Hitch, Bike and Motorcycle Carrier for a 2017 Rockwood Roo 233S Hybrid Trailer

Question:

Hello Friendly etrailer staff, We have a 2017 Rockwood Roo 233S Hybrid trailer with a steel bumper, and would like to carry a couple of bicycles on the back. Would a Kuat Transfer work with the bolt-in adapter on that bumper? Long term plan is to carry a lightweight 300 lb motorcycle on the back of the trailer. Any ideas on permanent hitch options? And a recommendation for a motorcycle carrier? Thanks!

asked by: Mike R

Expert Reply:

I have a solution for you, however the Kuat Transfer, part # KU74FR, isn't approved for use on the rear of a trailer or RV. This is because of the distance between the axle and the location of the hitch causes additional stress to be put on the bike rack and the hitch, potentially damaging less sturdy racks.

I recommend for your eventual goal to first verify the weight capacity of your bumper in your owner's manual or with your manufacturer to make sure that loading the motorcycle won't overload the bumper. For a temporary hitch, I recommend Ultra-Fab's 2" bumper hitch, part # UF35-946402. This will give you a 2 inch hitch with a 350 pound tongue weight capacity. This is sufficient for bikes, but you will still want to verify your capacity regardless to ensure that you aren't overloading it.

For the actual bike rack, I recommend the Swagman Dispatch, part # S44FR. This is an RV-rated platform style rack that will let you mount to your new bumper hitch and carry two 45 pound bikes. It features included hitch and bike locks for added security, and can adjust to a range of wheel bases easily.

When you move to the motorcycle carrier, your best bet will be to go with a frame mounted carrier. You'll need to know your frame width and type prior to purchasing one of these. It will provide an overall better setup for carrying the bikes and motorcycle.

From my research, it looks like the largest width hitch we offer is the Ultra-Fab 2 Inch, part # UF35-946403, which has the same tongue weight of 350 pounds as the bumper variant, but is significantly better suited to the motorcycle application.

For the motorcycle, I recommend etrailer Motorcycle Hitch carrier, part # e98873, which will have the capacity for your motorcycle and coming in under 60 pounds means that the carrier will stay within your hitch's tongue weight. I recommend transporting the motorcycle without fuel, as this will help control its overall weight. Again, I do NOT recommend using this carrier with a bumper mounted hitch.

I've included video reviews of most of these parts, so you can get an idea of their performance and features.