Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

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Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

March 22, 2012, 10:27:25 pm

That's my question.. In the past I have seen Pushers with bicycle racks in the front but I wonder if I could rig something up for my 600# HD.
Tomorrow I going slide under the front and see if I can find any heavy steel..I'm thinking I can fab something up with a couple of recever hitches so I can remove when not needed. Has this been done in the past?? Any thoughts or input on this would be nice,Thanks

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #1 – March 22, 2012, 10:33:16 pm

I'd wonder about weight/axle capacity. Might be worth reviewing the actual loaded (with occupants) weight to make sure before adding a front mount. For example, IIRC our '03 scales at 11050 lbs on the front axle.

Michelle

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #2 – March 22, 2012, 10:48:38 pm

Remember that adding 600# in front of the coach will add more than 600# to the load on the front axle. It will take load off the rear axle. It's that "leverage thing."

Likewise, adding 600# hanging off the back will add more than 600# to the rear axle load and will subtract load from the front axle.

I recommend a trailer or a toad that will carry the motorcycle.

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #3 – March 22, 2012, 11:17:42 pm

I had to buy a 42' coach to get the axle capacity to carry my 550# BMW. I installed a Cruiserlift on the rear. It requires a triple receiver hitch to be welded to the frame.

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #4 – March 23, 2012, 12:55:55 pm

I see from your avatar that you tow a pick-up truck. This may be a viable alternative for you. I saw one at a campground that the owner demonstrated to us, he had a Goldwing. He was not in the best of health and it worked really well for him. Good news is that there is one for sale at the Escapees Forum for $850.00!

I have a Rampage Motorcycle Loader For Sale.... - Escapees Discussion Forum

Keith

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #5 – March 23, 2012, 07:48:08 pm

Quote from: Keith and Joyce – March 23, 2012, 12:55:55 pm

I see from your avatar that you tow a pick-up truck. This may be a viable alternative for you. I saw one at a campground that the owner demonstrated to us, he had a Goldwing. He was not in the best of health and it worked really well for him. Good news is that there is one for sale at the Escapees Forum for $850.00!

I have a Rampage Motorcycle Loader For Sale.... - Escapees Discussion Forum

Keith

I saw one of these used with a PU truck at the campground in Tucson. The guy loaded a full size Harley very easily. The one on the Escapees site looks like quite a deal.

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #6 – March 23, 2012, 10:54:43 pm

Thanks for the feedback... Years back I took a peak at all the books that came with the bus and remember looking at the Rockwell Axle book ...I think the Axle is the same setup used in a school bus,Garbage,Dump,and Concrete Trucks so I don't think the extra load is going to be a issue with the Axle but I'm going to check the rating anyways.
After I bought the bus I blasted all the steel in the back, all the steel in the front, followed it up with about 4 gallons of rustolum and remembered how impressed I was with all the Heavy duty steel used for the frame/supports..So I know it will hold the MC but I wonder how it will effect the ride??I guess I can invite some of my bigger friends for a free ride and have all ride upfront to see.
I went to the web site and scoped out the MC lift.We use the back of my truck for our golf cart so this option will not work for us But yes, 800 bucks sounds like a good deal.
If it turns out to be a safety issue I'm just going to forget about it..Again thanks for the input

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #7 – March 23, 2012, 11:00:04 pm

Assuming you have a generator in the front center, what is more important the Harley or the A/C ?
Dave M

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #8 – March 23, 2012, 11:46:20 pm

Well I was thinking welding some receivers so the rack can be removed when not in use ,this way I can still get to my gen if needed....If it comes down to AC or MC, AC wins.
Two years ago Gen head burnt up in July with 3 hours left in our trip,wife was not happy...Been there done that will not go back,''Wife not happy, nobody happy''

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #9 – March 24, 2012, 04:32:57 pm

A few hundred pounds on the front end of mine would be beneficial to the ride I think. I've been thinking about having a section of rail welded to the foremost superstructure. My rig rides much better with full fuel, full FW and full propane (all fairly close to the front axle.

