MotoTote MTX Motorcycle Carrier Review | Taking Your Adventure Further Off-Road
The downside of driving a vehicle like our van is that it can’t access all of the places that we want to go. Vans with more off-road capability are available, but are much more expensive. We chose the Dodge Ram Promaster Cargo Van because of it’s exceptionally reasonable price point and we felt it could take us (mostly) anywhere!
Vanlife With a Motorcycle
While we do spend a significant amount of time in the woods, most of the areas we camp are very accessible. We don’t feel like we’ve missed out on anything by not having a 4×4 rig. That is, in large part, thanks to the Yamaha TW200 dual sport bike. We carry it around with us as we travel. Not only is it just plain fun to ride, but it allows us to access areas that the van isn’t capable of getting to.
For example, on our way to a remote hot spring in Nevada, the two track road suddenly became very rough. There were ruts the size of a Mini Cooper and we assumed that it would only get worse. Rather than pushing the van past it’s limits, we decided to park the van in a good campsite for the night. Then we took the TW200 off of the back for a ride. It’s a good thing we did too. When we got closer to the hot spring, there was a river crossing as well! Not an issue for the TW200, but definitely a HUGE problem for the van!
Transporting a Motorcycle
Transporting a motorcycle like the Yamaha TW200 can be difficult because it has a longer wheelbase and large tires. We did a lot of research on motorcycle carriers before we bought the MotoTote MTX Motorcycle Carrier. Technically the MTX rack is for sport bikes, but that’s what we had to buy in order to accommodate the large tires on the TW200. If you use our Partner Program link that we provide throughout this post, you will receive a 10% discount on your MotoTote purchase
Whatever your reason for carrying a motorcycle is, you won’t be disappointed with the MotoTote MTX Motorcycle Carrier.
If you purchase through our MotoTote Partner Program Link – you will receive a discount! Use Code DRIFTERJOURNEY
Be sure to enter your email at the checkout page to see the discounted price.
MOTOTOTE MTX Motorcycle Carrier Review
Pros:
Loading Ramp
All Mototote products come with everything you need to load and haul your motorcycle except for tie-downs! This ramp is just as heavy-duty as the rack itself. It also stores easily on the rack for easy storage. It is large enough to handle the TW200 tires and has larger piping on the side rails to help guide the tires up the ramp.
Zero-Wobble Hitch Mount
We’ve all driven behind someone who has a really wobbly rack mounted to their hitch. It’s unnerving. You change lanes and hope their rack doesn’t fall apart before you can move. That won’t happen with the MotoTote carrier. The mounting bracket they provide is bomb-proof and we are impressed with its solid construction.
Modular Design
When you put the rack together, you have the ability to choose which way you want the motorcycle to face. This is a critical feature for us because we paired the carrier with a swing arm. The swing arm brings the bike close to the passenger side of the van. We need to have the back tire of the TW200 on the passenger side for clearance reasons. In addition, the modularity of the rack allows you to customize how far the rack sticks out from your vehicle (in case you have wide handlebars). You can also customize the length of the rack to your motorcycle’s wheelbase.
Powder-Coated
The construction of this motorcycle carrier is solid. The welds are very well-done and it’s obvious that quality is an important factor to MotoTote. On top of that, the powder-coating looks nice and will keep rust down.
Attach Points for Tie-Downs
The MotoTote MTX Motorcycle Carrier has great attach points that are welded on with the same precision and care as the rest of the rack. The attach points are large enough to accommodate large tie-down hooks, giving us the ability to use burly straps and hooks. This is important to us, since we take our TW200 everywhere. We like to know it is held down safely and securely.
Cons:
Cost
The MotoTote MTX Motorcycle Carrier is one of the more expensive motorcycle carriers on the market. We struggled with the price tag a bit at first, and it prompted us to do more research on competing products. When we want to find a good deal, we search the internet FAR and WIDE. After all of our intensive research, we purchased the MotoTote carrier because we’re convinced it’s the best and highest quality rack that fits the dimensions and weight requirements that we needed.
Distance From Van
We do wish there was a way to bring the rack a little closer to the van. Due to the fact that we added the RackAttach Swing Arm, the TW200 sticks out pretty far. The TW200 wobbles when we hit bumps. Without modifying the MotoTote by cutting down the bar that goes into the receiver, it is in as far as it will go. But, without the RackAttach, the MotoTote Hitch Carrier is very solid.
MOTOTOTE MTX MOTORCYCLE CARRIER REVIEW SUMMARY
Overall, we are incredibly happy with the MotoTote MTX Motorcycle Carrier and we recommend it to everyone who asks how we carry the TW200 around. There are so many benefits to having the TW200 with us that we wouldn’t ever consider not bringing it along.
Another great reason to have a motorcycle on the back of the van is that it’s a great “grocery-getter.” We can find a campsite and get the van all set up. Then we can leave everything in “lounge mode” for a week because we have the TW200 to ride. We take it to town for groceries, go to a trail head for hiking, or check out some natural hot springs up a forest road.
Whatever your reason for carrying a motorcycle is, you won’t be disappointed with the MotoTote MTX Motorcycle Carrier. If you purchase through our MotoTote Partner Program Link – you will receive a discount on your whole order! Be sure to enter your email at the checkout page to see the discounted price
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