What is Bed & Tailgate Load Capacity?

davecoon13 · Post by **davecoon13** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 3:37 pm

My wife recently bought a Kymco People 150 Scooter (dealer delivered for free). I wonder if her scooter would even fit in the Baja? I think it has a 53" Wheelbase, but if I put the Scooter diagonally in the bed, I think it might fit. Any ideas? I was going to check it before the snowstorm hit. I will investigate this on Friday. The scooter is not yet registered or inspected, so I need to transport with another vehicle until I make it street legal.

I remember a dispute on the NASIOC Baja forum about the bed weight capaciy. Apparently, there is one figure listed inside the driver's door post, another figure listed in the owner's manual, and stillanother figure listed at cars101. Could the Baja safely hold a 250 pound scooter? How much weight can actually rest on the open tailgate? Again, each source lists a different figure.

If I can fit the scooter in the bed, I will try a standard $50 loading ramp from HarborFreight or if it doesn't fit in the Baja bed, I will get a a $200 Harborfreight Utility Trailer.

The Scooter is 250lbs, the real question, can the bed hold that weight? I saw someone here at Scoobytruck had a picture with an ATV in the bed...

Kev M · Post by **Kev M** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:41 am

I can't see 250 lbs scooter being ANY issue.

I think I've read bed capacity is 1k lbs (via owner's manual) and 800 lbs. (via door sticker). Tail-gate capacity I read was 666 lbs. (someone has a sense of humber).

I've seen pics of people who put motorcycles in the bed.

Our bikes are more like 550 lbs dry with a long enough wheelbase that it would be tough to move em, but in a pinch I wouldn't hesitate.

I've personally had about 600 lbs. of books back there myself and it didn't seem to sag her.

Kev

davecoon13 · Post by **davecoon13** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:24 am

The scooter sticks off the back of the tailgage a little more than I am comfortable with. I have a trailer hitch, so I think am going to get the $250 Utility Trailer from HarborFreight Tools.

The 4EAT towing capacity is rated around 2,000 lbs. The trailer weighs 287#. I think a sheet of 3/4" Plywood (to deck the trailer) weighs something like 75#, and the scooter weighs about 250# = TOTAL Weight of 582#, Well within the Baja's rated towing capacity.

The trailer comes in a few boxes and requires assembly. A co-worker with the same trailer said that he thinks the boxes should easily fit into the Baja Bed to transport home from the store.

I have been saying since I owned the Baja that I would get a trailer, now I have an excuse.

There are a few steep hills in this neighborhood, so I hope my new front Baja brakes hold out. The Owners Manual says the trailer only needs brakes if it is more than a 1,000# load. That small 300# trailer has no brakes of its own.

Flowmastered87GL · Post by **Flowmastered87GL** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 11:49 am

i had been told the tailgate capacity was 600 pounds even. anyway the tailgate IS strong enough for the scooter.... too bad it hangs out too far

Packa · Post by **Packa** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 8:22 am

I wouldn't hesitate to carry that bike in the back of the Baja -- it's a perfect match.

Be sure to cinch down the front such that the forks are compressed somewhat -- you do NOT want the forks compressing on their own, as this would release the tension as you're driving, with obvious results.

Don't put the bike on it's center stand either -- let the suspension of the bike do it's work. Lastly, do cinch down the rear also -- but not super tight.

By the way, I had a Kymco People 150, too. These are terrific bikes -- utterly a joy to ride with the capability of going over 60mph. Most people have never heard of Kymco, but they're an experienced company making solid products. Unlike the poor quality Chinese bikes flooding your local mom and pop hardware store and your Pep Boys, the Taiwanese already know what they're doing and have genuine pride in their work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kymco

And the ride is great given the "big wheel" configuration. Most scooters have smaller wheels, allowing an overall configuration that enables the step-through as well as the under-seat storage. The People 150 and a number of other very popular scooters forego the smaller wheel but still manage to have the step through and the storage -- and most importantly, the greater gyrscopic stability that comes from the bigger wheels.

The Kymco Peep's seating position is terrific, too: upright and relaxed -- putting your head above the eye level of most automobile drivers, including most SUV drivers.

