ANSWER: Our VH-55 RO carrier has a 500 lbs carrying capacity and a 71.5″ long rail. This carrier is great for dirt bikes and scooters. The next larger model would be the VH-SPORT RO which is 77.5″ long and has a 600 lbs carrying capacity.
We don’t recommend carriers to be installed on the front of vehicles as it may block your view of the road as well as going up steep inclines there may be a possibility of hitting the carrier and causing damage.
ANSWER: I was able to look up a 2010 RAV4 4dr SUV (2.5L 4cyl 4A) and the chart estimates this similar car can have 185lbs sit on top of our VH-55 RO carrier and the vehicle will sit level. You will be having an additional 100 lbs to this so just expect the rear of the vehicle to compress. It is unknown how much compression you will have but 185lbs on top of the carrier is how much weight the vehicle can have and still sit level.
We don’t have any information on your RAV4 2012.
ANSWER: The largest tube that we manufacture with the towing feature would be a 30″ main tube. This will be 6″ longer than the tube that comes with the VH-55. None of the longer tubes will allow for towing.
ANSWER: Yes the VH-55 and VH-Sport carrier can be used behind a motorhome. You will not want to exceed the tongue weight of the carrier and whatever is being towed. If you are flat towing do not exceed the 3,000 lbs flat towing. Visit http://versahaul.com/vhsportro.php for restrictions.
ANSWER: A class II hitch has a 1 1/4″ x 1 1/4″ square receiver. The VH-55 RO model fits into a class III or IV receiver which is 2″ x 2″ square receiver. We recommend the class III or IV hitch that way you will not have to have an adapter to go from your class II of your Jeep hitch to the class III of the Versahaul. These adapters are just another connection which may cause wobbling/movement and would also be a weak point. It would be best to slide the carrier directly into a class III or IV hitch and not have any adapters.
The carrier comes with a 24″ main tube that you can adjust the rail on. You can see the dimensions at http://www.versahaul.com/vh55ro.php
then click on the dimensions tab. Most people get by with just leaning the bike down to get the handlebars around the spare tire and then lean it back up and strap the bike down. However if you would like to swap out the 24″ tube for a longer tube we do have longer tubes available as well. There is a fee, but it can be done. The longer tubes however lose the towing feature behind the carrier.
If your tire is offset where the handlebars hit. The Versahaul main rail may be rotated so that you can load from the drivers side.
Check out our website as there are many dimensions as well as many options. All the class III main tubes from different carriers can be swapped out as well. We also have custom carrier for specific situations.
ANSWER: The VH-SPORT RO carrier has a carrying capacity of 600 lbs. Since your bike weighs 487 lbs this means that you will have 113 lbs of tongue weight remaining behind the carrier.
However your hitch has a weight rating of 600 lbs and the combined weight of the carrier and motorcycle will exceed this capacity and will not allow for the tongue weight of the trailer.
Further the suspension of your vehicle varies greatly depending on your model of Dodge Ram, but all are less that the 487. You’ll also need a airbags to increase the suspension capacity.
ANSWER: The VH-SPORT RO is rated for 600 lbs. You will be 51 lbs over the carrier’s capacity. As for the main center tube it is very heavy duty and is built the same way that the VH-90RO tube that has a 700 lbs carrying capacity is built. However by exceeding the carrier capacity the welds on the rail may break from the twisting and of the rail while being overloaded. Please do not exceed the rating of the carrier. The VH-90RO does not allow for tie down tubes. It is designed for ATV’s or lawn mowers. You may be forced into purchasing a trailer instead of a carrier.
ANSWER: Leverage is expressed in foot-lbs which is a unit of torque. To calculate this you would use a sum of the moments equation. So, sum the moments of the Versahaul vh-55, motorcycle, and 150 lbs of cargo
Torque = Force x Distance
The moment of the VH-55 is 94 lbs X 2 feet = 188 ft-lbs
The moment of the motorcycle is 350 lbs x 2 feet = 700 ft-lbs
The moment of the cargo carrier is 150 lbs x 3 feet = 450 ft-lbs
The sum of the moments is 1338 ft-lbs.
Compare this number to the torque rating on your hitch.
Note: This is not the same as the 1000 lbs tongue weight. 1000 ft-lbs and 1000 lbs are as different as 55 MPH and 55 hours. Sometimes this number is hard to find. Might be in your owners manual. Sometimes manufacturers don’t list torque ratings. With 1000 lbs Class IV hitch on a 3/4 ton frame, I’d expect the torque rating to be high.
ANSWER: The suspension of your vehicle is light. You may want to use airbags. Try putting 400 lbs on the back bumper and see if the bed tilts.
Vehicle carrying capacity is the weight limit a listed vehicle’s suspension can support level using a Versahaul. Exceeding the Vehicle carrying capacity may cause the vehicle to become backloaded and may become unsafe to drive. Use suspension enhancing devices such as air bags or auto leveling suspension to increase the carrying capacity. The weight of the Versahaul carrier has already been considered.
If your vehicle is equipped with Autoride Suspension or air bags then you will be able to carry more than the carrying capacity.
ANSWER: The VH-SPORT RO is rated for 600 lbs.
You will need to have a vehicle with a suspension rating and hitch rating to handle this load. The Lexus GX-460′s suspension is rated only for 200 lbs. You will need a heavy duty hitch, Class 4 will work best.
Note: do not exceed your vehicle hitch rating. Most Class III hitches are rated for 500 lbs.
Vehicle carrying capacity is the weight limit a listed vehicle’s suspension can support level using a Versahaul. Exceeding the Vehicle carrying capacity may cause the vehicle to become backloaded and may become unsafe to drive. Use suspension enhancing devices such as air bags or auto leveling suspension to increase the carrying capacity. The weight of the Versahaul carrier has already been considered.
If your vehicle is equipped with Autoride Suspension or air bags then you will be able to carry more than the carrying capacity.