• Welcome to the Yamaha FZ1 Forums. Member registration disables ads and allows you to post and share. Register Here.

Has anyone ever used a motorcycle carrier like this:

thepopularjock

thepopularjock

Wizard
Joined
May 20, 2010
Messages
2,142
Age
55
Location
Texas
Visit site
I have seen several threads on trailers lately but I have been looking at one of these There is a video of two guys loading this thing and it looks pretty easy.
.
The SMC-600 Motorcycle Hauler at Discount Ramps.Com

The price is actually a little cheaper than a trailer. I don't know - I have never seen one on the road and I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with one.

sport-motorcycle-carrier-4.jpg


sport-motorcycle-carrier.jpg
 
Last edited:
2 Things come to mind.

It would SUCK to get rear ended.

I dont like the idea of the whole trailer hitch flexing hitting big bumps. Bikes average like 400-450 and thats a lot of leverage on that trailer hitch.

I would rather see it in the bed of the pickup truck with the tailgate down and one of those like extention things that looks like a gate/bar setup in the back.
 
PapaGeno21 said:
2 Things come to mind.

It would SUCK to get rear ended.

I dont like the idea of the whole trailer hitch flexing hitting big bumps. Bikes average like 400-450 and thats a lot of leverage on that trailer hitch.

I would rather see it in the bed of the pickup truck with the tailgate down and one of those like extention things that looks like a gate/bar setup in the back.
Click to expand...

Yep, I agree 100% to the above. I personally would never carry my expensive machine that way. It could only lead to tears.:cry: Maybe a machine that weighed 1/2 what the FZ does, like a dirtbike (old one).
 
PapaGeno21 said:
2 Things come to mind.

It would SUCK to get rear ended.

I dont like the idea of the whole trailer hitch flexing hitting big bumps. Bikes average like 400-450 and thats a lot of leverage on that trailer hitch.

I would rather see it in the bed of the pickup truck with the tailgate down and one of those like extention things that looks like a gate/bar setup in the back.
Click to expand...

:+1:

Agree with all points.
 
Most class three hitches only like 350lb tongue weight.

If! It would hold my bike at all at 700lb I could prolly do a wheelie with my truck.
Ok I want one.:eek5:
 
Earlzach said:
Most class three hitches only like 350lb tongue weight.

If! It would hold my bike at all at 700lb I could prolly do a wheelie with my truck.
Ok I want one.:eek5:
Click to expand...


I have a class 5 hitch with a maximum carry weight of 500 lbs.
My FZ1 weighs approximately 450 lbs. so the hitch is capable of carrying my motorcycle. My truck is 97 Dodge Ram that weighs over 4000 lbs and the majority of that weight is toward the front so I don't think a wheelie will happen but I agree that if you are running a class 3 hitch - this is probably not a good option.
Although I agree that being rear ended would be catastrophic - so would being rear ended with a small trailer. I have seen (in real life) a motorcycle being towed on a trailer be hit by a trailing car. It was totaled. I have to say that being rear ended is my main concern with this carrier.
As far as loading it with ramps - I have the off road package and this truck is freaking HIGH off the ground. This has made ramps a little awkward because I have to drive up such a steep angel. Now if you are talking about the really big ramp that covers the whole tailgate - I have looked at that but it is so big that I wasn't real sure what to do with it once I had the bike in the back. I like these better because they have more room on the sides to let me put my feet down and balance if I get off the center line. However, they are so big that I didn't want to put it in the bed of the truck for fear that it would scratch/ damage my bike. Putting it in the cab of the truck will take up most of the club cab. Then I won't have room for luggage if we are going on a long trip. This is exactly why I was checking out these carriers. The conventional stuff works but I was wondering if there was something else that would work a little better.
I appreciate you guys input so please keep your ideas coming.
 
Last edited:
Oldschool said:
two sets of these (or similar) across the back should do it, ATV Loading Ramps

Or these: The New Big Boy II Motorcycle Ramp System

Just the first link that came up on Google, I can't vouch for their quality.

Tie them together and have no fear of not having a place to put a foot down, should you need to.
Click to expand...


Thank you OS.
I have seen those quad ramps and I guess I never thought of putting them together. The quad ramps also have a nice upward arch that I haven't seen before. That may help me when loading my bike. I think that the smaller ramps might be a good idea because it won't be as bulky as the Big Boy Motorcycle Ramp (which is actually the better choice for loading but I just don't want to haul that monster around with me).
 
Last edited:
I think I found my answer!!!

