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The versatile Ultimate MX Hauler





When a receiver hitch is the only hauling option.





The Ultimate MX Hauler was designed to transport motorcycles using only a vehicle's trailer hitch. The device incorporates a jack to raise and lower the motorcycle for easier loading and unloading.



When you own a dirt bike but not a pickup truck or trailer.





alternative hauling



In 2007, my faithful red GMC pickup truck had amassed 175,000 miles, miraculously on its original transmission. I imagined at some point I'd be loading up for a race, ready to roll and then hear and feel the kind of grinding in the drivetrain that can only mean death to the second most expensive component of an automobile. I had been considering a hitch-mounted bike carrier for some time, as a backup plan in case the Sonoma finally imploded. That plan was executed in 2007 when I drove to Colorado for a dirt bike vacation with riding buddy Matt Sellers. I agreed to pull Matt's trailer to the Taylor Park area with my Chevy Blazer, but I needed to get my bike to the St. Louis area to meet up with Matt. I didn't have access to a trailer of my own, so I bought an Ultimate MX Hauler and drove to Matt's place with my dirt bike attached to the Blazer's hitch.


I ordered an Ultimate MX Hauler from Rocky Mountain ATV, along with a gas can carrier rack. Dirt Rider magazine had reviewed hitch-mounted carriers in 2006 and rated the Ultimate MX Hauler as the top of the line. It's solidly constructed, painted and welded very well, easy to operate and the most expensive hitch-mounted carrier option out there. After I added the gas can rack, I probably could have bought a used 5x8 trailer for the same price ($380 in 2007). Even so, the Ultimate MX Hauler works very well.



How it works





The bike sits on a horizontal plate, secured by pins with wing nuts on the ends. In the "down" position, the bike is centered over the plate and then secured by dropping the pins through the footpegs and through holes in the plate. Once the wing nuts are tightened (lock washers are supplied), the jack is pumped several times and the bike lifts into its carrying position. A safety pin locks the plate into its lifted position.


The gas can rack is a necessity for the most part. Fuel containers certainly don't belong in a vehicle's interior, and roof racks aren't always suited well for hauling that kind of cargo. The rack fits most of the common square-base fuel containers.


The MX Hauler comes with hooks for strapping a tie-down to the handlebars, so the front end stays put while driving. The jack handle fits into its own safe space for the ride.​



The Good and the Not-So-Good





What would life be without trade-offs?



Since 2007, I've logged thousands of miles transporting motorcycles with the MX Hauler. Not a single bike has fallen off yet. The unit is solidly built and clearly designed to last a good long time. It comes with threaded inserts for use with sway-reducing hitch pins. The extra-sturdy construction means the MX Hauler is a bit heavy to carry to and from the vehicle and its storage location. With the gas can rack attached, it's also awkward to handle.


By its nature, the MX Hauler will affect access to the rear of a vehicle, sometimes with or without a bike attached. On my Blazer, the spare tire had to be removed before I could load a motorcycle. I tried a 6-inch hitch extender to gain some clearance around the tire, but the extra leverage made the rear end sag more than I preferred. The carrier also swayed more, even when using sway-reducing hitch pins on both ends of the receiver tube extension. I could still pop open the rear window of my Blazer with a bike on board, but the tailgate had to stay closed - even without a bike on the carrier. On the Pacifica, the rear door couldn't be used and the backup sensors had to be shut off because they always thought I was about to run into something.


Regardless of the vehicle, the MX Hauler will affect ride characteristics. My Blazer sagged a couple inches in the rear, amplifying every bump and turn. Our Pacifica minivan handled the MX Hauler like a champ.


On the law enforcement side of things, the MX Hauler almost completely conceals the license plate. With a bike attached, the taillights can also be obscured, depending on the vehicle. But over the years and miles, "the man" had many opportunities to get to know me and my MX Hauler but took a pass each time.


The two most significant weaknesses of the MX Hauler could be fixed, for the most part.

The first are wing nuts securing the foot peg pins. These tended to loosen during drives, even with the supplied lock washers. Wing nuts were chosen as fasteners to ensure the MX Hauler can be operated tool-free. I don't mind tools, so I swapped the wing nuts for lock nuts and a cordless impact wrench.

The second weakness is the ability of the motorcycle to pivot around the foot peg pins. Over certain bumps, the bike would teeter-tooter, with the pins acting as the seesaw pivot point. I rigged up a turnbuckle, shown in the photos at the top of this page, to reduce the seesaw effect. ​



Security





Preventing bad humans from stealing



Some of my trips with the MX Hauler involved overnight travel and hotel parking lots. Even the nicer hotels attract a full spectrum of parking lot thieves, so security was a top concern. The MX Hauler came with no security devices. I added some of my own.


The first was a lockable hitch pin. This is a theft deterrent for the MX Hauler itself, but of course doesn't do anything to prevent bike theft. The second security device was a heavy anti-theft chain called "The Beast". I locked one end to the bike and the other end to the receiver hitch. From there I went a little further and pulled the starter relay out of the fuse box. Should a thief decide to simply steal the whole vehicle instead of dealing with motorcycle security measures in a parking lot, he wouldn't get far in a car that won't start.​



Final Impressions





A compromise worth paying money for.



A pickup truck will remain my vehicle of choice for hauling motorcycles, but if that option isn't available, the Ultimate MX Hauler is a cost-effective alternative to a trailer. In comparison to a small trailer, I see the hitch mount as the difference between carting a roller bag through an airport and carrying a shoulder bag. When everything is attached to your person (or your vehicle), life just moves better.



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