7 picks · Updated 19 October 2026 · Based on 433 owner posts and reviews
A hitch carrier puts a motorcycle on the back of an SUV, pickup or van so you can get to the track without towing a trailer. The catch is weight. The carrier hangs off your hitch, so the number that matters is your hitch's tongue weight rating. The 600 lb on the carrier's box only tells you what the carrier itself is built to hold.
This guide covers seven carriers on sale in the US on 19 October 2026. Three are owner-reported, built from every customer review on MotoTote's own product pages: 166 for the Sport, 67 for the Max+ and 200 of 215 for the m3. Those reviews sit on MotoTote's own site, so expect a positive tilt. The other four are spec-checked: price, stock and specs come from retailer and brand pages.
No hitch-mounted motorcycle carrier from Ultra-Tow turned up on sale, so it is not included. Prices are US dollars from the page named on each pick. This guide is written for US buyers. Tow-bar and lighting rules differ in the UK and Australia, so check your local rules there.
We can’t test everything, so each pick is labelled with where the evidence comes from. How we research and test. Some links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you (disclosure).
MotoTote's carrier for sportbikes, scramblers and dual sports. Owners name Panigale V2, S1000RR and ZX10R loads, and many say it barely moves once the bolts are torqued. At about 60 lb it is light for a 600 lb rating, which matters because carrier weight counts against your hitch.
What owners report · from 166 owner posts and reviews we read
Many owners praise the build, welds and paint, and some note it is lighter than other steel carriers
Many report little or no wobble once the assembly bolts are torqued, including with a hitch tightener added
Chock and track are wide enough for sportbike tires, and the long ramp eases loading (several owners)
MotoTote sends touch-up paint or missing parts quickly (several owners)
Paint damage, rust spots or flaking powder coat on arrival or after a few uses (more than a dozen owners)
ZeroWobble bolt or washer loosens, bends or strips (about ten owners)
Late delivery or backorders (several owners)
One owner says a ratchet strap came loose and the bike fell off, and warns that a rear tire strap is needed
it is built like a tank along with perfect welds and high grade powder coating.
You will need the back tire strap because the front tire rack is too loose to hold the bike up by itself.
Sportbike owners whose hitch and vehicle ratings cover the bike plus about 60 lb of carrier.
Worth knowing
It costs more than twice a Black Widow steel carrier. More than a dozen owners report paint damage, rust spots or flaking powder coat, and about ten report trouble with the ZeroWobble bolt or its washer.
The top MotoTote, with a wider front chock and rear track than the Sport. Owners report hauling bikes around 480 lb, including a Ducati DesertX, Panigale V2, MV Agusta and Yamaha R1M, on trips of hundreds or thousands of miles. MotoTote says its longer rear tie-down arms on the Max and Max+ suit the TireSling rear strap.
What owners report · from 67 owner posts and reviews we read
Described as overbuilt and solid by many owners, including on long highway trips
Loads of 480 lb and more are reported without trouble (several owners)
Easy to assemble and install, helped by MotoTote's video instructions (several owners)
Quick help with missing bolts or scratched paint (several owners)
Paint scratches on arrival (a few owners), with touch-up paint sent in one case
Instructions are thin and give no tool sizes or torque values, so owners watch the video (a few owners)
Hitch pin or bolt does not stay tight while driving (a few owners)
Long waits for delivery (a few owners)
The Max+ is overbuilt, beautifully finished, easy to assemble, and absolutely worth the additional cost.
They need to create a chart for lining up the Chocks.
Owners of heavier or wider-tire bikes who want the roomiest MotoTote track and chock.
Worth knowing
At $899 it is the most expensive single carrier here. A few owners report paint scratches, a few say the instructions are thin and a few say the hitch pin does not stay tight.
Black Widow carriers are sold by Discount Ramps, and the Rage Powersports website now redirects to that store. The MCC-600 costs less than half the MotoTote Sport and includes a 71 in ramp and an anti-rattle device.
Capacity
600 lb
Carrier weight
98 lb
Material
Powder-coated 14-gauge steel
Tire width
Up to 7.25 in (page says 200 mm tires do not fit the track)
Ramp
71 in, included, stores on the carrier
Hitch
2 in, Class III or IV
Anti-rattle
Device included
Warranty
1 year
Best for
Dirt bike, adventure bike and cruiser owners on a budget, with a hitch rated well above bike plus 98 lb.
Worth knowing
The carrier alone weighs 98 lb. A 448 lb Yamaha R1 on it puts 546 lb on the hitch. Tires up to 7.25 in fit, and a 190 mm rear tire is about 7.5 in wide, so check your tire before buying.
A steel platform carrier with a patented anti-tilt lock bracket meant to stop sway. It takes wider tires than the Black Widow MCC-600. Rack Warehouse lists it in stock at $644.09 with free delivery.
Capacity
600 lb
Tire width
Up to 7.75 in
Material
14-gauge steel, powder coated
Tray
77.5 in long, 7.875 in wide, reversible
Ship weight
89 lb
Included
Anti-tilt lock bracket, 24 in main tube, two trays, four retractable tie-down bars, two wheel stops, two reflectors
Hitch
Class III or IV
Warranty
1 year limited
Made in
USA (per Rack Warehouse)
Best for
Owners of bikes with wide rear tires who want a US-made steel carrier from a long-running maker.
Worth knowing
The Rack Warehouse page shows no customer reviews and the package list has no ramp. The main tube sits at hitch height, so low hitches can interfere, and the page warns it is not for pull trailers or fifth wheels.
MotoTote's older, lighter-duty carrier for dirt bikes, scooters and vintage bikes. Owners haul trail bikes, ADV scooters and adventure bikes and describe it as strong and stable on the road.
