RV carrier for V7 - Versahaul

[Rotten Ralph]

For retirement (next month) we bought a 30' RV class C. This carrier looks like it would hold our V7 Special just on the hitch. Anyone here have experience with this product? I realize that hanging behind and not being covered isn't all that good but I'm a good cleaner/detailer :P :P.

I really don't want a trailer on the end of this RV but do want transportation from an RV park. I think our old selves could push the V7 up the ramp without much trouble - doesn't seem that high.

Any and all input appreciated. ;-T


http://www.versahaul.com/

[LowRyter]

Most are rated at 400lb.  I never got one for that reason.  But I know I Triumph guy that hauls his big block triples on one, like a T Bird Sport and Sprint.

So there you go.  :o

[Mark West]

I have a Versahaul that I use to carry a 125 scooter on the back of a 24ft diesel class C. It is a quality product and I believe can handle the weight of a V7 but you also need to consider other factors. One being the rating of your hitch mount. The receiver on my RV is rated at 500lbs, which would be marginal with a larger bike.

Secondly, the gross vehicle weight rating of your RV. Can it handle that much weight in addition to all the other gear you carry?

Also consider how all that weight hanging off the back will affect the handling of your RV. I don't even notice the small scooter but if it were a few hundred pounds more, I suspect I would.

One more thing is that I think you would need two people to load/unload it off the ramp. I can do the scooter by myself but anything heavier I think I'd need someone to help.

[dilligaf]

Here you go. My Versa Haul is about 10 years old now and I have several thousand miles and have hulled everyone of my motorcycles without problem.  SC to Texas.  SC to WV.  SC to Tampa.  You name it  My hitch is a class III rated at 500 lbs.  The Versa Haul is rated at 600. The car is a 2007  Ford Explorer Limited.  Prior to that the car was a 2002 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer.

Here we are on the way to Swamp Scooters picking up some shrimp to make some Frogmore Srew for Thursday nights dinner.

I suspect loading height will be problem unless you lower the receiver.  On that class "C" you are not even going to know it's is back there.
 :BEER:
Matt

[Noguzznoglory]

I saw an tv on I-10 that had a platform attached to the rear bumper with a class III hitch receiver and it had a wheel on the ground. He had e decent sized motorcycle on it. Obviously that would support more weight than something hanging in mid air from the hitch.  Almost a trailer but not a trailer. I believe the wheel pivoted since the tongue was fixed.  Wish I could have seen the brand name

[Matteo]

We use a Versa hauler to transport V'7s". Nice low platform that's easy to load, especially if you use the curb.

[LowRyter]

I saw an tv on I-10 that had a platform attached to the rear bumper with a class III hitch receiver and it had a wheel on the ground. He had e decent sized motorcycle on it. Obviously that would support more weight than something hanging in mid air from the hitch.  Almost a trailer but not a trailer. I believe the wheel pivoted since the tongue was fixed.  Wish I could have seen the brand name

this?

http://www.cruiserlift.com/swivelwheel.html

[rocker59]

Most are rated at 400lb.  I never got one for that reason.  But I know I Triumph guy that hauls his big block triples on one, like a T Bird Sport and Sprint.

So there you go.  :o

Versa-Haul has two models for streetbikes.  One rated for 500 lbs.  The other for 600 lbs.

http://www.versahaul.com/vh55ro.php

http://www.versahaul.com/vhsportro.php

[rocker59]

For retirement (next month) we bought a 30' RV class C. This carrier looks like it would hold our V7 Special just on the hitch. Anyone here have experience with this product? I realize that hanging behind and not being covered isn't all that good but I'm a good cleaner/detailer :P :P.

I really don't want a trailer on the end of this RV but do want transportation from an RV park. I think our old selves could push the V7 up the ramp without much trouble - doesn't seem that high.

Any and all input appreciated. ;-T


http://www.versahaul.com/

If your RV is rated for 500 +/- lbs tongue weight, then I say go for it.

I have the V55RO model Versa-Haul.  Got it in 2003.  Have hauled bikes thousands of miles with it.

Will use it to haul my Sport 1100 to Cedar Vale here in a few weeks...

The hauler weighs about 80 lbs.  So, hauling a V7 Classic will put you right at the 500 lbs tongue weight of most class III hitches / vehicles.

[Rotten Ralph]

Big question - my wife and I are both 75 and in fairly good shape. Any problem with the two of us loading and unloading?

My other option would be an enclosed trailer but not really sure I want an extra 10-12' behind the RV.

