Modern Vespa

I am new to the Vespa world. Bought a 2006 GT 200 last week. Have a few questions, will go one at a time.

I would like to be able to transport my new baby on the back of my 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser or 2004 Honda Pilot. Both have 2" hitch receptors.

I have read this site about various options and have been lead to two products;
One is the Tilt-A-Rack 410 ACR that Sells for $300+.
The other is the AMC-400 that sells for about $180 with free shipping.

Could you provide to guidance? Thanks.

In my preview I see that my profile is blank. Will adjust this. I am RFSGT2000.

I use the tilt-a-rack for my GTV. It works well after you learn how to secure it properly so you don't have any tie downs rubbing against the paint. You need two people to get it on and mount it though. It goes on easy enough if the ramp is dry but someone has to hold it upright until you get a tie down affixed.

I'd spend the dollars to get a unit that I can load myself. That ups the ante.
More like this.

I'd feel secure with the Toyota but the Honda is a stretch. There is a 150lb capacity difference. Someone will doubtless pop up and claim they do it all the time, but I tend to want to have wiggle room within the specifications.

There's always a folding trailer.

I own a "Versa-Hauler" that I purchased from a guy that owned a mini SUV.
When he transported his 230lb genuine buddy it was fine, then he moved up to a 250gts (at 325 lbs) the weight of the hauler PLUS the weight of the bike overloaded his tongue weight.

Add the wieght of the carrier and bike to see if your vehicle can safely handle it first.
The tongue capacity should be stamped on the receiver.

I might try one of these for my gts300

http://www.addabike.com/ABHOMEPAGE.html

I will have to drill a hole for the lower seat of the vespa

You compress the bike at the seat with the arm, and then pin it in place
Works well on dirt bikes, as my freind loads a XR650 with a bronco

GB

tom ,Are you saying you can load a bike your self with that Boss.
Pick the rear end up and slide a pin in ?Well maybe with a jack but seems it'd be a pain in arsh.Sometimes you don't get what you pay for.Hint

I have this

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/mcd/4195788012.html

How's the choke fit your tire ,any modifying needed?A review from a fellow scooterist would be nice.

It's all about tongue rating of the vehicle and nothing to do with what hitch is on the back.
I would want a full frame vehicle not a mono frame.

Right,a full size pick-up is 600#
I like the one max has or the tilt one that shows a lady loading scoot

No not at all. . It looked like one that might be possible. You make a very good point. It would take some searching to find such a rig, IF it exists. I went with a trailer. It folds up, self loading, and does other chores. I can use it with any vehicle. Even a little Yaris. It stores so nice, a buddy lets me use a bit of his garage space. I should have kept my nose out.

Thanks for the advice. Almost had a great deal on a SMC 600R on craigs list. Maybe for the best. Have some concern reading about the ability to self load onto one of these hitch based carriers. Some more input here would be welcome.

A few facts, my receiver is rated as a tongue weight of 750#.

If I went the trailer route, are they able to be loaded without a second person? Also, what is the best rated one that is the cheapest?

I use the tilt a rack on my Pilot and it works great. I use a Canyon Dancer Bar Harness to attach the tie downs to the bike. The new type have cups that cap over the end of the bars. Really secure without running the possibility of twisting the grips on the bars.

Can u load the scooter on the tilt rack by yourself?

What brand tilt rack do you have?

I am unfamiliar with the device you used to attach the tie downs to the handle bars, could you give me further info?

Thanks.

Good set up!

Refs how much do you plan on hauling?20 miles,1000?

Toms folding trailer is a good idea if you don't have much room .

Check c list .

Yes you can load by your self on a trailer.Wiith the right choke it will stand up by its self.And then strap it down.

I bought a Moto-Tote. Haven't used it with my BV350, but I did move my SYM HD200 with it. It comes with a ramp that lets you roll the scoot onto the hauler. Always did it myself without any trouble.

Someone mentioned the tongue vs hitch weight max. He's right, it doesn't matter what your hitch rating is. It only matters what the tongue rating is on the vehicle doing the hauling.

I have one of the units like Mudnman, purchased it from the guy who was selling the Vespa to me. He drove it up with the bike some 250 miles to my house and told me he used it to haul the bike when needed.

I think I will like it! Problem is at the moment between my wife and myself we have nothing it will work on as you need to have at least a 300 lb approved trailer hitch installed. Won't work with my wife's Miata for sure and not any too sure about my Prius but have my doubt. Still, it looks cool and I've always fancied myself with a real Texas truck ...........

