Motorcycle Carrier

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Hi everyone.  I mainly just lurk around here and post over on the Miller forum, but I thought I'd mix it up a little and share a project with you.I'm only about 90% finished, but I think you'll get the idea.  I still have to make the mechanism for locking down the bike and weld on heavy tabs to use a pin so the pressure can be released off of the jack at full height while traveling.  I will mount a tail/brake light to  the very back as well.It's mostly built out of 0.250" wall square tubing; both 2.5" and 2".    Yes, it's heavy as hell.      Equipment used:-Millermatic 211-Rigid cutoff saw-Drill press
Reply:Very cool
Reply:Not sure what sort of discussion or comment you are intrested in.There are similar devices you can buy already made and painted.  It seems your design puts the bike farther rearward than it has to be. This unloads the fromt wheels.  It also seems your supports under the fame cradle are very close together.  What happens when you go over a low spot with the hauler vehicle wheels on one side and then a high spot.  That puts a twisting force on your cargo.  It seems if one wants to haul a bike on the rear like that the kind that has a channel of sorts horizontally and a flip down ramp on one end has it's advantages.
Reply:What about the visibility of your back license plate?  Will that be an issue in your area?  Most states (if not all) require license plates to be visible.
Reply:I'm all for a project and all, but when there is no point I have a hard time getting on board. A ramp into the bed of the truck would be far more secure, stable, and less likely to get you pulled over. not to menion probably cost less.As addressed by Fran, there are some design flaws. # 1 for me is how narrow the seat is. How are you going to keep your bike on that when you going down the road? 1 corner and you're going to have enough torsional load to slide the bike right off that seat. at least far enough that it will want to tip  and not sit level. giving you even more clearance issues. if not dropping the bike completely.I'm also concerned about how you plan on pinning it up? there is going to be a lot of shear load on what ever you use.Now, with these concerns I need to point out that you plan on using this on the road. probably at highway speeds, with innocent people behind you. Lets assume that the bike stays on until you're on the freeway, what happens to the cars behind you when it comes off? This is a potential disaster waiting to happen. And it doesn't need to be. You've got a pickup, use it like it's supposed to be used. Put the bike in the bed.I aplaud you on your ingenuity. But I wouldn't use it, and I wouldn't want to be behind someone who is.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Originally Posted by fran...k.Not sure what sort of discussion or comment you are intrested in.
Reply:Originally Posted by WenValleyWhat about the visibility of your back license plate?  Will that be an issue in your area?  Most states (if not all) require license plates to be visible.
Reply:Very cool- did you design this yourself or is it based on some plans?  I'm curious to see how you're going to secure the bike.  I have a similar carrier for my KLR (apx 450 lbs) so that little bike will be easy to carry.Kudos on the design and build.  More pics (esp. of the welds) would be cool.Lincoln AC225 & MigPak 140, Lincoln Magnum SpoolGun, Miller Spectrum 375-X Plasma, Syncrowave 200 TIG, Millermatic 252 MIG, Miller Digital Elite, General 7x12" horiz/vert bandsaw, 3' box/pan brake, 20 ton press, milling machine, 12x28 lathe, etc.
Reply:I like how you thought outside of the box!  They're here!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Great idea.  Looks like it will work as intended.
Reply:Technically, yes. Significantly? Not at all. The gross vehicle weight of my truck is 7,200 pounds. It has a Class V hitch rated for 10,000 pounds. It is standard practice for the optimal trailer weight to have 10-15% of the load distributed on the tongue. So that gives me 1,000 to 1,500 of available weight on the hitch. I am no where near that.
Reply:The confusion in the initial responses comes from the fact that you posted this thread in the "General Welding Questions" section instead of the "Welding Projects" section.Why don't you haul the Fat Cat in the truck? How are you going to keep the bike from rocking on it?Millermatic 200Hobart Handler 120Victor O/A & Ramco BandsawLincoln 225 ACSnapOn AD HoodMiller XMT304/22AHypertherm Powermax 1650 G3Lincoln Idealarc DC600 w/Extreme 12 VSMiller Digital Elite "Joker"
Reply:You could ratchet strap one wheel to one side of your bumper and the other wheel to the other side of the bumper. rocking problem solved.
Reply:I'm not looking for a pissin' match, but that's just my thoughts. Thank you for yours.NICE JOB...LOOKS COOL AND LIKE YOU DID SOME THINKING..THANKS FOR POSTING ...IT HAS UNDOUBTLY ALREADY SPAWNED A BUNCH OF OTHER IDEAS...NOT TO MENTION THE CONVERSATION WE CLICKED ON AND ARE READING HERE............
Reply:Sorry everyone for the delay in responding.  I was out of town this weekend finishing up the end of deer season.   Made some great sausage too!Anyway, thanks for all the input.  I wanted to post a couple of more pictures and answer a few questions.  Yes, there will be significant shear load on multiple points in this design.  But that didn't stop Caterpillar engineers from placing a bucket on the end of an excavator.  I anticipate the flange I intend to weld on the carrier at point A (below) will take the load off of the jack in the raised position.  This will be held in place with a cross pin, much like the one found on a three-point hitch of a farm tractor.The lower part that attaches to the motorcycle was intentionally built separately for ease of working with while I design the mechanism for locking it down.  I will likely weld it permanently in place at point B.  I don't want to take the time to draw out on the computer, but I plan to have at least three points of attachment for the bike, all of them firmly affixed to the motorcycle frame itself:  one near each foot peg and the other on the front of the frame near the skid plate.  That should prevent any movement in all directions.For a backup safety, just like they do on trailers, I plan to attached a chain to the motorcycle to keep it from careening off into traffic should the carrier fail.Lastly, I'm reluctant to post pictures of my welds because I feel like it's tantamount to bragging and opening myself up to unnecessary criticism, but as requested, here's a representative picture of my attempt at sticking metal together:With the close of hunting season drawing near, this project may drop a notch in priorities, but I'll keep you posted on any progress I make.Thanks again for everyone's input.-Lindley
Reply:I've got another idea in mind.  How much height change do you get now from all the way down to all the way up?My name's not Jim....