Motorcycle Rack on 4x4

**Julio** · #1 31 Jul 2005

Hi All

On my next trip in my LWB Nissan Patrol, I want to take my Honda CRM with me but do not want to take a trailer. The bike weighs approx 130 Kgs)

I am looking for advice that anyone has in fitting a bike rack onto a towbar mount.

The vehicle has uprated OMU suspension but I may need to change the rear springs to heavy duty ones.

I have found one company that seems to have a number of rack options. I would expect that the rack will need to be strenghtend for an overland trip.

http://www.easylifter.co.uk/

Anyone advice, recommendations appreciated.

Thanks

Julio

**GreenLaner** · #2 22 Aug 2005

Why not build your own? It would be a pretty simple job I think, and I'm planning one for my Bighorn now.

By the way, what's a Honda CRM?

GL

**Cugel** · #3 22 Aug 2005

I had the towbar mount on my SWB Trooper modified by CMF: http://www.cmf-engineering.com/

The price was very reasonable.

They welded some box-section into the Isuzu mount which acts as a receiver for a bike rack.

I've used it a few times. Some comments:

It takes quite a while to load up the bike. The Trooper / Bighorn have the spare located on the rear door. Though my rack can be positioned so that the bike is clear of the spare, this creates the problem of a big lever, i.e., a 130kg XR (dry) sitting about 2.5' aft of the rear door. The first time I tried driving like this I was a nervous wreck. The steering was very light and I was worried about the towbar mounts etc. breaking. So, now I remove the spare and put it in the rear load bay. The bike then sits much closer to the vehicle. This said the whole set up is equivalent to having the maximum tounge weight for the 3-door Trooper. The steering is still a bit light, but tolerable. I might get some of those rubber spring assisters for the rear shocks, then again, I might just buy a trailer! Its a real pain to do all this just to carry the bike.

Another thing, I would definately not take this arrangement off-road. I think the inevitable bumps would just snap the towbar mount or the bolts (4-5 M12s I think) that fix it to the chassis. Further, the bike sticks out both sides of the trooper by about 6".

A long wheelbase 4x4 might fare better. Also, if the rack receiver was an extension of a ladder chassis then the structural worries might be alleviated.

All in all, it was an interesting experiment, but I don't think I'll bother with this again.

**Gipper** · #4 26 Aug 2005

I like the hydraulic easy lifter... dont think my ktm will fit though....!!!
Julio,
depends on where you are going I suppose, but I would try to use some form of chassis extension as 130kg + rack will put a lot of stress on any towbar assembly - especially if you are on rough pistes/corrogations.
if you can get them to run along chassis and mount at 2 spots so they become stressed it would be stronger and reduce flex through the towbar assembly.
Cheers
Grif

------------------
'95 LR 90 300 Tdi
'02 KTM Adventure 640
Ex Rockape, Ex Drago
...and Bloody Nice Bloke!

[This message has been edited by Gipper (edited 25 August 2005).]

**Julio** · #5 30 Aug 2005

Hi Guys

Have been in touch with the company and will be speaking to their engineer this week about my requirements.

I am totally useless at making anything so will have to get one made.

I am having an ARB bumper and Warn winch fitted which should balance out the additional weight of the bike. Though I do have a roof tent fitted so will be interesting to see what this does to the handling.

Greenlaner, I'm surprised you have not heared of a Honda CRM AR 250 very popular Jap import trail bike.

Will keep you posted.

Julio