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motorcycle carrier on TJ ?

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spdnjoe

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Does anyone on here use a motorcycle carrier to haul their dirtbike or just tow a small trailer.
I'd rather use a hitch mounted carrier.
If you do use a carrier, can you please post some pics.

thank you
 
#2 ·
I raced motocross for years and would never tow my bikes with a Jeep.
 
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#4 ·
I carry my dirtbike (relatively heavy 4-stroke KTM) on a hitch carrier all the time. Just did it today, in fact. It's perfectly fine up to 65MPH or so, but can start to get a little "interesting" if you go much faster than that (though I've done 75MPH without much drama. You just have to be smooth with your steering inputs.) If you have a lot of weight on the front of your Jeep (winch, heavy bumper, etc.), you'll probably notice it even less.

BTW, mine is an AMC-400 from discountramps.com. I used to use a homemade steel one, but it was too heavy (for me to carry around. The Jeep handled it fine.) so I sold it and bought the aluminum one.
 
#6 ·
I carry mine quite a bit. No issues at all. Much nicer than dragging a trailer around.

Image
 
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#8 ·
BlueFlame said:
It's so much easier and less hassle to use a trailer, and certainly safer, and better for the Jeep, why would anyone even mess with a carrier? Unless it's a VERY lightweight bike.
Click to expand...
How is a trailer easier and less hassle? You have to store it somewhere, you have to drive 10-15MPH slower on the freeway and stay in the right lanes (in California, at least), and you need at least a small amount of skill to back it up. I'm not really sure how a trailer is safer or better for the Jeep either.:confused:
 
#9 ·
I use a carrier for my bike all the time. I can barely notice its back there. I drive on gravel for a few miles to get to the track and noticed the gravel dinged the bikes rims a little bit. If you have to drive on gravel with it i would make some kind of a shield for the rims.
 
#10 · (Edited)
OldFatGuy said:
How is a trailer easier and less hassle? You have to store it somewhere, you have to drive 10-15MPH slower on the freeway and stay in the right lanes (in California, at least), and you need at least a small amount of skill to back it up. I'm not really sure how a trailer is safer or better for the Jeep either.:confused:
Click to expand...
Hassles:
*Need to lift the bike up and put it on the carrier and hold it upright and strap it down.
*Can't get into the back of the jeep while the bike is on there.
*Putting much weight on the back of a TJ affects steering - a LOT. Braking too. How about a windy day with that lightened steering?
*The places where I used to ride, you couldn't even get to the parking area without dragging that rack on the ground...

Trailer:
*Roll the bike on. done.
* Towing is easy, and doesn't affect the balance of the Jeep (not in this small a trailer and load anyway.)
*Can still access the back of the jeep.
*added benefit - can haul lots more stuff - like a load of camping gear or gas cans for instance. (Don't tell me you put those inside the Jeep...) Can also use the trailer for Other hauling chores.

I don't drive any slower when I'm towing, at least not something small and light. (Big loads, sure.)
Yes, you do have to *learn* how to back up a trailer. Everyone should learn this anyhow...
If you can learn to negotiate a trail you can learn to back up a trailer...

But I suppose if you don't have any place to put it at home, then a trailer doesn't make sense. Although those small trailers that fold and stand upright against the wall are mighty handy.
(I've never lived where I didn't have places to put stuff, but that's just me :cheers2: )
http://www.jeepforum.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=15685&ppuser=71619
 
#11 ·
BlueFlame said:
Hassles:
*Need to lift the bike up and put it on the carrier and hold it upright and strap it down.
*Can't get into the back of the jeep while the bike is on there.
*Putting much weight on the back of a TJ affects steering - a LOT. Braking too. How about a windy day with that lightened steering?
*The places where I used to ride, you couldn't even get to the parking area without dragging that rack on the ground...

