Advice Requested: Hitch Carriers & Small Scoots

[Pilgrim21784]

Hey Folks,
I'm thinking about buying a smaller scooter to take with me on our snowbird stay in the south. Currently at North Myrtle Beach, SC and they want $60/day to rent a Chinese 50cc ride, not gonna happen! Exploring using a hitch carrier for either a quality 50cc up to a 150 unit. (Honda/Yamaha are my general preferences).

I already have a hitch installed but towing isn't a good option for this gig, one way UHaul is not cheap and using my own trailer creates storage issues at the condo we rent.

My Silverwing at 550#s is just too heavy IMO to put on a hitch carrier, even if its technically doable so I'm asking if anybody has experience/advice on the subject. My SUV is a Toyota RAV4 AWD 6 and I'm checking with Toyota about the issue. My hitch is rated at 750# so its not an issue (I think).

A 50cc seems to be available around high 100s to low 200#s and I'm checking out the Zuma & the PCX 150 at 286.

I'm not sure how bright it is to put much weight on the rear end - anybody have experience with this subject?

[tuna101]

I carry a Honda Trail 110 on a carrier on my front receiver when hauling my camper or 5th wheel and it works perfect, it weighs #200. I've also carried my XT225 and my wifes Zuma 50. No problems with any. I have 2 different hitch haulers as the rack I had custom made for the trail is smaller. I much prefer it up front as you can watch it and they ride much better. A front receiver cost less than $100 and bolts right up in less than 1 hour. I don't know what your driving but this is my choice and have no regrets at all. Hope this answered your question.

[Speedo66]

I had a hitch carrier made up for a 1 1/4" hitch on a Mazda 3 hatchback.

I was carrying a Honda Trail 90, which is a little less than 200 lbs. It worked fine, although for that car, I was right near the tongue weight limit, and the weight was about as far as I would go with that particular car because it did bring the rear down somewhat.

I would not put my XT225 which has a wet weight of 268 on it, too heavy for that car.

[jgormley]

Check out the Ultimate MX Hauler...
Doesn't take up much room...
and is easy to load and unload a bike..
It mounts thru the bike's foot pegs...

[snakebit]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim21784

Hey Folks,
I'm thinking about buying a smaller scooter to take with me on our snowbird stay in the south. Currently at North Myrtle Beach, SC and they want $60/day to rent a Chinese 50cc ride, not gonna happen! Exploring using a hitch carrier for either a quality 50cc up to a 150 unit. (Honda/Yamaha are my general preferences).

I already have a hitch installed but towing isn't a good option for this gig, one way UHaul is not cheap and using my own trailer creates storage issues at the condo we rent.

My Silverwing at 550#s is just too heavy IMO to put on a hitch carrier, even if its technically doable so I'm asking if anybody has experience/advice on the subject. My SUV is a Toyota RAV4 AWD 6 and I'm checking with Toyota about the issue. My hitch is rated at 750# so its not an issue (I think).

A 50cc seems to be available around high 100s to low 200#s and I'm checking out the Zuma & the PCX 150 at 286.

I'm not sure how bright it is to put much weight on the rear end - anybody have experience with this subject?

I use a cheap ($125) ebay hitch carrier on my E150 van. I ugraded to monromatic (SP) heavy duty shocks and haven't had a problem with my NX 250 at 265 lbs. Maximum hitch weight according to Ford is 500 lbs.

As designed the carrier relys on one bolt to the top of the receiver to control sway. It doesn't work for shit but I run ratchet straps from the outer ends of the rack to the rear bumper and everything is rock solid.

I also added expanded aluminum trays that sit between the front of the carrier and the back bumper. Very handy for the Honda generator, gas can, firewood etc.

[DandyDoug]

Another option to explore is to put your main scoot on a trailer and tow it to your destination condo, unload and store the trailer at a lot that does that. Many of the self storage places have space available for a trailer and it sould not cost much for a few months.
I think it's worth looking in too.

[Pilgrim21784]

Originally Posted by DandyDoug

Another option to explore is to put your main scoot on a trailer and tow it to your destination condo, unload and store the trailer at a lot that does that. Many of the self storage places have space available for a trailer and it sould not cost much for a few months.
I think it's worth looking in too.

Hey, good point, thats one I hadn't thought about. I'll check it out. Thanks!

