RV Motorcycle carriers are one of the best ways to safely take your motorcycle, scooter, or two-wheeled vehicle with you on the road. Particularly if you don’t want to add to your overall length. But there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing an RV motorcycle carrier.
This blog post will explain some of the key considerations to look at before buying. In addition to sharing what we think are the best RV motorcycle carriers in the market today.
Can you carry a motorcycle on an RV?
RVs have a designated weight rating for their tow hitch which allows it to drag a tow vehicle or trailer behind the RV. But RV hitches are capable of holding a motorcycle as well.
There’s a caveat though. What you can carry is determined by your RV’s tongue weight (TW). It’s extremely important to know your vehicle’s hitch rating (aka tongue weight) because it ensures you aren’t overloading the capacity of the RV. Doing so could put you in an unsafe situation as you’re driving.
If you are flat towing the general rule of thumb is 10% of the gross trailer weight (GTW). That means if you are carrying a 1,500 lb trailer with a motorcycle, you would need your tongue weight capacity to be around 150 lbs.
Since you are carrying the motorcycle on the back of the RV the overall weight of the motorcycle and the carrier you’re using cannot exceed the TW capacity.
Our Sprinter RV had a TW capacity of 500 lbs. Our scooter and carrier combined was around 480 lbs. so we were within the limits (just barely). It’s good to have some wiggle room with weight capacities because the force of the motorcycle as you are driving on the hitch can increase its overall weight on the chassis.
You can find out your RV’s tow hitch capacity by looking at the sticker on the hitch. It usually is 350 lbs – 800 lbs. If the sticker is no longer there try a simple search online for your “tow hitch rating” with your year, make, and model.
How does an RV motorcycle carrier work?
RV motorcycle carriers attach to the female receiver tube on the rear hitch. Similar to a bicycle rack. The carrier comes with a ramp to help you load and unload your motorcycle easily and will have a way to safely stow the motorcycle as you drive.
A few things to consider when looking at RV motorcycle carriers:
- Make sure the carrier can accommodate your bike’s tires. Some bikes have much wider tires requiring a different-sized carrier.
- The build material. Lightweight frames can help if you’re in need of weight savings but are more prone to rust. Look for a quality-built carrier.
- Make sure the hitch is compatible with your RV. This isn’t a huge problem, but it’s something to confirm before buying.
The best motorcycle carrier for an RV
After loads of research from the dozens of different motorcycle carriers out there we ultimately ended up purchasing the Mototote RV Motorcycle carrier MTX sport.
Here are a few reasons we went with this model over others:
- Integrated front wheel chock that holds the bike upright while you’re strapping it down solo.
- Modular design so you can change the load or unload orientation or the width of the carrier itself depending on the wheelbase.
- It is beautifully designed with tubular steel throughout the entire setup.
- Has an extendable hitch mount if added space is needed.
- Weighs around 60 lbs. and can carry up to 600 lbs. which is more than most hitches will allow.
- The loading ramp is hidden nicely behind the carrier.
- Zero wobble hitch bolt to minimize sway as you drive.
We’ve carried our motorcycle this way for over 3 years now and had zero problems. We love having a two-wheeled vehicle with us and couldn’t imagine this lifestyle without it.
How we installed our RV motorcycle carrier
We had to modify our hitch carrier to extend beyond the “bumper” on the back of our RV. At the time, we didn’t realize that Mototote had an extension available for purchase, so we ended up getting an experienced welder to add an extension and reinforce the hitch mount and underneath the RV.
Some people are concerned about having a scooter or motorcycle hang off the back of their RV. But honestly, if you have a quality carrier and checked your towing weight capacity you should be safe.
If you want to buy a Mototote motorcycle carrier for your RV you can get an exclusive discount by shopping through our link. Use code EATSEERV at check out to save 10%. This saves you money on an awesome program while supporting the channel at no extra cost to you.