[rocker59]

I load and unload mine by myself, most of the time.

If you set up the tie downs before pushing the bike up on the ramp, it's easy to get it hooked up.

It does take a little bit of a balancing act, since there is no way to put the side stand down, like in a trailer.

[dilligaf]

Marion and I load and unload ours and, the way we do it, there is no balancing act and  we have it down to a science.   :pop It won't take you long to learn the best places to park to load.  Unloading isn't that big a deal.  Put the motorcycle in gear and, using the clutch, allow engine breaking to control the decent down the ramp.  When loading push the motorcycle until the front wheel is in the stop and gently lean the motorcycle on the car.   Attach one front tie down on the car side.  Remove all slack but do not compress. Lock in place.  Now pull the motorcycle upright and attach the other tie down and remove all slack.  This will be all the compression you will need.  Attach the rear tie downs.  We also secure the front wheel to the carrier with a strap.
When unloading  :+=copcar ALWAYS :+=copcar remove the outside tie downs first and allow the motorcycle to lean on the car.  Remove the inside tie downs. Putt in gear and stand the motorcycle upright.  :BEER:
Matt

PS:  I built a similar carrier that I welded to the frame of a 22 foot Winnebago.  That was back in the day and I carried a Gold Wing.  I wasn't strong enough to load without assistance.  I would start the engine and with the motorcycle in gear walk along side using the engine to pull the motorcycle onto the rack.  Then once loaded use the above procedure to secure.  I see not reason why I couldn't do that with this system. In our case Marion or somebody has always been available to help.

[creaky99]

A word of caution. Two friends of mine that owned class c motorhomes experienced hitch failure due to the welds on the frame extensions failing. Admittedly, these were both on older motorhomes,
but it wouldn't hurt to check out your particular situation to make sure that the frame is up to the job.

[John A]

What Creaky said! I broke the frame on our 89 Chev 24' motor home . It is G30 one ton van based but the thing is when they put the coach on all the extension that is bolted to the factory frame is for is to hold up the coach. Big job to fix but I did and it turned out very sturdy. Besides that most RV's are under sprung for a cushy ride and handle like crap with anything on the back. Put on overload springs, antisway bars front and rear and airbags all around, now it handles like a sports car. Needs a few hunnerd more horse though.

[cruzziguzzi]

For retirement (next month) we bought a 30' RV class C. This carrier looks like it would hold our V7 Special just on the hitch. Anyone here have experience with this product? I realize that hanging behind and not being covered isn't all that good but I'm a good cleaner/detailer :P :P.

I really don't want a trailer on the end of this RV but do want transportation from an RV park. I think our old selves could push the V7 up the ramp without much trouble - doesn't seem that high.

Any and all input appreciated. ;-T


http://www.versahaul.com/

Couple things to look it seems.
Viewing the photos above, unless there is an integrated set of lights on the versa haul, I would add some to avoid the near total blocking of the vehicle's tail lights as shown above. Even magnetic emergency lights would be better than the "nothing" these sometimes represent. I've seen a mere 2-3 bicycles occlude taillights to the point of un-safe operation... Motorcycle with fenders, bags....

Another is max tongue weights of "tow" vehicles. Class "C" should be OK but one of my neighbors has one with a respectable "tow" capacity though a mere 200-300lb tongue capacity. It's always worth checking the manufacturer's data.
My wife's business partner has a Ford Explorer for which she misinterpreted the tongue weight capacity as 500lb when min fact, given the scenario, it was 200lb. The higher numbers were for "weight  distributing" which she was not doing and is not an option in a Versa-Haul situation.

Todd.

[LaGrasta]

I use a DPS, Dual Port System, by HiddenHitch.

http://www.hitchcorner.com/dps-accs.htm

[rocker59]

I use the magnetic lights, but Versa-Haul does have permanent lights available as accessories.

I'm planning to add them to my hauler.

[Mark West]

I picked up some of the long skinny ones (waterproof, led type) commonly used on boat trailers and added those. Even though the taillights are still visible, it's nice to have the extra lighting. I think they were about 20 bucks from Amazon.

[canuguzzi]

Don't do it.

Get an enclose trailer, you'll appreciate the extra space because getting everything you want or need into that 30' class C isn't going to work. You can put all your riding gear and tools into the trailer.

Throw some solar panels on the roof of the trailer and 4 Lifeline batteries inside with a good inverter and then you'll have plenty of battery power to go anywhere without worrying about juice.

