Ballast outside the camper
Anyone traveling in a camper will probably want to take more than just their bike with them. A scooter or motorcycle provides additional mobility and pleasure from traveling to places where it’s simply not worth going with a motorhome. When should you transport “bigger toys” in the aerodynamic shadow of a structure, and when should you choose a trailer?
When do we care about minor costs? It is a smart move to carry scooters inside our vehicles. The undeniable advantage of this solution is the insignificance of investments and the guarantee of hiding valuable “toys” from prying eyes. Such opportunities are provided by the so-called garage in a camper. This storage space will be useful for owners of large garages (at least 110 cm high). Of course, then such a bicycle should be carefully secured and equipped with appropriate ramps.
This is the simplest solution if your camper's load capacity allows it within the GVM. It is also necessary to take into account the maximum load on the rear axle and the minimum load on the front axle. Failure to follow these recommendations may result in incorrect operation of electronic driving control systems (for example, ESP)! Well, the van is quite heavy with luggage and passengers on board.
Transporting large toys
Those who have the appropriate load capacity will be interested in solutions that guarantee much greater capabilities of the “home on wheels”. We are talking about transportation systems for “larger toys.”
behind the rear overhang - on a frame attached to the wall of the camper, and especially to a supporting structure attached to solid support points, i.e. to the supporting frame of the car.
When it comes to racks and trailers for scooters or motorcycles, the question arises: when should you trailer your equipment? For obvious reasons, the next axis concerns not so much a decrease in travel comfort, but... a reduction in the vacation budget. On toll sections of roads or within a vignette, the cost of travel depends, among other things, on: the number of axles. The cheapest vehicles are those with two axles, no dual wheels, and those that do not tow trailers.
Following this example, let's first look at the advantages and disadvantages of carrying a scooter or motorcycle behind a rear overhang.
camping hook
Camping vehicles can be very richly equipped. It also makes sense to install a tow bar. Thanks to this, you can transport more than just bicycles. Reputable solutions providers for the caravan industry have developed a rich portfolio of models that even allow you to take motorcycles on the road. Of course, without sacrificing living space or luggage storage.
A bicycle rack for passenger cars is a product that allows you to take up to 4 bicycles on any trip. This is a theory, but in practice it turns out that the actual load capacity is even less than 50 kg. One of them is the approval of the towbar manufacturer. Secondly, it is the approval of the vehicle. It may turn out that the car manufacturer did not provide for the additional effort associated with installing such a rack. You need to know that the force vector does not act vertically downward on the bike rack, i.e. on the hook, and in the center of mass of the entire system: rack/bicycles. And here a huge torque arises.
In campers everything will be completely different. They are based on delivery vehicles and guarantee much greater possibilities. And if so, then they can also be a more reliable solution than just racks mounted on a tow bar.
SAWIKO designs and manufactures for campers
Such support systems have been created for 25 years, which obviously means a high level of professionalism. The best-selling systems today are VELO III, VARIO and LIGERO. The WHEELY trailer also became a bestseller.
The SAWIKO brand claims full coverage of the camping fleet. Hooks designed for campervans have a load capacity of 75 to 150 kg. How much are? Sometimes less than 400 euros is enough. In other cases (like the AL-KO lowered chassis) we'll spend more than twice as much. It all depends on the specific version of the camper. If choosing a solution for campervans is easiest if you mention one of the “three”, then the matter becomes more complicated when a campervan of a classic design comes to the workshop. Especially with the long tail behind the rear axle hiding a large garage.
When is the load capacity of a towbar-mounted rack not enough? The supporting frame will be of interest to everyone who uses a camper and is also a fan of two-axle vehicles. These are platforms with a lifting capacity of up to 150 kg. And optionally even 200 kg, which is enough to transport not only a scooter with a category B driver’s license. For example, the KTM 690 Duke has a curb weight of 150 kg.
80 kg, 120 kg, 150 kg….200 kg!
