500. So, while you lament that there isn't an easy answer ... there actually is. The answer is, "No."

You need a beefier hitch.

mharold101 · 03-26-2020, 12:02 PM

I guess I was considering the "distributed load" as being distributed across the bumper since I was attaching the rack to both ends as well as the hitch.
But as someone pointed out...that bumper might not attached to the frame very well.
I'm not going to do this. I'll use a smaller motorcycle or trailer.
Thanks

rockfordroo · 03-26-2020, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mharold101

I guess I was considering the "distributed load" as being distributed across the bumper since I was attaching the rack to both ends as well as the hitch.
But as someone pointed out...that bumper might not attached to the frame very well.
I'm not going to do this. I'll use a smaller motorcycle or trailer.
Thanks

As already mentioned, "distributed load" as written on your hitch means "when using a weight distributing hitch." The maker of your hitch has no clue that you are inserting some kind of rack that has further attachments to the bumper, which is very uncommon. Use of a WDH however, is very common.

BehindBars · 03-26-2020, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mharold101

Thanks for all the responses. I guess I was hoping for an easy answer to this but after thinking it through I am not going to try this.
I still think it may work but in the interest of public safety I would not want to endanger whoever is riding behind me.
To answer a few other questions:
Yes, this is Forester RV that is 23 ft. long.
That bumper attachment to the RV frame could be a little suspect...not sure.
The rack will support the 600 lb bike according to it's ratings...but it's made in China!
Bottom line...how much does that 600 lb bike weigh when you hit a bump and it bounces?
I don't like towing a trailer so I'll keep the lower weight 230 lb bike on the rack.

With a proper rack and tie down system, I would be comfortable putting a 230 pound motorcycle on the back of a Ford based Forester or Sunseeker. Plus, the 230 pounds will be a lot easier to load safely than a 600 pound motorcycle.

GoneSouth10 · 03-26-2020, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mharold101

. . . after thinking it through I am not going to try this.

"The better part of valor is discretion . . ."
~ Falstaff

dbledan · 03-26-2020, 02:36 PM

I think the trailer route you are thinking is a good choice. The issue with the swivel wheel platforms is you need flex built into them or you have issues stressing the reciever connections. It could also add some sway to your already high center of gravity MH.

If you put it in a trailer the bike is much more protected anyway and solves a lot of your issues for weight because you gain another axle.

Good luck!

nayther · 03-26-2020, 04:32 PM

I haul a 300# dirt bike on the back of my fifth wheel. Had a custom receiver welded on. Factory rack is rated for 300# so frame should be rated for it. I've modified a Harbor Freight single rail rack so that it attaches in two more locations so it doesn't rock in the receiver, one of the major sources of the rack moving is the clearance in the receiver. Even with that it bounces quite a bit, mostly since the bike's suspension isn't "locked" down. I have a rearview camera so I can see it moving and keep an eye on it. A racing buddy hauls his KTM on a custom rear rack on his old Class C and it works great. Would be hard to load a 600# bike via a ramp though. Also keep in mind that this rack sticks out at least 2' past the rear bumper and may drag, the one for my trailer is up pretty high to avoid that but most times I need help loading and unloading, and that's at 1/2 the weight.