Hitch mount carriers...

Smit-Dog · Jun 11, 2003

Keep in mind that I don't have any first-hand experience with hitch mount carriers, but have a couple of observations and questions.

1) Seems to me that carriers like the Ready-2-Ride (http://www.ready-2-ride.com/Webpages/navpro-carrier.htm) would be preferable to the MJR in the fact that they have 2 5 gallon gas can holders. Unless you have a pickup (then why would you need a hitch carrier?), the ability to store/transport gas cans outside your vehicle would be a huge advantage. Personally, I wouldn't want to drive 3-4 hours with a couple of gas cans inside the vehicle.

2) Near as I can tell, the MJR secures a 250lbs bike by the footpegs alone. I'm sure there have been thousands of miles racked up towing bikes this way without any problems, but something about exerting that much mass and force on footpeg bolts/weld mounts doesn't give me the warm fuzzies.

3) I like the fact that the Ready-2-Ride type has no hydraulic parts to leak/service/break. And as far as compressing the forks on the R2R unit, a simple front wheel block would prevent that.

4) As far as the Add-A-Bike (http://www.mxsouth.com/add-a-bike/addbike.htm), it seems like a really good idea with the "Vertical Pressure Bar", but I wonder how worn your seat would get after a few thousand miles of rubbing and chafing from all the movement. And with really flat MX seats, what prevents the bike from creeping forward? Hit a bump, suspension compresses slightly, and bike creeps a little. I'd at least like to see a piece of channel iron welded at an angle on the front to stop the front wheel. I like the lights wiring option though.

I have considered getting a hitch mount for those short day trips when I'm only carrying 1 bike, and these things came to mind.

geremacheks · Jun 11, 2003

1. MJR does have outside gas carriers as an option.

2. I've carried my bikes at least 8,000 miles on the MJR (many western trips to ride in the mountains). The footpeg connection is very reliable, and I would have to now reccommend it. The stress is all on the hitch, not the bike. In contrast, with bikes on a trailer, I've had tie downs come loose. Now, if I have to trailer bikes, there are always two pair of tie downs on each bike for extra security. I don't trust tie downs. Nor do I like the forks compressed for a long time, so I use blocks between the front tires and the fender. (Forks are not compressed with the MJR.) Disadvantage: it only carries one bike. But lately, thats all I need.

3. The MJR now is made so that you can replace the jack easily at your local Walmart store if it gives you problems. I understand you can refill these jacks too if they leak oil which one of mine did--but kept working.

The real advangage to me for the MJR is you can get access to the back of your truck on long trips if you have a truck with a cap like I do, or if you have a utility vehicle. My back window opens and so does the back lid open partially without moving the bike. I'm always crawling into the back of the truck on trips. But if you need to move the bike from the back doors of your vehicle, it's simple. The jack lowers easily to the ground, and lifts up again with a few quick pumps, and it is still secure. Really ingenious. No taking the bike off the rack. (Why didn't we think of this?)

EBOD · Jun 11, 2003

I'll take a stab at trying to describe Lawman's suggestion. My MotojackRack came with exactly what he suggests.

Essentially, the nut is welded to the rack a half-inch or so behind where the rack's tube stops when you push it into the hitch receiver. The nut is oriented front/back so that the hole faces the hitch receiver. The bolt is threaded through the nut (with the head facing the back). After you load up the rack, you tighten the bolt against the hitch receiver to take up the free play so that it can't wobble as much.

As I read it, it doesn't seem much clearer, but it may help.

lawman · Jun 11, 2003

yeah, that's it! thanks, ebod. i stole the idea from mjr when i had 1, & added 1 like it to a tray-type carrier. once i took the slack out of the hitch like that, the tray-type one didn't sway.

i liked my mjr. had to add fluid once, & always worried not about the footpegs, but about the set screw-things that jam into the hooks that go thru the pegs. but don't recall any real problem with them, either. i had to do a little filing on mine to get it to mount, & on 1 vehicle, they sent the wrong 1, wouldn't fit at at all, but they replaced it with no hassle. it really is a cool idea, & so simple that i wished i'd thought of it.

the downside of all of these on an suv is that most of them will need some sort of booster springs or they sag so much that driving is pretty scary. mine (for an explorer) cost about $70.