The platform expands the camper exactly the amount of space that we need behind the contour of the car to transport our “favorite toy.” Sometimes it is enough to have an element in the aerodynamic shade that protrudes by about 200 cm (which minimizes the risk of increased fuel consumption, given that the width of the camping structure can be not only about 235 cm, but also, for example, 35 cm!), and when transporting with you “two toys”, for example, 70 cm or 95 cm. Like bicycle racks, when folded vertically, this design slightly lengthens our car. Because we don't use a tongue, we don't have to agree to speed limits for those traveling with trailers. This is another advantage.
“SAWIKO systems such as VARIO or LIGERO are mounted directly on the vehicle frame and are therefore designed for heavy loads of up to 150 kg,” explains Michael Hampe from SAWIKO about the solution portfolio.
– SAWIKO also offers special support systems for delivery vehicles, such as Agito Top. They can be turned, for example, to use the rear doors. These systems also have a large payload and can carry scooters. Regardless, the downside to this type of solution may be that vehicles without a stable frame extension may require the owner to pay more to install such a system.
Please note that the authorized distributor of SAWIKO products is the ACK company from Kędzierzyn-Kozle. Provides comprehensive services related to the acquisition and professional installation of the solutions discussed here.
Also on the hinges of double doors.
The actual load-bearing capacity of the platform will largely depend on the distance, for example from the overhang to the hook ball. And this is the advantage of SAWIKO's offer. Agito Top arrives without problems! The system is attached to a crossbar bolted under the van's bumper so the double rear doors can still be used. It has the form of a folding frame (total weight 58 kg) behind the contour of a van (for example, Ducato) with a load capacity of 80 kg or 120/150 kg. Even greater possibilities - a load capacity of up to 200 kg - are offered by the ultra-light (only 32 kg) Kawa platform, which allows you to take a scooter and, for example, an electric bicycle with you on a trip. In addition to the Agito Top (with a load capacity of 80/120/150 kg), we also have the Futuro frame - the ideal and cheap solution for medium and high roof campers. Mounting on double hinges allows you to transport lighter bicycles weighing up to 60/80 kg. They will be easier to attach and dismantle if equipped with an electric lift, thanks to which the platform is lowered by 110 cm when stationary.
The mentioned family of VARIO and LIGERO systems has similar functional values to Agito Top, but was created taking into account the classic ones, that is, campervans of a container design. Another thing is that more complex systems - especially for transporting a scooter/motorcycle and bicycles at the same time - can surprise you with the high price of complex, i.e., labor-intensive assembly.
Rear overhang - long camper tail
The costs may surprise you if you need to extend the frame, that is, add stable support points for the support system outside the outline of the camper. If the dimensions are not sufficient, the frame extension will need to be replaced. It all depends on the specific type of camper. Model or brand is not enough (eg Dethleffs Advantgage T6611). You must also indicate the year of manufacture and chassis number. And sometimes take measurements: wheelbase, rear overhang, distance from the garage floor to the road, etc.
The above-mentioned company SAWIKO has homologated solutions for all campers built on the Fiat Ducato chassis (from Ducato 280-290, i.e. from 1986-1994, to currently produced campers), Mercedes Sprinter (since 2006), Renault Master (since 1997). , Ford Transit (2000-2014). Of course, we need to check our actual load capacity every time, and since we are putting a lot of load on the rear of the vehicle, the nameplate should include the following information: Maximum axle load allowed.
How to take 670kg on a trip?
We mentioned the much greater load capacity of the notorious “third axle”. We can carry excess luggage in each such trailer if we exceed the overall weight of the camper. Sometimes, when we are already moving within the upper limit of the vehicle's MVM, there is simply no other option but to create a vehicle composition (camper+trailer). And then our attention will be drawn to the most elegant transport trailers. SAWIKO also produces products intended for motor tourism. Their carrying capacity can be much higher, since they have a total weight of 350, 750 or even 950 kg. This means that with a short drawbar (an important advantage not only when maneuvering backwards), we can even take a 670-kg microcar on a trip, and not just an ATV or two heavy motorcycles.
The catalog of offers is rich. Starting from small trailer models with an area of 2 square meters, to models twice as large. Every time the offer includes ramps and a way to easily dock heavy bicycles. The above-mentioned manufacturer has a wide portfolio of comprehensive solutions for transporting “favorite toys”. They are functional, since you can buy an additional kit and thus create a special trailer for transporting, for example, sand to a construction site.
Photo SAWIKO
