[Gahngoo]

Nice way to tow a dirtbike w/o losing MPGs. 04 EX.

 

[MORGANMAN]

nice!

that seems pretty amazing to me. who needs a trailor anyway? lol

 

[carvingbarn]

If you haven’t, make sure that carrier and your bike do not exceed the tongue
of your hitch. If it does you could have problems. Especially on bouncy dirt roads.

 

[RandyM]

If you haven’t, make sure that carrier and your bike do not exceed the tongue
of your hitch. If it does you could have problems. Especially on bouncy dirt roads.

I was going to say the same thing. I was going to do this a few years back but was warned ahead of time about the E's limitations.

 

[marksbug]

looks great! class three hitch around 350# toung weight,yamaha should be 200 or less. you should not have any problem.But wacth for any twist. or ossalations. you might need to add a stedy rest or two if it does. good luck . there are two very importaint rules when doing this type of hauling"have fun&don't get hurt"

 

[spdrcr5]

looks great! class three hitch around 350# toung weight,yamaha should be 200 or less. you should not have any problem.But wacth for any twist. or ossalations. you might need to add a stedy rest or two if it does. good luck . there are two very importaint rules when doing this type of hauling"have fun&don't get hurt"

The issue is whether the class 3 hitch can handle the weight, the issue is whether the Element can physically handle the weight! The Element isn't built with a steel frame the way a truck is, it is a unibody with light steel where the hitch is bolted to it. The 2 "rails" and the spare tire tray are all that keep the hitch in place and is the reason for the low tow and tongue ratings. I wouldn't but anything above 200-250#'s on the tongue in an off-road bumpy situation. And anything above that in a normal highway towing situation would have the tongue overloaded as you don't want to be towing much above 2,000#'s with the Element anyway.



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[marksbug]

Yup bumpen up&down x how far out the weight is can be a lot of weight,defrent than a trailler. Good thinken

 

[Gahngoo]

The issue is whether the class 3 hitch can handle the weight, the issue is whether the Element can physically handle the weight! The Element isn't built with a steel frame the way a truck is, it is a unibody with light steel where the hitch is bolted to it. The 2 "rails" and the spare tire tray are all that keep the hitch in place and is the reason for the low tow and tongue ratings. I wouldn't but anything above 200-250#'s on the tongue in an off-road bumpy situation. And anything above that in a normal highway towing situation would have the tongue overloaded as you don't want to be towing much above 2,000#'s with the Element anyway.

Its a VALLEY hitch class 3 or 4 ... I cant remember. It has a 350 pound weight rating w/ a 1500 pound tow capacity. The hitch mounts in 3 different mounting points. VERY solid and I have been using this hitch for several years on long trips and down bumpy dirt roads w/ no problems. Also, there is very little "squatting" with the bike on the back. I don't think its really an issue, I mean I wouldn't try to haul a Harley FatBoy with it, just my dirtbike.:grin:

I actually have a 06 Honda CR450F now, and that is even lighter than the 99 Yamaha 400. This was an older picture, but I figured EOC members would appreciate it, so I posted it.

I also hauled a ton of crap across Florida several times (multiple trips) while I was moving. I am unbelievably cheap, err umm... thrifty. So instead of renting a Uhaul, I loaded up the E and a trailer too. I had to make the trips anyway, so I figured I would bring a few things with me. It made the actual moving day a lot easier.

 

[kemper28]

hi

Where do I get that hauler? I have a KTM 450 SMR love to haul it like that.

Jason

 

[Copper]

I think Honda limits tongue weight to 150lbs.

 

[Gahngoo]

I think Honda limits tongue weight to 150lbs.

Its 250 or so. Either way, I've been towing this was for years w/ no problems (even on bumpy dirt roads).

 

[Island E]

Where do I get that hauler? I have a KTM 450 SMR love to haul it like that.

Jason

Type "hitch mount motorcycle carrier" into google and have fun

http://www.joehauler.com/singlehaulers/singlehaulers.shtml
http://www.discountramps.com/carriers.htm
http://www.ourlocalguide.com/motorcyclecarrier/

 

[com3]

awesome! i've got an 05 and i want to do the same... you got a link to the model/make of towing hitch thingo? i dunno much about names/terms for this stuff.. currently, my element doesn't have the part needed for towing at all (tongue?)...i need that, then i'll get mo-tow.

thanks a ton! i just signed up on this site for thisvery information.

 

[Andy14120]

Here's an absurd example to help understand design limits...

A truck scale can easily weigh a fully loaded cement truck. It is rated for that.
Now use a crane and carefully set that truck scale on top of your element. It might even hold it without bending too much. After all, it is made from light weight aluminum.
Then set that cement truck on the scale. Should be no problem because the scale is rated for it, right? Picture how your element becomes a skateboard.

You hitch may be rated for 350 pounds. But your Element cannot safely support that weight. You have to limit it to the weakest link.

Picture your hitch failing, and the bike bouncing behind you all over a highway causing multiple vehicles to crash and the occupants to suffer injuries. Some lawyer will have a field day with that one. You do know insurance companies do not cover damage when you do things outside of safe limits.

No matter how nice it seems, is the risk worth it?

 

[Twilightzero]

I do like the idea, but my first question would tie in with the others: how much does the bike weigh and how far out from the opening of the hitch is it? Remember tongue weight is tongue weight AT or a few inches from the opening of the hitch. After that, you have to start to factor in distance to figure out increased torque.



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[Big Bill]

I carry my Yamaha 450 on the back of my 06 Element. Yamaha says the bike weight is about 235, carrier is about 65, and about 6-8 inches out from the receiver itself. Iam pretty sure it is overloaded when I also have all of the associated gear loaded too. Anyway it does squat and has very light steering, I really dont use it to haul the bike if I can avoid it. Be careful:twisted:

 

[lowbudget]

hey all. I'm new, and mostly look at the good tips on here. I have an 03 elment, and have had a joe hauler motohauler on it for 1.5 years. I'vee only owned the van for 2 yrs. I have carried my ktm 450 supermoto racebike wich is about 285lbs. And also inside the van my sons race bike a ktm 65sx about 110lbs a eu2000 honda generator, 10x10 ez-up, and all are gear to a race 400 plus miles away doing 75mph the whole way. YES the steering was light. How I did it was I welded the u-haul hitch "after it was mounted standarly by a dealer from the original owner." To the unibody, adding 1/4" tubing, and gussets as far back as 8" inches from where the bolts are mounted to the thin unibody. I have no idea what amount of extra stenght this has added. But I do know that I haul car for a profession, and have access to lifting my elemet iin the air all the time to check on it, and due oil changes. I have also worked for Honda for 2 years and have hauled many a honda to the dealer. ANYWAYS, I suggest if you do this kind of moto hauling, you due the mod that I did. If problems ever show up I will post up. Good luck!