Dual Sport went off hitch carrier @60 mph

177in70s · 08-11-2012, 08:38 AM

300 pound Dual Sport went off hitch carrier on Chevy @ 60 mph:

4 Ancra Tie downs were on snug and stayed hooked to bike, front tire dragged on highway making a long skid mark after a loud low boom. Bike OK, front tire had extra wear on one edge. It spun while dragging. Bike scratched rear door of Suburban.

Why? Fast right hand sweeper wanted bike to go forward as did the main ratchet clamps from 2” receiver up to frame just above and to the rear. The front pair of cam lock clamps don’t do much but tend to twist the channel as bike rocks, it was raining, forgot to put bike in gear, didn’t wrap either tire down to channel, main channel twisted, metal ramp against front tire cocked and front tire suddenly rolled forward by “ramp,” and shot out and down to road. "Cycle Country" brand carrier has a short ramp without sides.

Now: Cam lock front to whimpy cross bar first as before to make bike hands free, ratchets on each side to receiver from frame as before. Add simple straps holding front tire (inboard of cross bar) and rear tire down to channel.

A year ago, had a different "close call." Used a single center ratchet strap, up one side, across and down the other with an extra wrap or two before crossing. Well that wrap slipped and bike tipped about 30 degrees but was still "tight." Now I use a separate ratchet strap for each side.

2handedSpey · 08-11-2012, 08:44 AM

Hmmm.... Sounds to me like you need to stop using hitch carriers

c5babe · 08-11-2012, 12:19 PM

Hmmm......seems to me you need to learn how to safely load and tie down your bike no matter what kind of carrier you use.

sieg · 08-11-2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c5babe

Hmmm......seems to me you need to learn how to safely load and tie down your bike no matter what kind of carrier you use.

+1 and "didn’t wrap either tire down to channel" WTF Why not?

390beretta · 08-11-2012, 06:56 PM

I towed two dual sports all over the country. Had one fall over due to the S loops on tie downs. Then switched everything to the caribiner type that you have to screw closed...no more problems! The S type, supplied with all commercial tie downs suck. Hit a bump, they can let go at a whim!

Alleycatdad · 08-11-2012, 07:46 PM

A bungee cord between the S hooks on each tie down will solve that issue just fine.

S

viverrid · 08-12-2012, 06:23 AM

Sounds more loike a rigging problem than a hitch carrier problem

Though my hitch carriern lifts the bike under the skid plate and BOLTS to the footpegs so doesn't rely on straps nor the wheels not turning. U just gotta make sure not to crank too hard on the nuts or you'll bust off a footpeg or bracket.

Come to think of it, as we don't use ours any more, I ought to sell it. It's the kind the incorporates a bottle jack to lift the bike off the ground. It's kinda rusty & beat looking and I'd take $50 for it, but it would be a bitch tio ship, needs to be someone local who can pick it up or the shipping would be more than the carrier.

andmoon · 08-12-2012, 10:13 AM

pictures i need pictures,

viverrid · 08-12-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andmoon

pictures i need pictures,

U gonna come up from Joisy for a $50 hitch carrier, or do you want pics of the OP's dragged tire?!?

Today at our club's Enduro, there were a couple of people with 2-bike hitch carriers. One (attached to a Honda SUV) sagged so much that we could hear the end of the carrier scraping on the gravel driveway as he left the parking field.

high dangler · 08-12-2012, 02:50 PM

doesnt suprise me that someone that uses a hitch carrier loses a bike . They are pure rinky dink .
A hazard to others when they spill their load on the highway and a hazzard because they make vehical handles like shit even if the bike does not fall off.
Buy a P/U if you want to haul. The bike goes inside the bed of truck.

Mike_drz · 08-12-2012, 05:35 PM

I use Ultimate MX Hauler since 2005, 300lbs bike. I had it rewelded in some weak parts of it a couple years ago when they become loose. it rocks soild ever since

Old_Crow · 08-12-2012, 06:00 PM

This thread is (almost) worthless without pics.

I come to this section for a little wisdom and never leave disappointed

James Adams · 08-13-2012, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andmoon

pictures i need pictures,

This is the type of carrier that viverrid was referring to. I really like mine.

FISHCAT · 08-13-2012, 06:38 AM

Hitch carriers are fine as long as you drill a hole in each end and run a strap up to the roof rack and put slight tension on each side.
This keeps it much more stable and takes some of the load off of the hitch.
I also tie a loose strap from the handlebars to the vehicle....just in case!

DAKEZ · 08-13-2012, 07:00 AM

I thought you were supposed to ride them. I must have been doing it wrong all these years.