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #10 – March 24, 2012, 06:52:31 pm

Dwayne,
I was pondering this this afternoon.
Our neighbor in a campground up in Montana had an interesting rig.

He had a 5th wheel thus the truck was up front.

Behind the 5th wheel he had a short trailer with a single swiveling wheel on which he carried his bike (can't tell you what kind but I think it was a respectably sized BMW). The more I think about the more I think the trailer was connected via a receiver rather than a ball.

I was impressed with the single swiveling rear wheel.

hth

elliott bray

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #11 – March 24, 2012, 08:48:37 pm

Here is more info on M/C trailers and lifts.

The ultimate motorcycle RV transportation system.

Keith

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #12 – March 24, 2012, 09:40:14 pm

If the axle is rated for the load then why not? Need to figure your lever arm with accurate weights of bike and additional structure. Any number of pilots on this forum can help you with this if you're unfamiliar. Might be a bit of a challenge making your headlights and turn sigs visible. Having rebuilt my generator frame subassembly I'll caution you against hanging additional load from thiis structure without reworking it, would suggest attaching to main frame members. It would be nice to tote rather than drag, no doubt.

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #13 – March 25, 2012, 01:55:50 pm

Thanks for that link Keith and Joyce...I looked it up and that would be a great option for sure,I will keep this in mind and call it plan ''B''

Chuck thanks,This this is the feed back I was hoping for.. My bike has been lowered ''Dropped in the front/back by 2 or 3 inches so it's not that tall and I feel like it will fit just fine in the space I have from the top of my lights to the bottom of the windshield. I had no time to slip under the front yet but I will tomorrow for a good look see. since u reworked your gen supports what did it tie back 2 ? does the main frame come all the way up 2 the front?? I'm starting to get all fired up now and can't wait 2 start this if it's feasible..

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #14 – March 26, 2012, 09:23:16 am

I would rather have a rear lift. One reason is just how much difference the way the bike is going to look when you arrive anywhere. The front of my coach is a mess with bugs from a trip. The rear is usually just dusty. Rode 250 miles to lunch on Sat. and the bike was a bug mess when I got home.

Some rear lift can still tow the truck, and some can lift the bike high and clear of the truck being towed. I know of a used Blue Ox lift, not sure whether it lifts just to bumper height, or higher, or what the tow rating might be when a bike is loaded. Lift was in Ft. Worth and for sale a month ago, but not advertised. Contact me off list and I can share a phone number that might help you if a Blue Ox lift is interesting.

I have wanted to carry my bike, but realize that axle loading on my suspension system is better without the added lift and bike weight. Hopefully the next coach will have the capacity to carry more.

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #15 – March 26, 2012, 09:32:39 am

Quote from: Dave and Dolly Cobb – March 26, 2012, 09:23:16 am

I would rather have a rear lift. One reason is just how much difference the way the bike is going to look when you arrive anywhere. The front of my coach is a mess with bugs from a trip.

Good point. Never known a Harleyista who wasn't concerned about cosmetics, the bug carnage from a few hundred miles of springtime driving in the Ozarks would be considerable. Also, you are now using a bike for a front bumper, and getting driven rain, dirt and dust and debris.

The frame is there, that's what the generator subassembly hangs from. Here are a few points you might consider.

The effective weight of the bike will be far more than actual since it's mounted on a lever. I believe the actual weight of the front axle of my coach is less than 1000 lbs below the max gvw front on the data tag. I'd check into this first as there's more to consider than the capacity of the axle.

Any mount will have to be no lower than the bottom of the existing generator frame. Drop below this and it will drag/scrape frequently. This means cutting notches into the generator cover (current price around $3000, I know because I need one). This leads to the issue of cosmetics and resale though I'm a form/function guy and gear serves me, not the other way.