Putting a bike on a Versahauler does not calculate the hitch load the same as a trailer. The bike sit back from the rear of the RV so leverage gets the weight up really fast. Yes, people run around with larger bikes on the back of RVs but DPs are a different animal.

I've done this on a 34' DP and nothing beats a trailer, enclosed or otherwise when hauling something around. The peace of mind is more than worth it.

Most places you might go if its a park have a spot to park your car. That is where you plant the trailer. Now instead of your bike getting hammered by all the grime, rain and everything else, it is secure, inside and out of sight. Insurance takes care of any one stealing it. Even if the bike falls over in the trailer, it isn't going anywhere and done right it won't happen.

[rocker59]

I agree that a trailer would be the best choice for doing much hauling. 

I use both. 

It's nice to have the Versa-Haul when travelling light.

An enclosed trailer can't be beat when it comes to keeping the bike clean and being able to pack in some extra "stuff".

[Rotten Ralph]

Dang!! We thought about the extra gear, not to mention golf clubs (she's the player not me). Aslo the road grit can be a cleaning nightmare as I found out going to Florida with an open trailer and hitting a snowstorm.

My main concern is travelling with a 40 plus foot vehicle, especially backing up. I'm not all that great with my boat trailer.

Decisions decisions! ???

[rocker59]

Think ahead. I pull a Trailer a lot. You get used to it.

[Triple Jim]

Ralph, do you need an RV carrier for your V7, or do you really need a V7 carrier for your RV?

 :D

[Rotten Ralph]

Guess I'm really looking for an RV carrier for the Special! ;D ;D :BEER:

[rboe]

This is on my radar because my FIL has one of those fancy electric wheel chairs. When I bought it he needed a carrier, his current car could not handle the weight on it's hitch so he traded in for a larger Buick Enclave. He was told the chair weighed 250#, the carrier weighed 150#, tongue limit on the Enclave is 350#.

Drove to Florida from Mpls, then to Phoenix. Straight away things started to bend and sag. When he gets to Phoenix the local lift vendor, smart fellow, weighed the chair: 411#'s. The lift is rated for 350#. So you can see he over the limit on the lift and way over the limit on the hitch.

I know you guys have used the Versahauler a lot but what is the combined weight of the hauler and bike? It would seem to me that you would be over the limit of the hitch (especially when you take in the moment arm mentioned earlier).

I drove the Enclave with and with out the chair; it was squirrelly. He made it back to Minnesota just fine but is now looking at a van to ride the chair into.

I'll vote for the trailer too - then practice with it. In the long run I think it is the better option.

[dilligaf]

I suspect-no, I know that the combined weight of the motorcycles I haul on my Versa Haul exceed the caring limit of my hitch. My first Employer, a 2002 FWD the Ducati and F650 didn't even require readjustment of the mirrors after loading.  The K75, LeMans and SP all required the mirrors to be readjusted.  Our latest Explorer is a 2007 and is TWD and just a little softer sprung so mirror adjustment is required. If I start driving at night I should readjust the headlights or put some sort of air lift suspension. I suspect your V7 will be over the 500 pound limit also.

My first haul was a 1998 Ducati ST2 purchased on eBay.  We picked that motorcycle up in Norfolk, VA and I spent more time looking in my rear view mirror making sure the motorcycle was still there that I did looking down the road ahead.  A typical trip for us would be:  Depart Banneau and go over to Barbers via Bryson City, NC.  From Barbers back to Bryson City and the BRP and Skyline to Front Royal and over to Charles Town, WV to make Apple Butter.  From Charles Town back to Bonneau.  We tent, motel and stay with relatives.

Load the LeMans and head for the NC Rally.  When we take the car we always take the big peoples tent, big peoples chairs and big peoples tent cots.  

When our daughter was still alive through a motorcycle on back and go to Weatherford, TX for a visit riding the TX Hill Country or Big Bend.

The last two Swamp Scooters we carried the R65LS for the 2013 and the SP for the 2014.

If we go to the National this year, I not sure my health will allow me to ride the motorcycle so we will take the Employer with one of the MG's on the Versa Haul.  We will stop in the VA Rally on the way home.    

