Modern Vespa

As a new Vespa owner and member how do you all transport your scooter when you can't ride it yourself? Do you trailer, etc, etc. I have an Outlander and my ride is a 150 Primavera! I have seen the racks you place on your tow hitch but the Vespa appears a bit large to get it on the rack, any help is appreciated!

I trailer my scooter, if I'm not riding it to my destination. I've used the trailer a few times when I go with a friend and his scooter, too. The trailer carries two scoots.

The gold standard for transporting a scooter is a small or mid-sized pickup truck.

Trailering works too, and has some advantages but also disadvantages over a pickup.

The Tilt-A-Rack is a good alternative, but only if you have a vehicle with a suitable hitch receiver that has a good tongue weight allowance. Generally this is limited to body-on-frame pickup trucks.

I have a Black Widow hitch carrier. Not sure of the exact model since I bought it used. It works great for carrying either my ET3 or my P200E to rallies. There isn't much ground clearance with my Subaru Outback, so I have to be careful on driveways and the like, but it's well within the weight limit for the hitch receiver.

It pivots down on a hinge and you pull out a ramp to push the bike up. The ET3 is easy, since it's only 78 kg, but the P200E is a bit more work, as it tips the scales at 108 kg. It looks like the Primavera 150 is 117 kg, so that might still be manageable.

I found the ScooterWest video very helpful. I'd say the "Canyon Dancer" strap that he recommends is essential.

We use a trailer when it's both our scooters, but if just the LX I use a severely modified electric disabled scooter lift.

I absolutely hate owning a trailer. Where I am the tags are around $80 a year. I fell for it twice. After three years of renewing registration on a trailer I paid $100 for, I said enough is enough. I have a Ford Ranger pickup that I've hauled a Burgman 400 in the bed of. I have a 500 pound hitch carrier and the appropriate 2" receiver hitch on the truck. I've hauled two in one shot with this. Another decent alternative is the smal open trailer rental from U-haul. About $25 for the day. It all depends on what kind of vehicle your daily driver is, and how often you plan on toting your scooter around. Maybe a trailer makes sense for you, maybe not.

Thank goodness trailer registration is permanent in California! One thing they did get right.

Which of these are you bringing to Portland next week, or is it both?

Bob

I was going to bring the trailer - but the van has decided to make alarming knocking noises on deceleration, so we've cancelled.

The key detail for using a hitch mount carrier is your vehicle's tow/tongue weight rating. This is determined by the vehicle manufacturer based on several criteria, including mounting points, brake and suspension components, and even the transmission. The Mitsu Outlander might not have the specs for this option.

A good, sturdy carrier id going to weigh between 75-100 lbs on it's own. My Black Widow carrier is rated for 600 lbs and weighs 95 lbs on its' own. My 2009 Buick Enclave has a tow rating of 4500 lbs, tongue rating of 450. With the carrier and my GTS (330 lbs), I'm really close to the limit. Keep in mind that a hitch carrier positions the scoot away from the rear, so it will act a bit like a lever.

Renting a moto trailer from uhaul is an excellent and cost effective option.