Solo handling a Black Widow Carrier.

[Zebco Kid]

Hello All,

 

I just received my 2022 Tenere. My plan is to take it to the Sierras with me when I go camping, and further explore the area.

 

While I was waiting for the bike to arrive, I picked up a few accessories. One of them was a Black Widow Carrier with a 600 pound capacity. With assistance, I was able to get the bike on the carrier and strap it down. 

 

However, I would really like to be able to do this solo, but it seems pretty precarious. I was wondering if anyone has a technique, or can point me to a good website. I've scoured the web, and come up with people loading lightweight dirt bikes - quite different than a heavier bike.

 

Thanks for your thoughts and links.

 

Cheers,

 

ZK

[AZJW]

@Zebco Kid Nice to see a fellow truck camper owner with a T7.  Is that a Hang glider on the roof?

 

Back on topic with some background first: I've used a Tilt-A-Rack hitch mount carrier to haul my 275 lb Beta Dual Sport successfully for years.   I haven't attempted carrying the T7 on my carrier because of the difficulty handling a 450 lb bike, plus my carrier has an aluminum channel that the bike rides on and frankly I don't trust the 600 lb rating. .  Even though it's rated for 600 lbs., in the picture below, you can see a slight downward curvature at each end of the channel from the weight of a 330 lb DRZ-400S, that I hauled about 3,000 miles.  I put 1/8" support cables at each end ( bolted to the camper jack mount plates) to stabilize the carrier as it moved around a bit, even with a " silent hitch" , so those cables, with quick release turn buckles help with that.

 

Addressing your question about unassisted loading, I only attempted it once with the DRZ, with less than stellar results. After a near disaster and barely escaping personal injury, I never have attempted to load unassisted again.   It looks like your carrier is all steel, so hopefully your 600 lb rating is more accurate than my aluminum one.

 

Advice for unassisted loading?   Personally,  I wouldn't try it, but that's just me. Having said that,  I did consider attaching a seat belt type strap to the camper jack and the other end to the bike. My thought process was if the bike started to fall over, the seat belt ratchet would lock up and arrest the fall.  An additional idea was to, along with the seat belt restraint,  use a ratchet strap or two to pull the bike up onto the carrier.  Or get one of those 12V moto winches to load/ unload the T7.  I haven't pursued this further as I now haul my T7 in my 7x12  enclosed trailer, which is a piece of cake to load/ unload, but was a spendy alternative and you end up hauling a trailer. 

 

Hopefully some of my ideas will help or get you thinking for alternatives to getting this problem solved. Post up what you come up with and best of luck!

[Rider 101]

Expensive, but an hydraulic lift gate would be the ultimate solution.

[Tommac]

This looks pretty cool to me and can be operated safely on your own.

 

 

[Liquidape]

Get a Condor wheel chock and mount it to your hitch. Makes one person loading a snap since it will hold the bike upright once the wheel is fully in it. Have on on my bike trailer and it makes loading it solo a non issue. 

 

Trailer-Only Motorcycle Chock (Part #: SC-2000) - Made In USA - Condor Products

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The Condor® SC-2000 Trailer-Only Motorcycle Chock is our all-steel version of our Pit-Stop. It has all the same capabilities except it is designed for trailer use only. It is stronger and works better than any option provided by...

 

[AZJW]

4 hours ago, Tommac said:

This looks pretty cool to me and can be operated safely on your own.

 

 

Very cool setup.  Limited information on it, but I did find this "Rear platform that can receive: bike, trunk aluminum,additional loading up to 200 kg.Equipped with casters for storage and vertical movement.The chassis is entirely made of galvanized steel,750 kg axle."  Link in the text of the article for RemorK is dead, so maybe they're out of business?   Looks to be a great idea though, wish they sold this in the US as it would be a great option for those of us who want to haul our T7's unassisted.  An enterprising individual with some skills could adapt this mechanism to a hitch mounted carrier and would probably be inundated with orders. I'd surely buy one!

 

RemorK Easy Load Multi-Purpose Motorcycle Trailer

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The RemorK is multi-purpose trailer is ideal for the transport of your motorcycle and scooter, with the possibility of adding on the rear platform bikes or an aluminum trunk. Fits as well behind a car…

Edit:  Found this link, perhaps one of our French speaking members could fill us in.  

RemorK - Vente / Location / Réparation / Attelages

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Le spécialiste de la remorque professionnelle et loisir.

 

[Tommac]

Came across this which is UK made and the company is trading. 
 

Easy-Lifter Hydra Trail - Tel: 01509 268400 - £1195.00 Inc VAT

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Easy-Lifter Non-Lift system gives you complete freedom on the road - call 01509 268400 today

 

(Moved from OEM seat attachment thread) Mod AZJW

[Bmp4510]

I’d look to see if there is a place to place a small winch or pulley with rope attached high to the camper. Attach it to the T7, I’d try mid frame first, and allow the T7 to lean slightly away from the camper to allow the winch to balance it. Then slowly load/unload the T7 using the winch to keep upright.

[Banzaibikes]

Watching this thread as I have a Versa Haul, tongue weight is rated to 500lbs, just feel it’s pushing the limits. It carry’s my DRZ just fine at 320 lbs.  I find prepping the straps is key to ease when it’s pushed up. 

[Zebco Kid]

Banzaibikes,

 

Thank you for your reply. When you say prepping the straps, do you mean having laid out and ready to be deployed…or something more complicated?

 

Thank you.

 

 

[Simmons1]

A agree. I would never put anything heavier than my WR250R or something like a DRZ on my my hitch rack.

[Banzaibikes]

For me, having all straps laid out and a solid plan to hook up the bars securely with a slight lean inwards towards the window of my SUV makes it much easier to manage.  The other part is finding a nice area for the ramp…to reduce ramp angle if necessary.  I have had to use power too.  I also went from an aluminum ramp with cross spacers to the solid steel with a front wheel stop. Didn’t have to bounce the wheels in between them. Big difference. 

[Zebco Kid]

Bonzaibikes,

 

When you say “bounce the wheels,” do you mean into the chock? On the black widow carrier, the chock is really good, but it definitely requires a bounce in loading or removing. I’ve thought to bring a wrench and ratchet, then remove the entry element in order to eliminate the bounce…especially on the removal.

 

ZK

[Banzaibikes]

On my old rack, it was Aluminum with crossbars.  The wheels fell into the spaces.  Much easier with a flat platform like a Versahaul.

[Zebco Kid]

Ahh. Thank you.

 

ZK