Carrying a Small Motorcycle on a Class C or Truck Camper

[Kittykamper]

Well, I tried to sell my little motorcycle on this forum, but since I haven’t had any luck, I took it as a sign that maybe I should pursue my dream of RV life after all. Do any of you have experience with mounting a motorcycle to the back of a Class C or truck camper? Any recommendations for certain brands of carriers/racks? Thanks and best wishes!

 

[DonTom]

Well, I tried to sell my little motorcycle on this forum, but since I haven’t had any luck, I took it as a sign that maybe I should pursue my dream of RV life after all. Do any of you have experience with mounting a motorcycle to the back of a Class C or truck camper? Any recommendations for certain brands of carriers/racks? Thanks and best wishes!

Unfortunately, the hitch mounted one I like best by Add-A-Bike appears to be out of business.

It's what I have on each of my RVs, my Class A as well as my Class C.

What I like best about this motorcycle carrier is that it has NO tiedowns necessary. 400 LB capacity.

I take my 2017 Zero DS electric motorcycle because it goes up the ramp on its own power with no clutch. My smallest electric and with the smaller battery, only weights 317 lbs (no "wet" weight on electrics, so 317 lbs means 317 lbs). Because of the small battery, it has a lot of extra storage space.

Very handy on my RV trips.

The motorcycle carrier looks like this (not my bike below, mine is shown in my Avatar here). Notice no tie downs:

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[John From Detroit]

One thing to consider is the weight rating of the receiver.,
Generally no more than 10% of the Tow rating as I recall (Which may be wrong)
Motorcycles may exceed that rating and since they are held farther back. Well the torque can tear the receiver right off the Motor home.

For a different reason it happened to me., Cost me I think 20 bucks to fix. some time and a new rear wheel for a pedal bike. (not that expensive) But I got lucky with a repair palce. Oh they did an amazing job on the repair way better than OEM

 

[TheBar]

I saw a motorcycle carrier in use that held the rear wheel up and the front wheel ran on the highway. Here is one that is reversed with the rear wheel down. I would think that would wear the chain though.

Of course it would wear out the tire but was much easier to load using leverage instead of pushing the bike up a ramp or lifting it in place. For a big bike it also relieves a lot of weight off the back of the RV.

 

[Kittykamper]

Unfortunately, the hitch mounted one I like best by Add-A-Bike appears to be out of business.

It's what I have on each of my RVs, my Class A as well as my Class C.

What I like best about this motorcycle carrier is that it has NO tiedowns necessary. 400 LB capacity.

I take my 2017 Zero DS electric motorcycle because it goes up the ramp on its own power with no clutch. My smallest electric and with the smaller battery, only weights 317 lbs (no "wet" weight on electrics, so 317 lbs means 317 lbs). Because of the small battery, it has a lot of extra storage space.

Very handy on my RV trips.

The motorcycle carrier looks like this (not my bike below, mine is shown in my Avatar here). Notice no tie downs:

View attachment 2458458


-Don- Reno, NV

Thanks for responding, Don. Yeah, that Add A Bike looks like a great design. Perhaps I could find one on the used market somewhere.

 

[Kittykamper]

One thing to consider is the weight rating of the receiver.,
Generally no more than 10% of the Tow rating as I recall (Which may be wrong)
Motorcycles may exceed that rating and since they are held farther back. Well the torque can tear the receiver right off the Motor home.

For a different reason it happened to me., Cost me I think 20 bucks to fix. some time and a new rear wheel for a pedal bike. (not that expensive) But I got lucky with a repair palce. Oh they did an amazing job on the repair way better than OEM

Thanks, John. That’s helpful advice. The motorcycle weighs about 230 lbs, so that’s definitely something I need to consider. That’s great that you had good luck with the repair place!

 

[Kittykamper]

I saw a motorcycle carrier in use that held the rear wheel up and the front wheel ran on the highway. Here is one that is reversed with the rear wheel down. I would think that would wear the chain though.

Of course it would wear out the tire but was much easier to load using leverage instead of pushing the bike up a ramp or lifting it in place. For a big bike it also relieves a lot of weight off the back of the RV.

Wow, that’s pretty interesting! Thanks for that. Yeah, you’re so right - due to its size, that’s probably the best option for that motorcycle in the picture. You’d laugh if you saw my motorcycle. It’s a 125cc Honda Monkey.

 

[gwinger]

I saw a motorcycle carrier in use that held the rear wheel up and the front wheel ran on the highway. Here is one that is reversed with the rear wheel down. I would think that would wear the chain though.

Of course it would wear out the tire but was much easier to load using leverage instead of pushing the bike up a ramp or lifting it in place. For a big bike it also relieves a lot of weight off the back of the RV.

Those front wheel carriers will destroy the drive train on a bike whether is has a chain or driveshaft. Internal engine parts are still spinning with no lubrication.
As far as the front wheel on the ground, there is to way to lock the steering.

 

[Kittykamper]

Those front wheel carriers will destroy the drive train on a bike whether is has a chain or driveshaft. Internal engine parts are still spinning with no lubrication.
As far as the front wheel on the ground, there is to way to lock the steering.

You make a good point, gwinger….Actually, my motorcycle is so small that if I tried using this method, I think it would disintegrate by the time I reached my destination!

 

[DonTom]

Those front wheel carriers will destroy the drive train on a bike whether is has a chain or driveshaft. Internal engine parts are still spinning with no lubrication.

