Carrying a motorbike on the back of car

[Upinflames]

Hi, anyone done this or seen it done? I want to carry a vespa scooter while towing the caravan.

[biggiles]

On the back of the car? A standard tow bar has no chance of supporting such a weight (nor on the "nose" of the caravan).

[Upinflames]

biggiles said:

On the back of the car? A standard tow bar has no chance of supporting such a weight (nor on the "nose" of the caravan).

Found this bloke making them here in the UK

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175460977426?hash=item2...

[Super Sonic]

Upinflames said:

Found this bloke making them here in the UK

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175460977426?hash=item2...

For 'pit bikes' does say in advert "not adult bikes"

[sunbeam alpine]

Sorry if it's a stupid question, but can't you get it into the caravan?

[zalrak]

I used a Dave Cooper bike rack to carry my Fantic to the local trials club site for years, no problem at all. Not sure that you could tow a caravan at the same time though. I think the downward load would be too much with both. I'm not even sure if you can still attach a tow ball with the bracket fitted as i never tried this.

They are very good carriers though.

[biggiles]

Upinflames said:

biggiles said:

On the back of the car? A standard tow bar has no chance of supporting such a weight (nor on the "nose" of the caravan).

Found this bloke making them here in the UK

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175460977426?hash=item2...

That's for smaller bikes. A typical tow bar is limited to 100kg, as that advert says. You asked about a Vespa which is over 100kg, so I don't think it will work.

[Easternlight]

sunbeam alpine said:

Sorry if it's a stupid question, but can't you get it into the caravan?

That's going to be very tricky, usually high and narrow doorway then you've got to tie it down,plus you need to watch the weight you put in a van.

[sherman]

Can you attach the vespa to the back of the caravan in the same way that you see bikes attached to motorhomes?

[Hustle_]

sherman said:

Can you attach the vespa to the back of the caravan in the same way that you see bikes attached to motorhomes?

Can't imagine that a Caravan would have the structure to support a 100kg load distributed so far aft of the axle(s)

Also it'd pose the opposite problem to putting it on the front- It'd take nose weight off of the caravan and make it a lethal snakey mess.

[Upinflames]

biggiles said:

Upinflames said:

biggiles said:

On the back of the car? A standard tow bar has no chance of supporting such a weight (nor on the "nose" of the caravan).

Found this bloke making them here in the UK

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175460977426?hash=item2...

That's for smaller bikes. A typical tow bar is limited to 100kg, as that advert says. You asked about a Vespa which is over 100kg, so I don't think it will work.

Sorry wrong advert, they make different ones

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185992330790?hash=item2...

[ferret50]

If you were to use a van to tow your caravan, you could put the scooter in the back of the van?

[MDMA .]

ferret50 said:

If you were to use a van to tow your caravan, you could put the scooter in the back of the van?

You can also fit a Ducati 900 Superlight in the back of a Partner Tepee with the rear seats removed

[ferret50]

MDMA . said:

ferret50 said:

If you were to use a van to tow your caravan, you could put the scooter in the back of the van?

You can also fit a Ducati 900 Superlight in the back of a Partner Tepee with the rear seats removed

But does that leave enough room for you and your 'significant other' to 'get it on'?



Just thinking 'Only Fools and Horses' and a more recent ITV advert....honest injun....

[MrBig]

It's going to depend on the maximum nose weight for your tow vehicle.

I know on my Ranger that it's 225kg so it wouldn't be an issue (assuming the caravan is loaded correctly). Most cars have a maximum nose weight of 75kg so probably wouldn't be advisable in that instance.

Loads of folks use those Dave Cooper racks though, admittedly probably not all of them in accordance with the letter of the law...

[The Selfish Gene]

as others have said, it's all about nose weight.

Not sure how that works with a rack on the back of a towed caravan...........or indeed on the back of a car towing a caravan!

I have seen someone with a 200 kilo bike on the back of a mustang - and think surely that is not steering well due to nose weight.

Also seen a 'mototote' on the back of a Defender 110 with a R6 on the back (probably nearly 200kilos) and he said it was no issue.

Weirdly my 7 metre long motorhome has a terrible nose weight (I think due to over hang).

I guess you're unlikely to have a problem with the law side of it - but do watch for steering problems if you do it etc

[Upinflames]

Thanks for the replies, the car is an X5 but the towbar is an aftermarket one fitted by a local company, I will seek their advice.