08-11-2012, 08:38 AM	#1
177in70s ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jul 2012 Oddometer: 10	Dual Sport went off hitch carrier @60 mph 300 pound Dual Sport went off hitch carrier on Chevy @ 60 mph: 4 Ancra Tie downs were on snug and stayed hooked to bike, front tire dragged on highway making a long skid mark after a loud low boom. Bike OK, front tire had extra wear on one edge. It spun while dragging. Bike scratched rear door of Suburban. Why? Fast right hand sweeper wanted bike to go forward as did the main ratchet clamps from 2” receiver up to frame just above and to the rear. The front pair of cam lock clamps don’t do much but tend to twist the channel as bike rocks, it was raining, forgot to put bike in gear, didn’t wrap either tire down to channel, main channel twisted, metal ramp against front tire cocked and front tire suddenly rolled forward by “ramp,” and shot out and down to road. "Cycle Country" brand carrier has a short ramp without sides. Now: Cam lock front to whimpy cross bar first as before to make bike hands free, ratchets on each side to receiver from frame as before. Add simple straps holding front tire (inboard of cross bar) and rear tire down to channel. A year ago, had a different "close call." Used a single center ratchet strap, up one side, across and down the other with an extra wrap or two before crossing. Well that wrap slipped and bike tipped about 30 degrees but was still "tight." Now I use a separate ratchet strap for each side.

08-11-2012, 12:19 PM	#3
c5babe Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: North Woods Oddometer: 251	Hmmm......seems to me you need to learn how to safely load and tie down your bike no matter what kind of carrier you use. __________________ F650GS DR650 There are four things you can't recover: the stone..after the throw, the word..after it's said, the occasion..after it's missed and the time ..after it's gone. _____________________________________________ Been There, Done That, Took Pictures, Retired.

08-11-2012, 07:46 PM	#6
Alleycatdad Unbunch yer panties! Joined: Feb 2008 Location: True Norcal, not that Bay Area/Sacto Crap... Oddometer: 1,111	A bungee cord between the S hooks on each tie down will solve that issue just fine. S __________________ When in doubt, PIN IT! It may not help, but it'll sure end the suspense... Wretched Exce$$ See ADVr's around the world-ADV spotwalla page Riding Wretched Wretched Passes Bad decisions make good stories.

08-12-2012, 06:23 AM	#7
viverrid not dead yet Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Western Mass Oddometer: 26,997	Sounds more loike a rigging problem than a hitch carrier problem Though my hitch carriern lifts the bike under the skid plate and BOLTS to the footpegs so doesn't rely on straps nor the wheels not turning. U just gotta make sure not to crank too hard on the nuts or you'll bust off a footpeg or bracket. Come to think of it, as we don't use ours any more, I ought to sell it. It's the kind the incorporates a bottle jack to lift the bike off the ground. It's kinda rusty & beat looking and I'd take $50 for it, but it would be a bitch tio ship, needs to be someone local who can pick it up or the shipping would be more than the carrier. __________________ Advanced pancreatic cancer diagnosed 04/2010. 95% mortality within 2 years but NOT DEAD YET. Been thru & still doing all sorts of treatments. Gonna keep doing what I'm doing until I can't any more.

08-12-2012, 10:13 AM	#8
andmoon Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2004 Location: NJ exit 10 Oddometer: 3,176	pictures i need pictures, __________________ POVERTY SUCKS

08-11-2012, 06:56 PM	#5
390beretta Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2009 Oddometer: 605	I towed two dual sports all over the country. Had one fall over due to the S loops on tie downs. Then switched everything to the caribiner type that you have to screw closed...no more problems! The S type, supplied with all commercial tie downs suck. Hit a bump, they can let go at a whim!

08-12-2012, 02:50 PM	#10
high dangler Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: pa. Oddometer: 535	doesnt suprise me that someone that uses a hitch carrier loses a bike . They are pure rinky dink . A hazard to others when they spill their load on the highway and a hazzard because they make vehical handles like shit even if the bike does not fall off. Buy a P/U if you want to haul. The bike goes inside the bed of truck. __________________ rompin stompin tiger 800 XC rider

08-12-2012, 05:35 PM	#11
Mike_drz Banned Joined: Jul 2012 Location: somewhere near the beach Oddometer: 402	I use Ultimate MX Hauler since 2005, 300lbs bike. I had it rewelded in some weak parts of it a couple years ago when they become loose. it rocks soild ever since

08-12-2012, 06:00 PM	#12
Old_Crow Adventurer Joined: May 2010 Location: Chester County, PA Oddometer: 97	This thread is (almost) worthless without pics. I come to this section for a little wisdom and never leave disappointed

08-13-2012, 06:38 AM	#14
FISHCAT n00b Joined: Jun 2012 Location: Somerst Hills part of NJ Oddometer: 8	No problem here Hitch carriers are fine as long as you drill a hole in each end and run a strap up to the roof rack and put slight tension on each side. This keeps it much more stable and takes some of the load off of the hitch. I also tie a loose strap from the handlebars to the vehicle....just in case!

08-13-2012, 07:00 AM	#15
DAKEZ Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Location: U-gene, OR. Oddometer: 18,066	I thought you were supposed to ride them. I must have been doing it wrong all these years. __________________ "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." — Dr. Seuss “Watch out for everything bigger than you, they have the "right of weight" Bib

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