Motorcycle carrier
 

Ok , here goes , I searched the forum and did not find a satisfactory answers ….What is the consensus, any info world be great.

I have a 04 X5 3.0i and I have installed a factory hitch and I want to haul my motorcycle to the race track. Do you guys think this option would work, I have limited space to store a trailer so I thought this might be a good alternative. The only thing I was worried about was excessive stress to the tongue. The bike is 480LB and the carrier is 90lb. See attached pic and specs.

Just a guess/opin, but I think that mount would effectively
be a "tongue weight" situ, and if I recall the tongue weight
is something like 600 lbs with add'l brakes or 300+ lbs without
"add'l brakes".

I'm not sure that mount is the same situ as a very heavy trailer
tongue situ...

That's nearly 600 lbs hanging off the back end or your X.

I recall some article/test on that prod in Cycle World or some
other cycle mag, but don't recall their opin. Maybe worth a dig on
the M'cycle mag sites.

If it was my sled and my X, I'd pass and get a real trailer or,
dodge the cops and ride the sumbitch to the track.

Some towing/tongue/trailer Xperts should be able to chime in, too.
GL,mD

get folding trailer form redtrailers, they fold up and you can use it with other accessories,~
www.redtrailers.com
They carry up to 1000+ pounds~!!!

I think you would be pushing the limits with that kind of load. I would use a trailer. You can always rent one when you need it and not have to store it.

If you have a Class III Hitch it should be fine.

:iagree:

I also was thinking about the same thing and I ran across this site

http://www.versahaul.com/

which descirbes the same thing. ALthough I thing my hayabusa weighing in around 480lbs may be too much. but I like the idea

I also just found this worksheet

http://www.versahaul.com/vehicletowcapacity.htm

damn one more thing from a search

http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...ongue+capacity

There is more than one definition of the rating.

My OEM X5 hitch was labelled Class III, which I think of as being rated 500 lb tongue weight.

The hitch installation instructions list the following info. Note that this is applicable to my 2003 model, and I believe that the 2005 went to 6000 lbs for the 3.0 automatic (not sure about the 2004). Also, in Europe there is an option for higher towing capacity (I am not sure what they change, but I suspect it is like a shift kit).

All X5:
Max towing weight for trailers w/o brakes (on and off road) 1650 lbs.
Max tongue weight for trailers w/o brakes (on and off road) 330 lbs.
Max towing weight for trailers w/ brakes (off road) 3300 lbs.
Max tongue weight for trailers w/ brakes (off road) 330 lbs.

8 Cylinder/Automatic transmission:
Max towing weight for trailers w/ brakes (on road) 6000 lbs.
Max tongue weight for trailers with brakes (on road) 600 lbs.

6 Cylinder/Manual transmission:
Max towing weight for trailers with brakes (on road) 6000 lbs.
Max tongue weight for trailers with brakes (on road) 600 lbs.

6 Cylinder/Automatic transmission:
Max towing weight for trailers with brakes (on road) 5000 lbs.
Max tongue weight for trailers with brakes (on road) 600 lbs.

Now the caution note. Many people checking tongue weight are thinking about cargo carriers, bike carriers, etc. If this is not you, skip to the end. If so, please consider the following. The BMW specs on the hitch list the maximum drop (vertical) and extension (horizontal) dimensions for the hitch ball. Most carriers significantly increase the horizontal dimension, so the factory tongue rating is not appropriate. You need to consider the bending moment. Also, it is not necessarily just a matter of calculating a straight ratio of distance x weight for a cargo carrier, as most cargo carriers can apply a bounce load. I know a trailer can bounce as well, but it seems to me that it may be a different effect. In any case, the dynamic aspect of high tongue loads can impact not only the rear frame and hitch crossbar, but also the vehicle dynamics.
__________________

Thanks for all the response …

Paul1994…. what did you decide to go with …I have a zx7 and it weighs almost the same as your Hayabusa…I spoke with one of my buddies and he is a mechanical engineer, pocket protector and all and he said no problem do it…If in fact there are guys out here putting 1000lb on the tongue this should be fine.

Ditto that

I found this ...

http://www.versahaul.com/vehiclecarrycapacity.htm


Looks like only 228lb per these guys

Zucco:

Don't hang 1000 lbs on the back. You should also be concerned if the CoG of the load is any more than the BMW spec (8") for horizontal offset (and a motorcycle carrier is significantly more). If you are comparing large trailers you would also require load levelling bars which effectively reduce the tongue weight. Stick to the 500/600 lb spec, 8" from the pin on the hitch receiver.

I recognize my previous ruminations on this subject from the posts above (that is my article on the 2003 3.0). I have a couple of other descriptions of the impact of a motorcycle carrier in the threads in the search below.

There are several other good responses in these threads:

http://www.xoutpost.com/search.php?searchid=805929

Jeff

Do not hang that much bike and carrier off the back. Hit a frost heave at speed and you'll find out why.

Prior posts ahave pretty well covererd why.

I have a hitch mount as well but even my 610cc dual sport Husky goes by trailer. Hitch mount should really only be for bikes well under 300lbs.

I have a ZX-12R and i'll never risk it or my X5. I always go with a rental trailer. They are cheap and best.

:iagree:

No problem man.. I am still deciding., but first I need to get a hitch. I guess it will need to be a class III