Trailer:
*Roll the bike on. done.
* Towing is easy, and doesn't affect the balance of the Jeep (not in this small a trailer and load anyway.)
*Can still access the back of the jeep.
*added benefit - can haul lots more stuff - like a load of camping gear or gas cans for instance. (Don't tell me you put those inside the Jeep...) Can also use the trailer for Other hauling chores.

I don't drive any slower when I'm towing, at least not something small and light. (Big loads, sure.)
Yes, you do have to *learn* how to back up a trailer. Everyone should learn this anyhow...
If you can learn to negotiate a trail you can learn to back up a trailer...

But I suppose if you don't have any place to put it at home, then a trailer doesn't make sense. Although those small trailers that fold and stand upright against the wall are mighty handy.
(I've never lived where I didn't have places to put stuff, but that's just me :cheers2: )
P9170040 - JeepForum.com Gallery
Click to expand...
*I roll my bike up the included ramp and lean it against my spare tire while I strap it down. Easier than a trailer, IMO.
*Don't need to get into the back of the Jeep, but if I did, I would just reach behind the front seats.
*The weight of a trailer with dirtbike will affect braking more than a carrier with dirtbike. At least the weight on the carrier gives you extra traction to help prevent skidding.
*My carrier on the back of my lifted Jeep has way more ground clearance than most trailers.
*My bike has at least an 80-mile range. Most of the time, I don't need to carry a gas can. When I do need one, yes, I carry it in the Jeep.
*In California the speed limit on the freeway is 10-15MPH slower if you're towing ANY trailer, no matter how small. And you're limited to the one or two right lanes.

FWIW, I have an enclosed trailer, but I still use the carrier most of the time. I normally only tow the trailer behind my motorhome (but I've used the hitch carrier behind the motorhome, too).
 
#13 ·
#15 ·
I see you have a 4" lift, same here. I used a mastercraft hitch haul for a while and with the lift it sits so high up the ramp is useless, I had to back up to hills to load/unload, or have a buddy help me pick the bike up to put it on.

Overall

Likes: No trailer to store

Dislikes: Too high up for the ramp, started sagging my LOD bumper, bike would bounce more than i like (even with a fork saver, two straps, a pin through the front wheel, and ratchet strap on rear) I needed more than just a few straps over the handlebars to hold it on.

Runnig a trailer now
 
#17 ·
I was planning to use a carrier
to carry two bike..a klx 250
and a crf150r....but my Jeep build
went big....37's and 5'' lift
so no room for two bikes. I was going
to go w/o spare as I only go close
to home. Now I am resigned to
the trailer. I have a small
3 rail and a new 16' x 7.5' with
full tailgate ramp. It weighs
2500 lbs.

Anyone no what max weight I can
pull with my 2006 TJ Rubicon
....it has 5.13's and 37's.
 
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#18 ·
OldFatGuy said:
The posted speed limit is 65 in most places, 70 in some. But it's 55 if you're towing a trailer.
Click to expand...
I was making a joke. The legendary freeway traffic that utterly ignores the speed limit. My forays into SoCal (business trips about every other month) revealed that the California Driver stereotype is well deserved - 80 mph, screaming stop, 80 mph, screaming stop, repeat

Maybe the signs mean Average speed... :D
 
#19 ·
jpmonkey said:
Forgot to mention that the 33" spare won't fit with the bike either, had to carry that instead of the rear seat.
Click to expand...
I don't have any issues with my 33 on the back. Might be an issue though with some of the spare carriers that hang the tire way back.
 
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#20 ·
The VERY first time I took my Jeep "off pavement" I went down a local wooded type trail that was tight and pretty hidden in the city limits...it was a hidden dirtbike trail I knew about.

Sun was out, top was off, 85 degrees, me, wife, 2 kids. Just checking out the Jeep..

Ran into a guy hitting golf balls and he had a TJ with bike on a carrier similar to the one pictured. We both were laughing at the sight of each other..it was a like a Jeep commercial.

Sorry for hijack..just a good first memory.
 
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