If you are considering going full time, you don't want to be couped up in the rig during bad weather with the only way of getting to the local restaurant & theater is by taking the whole house.
If I were you, I would reconsider the scooter idea, and think more along the lines of what we did. We initially toy'd with scootering, but decided to go with a more comfortable, safe, and all-weather vehicle. With the top-down, it's not that far off from scootering. It is a real blast to tour in it, snaking through by-ways with views all around, your favorite music playing, and with the top down, you still enjoy heat or a/c on as needed. The car weighs only 2100 pounds so it's a light-weight tow and no secondary braking required. There is no tongue weight either. We unhook and drive off in 45 seconds. Hook-up is under 3 minutes. The car is parked with the motorhome on-site, which is always allowed. The car isn't that expensive to purchase now that they are 5-10 years old. Most are seasonally driven so mileage is low, and condition is great. Gas mileage is good at 30mpg, so you make up your losses from towing it by driving it. 4-wheel-down towing is approved by Toyota for the stick shift. It's a 2000-2005 Toyota MR2 Spyder. A few others use a Mazda Miata. Different car, same idea. It is something to think about.
* This post was
edited 06/01/09 05:47pm by ron.dittmer *
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I also have an aluminum rack and carry my old Trail 90 (love it!) on the back with no problems. I probably have a bigger overhang than you have, with my 30' class C. The rear axle is prob about at it's maximum weight but the hitch is rated for 500# tongue weight and I've carried it for several thousand miles so far with no problems. BTW, the V10 pulls about anything with no problems. I also tow an older Bronco II often (not with the bike attached) and I can hardly feel it's there.
millerfamily wrote: We carry two 50cc scooters, one on a hitch mount and one inside no problem. just make sure your carrier will hold what ever weight you put on it. I think the scooters are excellent form of alternative transportation and we like getting 100 MPG in the city, no parking fees, and we can ride ours in any bicycle lane in any city or state, no licence plate required.
Happy traveling
get ready for a big fat ticket when you ride your internal combustion scooter in the "bicycle lane" in the state of Idaho. The bike lanes are meant for human powered bicycles.
oh yeah, and not only a ticket, but they also require a m/c endorsement on your license AND that you have a plate. the cc size divides between whether or not you can get on the highway with it; not that you can ride in the bicycle lane.
we bought a two-rail open side m/c trailer to haul our two intermediate size motorcycles. having tried it once, i was not thrilled about the loading or unloading of my bike, whose fat rear tire wanted to spill over the sides of the rail. and loading in an uneven (mountainside RV park) made it even more nervous. i'm looking to sell my trailer........we may go the scooter route as well, but will have to go with a smaller m/c trailer as it's a 650 suzi (weighs over 500 lbs)....heavier than our tongue weight would allow on a hitch mount. apparently this is an issue not easily resolved
That's funny I just called the DOT in Idaho and when it comes to new 50cc and under laws, they are manufactured stree leagal and are not considered toys, and no motorcycle lincece required, and may be driven in the bike lane
edit: Removed text of what might be perceived a personal attack.
* This post was
edited 06/05/09 01:43pm by an administrator/moderator *
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On my Sunseeker 2900 I use a 4 bicycles rack on the hitch. With 4 bicycles and a full fresh water tank (tank at rear end of MH) I start to feel the direction less "grounded".
If your class C is longer (29' or 31') I would to try before buy a rear hitch setup.
Another option I never used but seem interesting is a single wheel trailer like this:
http://www.cruiserlift.com/swivelwheel46.html
PR Connection wrote: Has anyone had their rack put up front of the coach? That would add weight where it probably won't make a diff since most coaches are butt heavy.
Dan
I tried this and discovered that the scooter blocked to much of my headlights. Even if you don't drive at night, you may need the lights during rain.
Have a great time camping,
Terry
Please say a Prayer for my 16 month old Granddaughter
Carrying two 200lb scooters plus weight of hitch rack might affect handling and is close to hitch weight limit. If you can live with one light scooter or trail bike, it would probably be best.
That's funny I just called the DOT in Idaho and you people don't know what your talking about when it comes to new 50cc and under laws, they are manufactured stree leagal and are not considered toys, and no motorcycle lincece required, and may be driven in the bike lane
Don't know who you spoke with or how you phrased your question, specifically concerning bike lanes, but according to the itd Idaho,
Quote: If you operate any motorized vehicle on public roadways, Idaho law requires you to have a valid driver’s license and acceptable proof of liability insurance. If you operate a motorcycle on public roadways, you will also need to add a motorcycle endorsement to your Idaho driver’s license.
