Hitch haul two dual sports - possible?

[Dane]

Here is a pic of my set up.
Its just a cheap "ranch bike" and way lighter than a single dual sport.
Along with the hitch mount I usually carry 10 gal of fuel, 10 gal of water, full tool box, chain saws, and timber gear in the bed.
My road is a good 30 minute 4x4 high range trail before getting to the cabin and I have bottomed this set up out a few times when I start to get in "rally" mode.
Even if the receiver weight limit and the carrier is in spec, two bike would not make it off road without damage.
Seems risky to me.

...Trailer time.

That is GREAT info, thank you. Are you totally stock? Do you happen to have a picture from the side with that bike loaded?

 

[Dirt Bag]

That is GREAT info, thank you. Are you totally stock? Do you happen to have a picture from the side with that bike loaded?

Glad it helped.
Sorry, no side pic. I will be loading up again on Friday night so I will try to remember.
I am stock. The bike is a rather heavy four stroke 250 set up for trail work.

---------- Post added at 02:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:59 PM ----------

Glad it helped.
Sorry, no side pic. I will be loading up again on Friday night so I will try to remember.
I am stock. The bike is a rather heavy four stroke 250 set up for trail work.

I forgot!
I do have the SDHQ frame reinforcement kit installed. Its not a bump stop but rather an inexpensive insert that slides in to the frame tube and helps reinforce the primary spot where it might bend in a really hard hit.
http://store.sdhqoffroad.com/sdhqfordraptorrearframereinforcementkit.aspx

 

[Dane]

I forgot!
I do have the SDHQ frame reinforcement kit installed. Its not a bump stop but rather an inexpensive insert that slides in to the frame tube and helps reinforce the primary spot where it might bend in a really hard hit.
SDHQ Ford Raptor Rear Frame Reinforcement Kit

This?
SDHQ Ford Raptor Rear Frame Reinforcement Kit

 

[Dirt Bag]

Bingo

 

[Supercup]

Springs or bumpstop kit maybe an option??

Dane,

This is what I did - my boat has 607 lbs of tongue weight. It dropped the stock springs about 2" - worked ok but more droop than I liked.

I wanted to add Deaver +2" for better ride and offroad performance. So I called Deaver (who had done custom springs for me before). They made me a set of +2" to address my specific needs. Same price as plus 2". They made a few adjustements to the spec to meet my tongue weight.

Then I added SVC bump stop kits with fox bump shocks which work great for off road and for trailer issues.

I think this would be a good set up for your needs. I have gone to desert with 2 quads in bed and a KTM 525 EXC (272 lbs) on a rack on the hitch with no issues.

Call the guys and Deaver they are super helpful and will get you springs to meet your needs. You will only give up a little in ride quality as you up the limits of your springs.

I would also consider looking at upgrading the hitch on the back to a heavy duty hitch with a higher rating. You local trailer guy can weigh in on that. I have had to switch out a few hitch's for heavy hitch pull boats and toy boxes in past trucks to cover heavy tongue weights safely. Hate got get the springs set up right only to have the hitch fall off with your bikes on it! I have seen this on a few toy boxes in the past.

 

[Dane]

I would also consider looking at upgrading the hitch on the back to a heavy duty hitch with a higher rating. You local trailer guy can weigh in on that. I have had to switch out a few hitch's for heavy hitch pull boats and toy boxes in past trucks to cover heavy tongue weights safely. Hate got get the springs set up right only to have the hitch fall off with your bikes on it! I have seen this on a few toy boxes in the past.

Not that I'm doubting you, but what makes you worry about the hitch? Isn't it a class IV (1,000 pound tongue rating)? You would go to a class V (does that bolt on to a Raptor)?

 

[Supercup]

Not that I'm doubting you, but what makes you worry about the hitch? Isn't it a class IV (1,000 pound tongue rating)? You would go to a class V (does that bolt on to a Raptor)?

I went and looked at tag on hitch - it is tagged as a V-5 - 500 lbs of tongue weight and 5,000 lbs with no weight distribution. With Weight distribution hitch it is rated at 1,500 lbs of tongue weight and 10,500 lbs. Hitch is welded and bolted to the frame.

Raptor specs show truck weight 6,004 lbs - total GCWR is 14,700 lbs (2014 6.2L, 4.10 RE) - so that is a tow rating of about 8,300 lbs less weight of driver, passengers, gear etc...

So for your intended use it seems it is rated for 500 lbs of tongue weight. Since I don't use a weight distribution hitch with my boat I am overloading the spec slightly at 607 lbs and 6,500 lbs +/- versus 500/5,000. Something for me to talk to my hitch guy about!

To be honest I have seen more than my share of half ton trucks and SUV's in the dunes with toy boxes that ripped off the hitch as they went across the desert to camping areas. My last F250 the hitch was not rated for the load I was dealing with, so I replaced with a heavier duty hitch which was both bolted and welded in place. This way I was sure I could handle the tongue weight and overall load of my Toy Box.

Maybe not needed or overkill, but the two bike racks off the hitch hang out a long way and create a lot of torque as they bounce, much more than 675 lbs of tongue weight of a trailer right over the ball. So the load is different and I always figured better safe than sorry.

 

[Dirt Bag]

That is GREAT info, thank you. Are you totally stock? Do you happen to have a picture from the side with that bike loaded?

Here is that pic I said I would take of the bike on the back and my gear in the bed.
I am about 200 lbs lighter in the bed as I am not hauling any fire wood today.

 

[Dane]

Here is that pic I said I would take of the bike on the back and my gear in the bed.
I am about 200 lbs lighter in the bed as I am not hauling any fire wood today.

Thank you. I think at least the bump stop kit is in my future if I want to haul two.