I'd like to get a motorcycle carrier for my 3rd gen. I'm concerned about the changes to driveability on the highway. Though I dont' think it'll be an issue I am concerned about 270lbs of bike (plus carrier weight) placed a foot back of my bumper.

One other note is that I've got the firmer (and taller) PP springs.

THoughts?

(Mod2 - sorry if this belongs in General or OT. I'm mostly interested in the effect upon 3rd gens)

EDIT - I'm leaning carrier over small bike trailer simply for storage room in the garage. If you think its a bad idea I can go with teh trailer. WOuld simply prefer to go with the carrier.

 

You might need airbags if you're going to use a hitch mounted carrier because the weight can be fairly significant due to how far off the back bumper the CG will be. It's very different than carrying the same weight in the cargo area in the back of the truck. The worst part is sag because if the sagging is too bad, the truck's front wheels become too unweighted and the truck gets hard to steer (often steers like a boat at speed). At 300lbs you should be fine with some airbags only.

 

I don't have any problem hauling my MV Agusta or Ducati on the back of my 4Runner. I imagine I am coming close to the 500 lbs tongue weight with this setup. Driveability is fine, with the bike back there, no issues what so ever.

 

Perfect. THanks for the note. I must admit I was fearing Jamie's advice. I will take it easy on the skinny pedal while hauling the bike - but its good to know I won't feel like I"m playing with my life.

 

Bennito, honestly with 300 lbs total I don't think it will be that big of a deal. I didn't mean for my post to scare you at all. I just know from experience that if you weight the rear too heavily it gets a bit skiddish on the highway at speed. The 300 lbs really isn't much so just take it slow at first and get a feel for how it's gonna drive before you haul butt.

 

I use a similar setup when transporting the bike and want to have the 4Runner with me too or taken bike in for service work and I don't want to break out the trailer just for the bike, Much easier to backup too since you do that like you normaly do





Yes with my bike and my setup it weighs in at probably close to 450 lbs so yes its not to bad on the front but it does lift it some so I added air bags to my lifed suspension just to level it out but by the sounds of the weight your dealing with you will be more than fine without airbags but you may notice the front end up a little so just take it slow till you get used to it.

 

I barely notice its back there and I drive around with my dirt bike on there a ton.
TWO WEEKS AGO ONE OF MY TIE DOWN STRAPS CAME LOOSE AND SHATTERED MY REAR WINDOW. I noticed it then. A lot! I spent hours vacuming up glass and a rear window cost me $400. Not to mention there is glass in the rear door that I can't get to so I get to hear it moving around. I also got myself a really cool dent and now my rear window makes a neat noise when it goes up and down...
All that said, it was my fault. I was offroad and most importantly I didn't tie the excess strap into a knot so when the strap gave it came completely loose.
Other than that I love the moto carriers

 

I don't see how much of a problem it could be,
The cargo area itself is suppose to be a max of 300lb,
If I am not mistaken for the 3rd gen Runner.
I remember having the cargo area alone filled over 500lb and thena trailor with about another 1000lb worth of stuff in it, only then did I have some play lol,
But it should be fine, keep us updated, Thinking of getting a bike and the same carrier set up myself.

 

I carry a 230lb(yz 125) bike on the back of my moto carrier and I cant even tell its back there.