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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> VersaHaul and the Savage
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Message started by DaveLKN on 06/26/16 at 21:44:45

Title: VersaHaul and the Savage
Post by DaveLKN on 06/26/16 at 21:44:45

I installed my VersaHaul and have made a few trips hauling the Savage on it. Works well behind my Ram and wife's Sequoia. I'm sorta planning on taking it with me to Folly Beach SC next month. You can't open the tailgates with this in the way, but I can open the lid on the pickup and also slide the rear window down on the Sequoia, so I'm not totally without access. Glad I found it on Craigslist.

Title: Re: VersaHaul and the Savage
Post by RaleighGuy on 06/27/16 at 04:45:30

Talk about a real space saver!! That's awesome. 8-)

Title: Re: VersaHaul and the Savage
Post by Dave on 06/27/16 at 05:55:33

I have wondered if the Savage would haul OK in those carriers.....it is a lot heavier than most dirt bikes.

I have done a lot of hauling, in trucks and on trailers. When tying the bike down, it works best if the straps at the front/rear are not pulling in opposite directions. In your photo the orange straps at the front are pulling the bike into the wheel chock...the black straps at the rear are trying to pull the bike out of the wheel chocks. Don't tighten the rear straps nearly as tight as the ones at the front.....just snug the rear ones enough to keep the bike from bouncing out of the rail.

Title: Re: VersaHaul and the Savage
Post by LANCER on 06/27/16 at 06:20:39

Eli uses it to haul his Savage all over the place.

Title: Re: VersaHaul and the Savage
Post by DaveLKN on 06/27/16 at 09:16:04

The angle of the straps front and rear are in line with the shocks/springs. The rears have just enough tension on them to pull the bike down maybe .5" since that's all that's needed to keep the rear wheel on the rail securely. The fronts are the same- I don't want the forks compressed any more than absolutely necessary. If you hit something hard enough to make that bike come out of that rail, well, you're ending up with alot more to worry about than that bike back there.... :o

Plus in the unlikely event of a strap failure (use common sense and inspect straps!) I've noticed that it will still stay put. We let one loose after it was tied down the first time, and it still didn't move. Not that I'd run it down the road on purpose that way...

The only thing one might find disconcerting about using this contraption is the slight "hobby horse" rocking action you get to watch in your rear view mirror as you go around curves and corners. It puts your heart in your throat when you see it move for the first few times regardless of how prepared you are for it!. It's no big deal once you use the clamp they supply to reduce that movement greatly.

Title: Re: VersaHaul and the Savage
Post by DaveLKN on 06/27/16 at 09:27:51

6461606C7C6161636B0E0 wrote:

Talk about a real space saver!! That's awesome. 8-)

And no license plate to buy in NC! No trailer tires! Also it leans up against the wall in my garage or can be slid up under a workbench out of the way.

Title: Re: VersaHaul and the Savage
Post by Ruttly on 06/27/16 at 10:04:36

That's a heavy bike for that , what is it rated for ?

Title: Re: VersaHaul and the Savage
Post by batman on 06/27/16 at 10:17:45

Most class III hitches are rated for 500lbs tung weight, our bikes are only 360 ? Should be ok.

Title: Re: VersaHaul and the Savage
Post by verslagen1 on 06/27/16 at 10:22:59

stock wt. of the bike is 350 lbs.
even a class 2 can handle that.

but I think most vehicles limit the tongue wt. to 500 lbs.

Title: Re: VersaHaul and the Savage
Post by Kris01 on 06/27/16 at 17:16:58

Remember to stop and check your straps regularly. It's a lot cheaper than losing the bike at 45 mph!