Quote: Motorcycle
(49-114(11)) every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground.........Motor cycles require a motorcycle endorsement.
Quote: Motorbike
(49-114(10)) means a vehicle as defined in [67-7101(9)] – means any self-propelled two (2) wheeled motorcycle or motor-driven cycle.......operation on public roads requires a motorcycle endorsement.
Quote: Motor-Driven Cycle
(49-114(13)) means a cycle with a motor that produces five (5) brake horsepower or less as originally manufactured that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards as originally designed, and does not include mopeds. Such vehicles shall be titled and a motorcycle endorsement is required for its operation.
Quote: Motor Scooter and Scooter
- referring to a wide variety of motorized cycles and toys. A two or three-wheeled vehicle of any size, manufactured for use on public roadways and sold by a licensed dealer is probably a motorcycle. A vehicle with two or more wheels not manufactured for use on public roadways and sold by retail variety stores is probably a toy.
apparently, no mention of cc size made here and the criteria seems to be whether or not vehicle is operated on a public roadway. further, the bike lane definition is:
Quote: Bicycle: Every vehicle propelled by human power.........
Bike Lane or Shared Use Path:
Quote: .....may be used by pedestrians, joggers, skaters, wheelchair users, and other non-motorized users.
i would think that excludes your 50 cc scooters and would generally apply in all 48 contiguous states
wee3-gin, clyde & the bichon frise 2003 Minnie Winnie 30V - "The Frosty Hauler"
May the Angels guide your wheels and ride on your shoulder.
BrentandTammy wrote: We have a 2004 Four Winds 5000 Class C RV planning to buy a scooter for some of our onsite get-arounds.
The problem - What size scooter to get and how to transport it.
...Thanks to all
Re-Read "ron.dittmer"s posting on considering a small automobile convertible as your best answer. I happen to enjoy motorcycles and scooters and do pull a trailer, but the scooter use is limited by weather conditions. The trailer has never been a problem. I chose the enclosed route as it provides me additional options on what I may want to place inside.
As to the posters that feel hauling scooters on a rack is no problem, they are correct if they have weighed their rigs and done a simple math calculation.
This subject comes up fairly frequently. There are several things you need to check. You need to know what your current "ready to go" weight is on the rear axle compared to the GAWR. Know the capacity of the receiver hitch - usually 350 or 500 lbs. Know the weight of your small scooter. Add the weight of the carrier for the scooter. Measure the distance from the front axle to the rear axle. Measure the distance from the rear axle to the center of your scooter carrier. Now multiply the weight of the scooter plus the carrier by the distance behind the rear axle. Divide this answer by the distance between the axles. This is the amount you are lifting off the front axle (the see saw effect). If for example:
1. scooter weighs 250 lbs
2. carrier weighs 75 lbs
3. scooter carrier is 8 feet behind the rear axle
4. wheelbase is 12 feet.
(250+75=325 x 8 feet divide by 12 = 217). In this example the scooter is adding 542 lbs to the rear axle and the front axle would be 217 lbs lighter.
Frostys Mom is totally correct. I, too, am a resident of the Treasure Valley, Idaho (Boise). If you dont believe us take your new little moped, scooter, goped, etc to the state of Idaho and ride down the bike lanes (the ones alongside automobile traffic next to the curb or parked cars alongside the curb) and find out how fast you get a ticket!!! Then (I forgot to mention) you had better have a motorcycle endorsement on the reverse of your DL because you are going to need it in order to prevent the next citation that is surely to follow the first..LOL. It wont matter how many CCs the motor is because if it is internal combustion you ARE a motorcycle in Idaho and will need to follow the motor vehicle laws as such. Oh yeah, make sure it has a license plate on there too.
If the plan is so great, why doesn't it sell itself?
I have made several calls and researched the laws about 50cc scooters before ordering my 50cc scooter yesterday. Here in Ga I can ride my scooter(anything under a 50cc) on any highway except interstates without having the M on my license or a tag. I did notice in Al. you have to have a motorcycle license. Any how here is website where you can find out what the law is for each state. http://search.dmv.org/dmv/scooter-laws
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