[JerryH]

I used to carry an XT225 dual sport bike on a hitch mounted carrier on my Chevy S10. It was a class III hitch, and the XT weighs half of what a Silverwing does. While the hitch may be rated to carry that much weight, it means tongue weight. Having a 500+ pound scooter on it it going to put a lot more than 500 pounds of stress on it when you hit bumps and the scooter goes up and down. It would probably be fine just sitting there, but I wouldn't trust it on a moving vehicle. I would recommend a smaller scooter. In love my Zuma 125, but it is not freeway legal, and I wouldn't carry a passenger on it unless you are both very light. If you need freeway legal, a Honda PCX150 might work. It looks more like the Silverwing. Don't know about it's ability to carry passengers.

[rv-rick]

Jerry hit it regarding tongue weight. Another thing to consider is there are two tongue weights listed on most class III hitches. One is for straight towing. (The lower rating) The other is for using equalizer bars. (The higher rating).
That info should be on the hitch, and in your owner's manual.
Another possibility, depending on how long you will be there, is to buy a used scoot there and sell it when you leave.

Of course, you could always ride the SW down there and let the rest of the family ride in the SUV. (YEAH)

[Pilgrim21784]

Many thanks for the input. Currently thinking a PCX150 and hitch carrier is the way I'll go. I checked out the excellent suggestion about towing my SW down and using a storage unit for the trailer ($30-45/month) which is a very good option I hadn't thought of. Towing my trailer is okay but I avoid it when possible. Riding the SW down from MD in early Feb is not gonna happen, way to cold for my wimp butt.

I expect I'll use the situation to justify to the wife another scooter purchase . The hitch carrier is small enough to store at the condo and the PCX has twerked my interest since it came out. The only bummer is it will probably have to be new as there aren't many used 2013s for sale but I've got until Feb 2014 to work it out, might get lucky.

Both UHaul (who installed my Class III hitch) and Toyota said the 286# PCX is okay on a carrier. Life is good!

[larrylarry75]

Don't forget to include the weight of the hitch carrier when doing your calculations. I've got a couple of them and neither one are light weights, both around 90#. I recently bought one of the Ultimate MX-Hauler Ramps, a self-loading or one-man hitch carrier and it's great, the platform lowers right down to the ground, you ride your scoot onto it, tie it down, and jack it back up into the locking position. They make two models, I'm talking about the bigger unit. They're not cheap but for the price they're not that bad and you can load your bike/scoot by yourself. Old farts in their 70's will appreciate that part. Here's a link to their site: http://www.ultimatemxhauler.com/

LL75

[wannabe1]

This is my zuma 125 on a el cheapo aluminum carrier. It is on my 4-Runner class III? It has worked fine so far but does have some short comings that I need to address. The tie down points need to be in line with with the handlebars not toward the center of the bike. You must secure the front wheel or the first time you make left turn your scoot will fall off as the tie down points pull the bike back. It will wobble a little but no big deal as long as I know it is tied down securely. You will need some strength to roll it up the ramp and roll it off. If I had it to do over, I would try to find one more like just a rail with rail edges. This one is ladder style and the small scooter wheels are hard to roll on it.

[Pilgrim21784]

Originally Posted by wannabe1

This is my zuma 125 on a el cheapo aluminum carrier. It is on my 4-Runner class III? It has worked fine so far but does have some short comings that I need to address. The tie down points need to be in line with with the handlebars not toward the center of the bike. You must secure the front wheel or the first time you make left turn your scoot will fall off as the tie down points pull the bike back. It will wobble a little but no big deal as long as I know it is tied down securely. You will need some strength to roll it up the ramp and roll it off. If I had it to do over, I would try to find one more like just a rail with rail edges. This one is ladder style and the small scooter wheels are hard to roll on it.

Many thanks for those tips! The 125 Zuma is a serious contender versus the PCX. It seems to be a really fine scoot. I've been thinking about a soft surface way to reduce/eliminate wobble. Currently exploring some type of blow up rig for that, work in progress.

Question = what about the issue of blocking the tail lights/turn signals? Thought the cops might be picky on that situation.

[Speedo66]

Harbor Freight (and others no doubt) sell magnetic tail/brake lights that plug into your trailer hitch light plug if hiding your tail lights is an issue.

They can be mounted right on the hitch carrier itself.

[wannabe1]

I did think about the tail light issue, but so far no troubles. I think if I could roll it back one notch my lights might could be seen. I hoping the cops around here have more to do than bust me on that one, I aint skeered .