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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
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  #1  
Old 25 Apr 2006
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Carrying a bike on the back of a 4x4
Later this year I'm off with three friends across Asia with two R1200GSs and a Toyota Landcruiser.

In the *highly unlikely* event of a catastrophic failure on one of the plastic bikes which requires the attention of a BMW mechanic and his magic computer (for example the tail light) we'd like to be able to mount the bike on the back of the 4x4 to carry it to safety.

Is there a contraption one can mount to the back of a landcruiser that you can put large broken bike on? I was thinking of something similar to the spectacles they lower to put the front wheels of your car into to tow it, but maybe there's a more realistic suggestion?

steve
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Old 26 Apr 2006
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Steve,

Two options:

1. Make your own receiver hitch carrier; or
2. Get a foldable bike trailer.

I have a Scorpion Racing rear bumper on my Discovery and will be building a rear carrier to fit into the two hi-lift holes. I prefer this setup over the receiver hitch because I'll have two supports instead of one.

In the US they sell these trailers http://www.stingertrailer.com/
or this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/700-l...QQcmdZViewItem

There is another one that folds into a bag. I'll have to look for it.

Good luck.
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Old 26 Apr 2006
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Hi,

Also, if you fit the bike on the rear bumper, think of the extra load placed way behind the rear axle and the effect it will have on the rear suspension.
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  #4  
Old 26 Apr 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roman
Hi,

Also, if you fit the bike on the rear bumper, think of the extra load placed way behind the rear axle and the effect it will have on the rear suspension.
That should be a problem only if you run the crappy OME suspension..... just playing with you Roman. I saw your website and noticed you run OMEs....

Seriously, my rear springs are uprated 25% to accomodate 300 lbs of gear. Plus I have gas adjustable shocks and Orange Polybushes so I'm not concerned about extra weight. But Roman has a good point if your 4x4 is not setup to accomodate the extra weight.

Nice Disco Roman!!
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Old 28 Apr 2006
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Take a look at posts #11, #15 and #17 on this thread
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71292

Tim
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Old 4 May 2006
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wise choice with the Toyota Landcruiser Quark, even after work for Land rover most my career I would still buy the landcrusier first any day.

Ok to the question, obviously draging a trailer in whatever form arround is going to be a pain, its bulky and the weight will have to be taken off your total load weight of your own kit! and I wouldnt put anything heaver than a push bike on a bike frame that fits on a receiver hitch its just not designed for that.

Now a friend of mine out in Africa had the same problem which he over come by making a gizmo that allowed you to tow the bike like it was a trailer itself, you simply removed the front wheel and placed the gizmo between the forks and then put back in the front wheel bolt to lock it in place. Then all you had to do was lift the front of the bike up and place the gizmos trailer coupling on the car, the bike ran on its own rear wheel so the car had no great weight on its rear suspension.

it was made from ally locally and fitted in a small holdal bag which he added to his travelling kit.

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