Not in most cases. The chain oil is put on drive chains every 300 miles or so. You can do the same while it is being towed by the front wheel with a stop anywhere, such as a gas station every few hundred miles. The bike is in neural and has no connection to the engine. Simply spray chain oil onto the chain.

Very few motorcycles have an auto-transmission where towing on the front wheel withn the rear wheel on the ground can be a problem.

It can also be a problem on my electric motorcycles as they have no neutral. The rear wheel is always a direct connect to the motor and I would not want to try to tow them that way without removing the belt or drivechain.

The motorcycle driveshafts are spinning in gear oil, or in greese on some bikes. Makes no difference if the motorcycle has the engine running.

Also belts do not need to be touched.

FWIW, chains are a hassle on motorcycles, IMO.

I own three of the four types. Chain, belt and shaft motorcycles.

The one I do not own is the direct drive electric (The Verge Electric shown below--the rear wheel is the motor):

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Kittykamper]

Not in most cases. The chain oil is put on drive chains every 300 miles or so. You can do the same while it is being towed by the front wheel with a stop anywhere, such as a gas station every few hundred miles. The bike is in neural and has no connection to the engine. Simply spray chain oil onto the chain.

Very few motorcycles have an auto-transmission where towing on the front wheel withn the rear wheel on the ground can be a problem.

It can also be a problem on my electric motorcycles as they have no neutral. The rear wheel is always a direct connect to the motor and I would not want to try to tow them that way without removing the belt or drivechain.

The motorcycle driveshafts are spinning in gear oil, or in greese on some bikes. Makes no difference if the motorcycle has the engine running.

Also belts do not need to be touched.

FWIW, chains are a hassle on motorcycles, IMO.

I own three of the four types. Chain, belt and shaft motorcycles.

The one I do not own is the direct drive electric (The Verge Electric shown below--the rear wheel is the motor):

View attachment 2458694


-Don- Reno, NV

Wow! That bike is neat!

 

[John From Detroit]

Google found this only $1400...

Ace Folding Single Motorcycle Trailer

The Ace is a lightweight single motorcycle trailer that hauls one bike and folds from 119" to 55" for easy storage. Free 12" aluminum wheels. $1,379 — shop now.

theusatrailerstore.com

 

[Kittykamper]

Google found this only $1400...

Ace Folding Single Motorcycle Trailer

The Ace is a lightweight single motorcycle trailer that hauls one bike and folds from 119" to 55" for easy storage. Free 12" aluminum wheels. $1,379 — shop now.

theusatrailerstore.com

Thanks, John! I checked this out on their website and bookmarked it for future reference. Someone even used one to carry a kayak.

 

[gwinger]

Not in most cases. The chain oil is put on drive chains every 300 miles or so. You can do the same while it is being towed by the front wheel with a stop anywhere, such as a gas station every few hundred miles. The bike is in neural and has no connection to the engine. Simply spray chain oil onto the chain.

Very few motorcycles have an auto-transmission where towing on the front wheel withn the rear wheel on the ground can be a problem.

It can also be a problem on my electric motorcycles as they have no neutral. The rear wheel is always a direct connect to the motor and I would not want to try to tow them that way without removing the belt or drivechain.

The motorcycle driveshafts are spinning in gear oil, or in greese on some bikes. Makes no difference if the motorcycle has the engine running.

Also belts do not need to be touched.

FWIW, chains are a hassle on motorcycles, IMO.

I own three of the four types. Chain, belt and shaft motorcycles.

The one I do not own is the direct drive electric (The Verge Electric shown below--the rear wheel is the motor):

View attachment 2458694


-Don- Reno, NV

But you have a front sprocket connected to a shaft that connects to another gear in the engine. The chain may be oiled but the internals in the engine rely on the oil pump.

Shaft drive bikes have a final shaft with bearings that need oiled. Yes, the driveshaft itself has grease on the splines and u-joint, but that shaft is also spinning a final shaft and gears in the engine.

 

[DonTom]

But you have a front sprocket connected to a shaft that connects to another gear in the engine. The chain may be oiled but the internals in the engine rely on the oil pump.

Yeah, perhaps in some of the newer bikes.

But my 1971 BMW R75/5 has a dry clutch, the only oil pump is for the engine oil. It has separate gear oil in the tranny, rear drive and tranny.

My two other shaft bikes, my 1984 Yamaha Venture and 2013 Triumph Trophy SE have wet clutches but the rear drive and drive shaft have their own gear oil/ grease. The trannies in those use the engine oil, so perhaps one gear still spins in there somewhere when in neutral from rear wheel.

BTW, I bought my 1971 BMW R75/5 new in May of 1971. I still ride it these days.

Here is a photo I took of it a few years ago when I went to see the fire damage in GreenVille, CA:

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[CharlesinGA]

Pull a real small enclosed cargo trailer. Two different years, I was at Mt Pisgah on the BRP the same time as a guy from Florida who pulled a small enclosed trailer with his motorcycle in it and some other stuff. He was in a class C.

Charles

 

[TheBar]

But you have a front sprocket connected to a shaft that connects to another gear in the engine. The chain may be oiled but the internals in the engine rely on the oil pump.

Shaft drive bikes have a final shaft with bearings that need oiled. Yes, the driveshaft itself has grease on the splines and u-joint, but that shaft is also spinning a final shaft and gears in the engine.

With manual transmissions some motorcycles have a separate transmission and some have unit construction with the transmission inside the engine case. Either way on the ones I've had apart the chain sprocket shaft is below the normal oil level so it is always oiled. That's why it is so common to have an oil leak around the sprocket shaft even when parked for months.