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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / August 2006

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Hitch motorcycle rack on Ford Ranger

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dan m - 21 Aug 2006 02:24 GMT
Does anyone have any thoughts on using a tounge mounted rack for
carrying a motorcycle on a 2004 Ford Ranger Super Cab XLT FXII 4x4?

The companies that makes the racks (Versa Haul and Hitch Haul are 2 of
them) claim that the rack can hold up to 500 lbs.  But I'm not sure if
the hitch can handle that much weight.
My bike weighs 404 lbs., the rack wieghs about 86 lbs.

This is a factory installed 2 inch hitch, labeled V-5
Tounge Weight
Weight Distributing - 600 lbs
Weight carrying - 350 lbs

Tow Weight
Weight Distributing - 6000 lbs
Weight Carrying - 3500 lbs

I think that the # that I need to consider is the tounge carrying
weight of 350, which means I am out of luck.  But I am not sure what
the "Weight Distributing" rating means.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Dan M.
Mark Olson - 21 Aug 2006 02:50 GMT
> Does anyone have any thoughts on using a tounge mounted rack for
> carrying a motorcycle on a 2004 Ford Ranger Super Cab XLT FXII 4x4?
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> weight of 350, which means I am out of luck.  But I am not sure what
> the "Weight Distributing" rating means.

You are right about the tongue carrying weight being the figure of
interest.  "Weight Distributing" is allowable tongue weight if you
have a compensating hitch (I can't remember the proper name) setup.
Since the hitch has to carry the weight of the bike plus the bracket
you're limited to 350 - 86 or a bike that weighs no more than 264 lb.

> Any thoughts?

Get a bike trailer.  No way are those hitch mounted things safe to use
with even a 400lb bike.  Maybe a 250lb dirt bike.  If money's a problem
buy one of the cheap Harbor Freight 4x8 utility trailers and fit some
sort of wheel chock to it.  The model with the bigger tires is better.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42709
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90154
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93747

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