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If you have a motorcycle, you may wonder if your vehicle can haul it with a hitch-mounted motorcycle carrier. The answer is maybe. It depends on your vehicle's towing capacity & the motorcycle you have.
The first and most crucial factor in determining if your vehicle can support hauling your motorcycle on a hitch-mounted motorcycle carrier is understanding your vehicle's towing capacity. This can be found in your vehicle's owner's manual, on the manufacturer's website, or at towratings.net. Take your towing capacity and divide it by 10 to calculate the vehicle's tongue weight capacity. This 10% represents the maximum weight your vehicle can safely tow suspended off the hitch with a motorcycle hitch carrier. (As an example, a vehicle with a towing capacity of 5000 lbs. can safely haul up to 500 lbs. on its tongue with a motorcycle hitch carrier).
Once you have calculated your vehicle's tongue weight capacity, you must determine if it can support the weight of your motorcycle and the MotoTote motorcycle carrier. If you do not know the weight of your motorcycle, either check your owner's manual or look it up on the manufacturer's website. Note: if your motorcycle weighs more than 600 lbs. we do not recommend hauling with a hitch-mounted carrier. If your motorcycle is less than 600 lbs., compare the weight of your motorcycle and your MotoTote motorcycle carrier (60 lbs.) to your tongue weight capacity.
1. If the weight of your motorcycle and MotoTote motorcycle carrier is less than your vehicle's tongue capacity, you can safely haul your bike with your car. 2. If the weight of the motorcycle and MotoTote motorcycle carrier is more than your tongue weight capacity, we do not recommend hauling your motorcycle on your vehicle with a MotoTote.
If you are still determined to haul your motorcycle, you have two options. The first is to find an alternative car with adequate towing/tongue weight capacity. The second is to haul with a trailer. Note: with a trailer, you will be able to tow to your vehicle's total towing capacity, but there are other factors to consider; you must register a trailer, it is more challenging to drive, it takes additional space for storage, and in many states is not legal to drive in all lanes.
Please use our Fit Calculator here or contact us if you have additional questions.
We wish you safe journeys in your motorcycle adventures! Your safety is our top priority. Happy riding!