Both of these had a Class III hitch installed from the factory.  Why put up with a trailer when you don't have too?  I find it just as easy to load the Versa Haul as my trailer, gas millage is much better without a trailer and parking is no big deal. After using the Versa Haul for a couple of trips the trailer just sits except to haul wood.  :BEER:
Matt

[rocker59]

My Suburban has a max tongue weight of 600 lbs with its factory-installed hitch.  The VersaHaul 55RO that I have weighs about 80 lbs.  So, 600 - 80 = 520.  That means that I can haul a motorcycle weighing up to 520 lbs and be "within spec" for the hitch (my carrier is rated at 500 lbs).  The V7 Classic falls well within that, weighing what? 440 lbs with fuel.

I've hauled my Ducati E900, Guzzi Sport 1100, Guzzi V11 Lemans, Guzzi V7 Classic, Guzzi Nevada 750, and probably some others on it.  The V11 Lemans put the numbers right at max, and definitely sag the rear suspension.  The Sport 1100 is lighter, weighing under 500 lbs with a light fuel load.

I can tell you that putting 500 lbs on the back of just about any vehicle is going to cause some noticeable changes in handling!  over-steer type issues.  You have to driver sensibly, just like if you were pulling a trailer.  

The biggest improvement I made in the towing/hauling abilities of my 1500 Suburban was to change from "P-series" tires to "LT-series" tires.  8-ply 60psi tires are a lot stiffer and handle a lot better than the 2-ply 35 psi passenger car tires that come on most 1/2-ton and smaller vehicles.  Yes, ride quality does suffer a bit when empty, but it's worth it for the major improvement in ride/handling quality while towing/hauling.

[canuguzzi]

Sorry to say, it doesn't work that way. It isn't 600-80 to get a 520 load capacity. At the distance from the tongue your bike is, you are lucky to have 400 pounds of actual load capacity. I am willing to bet you are exceeding your vehicles tongue weight significantly. That tongue weight you see listed on that Versahauler is the weight at the tongue, not the weight it can carry. What matters only is the weight the hitch is rated for and in this case, it is 600 pounds at the point where the tongue accepts the weight or, at the point where the hitch mounts to the frame. In any case, it is not what you can put on that Versahauler.

500 lbs of tongue weight is not the same as 500 pounds on a hitch tongue. The distance the load is from the hitch mounting point works as a multiplier and this is where people get into trouble. That 500 lb weight a couple of feet back (center of load) goes up very fast to way over 500 lbs. While there is some margin built into the design and so forth, when the vehicle hit a bump the forces now act with that much increased load and bad things can happen.

The next thing to be real concerned about is axle loading. If you make additions or upgrades to tires and so on, the axle loading doesn't change, nor does it's capacity. Then come the brakes and on and on. Like motorcycles, changing a simple thing often leads to a near overhaul and everything is interdependent.

The loading on the axle and tongue with a trailer is unlike that you have with something like a Versahauler.

If you put that Versahauler with motorcycle on a scale that can measure tongue weight, you'll see a 500 lbs motorcycle go way past 600 pounds of actual tongue load. People do it all the time but...

A trailer has another axle or two (a two axle trailer is much more stable than a single) to hold the majority of the load and you can adjust the tongue load to match capacities. Then you also get additional brakes to handle the additional load. When you hit that long downhill, especially in an RV, things can get really dicey and the less load on the service brakes, the better.

I bring this up because having used DP Rvs for a while, I've seen some disasters with high loads on hitches, even the Class VI/V jobs. On US 395, had a RV headed our way lose a load on one of those hitch mounted carriers and everything went back and forth lane to lane. Sheer luck that oncoming RV and load dragging behind on safety straps just missed up and from our view sitting high up in the DP, the imagery was life changing.

The liability for hitting someone because your load exceeded the tongue weight even slightly guarantees you go to the poor house. If you need to change things like tires and brakes, you need a higher load capacity vehicle. Everything is fine until the shit hits the fan. We've probably all seen something along a lost load or broken suspension, blown tires or worse and said to ourselves, sure glad that isn't me.

[dilligaf]

Rocker, You have a longer overhang than my Explorer and that may explain why I don't experience any bad handling or if I experiencing "bad handling" I not smart enough to know it.   ::(  Sorry Norge Pilot I just don't see a disaster looking for a place to happen.  :BEER:
Matt

[rocker59]

Rocker, You have a longer overhang than my Explorer and that may explain why I don't experience any bad handling or if I experiencing "bad handling" I not smart enough to know it.   ::(  Sorry Norge Pilot I just don't see a disaster looking for a place to happen.  :BEER:
Matt

I wouldn't call it "bad handling", but thought I'd note that it does change the handling with the weight hanging back there.