Smit-Dog · Jun 11, 2003

Or if welding a nut isn't practical, check either of these 2 products out...

http://www.hitchrider.com/nowobble.htm

http://www.a1-autoracks.com/hr020-021.html

gixer · Jun 11, 2003

I am not a big fan of holding the bike by the foot pegs. I rid allot in the woods and have had to replace them a few times so that kind of scares me. The block between the front fender and tire is a good idea I do that also to keep the front end from compressing too much. One thing I have seen to help stop wobble is this. Ok lets see……the 2” tube that goes in the receiver hitch….it looks like a piece is cut off of it at the back on an angle…lets say a 45 degree angle….then you have a little piece that they back end is then blocked off with a nut welded to it. …A threaded rod it fed threw the larger piece from the front to the back and when you tighten the nut on the front it pulls that small piece towards the larger piece as the angles meet each other they then start to push one end up and the other end down to wedge it in the receiver tube. This then should stable the rack. But from my experience no matter how much you stable the rack the bike will still wobble no matter what. It will always wobble.
Little trick I have been doing with my tie downs to help so they don’t come lose is I take a bungi cord (sp? ) and I connect it from one hook on the strap to the other. Make sure the bungi cord is shorter so there is some tension on it. This way if the bike leans over the bungi cord pulls the hooks together so you don’t have to worry about the hook coming lose.
Steven

jjcobra99 · Jun 11, 2003

Smit-Dog, I thought the same thing as you when I first saw the Add-a-bike. The way it works though is really quite simple. When you load it up, the vertical piece (that the arm is mounted to) is very close to the bike so your footpeg goes right up against it to prevent the bike from moving forward. There is a piece of plastic (or something) riveted to the vertical piece that the footpeg rests against. And as far as the seat, supposedly you can get some pipe insulation or foam to put over the arm so it's not so hard on the seat. So far, the only real disadvantages that I can see, is that I won't be able to open the back of the 4runner without unloading the bike and pulling the carrier out of the receiver. And for me, it's not a major inconvenience as I won't really be opening the back until I get where I'm going. The other thing is the gas can. I'm sure something could be rigged up pretty easily though. Anyway, to see what I'm talking about how the footpeg holds it, look at the photo gallery and there is a close-up of it.

http://www.addabike.com/Photo_Gallery.html

Smit-Dog · Jun 11, 2003

Aha.... I see now... thanks jjcobra.

And with that 4Runner, just hit the power button on the key fob to power down that rear window! (I have an '03 Sport V8 :thumb: )

jjcobra99 · Jun 11, 2003

Originally posted by Smit-Dog
(I have an '03 Sport V8 :thumb: )

Me too! :)

gixer · Jun 13, 2003

Man the V8 must be nice I have a 02 with a 6. actually its the wife but I tell ya what it is a nice truck. When I get a chance to drive it I like it more and more.

jjcobra99 · Jun 16, 2003

Well, just got back from the trip (~700 miles round trip). The Add-a-bike was great. No problems whatsoever. I didn't use any straps or anything extra to hold the bike. The only thing I added was a piece of foam pipe insulation over the arm that presses down on the seat. I didn't use anything to take the play out of the receiver/stinger, but I probably could have used it on a couple of back roads in WV. Other than that, it really didn't move around much. It left a little indentation in my seat when I first took it off, but it came right back out. Overall, I am real happy with it. :)

Gixer, yeah the V8 is awesome! I've never driven the earlier models, but I LOVE the 3rd gen body style.

gixer · Jun 17, 2003

Any idea how much that rack weighs??

jjcobra99 · Jun 17, 2003

It's supposed to weigh like 35 lbs, and I would say that's about right. It is very easy to pick up/hook up.

Smit-Dog · Jun 17, 2003

Originally posted by jjcobra99
Well, just got back from the trip (~700 miles round trip)....
Gixer, yeah the V8 is awesome! I've never driven the earlier models, but I LOVE the 3rd gen body style.

What kind of mileage did you get on that trip? I only have 1200 miles on mine, but I've been getting around 20MPG so far with a 40/60 mix of city/highway driving. The computer is generous by 1-2 MPG; the 20MPG is using the manual miles ÷ gallons method.

jjcobra99 · Jun 17, 2003

To be honest, I haven't manually checked it. I always forget. I did reset the computer as we were leaving, and the computer average for the whole trip was like 19.6. That was about 8 hours on the freeway, and 4 hours in some pretty serious mountains. I have heard a lot of people say that the computer is a little generous, so the actual number is probably around 18--but that's just a guess.

