Harbor Freight Scoot rack

[avonpirate]

I have one and need words of wisdom. I am trying to decide if it is substantial enough for my GB 125 and also need some tips on 'battening down' the front shock. How does a rookie know when enuf is enuf with the rachet strap? I have that 'bra' thingy ma jingy.

Any thoughts????

[Syd]

Compressed, but not completely.

'bra' thingy ma jingy.

What's that?

[jonlink]

Do you have a link to the rack?

also need some tips on 'battening down' the front shock. How does a rookie know when enuf is enuf with the rachet strap? I have that 'bra' thingy ma jingy.

I understand all the words you've written, but I have no idea what you are talking about

[charlie55]

Do you have a link to the rack?

also need some tips on 'battening down' the front shock. How does a rookie know when enuf is enuf with the rachet strap? I have that 'bra' thingy ma jingy.

I understand all the words you've written, but I have no idea what you are talking about

Perhaps one of those canyon dancer tiedowns?

[pumpedoncaffeine]

I have that 'bra' thingy ma jingy.

Any thoughts????

Are you talking about the tie down that fits on your handle bars, one padded eye on each side with S hooks on each side to hook your ratcheting straps.
I have one like the one pictured.

[swillscooter]

I have the Harbor Freight carrier since my dealer is quite a distance away. It works well for me. It's not designed specifically for scooters, so I can't get the pins in the wheels. The way I use it is this...

I take out the pin where the front wheel is going to go and then wheel the scoot onto the rack. The front wheel then "falls" into place and rests on the fork on either side of the rack. See the yellow cloth under the fork in the pic? That's to protect the fork as it is resting on the rack.

Then, see that knurled knob under the front wheel? There's one on either side and those turn to hold the front wheel. After that's secure, I move to tie downs.

I use one on the handle bars going from the carrier up to the right grip, back down and under the rack, up to the right grip and then tighten.

I then secure the back by going from the carrier up under the rear grab bar, and then back down and tighten.

When I give it the "wiggle test" my biggest concerns are that it would fall outwards away from the car. So, I use two more straps to kind of "hug" it into the car. You can see one going from the left grip to the car and one going around and under the seat. I make sure that the ratchet itself is right near the car so that it pulls the scoot in.

I've used this a few times on appox 140mi round trip at about 70mph and have not had any issues. The first time, I stopped after about 20 miles just to see if anything had shifted and it had not.

When I take it off, I need to loosen everything and then roll the scoot backwards to get it out of the well where the knurled knobs hold the tire. Then, I put the pin back in (the one I removed earlier) so that I can roll the scoot forward over that well and get it off the carrier.

I know that there are better carriers out there, and this one does take a little extra work. But, I only use it to get my scoot and my wife's scoot to the dealer once a year (hopefully) just to get regular service. If I were planning on going cross country or bringing my scoot along on a bunch of trips, I'd probably go for something different.

Hope this helps, this forum has been so helpful to me I want to give back when I can.

*** Tried to post a picture from picassa, can't seem to get it to work... maybe try this link? https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1 ... directlink

[avonpirate]

Swillscooter thnx.... your reply and photo is most helpful. For those of you who did not understand, I'm sorry that I challenged you. 'Batten down' is a sailing term (OOPS my interests have just collided) meaning tied down. Bra thngy majingy is the webbing which goes on the handlebars to help compress the front shock . I've seen it referred to under many titles. Attitude, smatitude geez guys don't be so agro and nazi like, be real.

[avonpirate]

So Swillscooter, given that I'm female and have limited experience other than with road and mountain bikes and windsurfing gear, should Iget a different rack? and if so, what would you, or anyone else replace it with??? I camp/travel in a 92 Previa van
Thnx.

[michelle_7728]

Attitude, smatitude geez guys don't be so agro and nazi like, be real.

Just curious...I reread the entire thread, and didn't detect any "attitude", just genuine puzzlement as to what you were talking about.

Did I miss something?

[Stitch]

I was picturing some kind of horrible way to lower the suspension, and a vinyl cover to protect from stone chips on the front of the scooter.

[jonlink]

Attitude, smatitude geez guys don't be so agro and nazi like, be real.

Just curious...I reread the entire thread, and didn't detect any "attitude", just genuine puzzlement as to what you were talking about.

Did I miss something?

I certainly wasn't trying to give attitude. I was trying to help, but your terms were very confusing. Now that the post has progressed I understand that you are looking a rack (i.e. trailer/carrier) that connects to a car — when I hear rack I think of a bicycle rack (attached to the ground). The only time I've heard bra used for vehicles it was in reference to an addon that protects the paint on the hood of the car just above the bumper.

