Modern Vespa

I'd love to bring the GT200 on some of our trips.

Saw this advertised...wondered about how it was for securing, movement during the drive, etc.

[/img]

used them all the time to haul dirts bikes back in the 70's. never had a problem. I have seen small sport tourers and scooters on them behind RV's all the time.

I had considered one, but the manufacturer recommend a type 3 hitch, and my Mountaineer has only a type 2, so I passed on it. I've heard of others using this on a type 2 setup, but I'd feel safer with a light trailer.

I haven't tried one, but have seen lots of threads on here about them. Do a search for versahauler on here, and you'll find lots. It really depends on the vehicle you drive. The gt200 is about 400lbs, so think about how that much weight in back will affect the driving of your vehicle. good luck! I say just buy a truck and strap it in, ir just ride the gt where you are going.

I purchased a carrier similar to the one pictured to haul my new LX150 home.
My dealer is about 130 miles away and I don't have a trailer. It took
several tie downs but worked very well. The trick is to get it tight enough
so that the suspension works to keep the tie downs tight. There was a fair
amount of bounce, but made the trip without a problem.

As Nolascooter writes, do a search here. There is a lot of great information and I have gained knowledge even when I did not know to ask the question.
Be careful of the tongue weight on your towing vehicle as I learned in my research. Close or over the limit of your tongue weight and you may get a lot of movement especially over any bumps.

Better to point another member in the right direction than suggest a search. It helps us all, MV version of paying forward.


Scooter Transport

The total weight of the scooter and the carrier cannot exceed the rated tongue weight of your vehicle/receiver.

Absolutely. Thank you.

I appreciate that

Not knowing it is called a "Versahauler" limits my ability to do a search with any effectiveness. A more common search on "hauling a scooter" yields 98% garbage.

My Workshop Manual lists the dry weight of the GT200 as 308lbs. Having the gas drained while leaving the engine and hub oil in there should still keep the scoot in the low 300's. Still, it's a sizable amount of weight hanging off the rear of my '06 Highlander. I'll do some checking of the numbers.

Thanks.

Be safe check to see what "towing package" entails. all the etrailer versions for the highlander list 300-350 as tongue weight. That's not enough to safely haul a GT.

http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2006_Toyota_Highlander.htm

EDIT The towing package includes, tow hitch/reciever, the wiring, converter, transmission cooler, Heavy duty alternator, power steering cooler, Heavy duty Radiator, and High amp fan coupling. That gets you 500lb tongue weight and a 20% fudge factor with a vershauler type rig.

Honestly, when you combine the approximate 90 pounds of the VH with the 308 pound dry weight of the scoot plus fluids and extras, you are just over 400 pounds.

Nearly every full size, quarter ton truck (mine included) top out at that weight...IF you have an extended cab you might have about 20-30 pounds to spare.

If you are not talking a pickup and are talking an SUV or van, you are beyond your limit and your vehicle's front end may loose traction or steering control in certain instances.

Too bad you're not closer. I've got an aluminum hitch carrier much like the one you've got pictured for sale for $100.

Dutch,
I may be interested in that....
could you shoot me an email with pics maybe??
brodyshawglass (at) atlanticbb.net

thanks!

i am going to pick mine up today...it is a versahaul....i heard that was the best brand for this type of hauler. I bought the larger one with the ramp option...it will hold up to 600lb bike....just remember your vehicle has to be able to handle whatever weight you hang on the rear....you might have to get rear end suspension gadgets
good luck

keep in mind...you are not towing if you are using a carrier like a versahaul
you need to find out what weight your rear suspension can take. Versahaul has a chart on their site...they will also help you if you call them.
I might have to get air bags that are controlable, because you do not want to have the suspension where it is set for heavy weight and then when you remove the weight you can have a dangerous driving experience with the rear end bouncing around...so they make kits with air bags that can be controlled....
good luck....

Most vehicles have a rated tongue weight. This weight is based on more factors than just suspension. Flow dynamics are changed drastically by hanging 400 lbs of, anything but streamlined, toys off the end of a vehicle. It's not towing but still a significant change Air bags can solve problems and also create them. Best bet is to buy a vehicle with a tow package. I guarantee performance under the stresses of towing or high tongue weights will be mitigated.

Air bags will make the ride more comfortable or may be able to make the truck ride more level. The problem is that they do change the fact that 400 pounds of force, on a 24 inch "lever" on the rear of the truck cannot be balanced by the amount of weight in the front of the truck. The rear axle is still the pivot point in this teeter-totter equation. Airbags will change it some but not enough in my book.

I was looking at the VH site last night and all of the "club" and "extended" cab trucks had a much higher tongue weight allowance. This is due to the fact that hey have more weight in the front half of the truck holding the front (steering) axle on the ground.

Has anybody had a problem due to the heavy rear end of the scooter? I.e. most of the weight is on the rear wheel.

Does this tend to twist the type of carrier the OP pictured or put undue stress on the hitch?

I used a friends versahauler and was not at all happy with the stability. An ET4 seemed to ride OK but the GTS shifted and ended up against the tail gate. Even though the weight was within spec, the front end felt like it was floating. The weight distribution was off as well, as you point out. This was a 4 year old VH.