Hauling cycle on back??
- Thread starter Dude
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peter78
Super Moderator
Well, no one has responded yet. I'll tell you what my 3rd generation manual says. First off I assume we are talking about "Tongue Weight", or the weight that is put directly on the hitch. Since you are putting something on the trailer hitch without wheels the hitch must carry all the weight. My manual says "Tongue weight should be 9% to 11% of the total trailer weight, not exceeding the maximum of 226kg (500 lb.)". So I make sure I don't put more than 500 pounds on my "hitch packer". Remember you must add the weight of the bike rack to your total weight.
Having a 4th generation and with Xreas suspension I would think your Tongue weight is more than 500 pounds. I hope another 4th generation owner can chime in.
Having a 4th generation and with Xreas suspension I would think your Tongue weight is more than 500 pounds. I hope another 4th generation owner can chime in.
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Not an engineer, but, I know it requires more hydraulic pressure to lift 2 feet back on a tractor pto. Can someone use this to do a little reverse engineering logic? hehe.
Also, my newish V8 4wd sr5 owner's manual says I can tow 700lb. Didn't look close at the tongue weight spec, yet.
Finally, instead of riding the m/c to a rally this VERY wet past weekend, I took the big 4, and opted to sleep in the back vs. setting a tent up in the rain. It was very comfortable...especially with the dome light easily reached and those little cubbies on top of the wheel wells to hold watches, keys, etc. Estimate 18-19 mpg.
Also, my newish V8 4wd sr5 owner's manual says I can tow 700lb. Didn't look close at the tongue weight spec, yet.
Finally, instead of riding the m/c to a rally this VERY wet past weekend, I took the big 4, and opted to sleep in the back vs. setting a tent up in the rain. It was very comfortable...especially with the dome light easily reached and those little cubbies on top of the wheel wells to hold watches, keys, etc. Estimate 18-19 mpg.
Swaro said:
Sounds like we still need that engineer opinion...I'm guessing it would be ~260lb up to 2 feet away from the hitch receptacle....no way that can be more than 500lbs...I think.
On a different note...I'm going to go on a fishing trip w/ some buddies next month. I wanted to try and find a tent that connects to the back of my 4....I have seen one of these that they used to give away with a Jeep C. It actually attaches with the rear hatch up.
Any idea where to get one of these? If I had this, then I can throw an extra twin sized foam mattress in the back and still have a little air flow. Now that is roughing it!
Ok, I just answered my own question....thought I would share:
http://www.tentsontrucks.com/SUV-Minivan.htm
How cool is that.
http://www.tentsontrucks.com/SUV-Minivan.htm
How cool is that.
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how well does that thing seal? and how easy to pull away from when ya gotta make a beverage run?
I'm sure the weight thing on the hitch is an easy calculation...I just don't remember the formula to determine that force vector. Might just be a torque formula where the distance from the hitch is the moment arm.
I'm sure the weight thing on the hitch is an easy calculation...I just don't remember the formula to determine that force vector. Might just be a torque formula where the distance from the hitch is the moment arm.
peter78
Super Moderator
First off, I agree that having the motorcycle further out of the hitch will put more pressure on the suspension, I am not sure how much though.
Now about the tent, that is really a neat idea. My only concern is having a good rain fly on the tent, hopefully the rain fly goes all the way to the ground. Trust me I know about tents that get you wet.
Hopefully the tent pictured has a good rain fly as show in a picture of my tent.
Now about the tent, that is really a neat idea. My only concern is having a good rain fly on the tent, hopefully the rain fly goes all the way to the ground. Trust me I know about tents that get you wet.
Hopefully the tent pictured has a good rain fly as show in a picture of my tent.
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Dude,
You will be fine. I'm hauling my bike on a Moto Jack Rack on my 03 4Runner no problem. I know guys who actually haul two bikes (one full size, one mini) on hitch mounted carriers.
Here is a pic of the Moto Jack Rack from their website. These racks are great because they have hydraulic lift and do not require tiedowns. You just secure them by the pegs.
You will be fine. I'm hauling my bike on a Moto Jack Rack on my 03 4Runner no problem. I know guys who actually haul two bikes (one full size, one mini) on hitch mounted carriers.
Here is a pic of the Moto Jack Rack from their website. These racks are great because they have hydraulic lift and do not require tiedowns. You just secure them by the pegs.
Since everybody is still guessing and even the manufacturers of those "bike hauler" have no clue either, I digged out my old physics textbook and I think the following is a pretty close calculation:
- The factory hitch receiver is rated for 500 lbs tongue weight, that means 500 lbs of weight directly applied to the receiver itself. Assuming that the mounting points of the receiver (where it attaches to the frame) is about 10 inches, the torque applies to the mounting point is therefore:
500 lbs x 10 inches / 12 inch-per-foot = 417 foot-lbs and this is the maximum torque rated by Toyota
Now, most "bike hauler" extends out from at least 2 to 3 feet, based on the rated 417 ft-lbs of max torque, the combined "hauler + bike" weight therefore must be less than:
417 / 2' = 203.5 lbs
to not exceed the 417 ft-lb torque at the frame.
If it extends out to 3', the max weight is:
417 / 3 = 139 lbs!
So for your 260-lb bike+rack, and assuming that it extends out 3', the torque applied at the frame will be:
260 x 3' = 780 ft-lb
I guess you make the call. The whole thing just might drop off on the freeway when you are doing 80 mph.
There are people who use this type of bike hauler and didn't have a problem. May be. Because even it's rated at 500 lbs at the receiver, it's not going to fail right away if we put 1000 lbs on it. But it might fail anytime.
I think I'll pass.
-Mike-
- The factory hitch receiver is rated for 500 lbs tongue weight, that means 500 lbs of weight directly applied to the receiver itself. Assuming that the mounting points of the receiver (where it attaches to the frame) is about 10 inches, the torque applies to the mounting point is therefore:
500 lbs x 10 inches / 12 inch-per-foot = 417 foot-lbs and this is the maximum torque rated by Toyota
Now, most "bike hauler" extends out from at least 2 to 3 feet, based on the rated 417 ft-lbs of max torque, the combined "hauler + bike" weight therefore must be less than:
417 / 2' = 203.5 lbs
to not exceed the 417 ft-lb torque at the frame.
If it extends out to 3', the max weight is:
417 / 3 = 139 lbs!
So for your 260-lb bike+rack, and assuming that it extends out 3', the torque applied at the frame will be:
260 x 3' = 780 ft-lb
I guess you make the call. The whole thing just might drop off on the freeway when you are doing 80 mph.
There are people who use this type of bike hauler and didn't have a problem. May be. Because even it's rated at 500 lbs at the receiver, it's not going to fail right away if we put 1000 lbs on it. But it might fail anytime.
I think I'll pass.
-Mike-
