Hitch motorcycle carriers? good? bad?

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DoubleJ said:
Wow a rule follower in this day and age! I have been all over NA with the Versa Haul whether on the Freestar (air bagged for $240 at Truck and Trailer) a F150 or the Chev 3500 RV. First 2 are class 4 hitches and the Chev a class 5. Never an issue with anyone. Only the border guards can't see the plate from their cameras. No big deal.
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Liability, pure and simple. If you should have an accident your fault or not and you make a claim for your bike that was damaged because someone rear ended you from not paying attention; or you lose control of your vehicle and go into the ditch and your bike is damaged then what. You have created an out for the insurance company to to tell you go eff yourself as you were doing something contrary to the safe operation of your vehicle. Your choice to risk a 5 to 10 ten thousand bike. Not only that if you are in an accident a cop will be in a position to issue you a ticket. Welcome to higher insurance costs.

If you think I am against using one of these I am not. It has to be used according to specs.
 
ItIsWhatItIs said:
Liability, pure and simple. If you should have an accident your fault or not and you make a claim for your bike that was damaged because someone rear ended you from not paying attention; or you lose control of your vehicle and go into the ditch and your bike is damaged then what. You have created an out for the insurance company to to tell you go eff yourself as you were doing something contrary to the safe operation of your vehicle. Your choice to risk a 5 to 10 ten thousand bike. Not only that if you are in an accident a cop will be in a position to issue you a ticket. Welcome to higher insurance costs.

If you think I am against using one of these I am not. It has to be used according to specs.
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Out of curiosity what is the insurance companies "out" in the situations you mentioned? Using the hitch of a truck you own (within safety limits I might add)?

I called my insurance company (SF) before the very first time I used this device and asked them if it would be covered if anything happened while transporting my bike. I have full coverage, and my agent told me that I shouldn't worry because I am just driving my truck, the bike didn't even budge since I tied her down. (its considered part of the truck) Truck plates are read from the front (as the stickers are placed there as well) so even if something is being towed, the needed visual of the plate is up front. Also the plate being blocked had no influence on whether or not I would be covered.

If someone else rear ends you what can you do?? (it would be their fault as well) That can happen without a bike too, and from my real world experience, people give a lot of extra space and show real interest when they are behind me.

If you lose control of your vehicle would that not be considered an accident? Even if you had the bike in the bed of a truck, tied down like so many people do with their bikes and ATV's and you lost control and wrecked your rides, its still "an accident" its not like you rammed into a wall on purpose. Just insure your vehicles. If you get basic coverage, then yeah don't take ANY RISKS... EVAAAR.... :lmao:
 
IRONLUNG said:
Out of curiosity what is the insurance companies "out" in the situations you mentioned? Using the hitch of a truck you own (within safety limits I might add)?
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How do you figure it's within safety limits? There are no max load specifications for hitch carriers that I've ever seen.
 
fastar1 said:
How do you figure it's within safety limits? There are no max load specifications for hitch carriers that I've ever seen.
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Simple. Call GM (my truck is a chevy) and ask. I asked and mentioned my hitch specifically and it was clear.
 
There is a maximum tongue weight as outlined already. Unless it's a truck, doubtful you have the rating to support the lift and the weight of your bike. Most cars, 1000 lbs, tongue rating 100 lbs. Some cars, 2000 lbs, 200 lb tongue rating. Some minivans, smaller trucks, most suvs, 3500 lbs, 350 lb tongue rating. Not enough of a rating to support the lift and the weight of even my bike, a cbr125, 280 lbs + 80 lbs = 360 lbs. I am sure if I were using this lift my brake lights would be somewhat obstructed.

Any claim made to insurance is investigated and like any traffic ticket is disputed by the parties involved. Insurers decides who is at fault. To ensure you are not declared at fault, witnesses and photos help. If you get rear ended using this lift, the person who hit, will say they couldn't see your brake lights. The insurer will look into this and then establish you were operating your vehicle contrary to the guidelines of the vehicle, and now the accident is your fault. If a cop shows up on the scene, and the party involved claims they couldn't see your brake lights, you will likely be charged with that, improper towing, and obstruction of the license plate. By the time a cop is done with you, you will be lucky to be able to afford insurance for both your bike and car.
 
ItIsWhatItIs said:
There is a maximum tongue weight as outlined already. Unless it's a truck, doubtful you have the rating to support the lift and the weight of your bike. Most cars, 1000 lbs, tongue rating 100 lbs. Some cars, 2000 lbs, 200 lb tongue rating. Some minivans, smaller trucks, most suvs, 3500 lbs, 350 lb tongue rating. Not enough of a rating to support the lift and the weight of even my bike, a cbr125, 280 lbs + 80 lbs = 360 lbs. I am sure if I were using this lift my brake lights would be somewhat obstructed.

