Motorhome with legal scooter rack

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I intend to, eventually, buy a new motorhome but as it will then be my only transport, I need to carry a motor scooter. I am receiving extremely conflicting advice from van converters and manufacturers like "it will probably be OK" (useless, try telling that to the Police and insurers when you have had an accident). "It cannot be done legally" (probably true in most cases even though you see them about). Towbar manufacturers generally say no too, for example the nose wheel weight on my Renault Trafic LWB is only 85Kg (surprised me) and a scooter and rack is about 140Kg. Does anyone have any "real world technical experience" in this area? My choice of vehicle could be influenced by this. Seems like a full Alko chassis could be good but then if its a large overhang from the wheels it defeats the object. Van conversion looks good but even a new Renault Master is limited to 125 Kg nose weight. (unlikely to find a bike and rack at less than 140Kg)
Only need a small, compact 2 berth motorhome but as I'm 6'2 I cannot sleep across most vans. (been told the Peugeot boxer may be 150Kg nose weight but not confirmed). Have considered trailers but they are not really practical for me. Not expecting to get many replies on this one!

If I was any good at woodwork I would probably build my own with a garage and bed over (high roof). I could do the basics but when it comes to the rest like sinks, cupboards, comfy sofa, shower, I would be stuffed.
 
hi try looking at rear wheel drive vans . think adding weight on the back of front wheel drive takes away traction and steering .
plus you may have to consider not using a towbar but a proper chassis extension.
iveco daily or a renault mascot might be better for you.
 
Thanks guys you seem to have got the idea straight away!
I think rear wheel drive may be the way to go if possible and I have contacted Towtal for their advice, looks a really good outfit.
 
You could say that cost me nearly 1,500 euros bad bad boys:mad2:
 
Once they have your money the never want to talk to you again:mad2:
 
hi, saw this at the IOM TT races this year might just be what your looking for. google, EASY-LIFTER Hydra trail, he had a buel on it.
 
yes stay away from towtal.
they wouldnt know the truth if it ran them over.
i spoke to them about kens little problem .got nothing but lies . they didnt know i had seen their letters .
unfortunately they arent alone armitage are as bad .have seen them send out a bike rack with ilegal lights fitted on the back . seems alot are only after your money .
 
Glad I enquired, learning so much. Think the penny has just dropped, the nosewight is nothing to do with the strength of the vehicle, its all to do with lifting the front wheels off the ground? When I think about it, I've lost traction in my bog standard van on tight uphill hairpin bends. I did look at the
EASY-LIFTER Hydra trail but was put off by the price (£1300) and reports of problems with the very small castoring wheels at high speed (and 50 mph speed limit).
However, looks like it may be back on the list (along with a rear wheel drive)as doesn't limit the choice of motorhome.
 
If i can find the German company that made mine in the end i will post it on here they are really good :wave:
 
basildog said:
It may sound silly but what about motorhome with a garage ?
My old Laika wet down to Spain with a 650 and a 200 in the garage no problems !
Click to expand...


No, does not sound silly at all, I was considering it but Chausson said not recommended (buy a trailer)
 
No it,s a rack that go,s on the tow ball I had to have it passed by the Spanish ITV your mot so it was legal to use in Spain I gave the one from towtal to a friend and a weld snapped the first time he used it so i paid half the bill to get the scooter repaired :wave:
 
Providing you don't have the scooter positioned too far from the the back axle then you don't have to worry much about the front losing traction, just simple physics, if the scooter weighs 100kg @ 1 metre from back axle then this can be counterbalanced by just 25kg positioned 4 metres to the front of the vehicle eg a 25 litres of water. Obviously the shorter the vehicle rear overhang the better.
What proves to be the more usual problem is overloading of the rear axle, more likely (but not necessarily) on sub 3500kg
vehicles.
Some towball hitches I think have a max. 120 kg load limit, even though the vehicle manufacturer may have a 100 kg noseweight max. A custom made chassis mounted rack would be my preference, a scooter pivotting on a towball mount doesn't look too convincing, the ones I've seen seem to wobble a fair bit.
 
i use a cliponoff bought from sammy miller the famous trials rider.its like a spectacle frame . dare say it could take a scooter .but i only chuck m,bikes on it .mind my 1500cc drifter is too heavy to lift.
 
It all comes down to weight allowance which of course includes the rear axle weight. We have a fair old overhang with a 115kg scooter and a 30kg rack.

_MG_7589.jpg

Works very well, stays within weights in full touring trim... and the front wheels stay on the ground.

If your motorhome has the payload and axle weight allowance a rack is perfect, if it hasn't then get a trailer.
 
Even a 120 Kg bike is hard to lift onto a spectacle rack single handed, that's why I made up a "proper rack" and ride up ramp on a van many years ago.
I also understand that new vans have to have Type Approved racks, hitches, towballs, et al. So it looks like no more home bodges err I mean home made craftsmanship.
 
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