How to travel with your moped without a truck. When I got my first moped I did not have a pickup truck. We owned a VW hatchback and a Mazda Crossover/SUV. These products are what we used to carry our mopeds around for rides and rallies.
The Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier turned out to be the perfect size to carry up to 2 mopeds. Pictured above is me using the carrier as a workbench and the other of my wife and I picking up a Motobecane.
How to travel with your moped – Cargo Carrier
Out of all the items listed, the cargo carrier is one of the main three needed for traveling with your moped without a truck. A cargo carrier is a good option for mopeds over a motorcycle carrier for a few reasons. It’s practically the perfect width for your vehicle and moped. I find most motorcycle carriers extend out more than needed for a moped. Of the motorcycle carries that I have experience with, a cargo carrier is lighter. A cargo carrier has room to carry a moped and gas can easily and provided multiple mounting points due to the metal grating on the bottom of the carrier. These are relatively affordable and can be purchased online or in some stores.
If you prefer the motorcycle carrier, here is one that has been tested by someone in the moped community. Just be aware that you will need to have a 2-inch receiver for it. With the cargo carrier, it works with both 1-1/4 or 2-inch receivers
How to travel with your moped – Hitch
By far the most important piece needed will be the Hitch. Our family car (the Mazda CX-9) came with a hitch receiver and helped us to come up with this solution for traveling with our mopeds. If your car or SUV did not come with a hitch chance are you can find one online. A couple of things to be aware of are that hitch receivers come in two sizes typically, 1-1/4 inch and 2 inches. The cargo carrier linked to above will fit either receiver size. Whether you go with 1-1/4 inch or 2 inches, both are capable of carrying at least 1 moped. I did upgrade my 1-1/4 inch to a 2 inch to travel with two mopeds on the back. When I used the 1-1/4 inch, it would still carry a Vespa Grande with ease.
How to travel with your moped – Trailer Hitch Receiver Lock
You have the hitch and the cargo carrier, now you need something to hold them together. This next product is needed but you could use an alternative. The carrier slides into the hitch, and a hitch pin is used to keep the two together. I recommend a hitch pin with a lock of some sort just for peace of mind that your carrier won’t go missing. As an alternative, I have seen people successfully use a large nut and bolt. While this is not as secure think about how long it could take someone to remove that bolt. They would need to know what size socket or wrenches to use. Make sure you get the right size for the hitch you have. The smaller hitches have a smaller diameter hole for pins.
Straps
The last item you will need is a set of straps. I like cambuckle straps the best for mopeds, bikes, or anything two-wheel with handlebars. You don’t need to worry about ratcheting anything down. You only need to pull them tight and then press to release when ready to unload. I’m confident in these types of straps as the ratcheting type. I’ve been using these types of straps for years now on many mopeds. You will need at least 3 straps for each moped. Two for the left and right sides of the handlebars. This will keep the moped centered and upright without the need for a center stand. The third can go across the rear rack or seat to keep the rear of the moped planted when driving over bumpy roads.
Bonus Hitch Tightener Heavy Duty Anti-Rattle Stabilizer
This last one is a bonus that I recommend but isn’t necessary. When you mount the carrier into the hitch, the carrier may have some wiggle. If the moped is strapped right and the carrier is locked in with the pin, it should not fail. What this accessory does is help remove the wiggle from the carrier. Additionally, it acts as another theft deterrent as you should need to unbolt it to remove the carrier.
This is a good solution for most cars. No need to take your moped apart and stuff it into your trunk. You don’t need to spend money on a rental or borrow a pickup truck. When not in use, the carrier can be packed away next to your moped or under your moped.
Thanks for putting this article together. I needed something for my set up and it really helped me narrow down/understand my options.