How to Carry a Motorcycle with a Toyota RAV4

Updated 11/21/2012 | Published 11/19/2012

Products Featured in This Question

Ultra-Fab Dirt Bike Carrier for 2" Hitches - With Ramp - 77" Long - 500 lbs

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1" x 18" Tie-Down Motorcycle Assist Straps (Qty 2)

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$5.87

Buyers Products 5" Wheel Chock - Black Rubber - Qty 1

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$21.84

Erickson Motorcycle and ATV Tie-Downs w Soft Ties and TCS Buckles - 1"x6' - 400 lbs - Qty 2

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$15.55

Brophy D-Ring Tie Down Anchor - Bolt-On - 2-3/8" Wide - Surface Mount - 4,000 lbs

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Tow-Rax Removable Wheel Chock w/ Wood Screws - 6-1/2" Wide Tires - Tubular Steel - Black

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Question:

I want to buy a RAV4 and carry a motorcycle on a trailer hitch carrier. What is the maximum weight the RAV4 is rated for? Will the RAV4 handle properly with a 325 bike on the carrier? Thanks for your help.

asked by: Robert

Expert Reply:

I have a solution for you, but after doing a little research, I found that the tongue weight capacity of the base and sport models of the RAV4 is approximately 150 lbs and the tongue weight capacity of the limited model is approximately 350 lbs. I would not recommend using any hitch mounted motorcycle carrier on a 2006 Toyota RAV4 to carry your 325 lb bike because the vehicle cannot support the weight of the bike and the carrier.

Instead, I would recommend either looking into a larger vehicle with a higher tongue weight capacity or investing in a small utility trailer. You could easily equip a small utility trailer to carry a motorcycle with the following parts:

Wheel chock
# TWSPWM for 6-1/2 inch wide tires
# 337WC1467A for 5-1/2 inch wide tires

Tie-Downs
# EM05729 for tie-down straps
# 06303 for handle bar straps
# LRB1 for tie-down rings

The trailer will be a more expensive option versus a carrier, but the RAV4 does have a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 lbs with the base and sport models and 3,500 lbs with the limited model. This would be a much safer option for the vehicle and motorcycle.