Any claim made to insurance is investigated and like any traffic ticket is disputed by the parties involved. Insurers decides who is at fault. To ensure you are not declared at fault, witnesses and photos help. If you get rear ended using this lift, the person who hit, will say they couldn't see your brake lights. The insurer will look into this and then establish you were operating your vehicle contrary to the guidelines of the vehicle, and now the accident is your fault. If a cop shows up on the scene, and the party involved claims they couldn't see your brake lights, you will likely be charged with that, improper towing, and obstruction of the license plate. By the time a cop is done with you, you will be lucky to be able to afford insurance for both your bike and car.
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Of course every vehicle is different and their respective abilities will differ. Anyone looking for this device should obviously check to ensure their vehicle can handle its load. (I already said this in a previous post) That takes nothing away from the device, or its legality. Also saying some cars have this and that... its great to talk about the average guys car not being able to, but that is the owners prerogative to check. As I said in a previous post just check max tongue weight for your vehicle.

As for "safe operation" again this is a driver responsibility. If your brake lights are covered - that is not safe (according to most), therefore mount your own brake lights... total cost for me to do this was $5 (which I do, and they are on my picture). Improper towing? You are not towing ANYTHING. The device would have to be plated and registered not to mention HAVE WHEELS to be towed. You can't be charged for something you didn't do. BUT if you did forget to put in your hitch pin, and the thing fell of because you made a dumb mistake, then yeah.. insurance is going to own you. Just follow the instructions properly and you will be fine.

I don't make a habit of living my life fearing what someone might do. Cover your bases and fight for whats right.
 
IRONLUNG said:
Of course every vehicle is different and their respective abilities will differ. Anyone looking for this device should obviously check to ensure their vehicle can handle its load. (I already said this in a previous post) That takes nothing away from the device, or its legality. Also saying some cars have this and that... its great to talk about the average guys car not being able to, but that is the owners prerogative to check. As I said in a previous post just check max tongue weight for your vehicle.

As for "safe operation" again this is a driver responsibility. If your brake lights are covered - that is not safe (according to most), therefore mount your own brake lights... total cost for me to do this was $5 (which I do, and they are on my picture). Improper towing? You are not towing ANYTHING. The device would have to be plated and registered not to mention HAVE WHEELS to be towed. You can't be charged for something you didn't do. BUT if you did forget to put in your hitch pin, and the thing fell of because you made a dumb mistake, then yeah.. insurance is going to own you. Just follow the instructions properly and you will be fine.

I don't make a habit of living my life fearing what someone might do. Cover your bases and fight for whats right.
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Walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it's considered towing. You are relying on the vehicle manufactures hitch mounting mechanism. Once installed there is a tongue rating. As you are not using wheels to offset the weight of the "tow", tongue weight is all you have to work with. I guarantee a cop who views a bike/lift setup is exceeding the vehicles tongue rating will have little trouble convincing a court the violator is guilty of improper towing. Any vehicle that does have a tongue rating to accomodate this, will have a box. Then what's the point of this, throw it in the back of the truck, done.
 
Mines a homemade job and it works great! even got pulled over and cop made no issue about plate hardley visible.
I do add 2 extra tiedowns as you can see in the pic up and over my tailgate and to the tie downs inside the box to help with the tongue weight issue and prevent the wobbling and bouncing on the highway.
HaltonHills-20111010-00127.jpg
 
ItIsWhatItIs said:
Walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it's considered towing. No it isn't, and no matter how many times you say that, does not make it true. Google the definition of "towing" :rolleyes:. You are relying on the vehicle manufactures hitch mounting mechanism. Really? OMG Cuz I didn't explain that 10 times already. Once installed there is a tongue rating. AGAIN.. DUH... As you are not using wheels to offset the weight of the "tow", tongue weight is all you have to work with. I guarantee a cop who views a bike/lift setup is exceeding the vehicles tongue rating will have little trouble convincing a court the violator is guilty of improper towing. Really? Maybe if you are the cop. I bought this last bike FROM a cop... he loved my setup. Any vehicle that does have a tongue rating to accomodate this, will have a box. Then what's the point of this, throw it in the back of the truck, done. What it is, is another option. Like for example. I have 2 enormous subs in the back on my truck, with the box they are in it weighs maybe 100lbs. A tool box with all sorts of tools, and other misc crap. All that pretty much fills up the box. This device creates use of a hitch I would normally have never used.
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Instead of trying so obviously to try and detract from something that works for so many others, why don't you give it a try yourself, I wouldn't mind showing you how my setup looks at some point.
 
IRONLUNG said:
Instead of trying so obviously to try and detract from something that works for so many others, why don't you give it a try yourself, I wouldn't mind showing you how my setup looks at some point.
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I speed some times. I know I shouldn't but I do anyways. In certain circumsances this setup works and is legitimate. This reminds me of those rooftop car campers at the outdoor shows. As of late I don't see them so much. Why?, because a car roof can support 150lbs perhaps. Some moron will think, hey this is a great idea, then in the middle of the night while asleep the roof buckles. Doh!
 
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ItIsWhatItIs said:
I speed some times. I know I shouldn't but I do anyways. In certain circumsances this setup works and is legitimate. This reminds me of those rooftop car campers at the outdoor shows. As of late I don't see them so much. Why?, because a car roof can support 150lbs perhaps. Some moron will think, hey this is a great idea, then in the middle of the night while asleep the roof buckles. Doh!
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Yeah its definitely a different way to do it, and obviously not for everyone, I can imagine it now.. someone with a 1996 Honda Accord jerry rigging this thing :lmao:
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