As far as building a structure, as I recall the generator subassembly is heavy wall square tube, 2x2x1/4", plenty heavy. It is butted up to the extremely heavy frame, maybe 3" X 8" and fillet welded. If I was doing it, I would grind out those welds (after removing genset and sheet metal of course), and run em again for max penetration with some 7018. I would also add some gussets between tube and main frame, similarly welded. Talk about adding insult to injury, the feeling of dropping your bike and then running over it with your coach would be hard to equal! There is a space between generator assembly and other mechanics of the coach on either side, down low, where the latch assembly hook is mounted. I think this area is adequate to mount the framework (on the outside of existing verticals) for a mount, or even an extension style mount so genset can be opened while bike is mounted. The latching pins can be greatly simplified and redone.

Probably more info than you wanted, and all pure opinion worth what you're paying for it. Projects like this really wind me up.

Chuck

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #16 – March 26, 2012, 10:44:22 am

Another thought, all the heavy duty cycle carriers have two or three 2x2 frame pipes to be inserted into the newly installed coach receivers. The lift design and frame square pipes might not be the spacing needed to do the install and clear the generator slide system. Of course any welding shop can modify anything to fit, as long as money is available.

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #17 – March 26, 2012, 07:06:37 pm

I bought a Cruiser Lift and had the receivers welded on. I placed the lift on only to find out the engine door will not open with it in place! This means that if access is needed on the side of the road the toad comes off, the bike, the lift (in pieces) and then I can open the door! This stopped me and I have been contemplating it. I can't decide to sell it and change my towed vehicle to a pickup and a lift. Is there an issue with weight for my 1999 U320 to carry the 550# BMW and the rack, another 200 or so pounds? We like our Saturn Vue as our toad and I think I am willing to live with the door situation as I can open it enough to see belts, check the oil & see the coolant level.

Any thoughts about the added weight?

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #18 – March 26, 2012, 08:57:14 pm

Have you talked to Xtreme about a door redesign? I think the front loader idea on a unicoach will overload your axle.

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #19 – March 26, 2012, 10:08:50 pm

Thanks for the info...I been bowed up with work for a frame scope out.. I've got to drive to Houston in the morning so maybe I'll have time for a peek mid week. I did look up the Ultimate MC lift and I had no idea I could get a lift to go this high,I do like...
I will look up the Blue Ox as well.
I'm not to worried about dirt,grime,flying rocks,and bugs..I have not washed the bike in some years and I love the way it looks

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #20 – March 26, 2012, 10:52:50 pm

Phil,

I had Xtreme modify the rear door grille. They removed the rivets and installed Dzus fittings. This allows me to easily remove the grille with the bike on the lift, letting me check and add fluids, etc.

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #21 – March 27, 2012, 06:44:58 pm

Thanks Brett I will look at the grill, sounds like a plan. Can you elaborate on your comment about needing the TAG axle for the added weight. When I bought the lift it did not even occur to me that the bike & rack would be an issue given the GVW of the coach

PS I too have a R1150R which is the bike I want to haul.

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #22 – March 28, 2012, 12:09:36 am

As I recall, when I actually weighed the '99 40' U320 I was about to buy, I only had 3K carrying capacity with full water and fuel tanks. We couldn't have packed enough for full-timing with the bike on the back. The 42' with the tag boosted our real CCC to over 7K, which gave us plenty of margin. Our rule of thumb is that full-timing requires 2K CCC per person. But that's us-your requirements can vary. See my other note about basement loading!

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #23 – March 28, 2012, 08:38:30 pm

I saw a 42 foot sob towing a pickup and hooked on behind the pickup was a trailer with a gulf cart on it. I wonder how long he was. I wonder about how legal he is also

Re: Motor Cycle rack in the front of my FT,Can it be done??

Reply #24 – March 28, 2012, 08:53:33 pm

NASCAR drivers tend to have 45 Bus convertions, and the almost all tow crew cab pickups with beds long enough to put their golf carts in the pickup bed - course they have drivers to bring the MH to the track, and they fly their. Some of the golf carts are rumored to do in excess of 50 MPH due to various modifications. Not sure how long those rigs are - but plenty of them in the infield at any given cup race.

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