Modern Vespa

Could have easily posted this in the "Winter Mods" thread but I wanted to add a lot of pictures. It started out as a hitch extension my neighbor gave me. With all the contacts I have and friends to pull from, new I could save money making one of these myself. I have the use of my friends trailer any time I want, but I didn't want the speed limit and lane restrictions that go with their use.


(In the last picture)If you look close to the JOEHAULER the right lower bar is bent. JOEHAULER-1>>>> Cager-0. Luckily the scoots weren't on it.

Additional pictures of the strapping.

That is freakin' awesome, Mike. Damn strong receiver you got there (I hope!!)

Wowser!

That's awesome! Man, I wish I had a place to weld...if I tried it here, I'd prolly just burn down the apts! That rig is very nice...I'm with Bravo, I hope your hitch is plenty strong. It definitely looks great. Does the weight hurt your big rig's handling much?

Thanks guys, with the custom bumper up front and the winch, it balances it out pretty well. I really don't feel it. Very stable. The class 5 hitch has a tongue weight rating of 1,200 lbs unassisted, and 1,700 lbs with a weight distributing contraption. It is a 2.5" receiver versus a 2".

Thats great! You could likely sell those! I would need a whole new car to go with it is my problem.

Stylin Mike! My little half-ton 4x4 GMC came with a class 3 hitch rated at 500 lbs max so I guess if I wanted to go the same direction as you I'd have to scrap the hitch and start over. I may have to do that as my rides keep getting fatter all the time. I'm not sure how big a hitch a half-ton can handle so a class 5 like your's may be too much. I'll check with the local hitch builders and see but in the mean time thanks for sharing.

LL75

Stunning! That receiver is unbelievable.

Mike, what a solution hauler you created there! Wheels, to make rollin' about as a one man band ezy-er....lights, so they see ya.....strength to hold your mighty beast...great straps, ramp looks a good length and home-made self chocks ....I'm VERY impressed!
Just wondering.....how much do you think your creation weighs? What truck are you hitched too (make/model)?
I'd buy one (if I knew I'd be riding again). NICE JOB MIKEY!!

Like your new Avatar! It is close to 200 pounds, though I haven't weighed it. I can pick it up but always ask for help to install and remove it. The beast is my LREV(LongRangeEscapeVehicle) Ford X-350 (F-350). It is funny how I drive in a world of practical invincability and ride in a world threatened by a mere Smart car or small animal. But nothing feels like the 3 wheeler.

Mike

Very nice work Mike! Impressive. I guess my Silverado could handle that with a bigger hitch. Would be nice to be able to use the bed on trips without the MP3 in it.

very nicely done

Thanks Mike, I thought it was time to let the "flies" fly (picnic time of year and all

Great looking job! A couple of Q's.

Does the bike come close to high center at the top of the ramp when loading?

I assume that you ride her up the ramp. Where do you catch with your feet when loaded?

Thanks

Both questions I had too!
Truly awesome job there - how good is the balance side to side? It looks centered over the receiver but I'm not sure that's a 50/50 split there... Any sort of bracing?

It doesn't come close to high centering (it was a concern), it could be loaded from the street, but any decrease in angle makes it easier to load.

I actually don't ride it up. The lack of foot placement is the reason. To make it as compact as possible, that was one of the trade offs. Another reason is that the ramp is very coarse for the 12 inch front wheels, and it bounces when going quickly. I am considering a solution for that. So on the incline you see in the picture, it is best and very easy to load with two people. I steer with my hands on the brakes just in case, and the other person just pushes from the back bars. I've only done it with the suspension locked. I've done two test runs prior to going to Temecula from where I live which is close to 400 miles one way.

Regarding balance. Prior to final painting and chock mounting, I placed the carrier on the level ground with the deck on and placed the Ruby Dragon on. Payed no attention to anything but visual center, then I tested for balance. I wasn't going for perfect balance, but accepable balance. That is what I got. It is ever so slightly front heavy. So anyone could lift the front up with the scoot mounted in place.

I appreciate the interest in my creation. I love interacting with the people on this forum, and I love reading the stories even if I chose not to participate in the discussion. Happy to answer any other quetions.

Mike

A board or a Al sheet could use the tie arms to support a foot rest on each side. Hinged if access is needed. Do you think that would work?

A simple 1/8 inch plywood could be used with the folding ramp.

I bought my 4oo in NM and towed it in the bac k of my p/u behind RV for weeks to get home. The weight of the 400 was denting the interior panel of the tailgate on which it sat (I have a Ford Ranger). Three of us loaded it with panels lying on the ATV ramp we used. Had to use a bank to prevent high center with a six foot ramp.

The difficult part was my dangerous but successful unloading at home and without the paneling as I had no help. I almost dropped it on the ramp. It had rib spacing like yours.

I urge you to put something on the ramp. That large spacing is dangerous. And sometime you will be alone.

I have been looking at one on the web made in OK as I want to haul on my motorhome. Did you use that one as inspiration? Currently I tow a 6x8 trailer with fold-up ramp for the scoot. The trailer does come in handy behind a moho because it can also carry firewood and gasoline cans. So I have mixed feelings about which way to go.

Great Job, but beyond my personal expertise.

A trailer does have certain advantages. No doubt.
I should add that removing it from the carrier is very easy for one person and that is how I've done it. Gravity is helpful then.
Things to consider when comparing your particular situation to mine is that my truck is lifted and has larger tires than stock. So, though I won't have any clearance issues regarding grades or driveways, it also makes it more challenging to load.
Garry, the loading of your 400 sounded hairy. The boards could have slipped. I can relate because I am fairly new to this too.
Inspiration came from not wanting a trailer. I did take note how others were designed, but tossed those designs aside and come up with what you see.
I do acknowledge that how I made mine would be very expensive, and cost prohibitive had I not had the friend resources I do. All the metal (except the hitch bar) came from a metal recycling business, and I've known them for years. My neighbor gave me the hitch bar and did all the welding. It would cost well north of a thousand dollars if I had to pay retail for everything.

This is the one (and I think the only) I could find for a MP3:

carrie on ebayr

direct factory link

The price is right, $500 incl. shipping, but I think that I would visit the factory as I would like to look at it before I buy. Also, I may mount to front of my motorhome for balance purposes and to avoid extending an already long overhang to drag on the back. This would require a custom adaptations.

The design is similar to yours.

Check out this link.
http://www.joehauler.com/customhaulers/customhaulers.shtml