Hauling a 4 Wheeler on a Cargo Hitch Carrier?

[hoythunter]

Anybody have 1, built 1 or use it?

I'm going elk hunting in September in New Mexico and we're pulling a travel trailer and need to bring along 2 atv's. 1 will fit in the back of the truck and I'm thinking of building a basket carrier to go on the back of the travel trailer for the 2nd bike. Both bikes are on the smaller end of he 4 wheeler spectrum - a Honda rancher and an older model 4 trax. We will have a receiver hitch installed on the back of the travel trailer, but my buddy wants to pull a second trailer in tandem with the bumper pull travel trailer. Me, not so much...

What say the green screen? I have a welder and decent skills on small to mid size welding projects (many smoker builds, a boat trailer and a couple 16-20' utility trailers as a building resume...). I tend to overbuild projects, so by no means would it be a cheesy northern tool hitch carrier...

[Kbeaz]

Edit: I just read travel trailer

[Peta-hata]

I've seen platforms built that lay on top of the bed rails, upon which two atvs can ride side by side, sitting perpendicular to the side of the truck bed. You still have some cargo space underneath the platform in the bed of the truck. You may have to come up with some longer ramps though. May work if they are smaller bikes like you say.

[Hoggslayer]

That's a lot of weight hung out there along way. I'm pretty sure whatever you're tying into wouldn't be strong enough to hold that much especially when you hit some bumps.

[Buckshot-73]

I would not do it. Too many bad thing's will go wrong.

[Steves ATV]

no sir. It could work, but probably won't. Throw it on your buddy's trailer, if not big enough, rent/borrow a bigger trailer

[Steves ATV]

BTW, towing/hauling is one thing I don't take chances with. Too many dangers and liabilities to chance it!

[red]

Seen plenty of people pulling a camper and a boat attached to that camper. A lil 4x8 atv trailer towed behind the travel trailer likely won't even be noticed, and the better route to go.

[hoythunter]

We are talking heaviest weight of 550 lbs on the hitch carrier if the Rancher goes in the carrier. I know lots of people haul a second trailer behind a travel trailer that would have heavier tongue weights than that. The receiver hitch will be mounted to the frame of the TT, not the bumper. That change any thoughts in the process?

My biggest issue with 2 trailers is length. 65' is the max legal length from the front bumper to the back of the rig. The TT is 32' and I'm pulling with a 4 door dodge 2500 long bed pickup. Not much room behind the TT for a trailer when you add tongue length to the TT. The TT is a bumper pull, which adds to my concern of pulling tandem. I wouldn't be as concerned if the TT was 5th wheel/gooseneck.

[JGreen31]

Whichever you decide, add it to the DIY section here so we can follow along.

Do you know the weight of the four wheeler?

[hoythunter]

Whichever you decide, add it to the DIY section here so we can follow along.

Do you know the weight of the four wheeler?

My rancher weighs right at 550 lbs. The FourTrax is less, seems like 350-400 if I remember correctly.

[Lewis Stafford]

TERRIBLE idea.... Unless your lookin to make an insurance claim.

[LloydMcCoy]

I've seen platforms built that lay on top of the bed rails, upon which two atvs can ride side by side, sitting perpendicular to the side of the truck bed. You still have some cargo space underneath the platform in the bed of the truck. You may have to come up with some longer ramps though. May work if they are smaller bikes like you say.

I say this

[texxfletch]

my buddy built one to hold his Yamaha warrior. he built it just wide enough for the atv,and made it a rising offset to compensate for the length.

kinda like this (truck)__/-----------(bike set on upper platform).


You could tell it put one heck of a load on the hitch and carrier.(made of 1/4 wall tube,with expanded metal). it was a bear to install and move around.

I would very much rather see you build the eailer mentioned platform across the bed rails for the 2 atvs to sit side by side, than to see you build the carrier and it come loose some how.
Also, if you add to much weight to the rear of your bumper pull you may lighten up the tounge weight to much and get some trailer sway.



with all that said here is some links.

http://www.cruiserlift.com/swivelwheel.html

http://www.diamondbackcovers.com/atv-carrier/

http://monsterhauler.com/

should give you some ideas.

[Draco]

It's not how strong you can make it but how strong the metal on the travel trailer is that you can attach to. Which isn't very strong at all. The metal used on travel trailers is very thin and isn't nearly enough for holding up the weight of a four wheeler and the weight of the carrier. I turn down all jobs welding things on the back of travel trailers and I have a welding business. I really wouldn't do it.