SWing on hitch carrier

I'm looking to buy a SWING for our snow-bird Florida home. I live in Michigan and have the summer to fix/maintain/repair or generally get used to Riding before taking to Florida next Fall.

I know a SWING weighs in at a little over 500lbs and my trailer hitch has a 900lb tongue weight. I'm thinking a carrier-rack with the SWING will still be under the 900lb T.W. capacity.
My question is, "Has anyone built a carrier that fits a 2" receiver"?  

While the hitch capacity plays into it overall balance of the vehicle with bike hanging off the back means more with handling, especially if an emergency stop is needed, even worse in bad weather. What will be hauling the S'Wing?

oldwingguy wrote:

While the hitch capacity plays into it overall balance of the vehicle with bike hanging off the back means more with handling, especially if an emergency stop is needed, even worse in bad weather. What will be hauling the S'Wing?

T-V is a 2014 Toyota Highlander. (5K towing capacity)
I've towed an enclosed trailer with an 1800 Gold Wing back and forth between Michigan and Florida many times. (total weight about 3500lbs) The tongue weight with a SWING may be a bit more than the enclosed trailer but the total weight much less.

Ride it.

That is more weight than I would care to put on the tongue. Not to mention getting the Wing up on it. EGAD. Personally I would buy or rent a motorcycle trailer (U-Haul or the like) and haul it down safely.  Good luck with whatever you decide.

GHM-PM wrote:

That is more weight than I would care to put on the tongue. Not to mention getting the Wing up on it. EGAD. Personally I would buy or rent a motorcycle trailer (U-Haul or the like) and haul it down safely.  Good luck with whatever you decide.

Same here, I too have hauled a G'Wing to Fl. behind my truck but putting the weight of the carrier plus the S'Wing directly on the rear of the Highlander would not be my choice, trailering would be. A one way haul in a enclosed U Haul could be very doable.

My hitch carrier is rated for 600#, but I wouldn't put my Silverwing on it. A one way rental from Michigan to Florida, even an open trailer, is pricey. I ended up buying a used 5x10 well built trailer to haul mine from NY to Fla, for less than the one way rental.

minimac wrote:

My hitch carrier is rated for 600#, but I wouldn't put my Silverwing on it. A one way rental from Michigan to Florida, even an open trailer, is pricey. I ended up buying a used 5x10 well built trailer to haul mine from NY to Fla, for less than the one way rental.

Good point, I already had a Welker flat loader, my son uses a open Chariot.

The SW is one of the hardest bike to tie down IME, 1st time I trailered from dealer, it took me a good 1/2 hour to figure the area of the fork triple clamp next to fork tube is best place to strap down, I used  "soft loop tie down straps" to loop around and a ratchet strap to secure, a front wheel "cradle"chock is also good to have. IAC set parking brake.

 BTW this guy I know used to carry his Majesty 400 on a HD hitch carrier with his F150 PU, it looked unnerving, moved around on the hitch a lot, he said the front wheels of truck felt light, not planted 

I think riding is better---get the bike there---take bus or fly back.

> he said the front wheels of truck felt light, not planted < now couple that with less than dry smooth roads and the reason for trailering becomes obvious.

BTW, kim that usually that the the max hitch weight rating is when a weight distribution hitch/bars is needed, otherwise the rating is aprox. half, went thru that scenario with my sisters Tundra, rated at 10k, we had to use the bar towing a 6k trailer to keep vehicle level, you may be looking at max load of 450-500 lbs, SW is 550 + dolly  

It's interesting that there's no comments or suggestions on towing/ trailers/hitches or whatever from over this side of the Pond.

Thecruiser, I had a custom fabricated, 2" HD receiver carrier for our '85 Honda Elite and '05 Honda Big Ruckus. These scooters probably came in around 350'ish lbs and that was plenty enough for our hitch receiver set up. I even had load binders on either side of the carrier running to the truck's frame to stabilize the load. Later, we wanted to carry our Burgman 400 which was around 500 lbs. but there was no way. Too much weight, stress and even canter levering on the entire system. This was on a 26' Ford E350 based Class C RV so there was no noticeable weight difference or feel on the steering tires.

With the Burgman 400, we ended up using an open utility trailer ... then quickly progressed to an enclosed cargo trailer which has been tailored to carry our Burgy 400 and SWing behind our pick up truck loaded with our slide-in camper. The best of both worlds for us ... setting up a base camp supplemented by daily riding outings to explore the area we camp in. No enduring mindless miles of boring, hypnotic superslab riding boredom for us thanks. (Regardless of what other "serious riders" profess).

Behind a Toyota Highlander, you most likely could be able to rig something up but a trailer (open or enclosed) or motorcycle specific hauling trailer would be your best bet from a utility and safety standpoint. You don't say whether the SWing will stay in FL or be hauled back when you return to MI.

These things were designed for riding.....not to be carried around! One way car rental is another way to get back

john grinsel wrote:

These things were designed for riding.....not to be carried around!   One way car rental is another way to get back

What works for one may well indeed not work for another, we rode our G'Wing to and from all the lower 48, and 2 providences. We also trailered to Fl. once and back after a 3 month stay. I don't know why I would ever ride one way leave the scoot and fly home unless I was planning to go back to where the scoot was and then ride home. As I explained to others here there are miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles before a destination of interest is visited and at times a trailer is a blessing getting there with a spouse.

I'd have thought the way things have been the last year with the pandemic, lockdowns, and restrictions that spending a few days actually riding the Silver Wing down to Florida had the makings of an ideal road trip.

Yes indeed it would, take U.S. RT. 23 and along with other things to see a run through the Blue Ridge and the Smokey's can be a delight, perhaps if one were lucky a visit to Mt' Mitchel on a clear day would be in order. That's just a nice taste of i all. BTDT more than a few times. The Dragon although a neat ride is restricted to great degree by the presence of the LEO's trying to keep the squids from killing themselves and others. What some folks don't know is once you leave the general area the riding for the most part is just riding. Hours there are spent riding through the cotton fields and piney woods for the most part. Looking at a Florida map one sees there are not many roads leading into there from Ga. that are what I call casual riding. Central Fl. on the two lane roads has some decent riding, even some curve's and hills

I lived in the western NC foothills for 23 years, very familiar with the excellent roads/riding in NC, VA, GA, TN best I've experienced, living in central Florida now, next to Ocala Forest, possibly best riding area in Florida,

zrx212 wrote:

I lived in the western NC foothills for 23 years, very familiar with the excellent roads/riding in NC, VA, GA, TN best I've experienced,  living in central Florida now, next to Ocala Forest, possibly best riding area in Florida,

Plant City, Zephyrhills, The Green Swamp, Clermont

Carried a Honda Helix on tilting rack for easy loading and unloading on 24 foot Class A motor home for several years. Never experienced a problem. Wife's failing health prevented her from ridding long distance. We rode the Helix double across Run To The Sun Highway. Also, rode the Helix up Pike's Peak. An amazing scooter with only 250 cc's.

Tell you what, I live in Ohio. I will gladly volunteer to drive your S'Wing to Florida for you. Then you won't need a trailer and your Scooter will be in Florida. Just buy the gas and provide me a cheap flight back to Ohio. I am always looking for an adventure. PM me.

Good idea!!

Problem SOLVED!
My son is making a trip down with a trailer of stuff for a move to FL. Plenty of room for the Swing.

I live in Ohio and will gladly VOLUNTEER
to ride it down for you. Just give me a jingle and we will set it up. just buy me a choo choo train ticket home.

Perfectly good though to carry on your hitch with proper attachments, as long as you car isn't a Yugo or similar.