If you'd really like help it wouldn't hurt to be more specific and avoid getting upset when folks ask you for more details and offer advice (please ).

[agrogod]

Now I'm confused. Your a female AND you camp .

[swillscooter]

Avonpirate: There are some other racks out there that are more likely to fit the Buddy better. I think that versa-haul may be one of them but when I was looking, the price became a barrier for me. The HF rack that we're talking about gets the job done but I felt like I had to be a little creative to ensure that it was fully secure, but then again, I'm really particular about having secured loads when driving. If you're a sailor, I'm sure you won't have any issue figuring out tie-down points and securing the scoot.

I don't think that male or female enters into it but you may want another set of hands available the first time you do it. I didn't have help the first time and once the scoot was on the rack, I realized that my tiedowns were in the car so I had to roll it right back off and start over. Doh!

Also, it's not it my picture and I can't remember if it's on the HF website, the rack comes with a ramp that you roll the bike up and down. It's not like you have to pick the scoot up. Hope this helps.

[Mtlgrlie]

This is the one we have....about 175 bucks, then I had a coupon.

It works well, you don't have to remove the pin either.

We've easily driven all over the country with it. It should be done with 2 people in my opinion.

I use two straps on the front to the grips, and one around the back (with soft towels) of the rack. Then they converge onto one point on both front and back.

http://www.etrailer.com/tv-Review-Rage- ... MC400.aspx

[avonpirate]

My reply earlier WAS a bit defensive. I replied inthe middle of trying to organize an email campaign to the local police department. On Thursday I got sideswiped in a roundabout while on my roadbike. Police, Fire department, ambulance present and the driver wasn't ticketed because she 'didn't intend' to hit me. I'm bruised, not broken, but reeling with defensiveness... sorry.
I really appreciate any and all ideas and when I'm opague in my communication ... let me know. Why is that thing called a Canyon dancer???
My Previa lets me lock myself in when I'm out camping so that serial killers will have to work to get at me Having the scoot along would be fun, and if I need to get it to Denver for service or fun... I'd rather transport it externally than further modify the inside of the van.... which is loaded with camping and road bike and mountain bike gear and sailing and SUP gear.

[avonpirate]

"This is the one we have....about 175 bucks, then I had a coupon. "

Mtigirlie. this looks alot like the Harbor Freight one that I already own. And I purchased a similiar hitch stabalizer for when I tow the sailboat. It was helpful to see how they put it on. I had the screws on top where I could see them.

Is an aluminum rack sufficient?
And how do I know the front shock is decompressed correctly?

The configuration behind the Previa is hitch: unit to turnit into a 2" receiver portal, then a split (piggy back) receiver to get the rack farther away from the ground, rack slides into this. Stabilizer to stop wiggles. Lot's of pieces. (don't know how to post a picture yet)

[avonpirate]

If u r wondering why I keep asking about decomprssing the front shock.. long story short: I bought my 1st Scooter an Eton Beemer from Colorado Powersports. After laughter and jokes and sarcasm from the boyz who allegedly tied it down, it fell over before I left the parking lot. The boyz retied and then the scoot became airborne just outside of Boulder. On the highway, 2 Harley guys came to my rescue, knowing that the front shock had not been decompressed and tied it down so I could take it back to the dealer in many pieces and the deal was reversed.

Now I have the buddy which I bought locally, and have yet to transport it. Yes I am nervous and paranoid.

[Mtlgrlie]

First off, soooo sorry about your "first" scoot! Holy mackerel.....

This rack is SUPER stable, if the hitch you are putting it into is.

I'm curious if you mean you have an adapter to MAKE it a 2 inch hitch?

Meaning it's a smaller than 2 inch hitch on your car originally? What is the tongue weight allowed for it? This is pretty darn important.

My hitch is a class 3 which is what this rack is rated for. I think it said about 300 lbs. tongue weight max? Can't recall.
which is quite different than how MUCH weight you're carrying. And all these things are compounded I think with more pieces and further out you go from the car.

Oh, and my tires are squished pretty good under compression, but I make sure nothing is bending or overly stressed. But it needs to be tight to stay on!

Sorry so many questions, I just don't want ya to have a whole different issue down the line!

I think a picture is in order too!

[Berner]

This is the one we have....about 175 bucks, then I had a coupon.

For $10 more you can upgrade from 400 lbs capacity to 600 lbs capacity, and go from aluminum to steel (at the cost of extra weight for the carrier, of course). The MX600 also gives a little more lateral clearance than the AMC 400.

http://www.etrailer.com/p-MX600.html

see also: http://www.etrailer.com/question-9263.html

Not saying one is better than the other ... just providing alternatives. I've towed my Blackjack several times on the carrier linked above, and its been stable and reliable.