Hydralift or Cruiserlift experience ?

[boomerang2120]

Looking for recommendations for those with actual experience using a Cruiserlift, Hydralift, or similar motorcycle lift on a large Class 'A' RV. Interested in the practical use and/or issues with the lifts themselves. Any other brands I should consider? Thanks!!

http://cruiserlift.com/cruiserlift.html

http://www.hydralift-usa.com/

[Idaho]

Those look interesting. No need for them on my old Coleman tent trailer. I'm either going camping or I'm going on a bike ride, the two don't mix for now.

Good luck

[tcat]

I had a Hydralift installed on my 5th Wheel - It handles the Nomad or the Goldwing without any issues, you just need to make sure you have proper number & location of tie down points and check them frequently to make sure all of the tie downs are tight. I did add the wide tie down attachment that Hyrdalift offers because of the additional attachment points needed for the Goldwing - but the Nomad would probably be ok without it.

[Timay]

Did the lift and motorcycle make the tongue weight too light on your 5th wheel?

Tim

[Monkeyman]

After hauling my Nomad 125 miles on a trailer, I can safely say I will NEVER voluntarily haul my bike anywhere again. Every time I looked back, it was bouncing around. Couldn't tighten the straps enough to keep it steady.

[redjay]

Did you use ratchet straps ?

[ringadingh]

We ve hauled our bikes all over on a trailer, and never a problem. Thousand miles trips and never had to adjust a strap. If you secure them properly its not a big deal, and the bike will sit there perfectly.

[tcat]

Tim asked: "Did the lift and motorcycle make the tongue weight too light on your 5th wheel?"

No difference with lift only, the lift application was reviewed for allowable weight distribution and is an approved option installed by the 5th Wheel MNF (Peterson Ind), the way lift is attached to frame helps to distribute load over longer section of frame. I also have additional weight (washer/dryer, storage) in front & run with full fresh water tank to counter balance the weight of motorcycle - by doing this the tongue weight is ok.

I use 8 heavy duty rachet tie downs to insure that bike is stable on the lift, we recheck them every stop or after a rough section of road to make sure all straps have proper tension - I've pulled the 5th Wheel & Bike from Dallas area to our place outside of Durango, CO & back twice without issue.

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by redjay

Did you use ratchet straps ?

Originally Posted by ringadingh

We ve hauled our bikes all over on a trailer, and never a problem. Thousand miles trips and never had to adjust a strap. If you secure them properly its not a big deal, and the bike will sit there perfectly.

Perhaps I wasn't tying it down properly. I used 4 big ratchet straps on a flat bed trailer. One each at the base of the handlebars and one each somewhere at the rear of the bike (can't remember exactly where). I have pics of it tied down for the trip home. I cranked them down tight enough that I was afraid I'd damage the suspension. Every time I hit a bump, I could see the bike bounce. It walked about 3" sideways once but that was at the beginning of the trip and my fault. Every time I stopped (every 20 miles or so....in the pouring rain), I checked the straps. They were always guitar string tight. It was just the give to the suspension that made it bounce. Maybe I could have tightened the straps down a bit more but as I said, I was worried I'd damage the suspension. Perhaps I could have gone cross country without issue but it made me very nervous.

[cactusjack]

...and you guys make fun of Harley owners for trailering their bikes. Sheesh!

[ringadingh]

Like any job, you need the right tools and equipment or else your asking for problems.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

...and you guys make fun of Harley owners for trailering their bikes. Sheesh!

No kidding!

[Loafer]

If we had more experience with trailering, we wouldn't have these problems.
Maybe the HD guys could write a "How To Trailer Safely" article to help us out.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Loafer

If we had more experience with trailering, we wouldn't have these problems.
Maybe the HD guys could write a "How To Trailer Safely" article to help us out.

Sorry, can't help you there...I've never trailered a bike.

[Timay]

I trailered my Harley, from Rantoul, IL to Golden, CO. Not because it was broken, but because I got out of the military and that was the only way to get my new Mustang and the sportster home. I did get into a drag race with the trailer and bike on...and won!

Tim