Motorbike carried on caravan

KevinJ · Senior Member

Motorbike carried on caravan

Possum3 · Guru

I would think a push bike or lightweight moped might be doable weight-wise. A full motorbike would be almost certain to muck up your balance and overall CGM (Gross Combination Mass), unless your tug is a large truck.

KevinJ · Senior Member

Yes, a pushbike is on the short list too. Just seeing if I can push the weight limit a bit.

yobarr · Guru

KevinJ wrote:
Yes, a pushbike is on the short list too. Just seeing if I can push the weight limit a bit.

As far as your GCM goes,the actual weight may or may not be an issue,but the length of the van,and its current balance,can quickly create a pendulum effect if you hang an extra weight at either end.As far as I can see,you would create all sorts of problems hanging a motorbike off either end,but good luck with your efforts.Cheers

P.S What car do you have,(Model and year etc) and what is the ATM and GTM of your van?.These numbers will be on your compliance plate,often in the front boot.If you can supply these facts,we may be able to offer more specific advice.

KevinJ · Senior Member

I am not with the van at the moment so can't give the stats. It is a 2.7T off road double axle van pulled by a 2018 D-MAX 4x4

blaze · Guru

Met a couple in Albany in years gone that had a 600cc road/trail bike on the back of the van, they had an offroad van with the chassis rails extended on a new van, prior to first rego. It was a well balanced bit of kit and towed well. They worked there way around the big lap with no problems. When working she drove the vehicle and he rode the bike.
cheers
blaze

Eaglemax · Guru

A battery assisted fold up bicycle kept inside the van while travelling would be my choice

EJP · Senior Member

I have an electric mountain bike, pedal assist type, and I find it ideal around home. I am at the age where cycling long distances over hilly terain is getting beyond me. I regularly do 50 km rides and have plenty of battery reserve, it has an average range of approximately 80 km depending on terrain.
The bike weighs 28 kg fitted out and is slightly larger than an equivalent bicycle but would most probably fit comfortably on a van your size. Failing that, as Eaglemax said, a fold up electric bike would suffice.
Regards EJP

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Motorised or battery push bike ..

KevinJ · Senior Member

Wow, I am impressed by all the brilliant suggestions. Its now time to research which works best for me.

It just shows that there is nothing wrong with grey nomads grey matter. Experience wins every time.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes it depends what you want one for ? If your planing on some motorbike riding in bush or just 300 to 1500m to shops etc ?? Believe it Ive even SEEN some couples (much older than us .) Pull out two battery powered scooters. Good on em !! They had their things worked out !!

Paintar · Veteran Member

Hi Kevin I put my motorbike on the draw bar when I go Bush. The bike weights 127kgs and that puts 40kgs onto the ball weight.

KevinJ · Senior Member

Really only need it for short road trips to the shops. I won't be doing any trail bike riding. I did all that many years ago and loved it but the bones don't agree anymore.

KevinJ · Senior Member

Thanks for the pic. Looks like I have more options now. Certainly doable.

Tony Bev · Guru

Something I found out today was interesting reading

Looking through the PDS of Ken Tame (CMCA) Insurance

The way I read it, they will cover a scooter you carry on your vehicle, providing it is less than 115 cc

Not a member of CMCA or a user of Ken Tame, but so far, they are the only ones I found who automatically cover such an item

Olive Oil · Senior Member

You can buy secondhand Australia Post 110cc Honda postie scooters at auction. Reliable & they make a great little runabout.

-- Edited by Olive Oil on Saturday 22nd of June 2019 05:44:17 AM

KevinJ · Senior Member

Thanks Tony, ill Follow that one up

KevinJ · Senior Member

Thanks Olive, I was looking at them too. Great minds think alike.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Paintar wrote:

Hi Kevin I put my motorbike on the draw bar when I go Bush. The bike weights 127kgs and that puts 40kgs onto the ball weight.

Being that the bike is closer to the hitch than it is to the van wheels, I suggest that there is something seriously wrong with your calculations there.

Cheers,

Peter

KJB · Guru

I could not work out how that could be correct either - unless some other "weight" within the van has been shifted past the axle centre towards the rear......

yobarr · Guru

Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Paintar wrote:
Hi Kevin I put my motorbike on the draw bar when I go Bush. The bike weights 127kgs and that puts 40kgs onto the ball weight.
Being that the bike is closer to the hitch than it is to the van wheels, I suggest that there is something seriously wrong with your calculations there.Cheers,Peter

Peter,you are,of course,100% correct.Unless there been MAJOR rearranging of loading in the van,that 127kg bike will be putting close on 100kg onto the towball.Simple physics will show this.......if the bike is ahead of the van axle by 75% of the distance from vans axle to hitch point,there will be 75% of 127kg (95kg) extra weight put onto the towball.Cheers.

-- Edited by yobarr on Monday 24th of June 2019 04:11:26 PM

Eaglemax · Guru

I agree Yobarr

-thats a first biggrin