You won't get props from the Vespa riders: they're too enamoured with their bikes cute looks and tend to dismiss any bike that's different... even the other scooters that Piaggio, their parent company, manufactures.

I had my bike over a year as I migrated upwards to a motorcycle. I had not one single problem with the Kymco. Great bike.

PS There's are a few Kymco Groups on Yahoo Groups where you can commune with other Kymco owners. I liked this one a lot:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/kymcoscooterforum/

Kev M · Post by **Kev M** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 12:13 pm

davecoon13 wrote:The scooter sticks off the back of the tailgage a little more than I am comfortable with. I have a trailer hitch, so I think am going to get the $250 Utility Trailer from HarborFreight Tools.

The 4EAT towing capacity is rated around 2,000 lbs. The trailer weighs 287#. I think a sheet of 3/4" Plywood (to deck the trailer) weighs something like 75#, and the scooter weighs about 250# = TOTAL Weight of 582#, Well within the Baja's rated towing capacity.

The trailer comes in a few boxes and requires assembly. A co-worker with the same trailer said that he thinks the boxes should easily fit into the Baja Bed to transport home from the store.

I have been saying since I owned the Baja that I would get a trailer, now I have an excuse.

There are a few steep hills in this neighborhood, so I hope my new front Baja brakes hold out. The Owners Manual says the trailer only needs brakes if it is more than a 1,000# load. That small 300# trailer has no brakes of its own.

Your brakes will be fine. We towed significantly more with the Forester for YEARS without trailer brakes.

Be careful with cheap trailers. They often have understrength axles which are easily damaged.

I'm not sure I'd be real happy with that cheap a trailer...

K

Pow · Post by **Pow** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:38 pm

A friend of mine recently got one of those trailers for hauling around his motorcycle and other items. As far as I'm aware he is pleased with it, I definitely can say that I haven't heard him speak ill of the trailer.

Regardless of what the rating of the tailgate is I can tell you there is no problem with it supporting more than 600lbs. At different times I've had at least 3 people either standing or sitting on the tailgate. We weren't using it like a springboard or anything, but it didn't have a problem just supporting us.

-Pow

davecoon13 · Post by **davecoon13** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 6:50 am

I did it. I got some decent loading ramps and I was able to fit the Kymco People 150 into the bed of the Baja no problem (with the tailgate down). I just used the ramps and it fit completely in there if I turned the front wheel slightly. It was no problem!

Maybe when I pick it up at the shop I can take pix.

bulwnkl · Post by **bulwnkl** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:51 am

Cool! Glad it fits for you. If you ever think about that trailer again, I have one (or at least it looks just like that one. We got ours at Fred Meyer which is only in the West for under $200) and it has served us very well for 2.5 years now. We've hauled all kinds of different things and it has helped us move a couple of times. Once was a 300-mile move on the freeway. Never had it above 80mph, but even fully loaded with weight I was dragging it down the freeway at 70-75 the whole way.

davecoon13 · Post by **davecoon13** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:30 am

bulwnkl wrote:Cool! Glad it fits for you. If you ever think about that trailer again, I have one (or at least it looks just like that one. We got ours at Fred Meyer which is only in the West for under $200) and it has served us very well for 2.5 years now.

I will keep the idea of the trailer in mind for the future. Thanks for the update!

argh6 · Post by **argh6** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:04 pm

Now you can post up in this thread!!! Bikes ride well in the back...

http://scoobytruck.com/bb/viewtopic.php ... highlight=

davecoon13 · Post by **davecoon13** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 10:59 am

argh6 wrote:Now you can post up in this thread!!! Bikes ride well in the back...

Here is a Pic

crackhead · Post by **crackhead** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:17 pm

Year late and a dollar short as usual. I have transported both my Vespa ET4 and then my Genuine Stella in the bed of my Baja. I even once hauled the Stella while towing the Scamp! 150cc scoots are a perfect match for the bed of the Baja. To make it fit comfortably the trick is to load it at an angle and then turn the forks so that the front fender is turned to the right.

davecoon13 · Post by **davecoon13** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:02 pm

crackhead wrote: 150cc scoots are a perfect match for the bed of the Baja.

Yes, my wife's Kymco People 150cc fits perfect. She recently got a second scooter, a 250cc Yamaha Morphus, also fits in the Baja.