OK guys - First of all thank you for your input. I have been looking all over the internet and I think I found an option. Its kind of a combo of several ideas that you guys had thrown out.
The major obsticle that I was facing is how to carry a ramp after I loaded the motorcycle into the back of the truck. Those Big Boy Ramps are just so stinking big!! Even though they are the best ramps IMO I just didn't like the idea (or have the room) of carrying the ramp with me.
I had never seen this design and I thought I would share this idea with you guys and maybe it can help someone else.

EXTREME MAX PRODUCTS RAMP EXTENDERS - JCWhitney


I really like the dual functionality of these ramps. The added benefit of NOT taking up any extra room is the best part and may be the deciding factor in picking these ramps.

cargogate1.jpg



So thank you for all you guys help. I appreciate new ideas and if anything else comes to mind - please throw out whatever you have.
 
Grip tape

Just buy a couple of rolls of grip tape to put on the center bars so that they won't be super slippery when they are wet. Then you should be good. I take it they can handle the weight with the extra hinge on there?

Looks good.
 
Grip tape is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that.
LOL I sure hope they will hold. They are advertised to have a 2K weight limit so that should be plenty of strength. I hope they are as strong as advertised because I was thinking about that extra hinge also.

NewRamps.jpg
 
thepopularjock said:
I have a class 5 hitch with a maximum carry weight of 500 lbs.
My FZ1 weighs approximately 450 lbs. so the hitch is capable of carrying my motorcycle. My truck is 97 Dodge Ram that weighs over 4000 lbs and the majority of that weight is toward the front so I don't think a wheelie will happen but I agree that if you are running a class 3 hitch - this is probably not a good option.
Although I agree that being rear ended would be catastrophic - so would being rear ended with a small trailer. I have seen (in real life) a motorcycle being towed on a trailer be hit by a trailing car. It was totaled. I have to say that being rear ended is my main concern with this carrier.
As far as loading it with ramps - I have the off road package and this truck is freaking HIGH off the ground. This has made ramps a little awkward because I have to drive up such a steep angel. Now if you are talking about the really big ramp that covers the whole tailgate - I have looked at that but it is so big that I wasn't real sure what to do with it once I had the bike in the back. I like these better because they have more room on the sides to let me put my feet down and balance if I get off the center line. However, they are so big that I didn't want to put it in the bed of the truck for fear that it would scratch/ damage my bike. Putting it in the cab of the truck will take up most of the club cab. Then I won't have room for luggage if we are going on a long trip. This is exactly why I was checking out these carriers. The conventional stuff works but I was wondering if there was something else that would work a little better.
I appreciate you guys input so please keep your ideas coming.
Click to expand...


I went to etrailer.com and most of the class III were rated at 600 tongue and 6000 tow. The class IV & V were rated at 1500 tongue and 15000 tow. This is for my 2008 GMC. I would check the hitch. They usually have a weight rating stamped on them or on a decal. I personally have seen a lot of these on motorhomes. Some with Harley Davidsons on them. So they do work. It all depends on your vehicle, your hitch, and whether or not you need to transport a bike and don't have or want a trailer.

Steve :2cents:
 
tried that

:hellno: strongly discourage use of those types of haulers....3 months and 3 lay downs...just cant strap the fz down tight enough. and as for trucks, have a 1-ton dually so weight was neglible... but the carrier flexed more than I thought it should.
 
I don't think that kind of carrier gives the kind of stability you need for long hauls on regular roads. I hauled my bike from northern Michigan to Rockport, TX in the bed of my 2007 Ram 1500 4wd last winter behind my motorhome. It did fine. I did have the 8' bed though and I used two 2X12 12' wide as a ramp, The 2X12's just stacked in the bed along side the bike. If you use a flimsy carrier, you'll never feel comfortable till it's off the carrier.
 
I dont know why you would have a pickup and not use the bed.just go find a hill or ditch so the bed is lower and roll it in.even an outdoor loading dock.there is always one somewhere.
 
amevl said:
I dont know why you would have a pickup and not use the bed.just go find a hill or ditch so the bed is lower and roll it in.even an outdoor loading dock.there is always one somewhere.
Click to expand...

I was more curious to see if anyone had ever used one of these.
To answer your question I didn't really like the way that I couldn't close my tailgate when I had my FZ1 in the back and so I was looking at other options. Plus the ramps that I liked were so big that I had trouble finding a place to store them (with all the other stuff I had loaded in the club cab).
I just bought a Razor Motorcycle Trailer.

RazorTrailer.jpg

I just got sick of the whole "ramp" issue and where to store them. Now I don't have to deal with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top