redrocket190 · Jul 5, 2003

I use a Moto Jack Rack on the back of a Land Rover Discovery 2000 to carry a Honda CR250R 1978. My model cost around $300 directly from the manufacturer who is local here in SoCal. They were very helpful in making one for me with a longer shaft needed to clear the tire mounted to the rear door, and at no extra charge. Overall I have found this real useful, particularly if you do not want to buy or store a trailer. Some tips though...Buy a spare jack handle and locking pin(s). These cannot be fastened to the MJR so there is always a risk they get left at home :) Also carry some hydraulic fluid as the jack can leak, but it is easily topped up.

wibby · Jul 7, 2003

I just got a Dennis Kirk catalog, they have 2 different racks for under $200
One is made by Travelrite ($189) and the other is Classic Innovations ($146)

ACES 2 · Jul 17, 2003

I am trying to make the same decision myself.I need to carry a xr-400 or kx-250 off the back of my frontier.I like the MJR but does anyone know if you can open the tailgate fully with it in the full down position?Thanks

Ed Silva · Jul 17, 2003

I made one for my motorhome.I used steel channel and angle iron for the supports, making a platform between the bike and vehicle to carry gas cans, and small bar-b-que. I use two tie downs up front like in my truck, one ratching one looped from peg- under channel to the other peg. I tighten this one down while compressing the rear suspension. this gives good pre-load and the front dosen't have to be as tight. then I add a forth around the top of the rear tire to hold it leaning forward just in case something came loose.
On the carrier frame itself, I added a turn buckle on each end to a hole in the rear frame that cuts down the rocking. easy on & off, I have never had any trouble and it lets me sail along without having to slow down with a trailer!

Surfrider55 · Aug 5, 2003

I have the Moto Jack Rack that I am using on a 2002 Jeep Liberty. All I needed was a short extension to clear the outside mount spare tire. I really like the way it locks down using the foot pegs and then I only need one tie down to secure the front from swiveling.

I use the rack for a Yamaha WR250. Got the rack at the dealer, took the floor model and with discount got it for $299

Good luck with you decision

Patman · Aug 5, 2003

Aces 2 I seriously doubt you could get the tailgate open. On my F250 there is no way and while the Nissan has a shorter gate I don't believe it's short enough to clear the vertical riser on the MJR.

scooter1130 · Aug 6, 2003

I use the moto jack rack on my 01 Chevy 1/2 ton p/u, and can't open the tail gate with it on.  But I met someone riding the other day with a Chevy 3/4 ton p/u, and he can open the tail gate.  I don't know what the difference was since the hitch is mounted to the frame, the height of the truck shouldn't matter.  Mine almost opens and if it were an inch shorter in height, I could open the tailgate.   The only thing I can think of is that maybe they changed the mjr so that the tailgate can be opened with the new models. 

ACES 2 · Aug 12, 2003

Thanks very much for the info.I guess it wouldnt be to hard to pull the mjr out to put the gate down to get the quad out.Thanks again,ACES 2

TheDude · Oct 6, 2003

Originally posted by jjcobra99
real disadvantages that I can see, is that I won't be able to open the back of the 4runner without unloading the bike and pulling the carrier out of the receiver.

Hey jjcobra99, I have an 03 4runner 4X4 V8....just wondering how heavy of a bike you have and how it rides on the new 4 runner?

Also, did you have any problems fitting the unit with the spare tire so close to the receiver? Any need to modify the unit or did it work OK?

jjcobra99 · Oct 13, 2003

Sorry this reply was is so late, I've had some computer glitches to deal with. Anyway, my bike is a CR250, so I guess with a full tank of gas, it would be somewhere in the ballpark of 220lbs. Personally, I can't even tell that it's back there on the 4Runner. I was very paranoid the first few trips I made with it, and kept my eye on it a lot. Now that I've used it several times, I've gotten pretty comfortable with it, and I almost forget that it's even back there. No issues with the spare tire either. It slides right up against it, but it fits fine. Great setup. The only downside with the Add-a-bike, is that you can't open the hatch without pulling the carrier completely off of the vehicle. Would be nice if the vertical part of it would fold down or something. Of course with the 4Runner, you can still access the cargo area by rolling down the window!

Hitch mount carriers...

Smit-Dog

geremacheks

EBOD

lawman

Smit-Dog

gixer

jjcobra99

Smit-Dog

jjcobra99

gixer

jjcobra99

gixer

jjcobra99

Smit-Dog

jjcobra99

redrocket190

wibby

Mod Ban

ACES 2

Ed Silva

Surfrider55

Patman

Pantless Wonder

scooter1130

Paragon Junkie

ACES 2

TheDude

jjcobra99

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