I, too, use a Versa-haul. I can load the GTS300 unaided. The ramp is shallow; I just push the scooter onto the rack and lean it against the tailgate while I prepare the tie-downs.

Pics here: Versa Haul

I use a Moto-Tote for an LX 150. It's a one person job when mounted on a Jeep Wrangler (low hitch location), and a two person job when mounted on a Tahoe (high hitch location, steeper ramp). The advantages of the Moto-Tote are strong construction and adjustable mount distance from bumper (allows you to keep the load as close to the hitch receiver as possible, minimizing the strain on the hitch itself).

I appreciate all the input.

This moto-tote looks great!

The official name is tilt a rack. Their number is 866-777-9727. If you goggle it, there is a nice video showing loading a scooter and/or motorcycle. Also goggle Canyon Dancer and you find good info on their harnesses. they are the most safe way to attach hold downs to your scooter.

On a side note, do you cover your scoot when it is on the rack or do you just let it ride exposed?

I've been able to unload a scooter from my tilt-a-rack, but I haven't tried loading it by myself yet.

Brendan

I once tried covering a motorcycle on a trailer and the cover pretty much flogged the heck out of the bike. I stopped and took it off and never tried again. It would only work if you pretty well wrapped it with light line.

I bought a double Versa-Hauler from the guy that sold me the GTV. It was too good a deal to turn down but I've only used it twice.

I've got a nice 5 x 10 flat trailer and a 6 x 10 enclosed trailer that I use.

I should probably sell the Versa-Hauler one of these days.

This is a really good point. I've only used mine a handful of times in the six or seven years I've had it, and non in the last three or four. and the hitch mount hauler is only good for one thing.

Unless storage is tight the small trailer is a much more flexible way to haul your scoot and a bunch of other stuff at the same time. More vehicle types can pull a trailer than can carry a hitch type hauler too.

Yeh I can easily load 2 scooters on either of the trailers. I've got a front wheel chock that I put on the trailer to hold 'em

Here it is loaded, one person operation, but it takes some skills

You sue did a lot of work on it, but I get why you would go for a trailer. I think some of us are just a bit fearful of trailering. But the backup skills come pretty quick.

Couldn't pull the trigger on a hitch carrier.

Need to transport the scooter for service.

Decided to rent a uhaul trailer for one day. $30.

Thanks

On their website it states that:



And the GTV300IE dry weight is 326LBS

Maniac

Maxx I like it!

See front wheel in choke,it won't go forward any more.
See straps that not only hold it up ,won't let scoot go back.Its locked in!
Straps crossed looks to have an advantage .I do that with certain things
I haul.
It would freak me out not strapping the rear down.

psst, specifically what trailer do you have? Folding and small car friendly is exactly what I need.

There is a 600 ls model also

I rented a uhaul motorcycle trailer for 14.95 per day

It was a very heavy small trailer to tow...

I have several Triton Alloy trailers and there 100% alloy construction .

GB

I need to go thread diving to find it. But it is in the wiki too. I'll get it done after breakfast.

Black, 50" X 72" Foldable Utility Trailer
Model Number: LCI-746TE

I added a chock and decided on a deck and no rail. The chock needs to be set forward into the A frame tongue section given the weight and balance of the GTS being towards the rear. NOT a good choice for two GTS sized scooters. I added rear and tongue stands so t can be loaded and unloaded unhitched. We have some great farm and ranch stores around MN, you might poke around those for what's available. This trailer is heavy and takes more strength than I have to get up after folding. I could do it 5 years ago, so maybe it is manageable for you. Where I you and with what I know today, I'd search for a steal or deal on a trailer in a bag or similar. Unless you can use a utility trailer for other chores. I'd prefer, as it turns out, to have a dedicated scooter trailer that was easier to handle. But that's the result of my inability to handle the weight. ScootChef found a steal on a Kendon folding trailer. One sold in mid November on crags list Mpls.

Thank you!

I thought about hitch carriers many times. I read this thread few months ago. I tried tilt a rack today. I had to problems loading and unloading. HOWEVER, despite the fact that combined weight of the rack and the scooter was lower than maximum tongue weight, the set up didn't look safe to me. I didn't try driving with my scooter on the rack. It is not about the clearance. The clearance can be adjusted. It looked like the car's nose got up and rear suspension was compressed more than I expected. The car , Volvo xc70 has less than 15000 miles on the odometer.

Trailer in a bag works great but it isn't cheap.

air bags, if the tongue weight isn't over spec, but looking at the rig your numbers are seriously off somewhere. THAT is not in spec, or even close IME.