chazworth
Georgia
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I have not yet purchased a fifth wheel, But I am looking real hard at the Keystone Cougar Xlite 26RLS. I would like to be able to take my motorcycle (Honda Goldwing) with me on my travels also. Does anyone have any comments on using a lift such as a"Hydralift" on the back of a fifth wheel? The manufacturers website shows one on a Jazz fifth wheel. I think the total weight of the lift and the bike will be around 1300lbs. The trailer is supposed to be able to carry 3100lbs. Also, the trailer tongue weight is purported to be 1050lbs, how would the extra weight out back affect that?
2008 F-250 Crew Cab 5.4L 3.73 2WD 6 3/4 ft. bed
No Camper Yet!!!
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rvcamperontx
Ontario / Texas
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Joined: 10/13/2006
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Before transporting my Vulcan Nomad behind my 5er I spent many hours doing research on the subject. You cannot use a Motorcycle lift system on a 5er (only a 22,000lbs Teton home - perhaps). They are designed for Motorhomes. The weight you are mentioning would greatly effect your pin weight and your 5ers frame is not desined for this application. Your 5er is rather small and light and I would have serious concerns about safety. I went with a trailer solution but had such bad luck that I have abandoned bringing my bike with me. Keep in mind that I towed 2000 miles over some pretty rough interstates. Here is my recent saga:
I was driving through a highway construction area in Killeen Texas, doing about 40 MPH, I suddenly heard a loud metal scraping noise. I looked in my side mirror and saw sparks flying everywhere from behind the 5th wheel. Thinking that I had lost a wheel on the bike trailer, I started to break and slowly ease to the side of the road. Before I could pull over the bike trailer pulled out to my left and proceeded to catch up to my truck. The trailer then drifted toward the cement highway divider on an almost parallel course. When it made side contact with the divider it slowed down considerably and just before coming to a complete stop it flipped on its side and smashed up the front end of the bike. Fortunately the traffic was very light and no one collided with the trailer. The ball hitch was still locked and I could feel the clasp that locks under the ball was still there. The safety chains were welded to the underside of the trailer's tongue and very close to the coupler. The welds were broken by the grinding over asphalt (obviously not a good design). The trailer's axel was bent, the coupler worn and torn and the fenders were badly twisted. I suspect that the coupler may have had a defect but its current condition makes it impossible to tell. Damage to the bike was limited to the front end and cost $2800 to repair.
Next, and on the same trip, we were going through Toronto, on a long stretch of highway that has 14 lanes of non stop traffic. My hitch on the back of the 5th wheel broke (the welds) and we came very close to loosing the bike and trailer again. The bike had to be bouncing too
much for the hitch to handle it. I quit!
If your intent is short trips over good roads, then I say go for it but I would strongly recommend something like this setup http://www.motorcycle-carriers.net/motorcycle_carriers_swivel_wheel.html
At least you can back up with this type of trailer, handy when trying to manouvre at a gas station.
Whatever you decide, Good luck....
2008 Everest 344J - Quad Slides
2003 Silverado 3500 4X4 Ext.Cab 6.6L Duramax/Allison
2003 Vulcan Nomad 1500FI (MC in tow)
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TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
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Joined: 11/17/2000
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Forget the lift on the tail end of a 5er. Especially for a bike as big as yours. Too much weight and too much stress on the frame. Consider a toyhauler to haul your scooter.
Ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
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Bluefreight
upstate NY for the winter
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rvcamperontx is correct, if you go to the motorcycle lift sites they are all on motorhomes. The only exception is they will put them on a Teton, but even then the frame is reinforced when it is built.
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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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We take our bikes along using the SmartTrailer which works very well for us with over 5000 miles so far and no problems whatsoever. I too would strongly recommend against a lift on the back of the 5er for all the aforementioned reasons.
Howard and Peggy
"Don't Panic"
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Road Phantom
pa
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A good reason to go with a toy hauler.
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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Road Phantom wrote:A good reason to go with a toy hauler.
Not if you already own a 5er that you're happy with. And IMO toyhaulers are a bit too utilitarian for our taste. JMO mind you.
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chazworth
Georgia
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I appreciate the info on the two swivel wheel carriers. I had not looked at those before. Both look like a much safer alternative than a lift system. I have not considered a toy hauler as those that I have looked at are not to my taste. Most are very industrial looking and all are very heavy.
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Butch50
NW Montana
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Joined: 06/29/2002
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Teton is not the only 5er you can install a MC lift on. Excel offers it from the factory. They will install a Hydralift on the 33' and shorter units. They use to offer it on all 5ers but got some reports of the longer ones handling differently so they stopped putting them on over 33'
Hydralift Look part way down on the left list of options and you will see the option.
On most 5ers I wouldn't recommend it as the frame is not strong enough to handle the force of 1300# bouncing on it and not have a problem.
This is IMO
Butch
2006 F550 CC 4X4 Lariat PSD/Torqshift Dark Shadow Grey Metalic w/Manning F350 bed
2009 Excel Limited 30TKE
2009 Arctic Fox 1140 (On Order due February)
2006 Dodge 3500 Laramie 4X4 QC SB SRW/Cummins 6 speed Jake exhaust brake
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