Ducati Monster Forum

A friend of mine is letting me borrow his 4Runner to pick up my bike from 6 hours away while it is stored.  It's a 1996 M900.

He has this http://www.amazon.com/Raider-TOW-104-Motorcycle-Carrier/dp/B003Y3VAW2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_4 (http://www.amazon.com/Raider-TOW-104-Motorcycle-Carrier/dp/B003Y3VAW2/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_4)

Does anybody have experience with one of those and how well a Monster works on it?  Or am I better off trying to rent a trailer from somewhere?

Thanks!

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=18462.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=18462.0)

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=51047.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=51047.0)

Thanks, I did a search for the brand, but not the generic equipment name.

I've used one that looks identical to haul my Monster to the dealer w/ no problems.  Also hauled a '71 CB500 from Long Island NY to Baltimore MD with no problems.  A lot easier then a trailer especially w/ all the tolls between me and NY.
Just make sure you are using GOOD ratchet straps.  You don't want them to slip at all and a lot of cheaper ones will.

they work , and work better if your vehicle is appropriate for towing.  load leveling helps or rear adjustable shocks.  your car will act really peculiar with that 500lbs on the outmost rear of it.

I have an POS '00 Ford Expedition and I didn't notice much of a change in the way it handled and I don't have any adjustable shocks either. 

i think you explained it right there..  ;D

so general idea seems to be that it will work, just tie it down well and don't drive crazy...

yes and no.....what vehicle are you hauling it with?....

(http://www.modernracer.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/honda-civic-cvcc-1975.jpg)

nevermind...just reread the 1st post...4Runner...depending on what year ( because some newer ones are a heavier rear end than others)...there may be some level of rear end sag as suggested in the thread I linked with the Jeep in a similar manner...

Not sure which year, I'm borrowing it from a friend.  But a relatively older model.  He said he brought his BMW.. something or other up from LA on it, which weighs about 400 pounds.  I'm guessing my monster weighs a little more, but not at the 500 limit.

you think you aren't at the 500lb limit...but you have to also consider the weight of the hitch device as well...which certainly ain't a 10lb device...or at least I wouldn't trust my bike on a 10lb device anyway....

500 lbs limit is on the hitch device itself, not the hitch... I assume they wouldn't rate their rack at 500 pounds and have you include the weight of the rack. I would hope not anyway.

500 lbs and/or 10% of the tow is a typical rating on a light duty truck or SUV. The 500 number may follow from that, not the rated towing capacity of the vehicle which might be anywhere from 3,500 to 7,000 lbs.

If it's a one time trip, why not just rent a moto trailer from uhaul for $15.

I was looking at the uhaul route, but there are no one way rentals from where the bike is stored.  I don't want to tow an empty trailer for 6 hours, or indeed mess with a trailer at all if this thing will work.  Which it sounds like if I don't go nuts with it, it will.

you could have it shipped for less than the cost of this doohicky. 

I bought a similar moto rack for my truck and w/ shipping was less then $200.
Not sure you can find a way to ship a motorcycle for less then $200
And once you buy the truck rack it can be reused for years when needed

so can Trailer in a bag...

http://trailerinabag.com/index.html (http://trailerinabag.com/index.html)

Looks like a nice option but then there's still the issue w/ tolls and you need to be even more careful w/ a trailer then you do w/ the bike mounted directly onto the truck IMO

cheapest bike shipping runs about $500-600, unless you know something i don't. .  that's with a reputable company, not the back of bubba's truck.

nice thing abotu one of these hitch carriers is that you can use it once and sell it for close to what you paid.. 

the price of shipping a motorcycle varies widely.  you can definitely get it done for under $500 and have it delivered safe and sound.  I had a bike shipped from Mass. to Florida for $300.00.  It was worthwhile to the shipper because he had other things coming my way.