Loading, tying down and unloading a motorcycle hitch carrier
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ย. 2021
- Over the last couple of weeks, I have had a lot of questions about the hitch carrier I use to haul my motorcycle to the trails. Hitch carriers are a great option but I always tell people that they need to be careful to tie their bikes down properly. I decided to make a short video covering the method I use to tie my bike down. I hope this is helpful, If you have any suggestions on how to improve the method I use please let me know in the comments.
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Thanks! I have a new bike and a new hitch carrier. I really don't want to drop my bike on the highway. Your instructions give me some confidence that I'm tying it down correctly. I really appreciate you posting this video.
Make sure you wear a helmet😂😂😂
Best video I have found yet for tying down a bike to this type of rack. Good Job.
Thanks, I'm glad you found it helpful. One point I wanted to mention, I did not use a hitch stabilizer in the video so the carrier moves around a bit when I load and unload the bike. Normally I do use a stabilizer and I highly recommend using one to keep things from moving around.
Thanks. Going forward to unload looks smart. I just got a used BW and tried to load/unload a Super Cub, and backing it off was the sketchy part. A longer ramp would be a nice improvement and something I may investigate.
Great video easy straightforward description and demonstration I have exact carrier but I’m using it for all terrain far tire e-bike , after recommendations and a little research this option was more straightforward less cumbersome and less expensive and most importantly safe ,cost wasn’t a factor but ease of application and lightweight was . Thanks again travel safe
The best one on YT. 🎉🎉🎉
Thanks very much. A very helpful video. 👍
Thx a bunch! Fool proof instructions. Much appreciated. JP
I'm glad you found it useful.
Really good video. Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
Thanks, newbie here and just what I needed to see
Your welcome, just be sure to buy good quality tie downs and check the tension on the tie downs every so often.
An additional point I wanted to mention, you should look in to using a hitch stabilizer to keep the carrier from moving around while it’s in use. I have one and use it but for the video I neglected to use it.
Whenever possible, run your front tie downs to the lower triple clamps, vs handlebars. Better angle and super solid point on the bike.
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try using the lower triple clamps and and see how that works.
Thanks for posting this! This will be helpful for our double carrier and honda ruckus. Question, do you use any air bags on your tundra for the added weight? Nice truck as well man
Hi Paddle Board. I'm glad the video was helpful. The Tundra suspension is stock but its not a problem because the bike only weighs about 300lbs with fuel and saddlebags and the truck's tongue weight rating is a little over 1,000lb and the payload rating is 1,600 lb so nothing is over loaded.
I use to have a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 and it's tongue weight rating was 500lb and the payload rating was 1450lb. I used the same setup to carry the bike with no problems.
With both of these trucks the weight wasn't noticeable while driving and it did not make the headlights shine higher or blind oncoming drivers. On the Toyota there is a control that can compensate for added weight on the rear of the vehicle by lowering the level of the headlights.
One point I did not cover in the video is using a hitch anti-rattle clamp. In the video you can see the carrier wobbling around when I load the bike, an anti-rattle clamp prevents the carrier from moving around. The hitch carrier came with a hitch anti-rattle clamp which worked well on the Dodge but would not work on the Tundra. I purchased a Trimax THC200 Univeral Anti-Rattle Clamp from Amazon and it works very well. The only thing I changed on the Trimax was to replace the standard 3/4" nuts with good quality nylock nuts.
Here is a link to the one I purchased. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JPCVM14/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
@@mototrailsandtrials8482 Awesome ill be getting those as well, I appreciate the sugestion! Looking forward to putting them to use with our honda ruckus's. Thanks for sharing!
T-Dub!!!!😍😍😍
Yes, its a great trail bike!
I do something similar but I double up the straps up front on the handlebars. Cam straps toward the front and ratchet straps up and down. Like NASA I double up everything in case a single strap fails
Interesting, does your hitch hauler have tie-down points on the front and back? Mine only has tie-down points in the middle so that's the reason I use the tie downs the way I do. I don't double up tie-down straps because all of my straps are rated for about 3 times the weight of the bike so I'm satisfied with the safety margin that they provide.
@@mototrailsandtrials8482 it just has tie down points in the middle, I just loop the front straps around the front of the platform near the front wheel and hook them there
How do you make sure the straps don't touch the ground for the ones for the back wheel?
I wrap them around the rear foot pegs and then I take the loops on the end of the camlock straps and put them over the straps wrapped around the passenger pegs and flip the pegs up to the stored position and the straps are secured.
would probably be easier to do if you removed your helmet first?
Which carrier is this? Did you add the lights yourself?
Hi John, I'm using the AMC 400 carrier. I added the lights myself. The lights are from an inexpensive trailer light kit I purchased from Walmart (www.walmart.com/ip/Blazer-International-Submersible-Low-Profile-Trailer-Light-Kit-C6285-Red/16880525). I purchased the kit because it came with the lights, wiring and 4 pin plug needed to use my existing towing setup. The lights work pretty well but If I had to do it over I would probably go with a similar set of LED lights.
@@mototrailsandtrials8482 is the carrier worth the money? I have to bring my TW on a 1000 mile trip.
I believe the AMC 400 is worth the investment. I've been using mine for 4 or 5 years and it has held up well. There are less expensive aluminum carriers available but I think they use lesser quality materials and they are bolted together rather than welded together. With free shipping, I think you can get one from Black Widow for a little over $200.
@@mototrailsandtrials8482 thank you
@@mototrailsandtrials8482 so I ordered the 400 black widows do have any trouble fitting the back tire of the TW 200 on it? The width on the 400 is 5" 1/2 wide. Looks a little narrow for the bike. Is your Carrier 5" 1/2 wide as well?
What straps do you use?
Sorry for the slow reply. On the front I use these amzn.to/3PQCHGi and on the rear wheel I use these amzn.to/3oymYA0
What kind of bike is that?
It's a 2012 Yamaha Tw200.
For starters this guys hitch attachment is far to wobbly! No need for a helmet to do such! You can buy a 4 strap ratchet kit for cheap. Tighten up each side near the clamps then secure rear on both sides. Simple
Dude. You breathing heavy. Take it easy.
Not really, it might be that the mic was very close to my mouth. If you want to hear heavy breathing watch this one th-cam.com/video/3DiP_p9xlO4/w-d-xo.html
He’s not at all. Just talking while he’s working.
Dude why do you have to wear a helmet right away while doing this video?
Haha he’s wearing the helmet because that’s what’s holding his camera. 👍
Remove your helmet
Why? My action camera is mounted on it and it was used to capture half of the video. I'm not that pretty to look at anyway.
Safety first
ATGATT!
Why are you wearing a helmet?
I'm filming with 3 cameras at the same time. One of those camera's is attached to my helmet.