I just recently purchased a Honda Pilot as my wife is expecting and the VW Golf was no longer going to cut it! I'm also looking for a way to transport the bike without having to buy an entire trailer. I noticed there are carriers that mount into the hitch and you load the bike parallel with the bumper, and I'm looking for anyone that's used these before? Suggestions? Pros/Cons?
Thanks,
Nick
If your handy, with access to a drill press you can built one for about 100 bucks.
Heres the one I made.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=49321.0 (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=49321.0)
2nd that, build it.
I'm not really sure who that comment was directed towards Homer, but glad you care enough to contribute.
Probably OCD. Homer had a pretty awesome homemade tail that was met with criticism for it's lack of subframe support.
Here's a commercially made one.
http://www.joehauler.com/camloc/camloc.shtml
Requires a Class III hitch, but even that is only rated at 500 lbs tongue weight. The newer GS's weigh almost 440 lbs with gas and all.
I'm just not sure how to take him, maybe ignore is the best.
That was a concern of mine, seeing as most hitch carriers I seen had dirtbikes in them. I was worried that a.) hitch couldn't handle the weight and b.) carrier couldn't handle the GS with full tank of gas/oil/etc.
I'd be more concerned about torque on the supporting arm during turns and bumps. My parents almost bought one when I had a 250 Honda in college, but decided to just rent a small open uhaul trailer for the few times I needed them to take it back and forth to school.
If you have a reese hitch on your pilot they sell a kit that will mount into your hitch that mounts your bike sideways on Ebay for Like $200 or if you have a Harbor Freight where you live they sell small motorcycle trailers for like $150
Quote from: utgunslinger13 on June 17, 2010, 03:31:26 PM
I just recently purchased a Honda Pilot as my wife... the VW Golf was no longer going to cut it!
Out of context... funny as. Least, I assume it;s funny. Like.... you didn't really buy a Honda Pilot as your wife cause the VW didn't cut it as your wife.
Michael
If it were directed at me I will laugh with him as I would not be concerned about making one. You either make it right or buy one. Not too hard in my book unless you are (completely) incompetent. Welding a 2" square tube to a grate with supports and tie-down anchors is not that hard to mess up.
$20 says Homer still posts in this thread again?!
Quote from: mister on June 18, 2010, 01:52:33 AM
Quote from: utgunslinger13 on June 17, 2010, 03:31:26 PM
I just recently purchased a Honda Pilot as my wife... the VW Golf was no longer going to cut it!
Out of context... funny as. Least, I assume it;s funny. Like.... you didn't really buy a Honda Pilot as your wife cause the VW didn't cut it as your wife.
Michael
Perhaps a comma might have been better lol
I do have a Harbor Freight locally, I'm just unsure about storing a trailer in my apartment complex. We technically only get 1 parking space, but we have 2 vehicles and a motorcycle now taking up 3, and I don't want to take a 4th lol
I'd really prefer to buy one, I have the welder and skills to make it but I don't want to take on another project right now, and I want it prepainted lol
I almost bought one of these before I got my truck, I like that you can put it in the trunk or a closet if need be. http://trailerinabag.com/index.html
As for building a hitch hauler, my brother made one out of steel, it weighs about 100 pounds and materials cost him nearly as much as a pre-built aluminum one from Harbor freight.
Quote from: dohabee on June 18, 2010, 09:16:07 AM
my brother made one out of steel, it weighs about 100 pounds and materials cost him nearly as much as a pre-built aluminum one from Harbor freight.
Noted and true. I guess I see at as cheap because I have all sorts of metal at home and never need to buy it. So yes, cost does compute when making it yourself.
I've drove over 2600 miles with the GS on the hauler I made and a few hundred with a 450 Rebel and a 250 Rebel back there. Not a problem yet. There is a list of material on the link I posted but I'll gaurentee that it will be much less than a Harbor Freight hauler and be 4x stronger.
(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y299/liloody/DSCN13861-1.jpg)