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Topic: Traveling cross country in LD with bikes, without car? (Read 50 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Traveling cross country in LD with bikes, without car?
Reply #25 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146040
Just being a little bit of  the devil here, but while this would not be a good grocery getter or a rainy day car I could see it being a fun alternative to a toad: http://www.flyskyrunner.com/#tiptop 
John Green 07 MidBath
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath
Re: Traveling cross country in LD with bikes, without car?
Reply #26 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146042
The recommendation to use dual mounts on a motorcycle carrier is a excellent one. I have seen LDs with a badly damage bumpers, cause by towing and carrying motorcycles. The stock bumper does not have enough strength, with a single mount, to survive the long-term with a margin of safety IMO. The teeter-tottering, when using a single mount, can bend or tear out the receiver hitch out of  the bumper, believe me, it happens, no matter how secure it looks when standing still. Two supports will always be superior it a single one.
 The carrier Jon uses is a good example of how to do it right, his scooter does not move while on the road, having watched it in action.
Now, I would have second thoughts about carrying a heavy bike or scooter on a 27' model and would never consider it on a 31' LD. There is too little CCC available and the weight is in the wrong spot.
A  23.5-24'  E450 LD is the best choice for a carrying a motorcycle or scooter, with its short overhang and excess CCC.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Carrying a Scooter on a 26-1/2 ft Mid-Bath Lazy Daze
Reply #27 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146046
Larry,
 With the various references to previous post about the above subject I can only say that I have learned and as usual I dive into subjects of my interest to learn even more. As I mentioned before, I did purchase a carrier that had the 2" receiver as its only connection point to our Lazy Daze. I am adding a 2" x 2" x 5' angle on each side to the coach frame. Although I am not a structural engineer, I think that this will be sufficient to to take care of the twisting and giving the carrier some additional support.
 With regard to your reluctance to carry a scooter (240 lbs) on the back of a 27 ' Lazy Daze I have a question. Do you happen to know the over hang of a 24' Lazy Daze? I realize the 27' has a longer overhang but also a longer wheel base (158" vs. 176") My thoughts are to try this out without adding airbags first. If not being satisfied with the added weight in the back, just add bags.
 Years ago I added airbags to an older Apollo motor home with which we traveled throughout the USA, Canada and Mexico. Adding the air bags made a day and night difference.

Always very interested in your opinions.

Aad

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2001 MB
Re: Carrying a Scooter on a 26-1/2 ft Mid-Bath Lazy Daze
Reply #28 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146047
Aad,  You might stop by and see the set up I have for carrying Donna's 180 pound mobility scooter on the back of our LD.  I know the loads and lengths are a little different, but it might give you some ideas.  Gene

Re: Carrying a Scooter on a 26-1/2 ft Mid-Bath Lazy Daze
Reply #29 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146052
Larry,
 With the various references to previous post about the above  subject I can only say that I have learned and as usual I dive into subjects of  my interest to learn even more. As I mentioned before, I did purchase a carrier  that had the 2" receiver as its only connection point to our Lazy Daze. I am  adding a 2" x 2" x 5' angle on each side to the coach frame. Although I am not a  structural engineer, I think that this will be sufficient to to take care of the  twisting and giving the carrier some additional support.
 With regard to  your reluctance to carry a scooter (240 lbs) on the back of a 27 ' Lazy Daze I  have a question. Do you happen to know the over hang of a 24' Lazy Daze? I  realize the 27' has a longer overhang but also a longer wheel base (158" vs.  176") My thoughts are to try this out without adding airbags first. If not being  satisfied with the added weight in the back, just add bags.


 Air bags do not add the the load carring abilty of the MH. But it will raise the body of the MH and stabalize the MH from sway.
 I  do not know how you are setting the hitch up to carry the bike but keep  in mind that with the standard receiver the hitch has a carring rate of  maybe 300, 400, or xxx lb. But for every 12 inchs that you move the  bell back you cut the load that the hitch can carry in HALF. So if the  hitch on the camper is rated at 300 lb when you move the ball (hitch  point) back 12 inchs the rating is now 150 lb. And if you move it back  another 12 inchs it is then 75 lb.

