Motorcycle/Dirtbike Hitch Hauler With Swing Out Attachment | VanLife Rear Door Access

I haven't seen a lot of info on hauling a dirt bike with a hitch rack behind a sprinter van, so I thought Id share my experience for anybody trying to do the same thing. I pretty much copied the same set up as a fellow traveler on TH-cam called Drifter Journey. You can check out his videos you want another point of view. Feel free to comment and ask me any questions. Thanks for watching. Im not recommending this setup for anybody Im just sharing my experience so other people can see a real world scenario.
Heres the links to exactly what Im using
Mototote M3 Motorcycle Carrier
www.mototote.com/mototote-mtx...
RackAttach by 1up
www.1up-usa.com/product/rakat...
Type S Tailgate LED light with 4 way Flat pin Connector
www.autozone.com/exterior-lig...
Also here is DrifterJourneys Video
• Best Mototote Motorcyc...

[@stephansailer2051]

Hi Alex, great solution! How did you solve the swing away part? Any details on the components you use? Dido you weld that part yourself? Looking for this kind of solution for my campervan. Thanks and best wishes from Rosenheim, Stephan

[@Seqhael]

Hey man, couple of things, How much does your bike weigh? I was going to do the same as you but have decided to build my own sturdier RakAttach system, but make a rear bumper out of it and add some additional welding off the frame rails to beef it up. However, I too have the 158" Sprinter, though 4x4 so a little bit higher, but the departure angle is destroyed by just coming straight out from the RakAttach like yours, have you thought about adding a hitch riser between the RakAttach and MotoTote? It would definitely lift your rack up and increase the departure angle.
I was even considering building something similar to the "Ultimate MX hauler" to fit between the RakAttach type bumper and the MotoTote, so I can really crank mine up so it doesn't effect the departure angle at all, but will also lower back down if it's too high to use the ramp. I've seen another thing on TH-cam where another guy built his own rack, "Ian9toes", kind of a weird name, but from his Sprinter hitch he had a roller right on the bottom off it too so if he hit the ground it would roll rather than scrape the fuck out of the hitch, just ideas..

[@alexsmelly2263]

Hey dude. When I started to consider hauling my bike I also planned to design and build a heavier duty version of the rakattach, with more support. But I was already finishing up final touchs on the van and doing last minute repairs to make it to a gig i had lined up. I dont have a 4x4 so I'm not usually around really aggressive departure angles although i have been a handleful of times and it has scraped. I also considered the ultimate mx hauler and still really like the idea. I if i was outfitting a 4x4 van i would be more concerned about how low the bike sits, and in that case id probly build my own like your suggesting, or id attach a hitch on the front of the van and use something like the mx hauler and i wouldnt need the rakattach. The bike weighs about 300lbs.

[@martinneps9387]

Do they make a heavier duty? Ones of this please comment back. I would like to take my birdman 650 scooter with me with mythank you for this video.

[@prush1]

Ive done a ton of research on these and there is hardly a better option. There are two heavier duty options that generally just add ~50lbs of carrying capacity. Rig'd Supply and Wilco both make swing out adapters that are rated for some extra weight but are literally double the price of the 1up ($900-$1100). 1up came out with a newer version of RakAttch (2.0) that functions better. I have a Talaria e-moto (so a lot less weight than this bike), and just finished installing the RakAttach 2.0. So far it seems very sturdy.

[@oh-qn6ht]

Curious how this hitch has held up for you? Considering it for my 240lb xr250.

[@alexsmelly2263]

The whole system has worked out nice for me. I think the new version of the rakattach is better the one I have too.

[@katekaos]

Does the moto tote fold at all when not in use? Can you open the back doors with just the moto tote there? I'm worried my 400lb bike won't work with a RakAttach -- moto tote looks great but if I can't do the Rak Attach I need to make sure the back doors will open with it. I have a Promaster 2500

[@alexsmelly2263]

On my van the doors open without a bike on the rack. Im not sure about a promaster. Mototote does not fold up in anyway

[@katekaos]

@@alexsmelly2263 ok good to know. How heavy is the tote in case I need to remove and put inside the van and how much does it stick out from the van? I don’t want to be too long because I just got into a parking space now. 😄

[@alexsmelly2263]

@@katekaos where are you located? its maybe 60lbs and it sticks out about 2 ft. but I usually back into a space when I can and let it hang into the sidewalk lol. but when you have a long rig you just have to sacrifice good parking.

[@katekaos]

@@alexsmelly2263 LA right now so parking is minimal and sometimes cops get bored and write “oversized vehicle tickets” - carrying on the back is scary because I don’t want it to fall off but inside might take up too much room

[@alexsmelly2263]

@@katekaos lol yea I wouldnt be caught dead in la

[@jessicaboggs4298]

🤣