Motorhome Bike Lift

[rockstar]

Saw this on the road in my travels and I really like to get one for my Motorhome so we can travel away from our site while on vacation.
Has anyone bought one? recommend one? Know who sells them?
Just looking for some feedback.
Thanks. Rocky
http://i1139.photobucket.com/albums/n545/abcrock3/New%20Nomad/01e76ed0-00cb-4210-919f-d6e271685119.jpg

[redjay]

I went to look at a bike for sale that was carried on the back of a motorhome.
He had put a cover on the bike as he was travelling from Ontario to Florida in the winter.
The cover flapping in the wind had taken the paint off everywhere it touched the bike, the bags and the rear fender. It was a mess. The underside of the mufflers had also been damaged by the lift. Personally I would have the bike in an enclosed trailer behind the motorhome or in one of those motorhomes that has a ramp and a room at the back for a bike. My 2 cents.

[rockstar]

2 cents well taken, thanks.

[glwilson]

I am going to have to agree with redjay on this point.

If the bike isn't covered, it is going to get dirt and grime driven deep into it from hanging on the back of a motorhome where the wind is sucked up the backend; like it is in the picture. Covered causes other problems as mentioned.

I towed a bike a couple times for a long distance on an open trailer, and vowed to never to it again... it was a real mess due to some bad weather we went through. You cannot always avoid bad weather.

[coffey67]

An enclosed trailer is the way to go. I will be buying a class A motorhome in a couple more years and plan on pulling a trailer big enough for two bikes and a small car.

[tcat]

Photo looks like a Hydralift unit, I have one on my 5th wheel - have not had any issues with damage from loose cover, you just have to use a lined one & make sure it is properly secured to prevent flapping - here's the website www.hydralift-usa.com

[kawboysix]

An enclosed trailer is the way to go. I will be buying a class A motorhome in a couple more years and plan on pulling a trailer big enough for two bikes and a small car.

depends on where your going with the rig though doesn't it? what would you do with the trailer when you back the MH into a camp site? Usually when I back my rig ( 27 ft. jayco and crew cab dodge) into a camp site, my front bumper on the truck is within a foot of the streets edge. Most camp sites are the same size in my experience. The trailer your wanting would be atleast 20 feet?

I think that lift would be a good idea if some sort of enclosure was made. Maybe plastic of fiber glass encloser that would drop down over bike and carrier and then secure from the bottom with a few latches. Then just throw a couple ratchet straps around it. ????

[cactusjack]

Personally, I prefer to ride my bike.

[coffey67]

depends on where your going with the rig though doesn't it? what would you do with the trailer when you back the MH into a camp site? Usually when I back my rig ( 27 ft. jayco and crew cab dodge) into a camp site, my front bumper on the truck is within a foot of the streets edge. Most camp sites are the same size in my experience. The trailer your wanting would be atleast 20 feet?


That is a problem. Most good camp grounds will have a parking area nearby where you can park your trailer at no cost. It may be a mile away but it will never be easy to bring all your toys with you.

[Dave]

Personally, I prefer to ride my bike.

A regular Jim Bronson!

[duffy]

I considered one of those (no particular brand) but came to the conclusion that a trailer was cheaper and easier to use. Then decided that a toy hauler RV was an even better idea. I got the bike for running around and the wife has the pick-up ( she's not overly fond of bikes).

[dank]

If the bike isn't covered, it is going to get dirt and grime driven deep into it from hanging on the back of a motorhome where the wind is sucked up the backend;I towed a bike a couple times for a long distance on an open trailer, and vowed to never to it again... it was a real mess due to some bad weather we went through. You cannot always avoid bad weather.


I can't think it is any worse that what happens when you hit rain while riding, so what's the big deal about it? Avoiding the cover I understand, but water and dirt get blown all through my bike every time I hit bad rain while riding, which , as you said, you can't always avoid.

[Old Bear]

Split the difference. Have a lift or open trailer, and put a Motorcycle CycleShell on it. I don't have one, mind you, but I have heard a lot of good things about them.

[rockstar]

Photo looks like a Hydralift unit, I have one on my 5th wheel - have not had any issues with damage from loose cover, you just have to use a lined one & make sure it is properly secured to prevent flapping - here's the website www.hydralift-usa.com

I never knew that a fifth wheel could handle that kind of weight back there. Pretty impressive.
Thanks for the link. :tup:

[Chili]

I looked at those hydra lift setups and it was around 5k installed back in 2007. We just went with a 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer which also served other use outside of hauling the bike.

[doctorgski]

We have traveled for the last 9 years in a 43ft bus with our motorcycle on the back on a lift. We pull our car behind also. My opinion, it's the best way. A lot of camp grounds have NO room for a trailer after you park the bus. If you pull a small trailer, you have a bike but no car. If you pull a large trailer to have both but you have just compounded the space problem at camp sites. Right now we are 68 feet long pulling the car, that's long enough, illegal in some states but never enforced that I've seen and we've been in all but 6 states. Toy haulers severely reduce the living space in the bus. Wife would not be happy. The 2nd best choice is pulling a pick-up with a bike in the bed and pulling it behind the bus. We stay in Florida for the winter and out west someplace all the rest of the year, usually 8 to 9 thousand miles a year. The bike gets dirty but that's what car washes are for. The lift we use is an Over Built. You can find it on line. Over the last several years they have perfected the hydraulic lift where you don't have to tap into the hydraulics of the coach. If I ever change lifts, I will go with the hydraulic lift. DO NOT cover the bike!!!! The paint will be rubbed off! Hope this helps.

[Chili]

We have traveled for the last 9 years in a 43ft bus with our motorcycle on the back on a lift. We pull our car behind also. My opinion, it's the best way. A lot of camp grounds have NO room for a trailer after you park the bus. If you pull a small trailer, you have a bike but no car. If you pull a large trailer to have both but you have just compounded the space problem at camp sites. Right now we are 68 feet long pulling the car, that's long enough, illegal in some states but never enforced that I've seen and we've been in all but 6 states. Toy haulers severely reduce the living space in the bus. Wife would not be happy. The 2nd best choice is pulling a pick-up with a bike in the bed and pulling it behind the bus. We stay in Florida for the winter and out west someplace all the rest of the year, usually 8 to 9 thousand miles a year. The bike gets dirty but that's what car washes are for. The lift we use is an Over Built. You can find it on line. Over the last several years they have perfected the hydraulic lift where you don't have to tap into the hydraulics of the coach. If I ever change lifts, I will go with the hydraulic lift. DO NOT cover the bike!!!! The paint will be rubbed off! Hope this helps.

All excellent points, for us I wasn't snowbirding it, simply the odd trip so we really had no need for the car to be along as well. In your situation I'd say that's the ideal setup.