George Retired Plumber
Re: Carrying a Scooter on a 26-1/2 ft Mid-Bath Lazy Daze
Reply #30 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146053
"I am adding a 2" x 2" x 5' angle on each side to the coach frame.  Although I am not a structural engineer, I think that this will be  sufficient to to take care of the twisting and giving the carrier some  additional support.
 With regard to your reluctance to carry a scooter (240 lbs) on the back  of a 27 ' Lazy Daze I have a question. Do you happen to know the over  hang of a 24' Lazy Daze? I realize the 27' has a longer overhang but  also a longer wheel base (158" vs. 176") My thoughts are to try this out  without adding airbags first. If not being satisfied with the added  weight in the back, just add bags"

Aad

The 2X2 angles definitely will stabilize the rack.
 My reluctance about 27' models is based on seeing how low most sit (and how they drag backing into my driveway). Adding 300+ lbs (the rack has got to weight something) in the worse possible place is not going to improve the handling and may overload the rear axle in many cases. The 24' E450 models may have a similar overhang but do sit higher with less weight on the rear axle (and a lot more excess CCC).
 The other thing I worry about is the strength of the receiver and rear bumper's attachments when exposed to long-term bouncing. I have seen the 2" receiver ripped out of the bumper on LDs which have not been beefed up. If you drive down the kind of back roads that we do, keep an eye on the bumper and its attachments to the frame. Also keep an eye on the 1/4" carraige bolts that secure the bumper to the rear wall of the LD, they support much of the weight of the bumper and its load.
We nearly lost our rear bumper and Jeep a few years ago when the low-grade rear bumper bolts loosened and fell out due to the thin washers bending and collapsing. It was an eye opener to see that the 1/4" carriage bolts were carrying the full load of the rear bumper, including a 4000-lbs Jeep.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwade/sets/72157605167526411/ This is a good upgrade for anyone towing or carrying significant weight on the bumpers.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Carrying a Scooter on a 26-1/2 ft Mid-Bath Lazy Daze
Reply #31 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146058
Just to be clear about my scooter rack setup, nothing is attached to the bumper or the hitch receiver. The rack is supported entirely by two rail extensions welded to the frame.  This was custom made in a shop in West L.A. And cost a bundle -- about $1,500 , if memory serves. It was custom fit for the Vespa, to ensure that the scoot was carried as close to the body of the rig as possible to reduce the fulcrum effect. All is well after 46,000 miles. Except, of course, the time I shot the scoot off the end of the rack, and the time I thought it was balanced, turned around to get the tiedown strap and . .  .  We'll, it's a good thing Vespas are tough!  :) -- Jon  (' 06TK "Albatross")
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄
Re: Carrying a Scooter on a 26-1/2 ft Mid-Bath Lazy Daze
Reply #32 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146068
Jon, George, Larry and Others,
 All your notes and comments are always very much appreciated. It also makes me think and research matters.
 I saw the pictures of your installation, Jon. Welding the carrier permanently is not an option for me. Although we have not towed our 19 ft sailboat in quite a while and keep her at the water front, we still do not want to overlook the potential towing possibility. For that reason I prefer to make my attachments with grade "8" bolts.
 I also checked the bolts and washers out that you had to reinforce with a extra plate, Larry. Ours still look fairly good. However, it is a point to keep watching with the additional weight.
 As far as the extra rear weight is concerned I checked some earlier weight measuring results that showed that our rig has 860 lbs loading weight left on the rear axle. This was with loading the rig as we usually travel.
 As I mentioned before if the added weight of the carrier and the scooter does lower the rear end to much or create instability I can always add air bags.

Aad

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2001 MB
Re: Carrying a Scooter on a 26-1/2 ft Mid-Bath Lazy Daze
Reply #33 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146074
Aad:  I should have mentioned that the rack is fully removable as it's support beams slide into the square tubing that is welded to the frame. There's a lock to keep it safe from metal thieves. Thus, the hitch is still fully usable (as long as you don't need both scoot and boat at the same time). -- Jon
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄
Re: Traveling cross country in LD with bikes, without car?
Reply #34 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146078
That certainly trumps a vespa.  A solution to toll booths as well!

From: "johndacrema@..." To: lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, May 1, 2014 7:03 AM Subject: [LD] Re: Traveling cross country in LD  with bikes, without car?
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
Re: Traveling cross country in LD with bikes, without car?
Reply #35 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146106
Wow! We can't tell you all how valuable your thoughts and experience are to us! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your set-ups!

/Linnea
 
Re: Traveling cross country in LD with bikes, without car?
Reply #36 –
Yahoo Message Number: 146443
Agree with Bob; a toad has some pluses but, it is not necessary to see the country.  We drove from NC to Ca and back twice in the past two years and saw many of the same sites Bob listed.  Over 4-5 weeks we rented cars a couple of times.  We consider that to be better than towing a toad that is needed only a few times in a long trip.  The 1 + mpg more to tow is another factor as well.  Jim