Carrying a 300 Pound Scooter on a 2007 Honda Odyssey

Question:

Can you give me a carrier recommendation for a 2017 Honda PCX 150 Scooter on a 2007 Honda Odyssey host. I cant find the tongue capacity of the Odyssey. The Scooter is 300 lb.

asked by: Dave

Expert Reply:

The owner's manual doesn't specify a tongue weight capacity for the 2007 Honda Odyssey but it states that the tongue weight should be 10 percent of the gross trailer weight. Since the van is capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds maximum the tongue weight capacity would be 350 pounds.

I do not know if you already have a trailer hitch but if not, you can use # 75270. It has a tongue weight capacity of 675 pounds but you are still limited to 350 pounds.

Standard hitch mounted motorcycle carriers will be too heavy since the combined weight of the scooter and that style carrier will exceed the tongue weight capacity of the vehicle. The best option is to use an aluminum carrier with a ramp, # FHG69ZR. But even this carrier weighs about 77 pounds so the scooter would have to lose at least 27 pounds. Removing the battery wont be enough to get the whole set up under weight.

I checked with Honda and they list the weight of the scooter at 295 pounds including a full tank of gas. So if the tank were just about empty and there was no battery in it then you would be close but probably still not safely under the vehicle tongue weight capacity.

The other issue is the wheelbase. The wheelbase of the scooter is 51.8 inches. Putting the scooter on the carrier at an angle will help it fit but it will be very tight.

expert reply by: Michael H