What owners report · from 200 owner posts and reviews we read
Strong, stable and well made, according to many owners
Bike hardly moves on paved roads and rough gravel (several owners)
Easy to assemble and to load and unload alone (several owners)
Shipping dents, scratches and paint chips on arrival (about ten owners)
Anti-wobble bolt or pin wears or loosens on trips (a few owners)
Delayed or failed shipping (two owners)
On the high-ways and paved roads, the bike does not move one bit.
I also struggled to get the bolts tight enough for it to not wiggle.
Owners of dirt bikes, scooters and vintage bikes under 500 lb.
Worth knowing
The 4.75 in front and 6 in rear tire limits rule out most sportbikes. Owners report shipping dents and scratches, and a few are unhappy with the anti-wobble bolt.
A non-folding aluminum carrier that weighs about a third of the steel MCC-600. That leaves more of your hitch rating for the bike. Discount Ramps shows it in stock at $162.99.
Capacity
400 lb
Carrier weight
36.5 lb
Material
Aluminum
Tire width
Up to 5.5 in, including fat tire and electric bikes
Ramp
47 in, self-storing, hooks on either side
Hitch
2 in, Class III or IV
Anti-rattle
Device included
Warranty
1 year
Best for
Owners of small bikes, scooters and e-bikes with a low tongue weight rating.
Worth knowing
The 400 lb limit and 5.5 in tire limit rule out most road and sportbikes, and a 47 in ramp makes for a steep slope into a tall vehicle.
The cheapest carrier here, with a ramp and a clamp for the front wheel.
Capacity
400 lb
Material
Aluminum
Shipping weight
51 lb
Receiver
2 in
Ramp drive surface
41 in long, 8.63 in wide (6.5 in usable)
Front wheel
Drop-down design with clamp-on device
Warranty
90 days
Best for
Owners of light dirt bikes and scooters who need a low-cost way to move a bike now and then.
Worth knowing
The warranty is 90 days, the ramp is short, and the 400 lb limit rules out sportbikes. Check that the carrier and bike together stay under your hitch's tongue rating.
Tongue weight is the number that decides what you can carry
Tongue weight is the downward force a hitch holds at its receiver. A carrier hangs a bike off that point, so the load that counts is the bike plus the carrier. A 600 lb carrier rating does not raise your hitch's limit.
Hitch makers publish ratings by class. CURT's guide says Class 3 hitches have a 2 in receiver, up to 8,000 lb of trailer capacity and a tongue weight capacity up to 800 lb. CURT's Class 4 page lists up to 10,000 lb and 1,000 lb of tongue weight, rising to 14,000 lb and 1,400 lb with a weight distribution hitch. Those are class ceilings. A specific CURT Class 3 hitch for one SUV is rated to 500 lb of tongue weight and its page says ratings are limited to the vehicle maker's stated capacities.
CURT's own wording for cargo carriers and bike racks is "Never exceed the lowest-rated towing component." So your limit is the lowest of three numbers: the hitch label, the tongue weight in your vehicle's owner's manual, and the carrier's rating. Discount Ramps adds that hauling weight may be limited by the vehicle's suspension.
MotoTote suggests a quick check: take 10 percent of your vehicle's towing capacity, subtract the carrier's weight, and the answer is the heaviest bike. A 3,000 lb tow rating gives 300 lb, minus 60 lb of carrier, leaves 240 lb. Treat that as a rule of thumb. The number in your owner's manual is the one to use.
Why heavy sportbikes can exceed many hitches
Yamaha lists the 2026 YZF-R1 at 448 lb wet. On the 60 lb MotoTote Sport that is 508 lb at the hitch. On the 98 lb Black Widow MCC-600 it is 546 lb. The CURT example above is rated to 500 lb, so both setups would be over its limit before you add a rear stand, gear or a spare tire.
On MotoTote's 10 percent rule, 508 lb needs a vehicle rated to tow about 5,080 lb, and 546 lb needs about 5,460 lb. Many smaller SUVs and crossovers are rated below that. Heavy sportbikes, adventure bikes and cruisers often need a full-size SUV, a pickup or a van with a Class IV hitch and a matching vehicle rating.
A lighter carrier helps because every pound of carrier is a pound you cannot spend on the bike. Check tire width too. The Black Widow MCC-600 fits tires up to 7.25 in. A 190 mm rear tire is about 7.5 in wide, which is why the Sport (8.5 in track), Max+ (9 in) and VersaHaul Sport (7.75 in) suit sportbikes better.
Receiver class, anti-wobble devices and ramps
Every carrier here needs a 2 in square receiver. MotoTote says its carriers are not compatible with 1.25 in receivers, and Discount Ramps says Black Widow carriers are not recommended with hitch adapters or extensions, or on tow-behind trailers, motorhomes and RVs. Check the maker's page before using any carrier on an RV.
Wobble where the carrier meets the receiver is a common worry, and makers handle it differently. MotoTote uses a single ZeroWobble bolt, VersaHaul an anti-tilt lock bracket and Black Widow an anti-rattle device. MotoTote owners often say to torque the assembly bolts to spec, and some add an aftermarket hitch tightener.
Ramp length decides how steep loading is. MotoTote's ramp is 56 in with about a 17 degree slope. Black Widow's MCC-600 includes a 71 in ramp, the VersaHaul package lists no ramp and the Haul-Master drive surface is 41 in. A high receiver on a lifted truck steepens the slope, and one Max+ owner with an F350 on 37 in tires bought a folding ladder to load.
Lights and number plates in the US
A bike on a hitch carrier can hide your tail lights and your plate. Rules differ by state. Minnesota's statute requires plates to be displayed so the view of any plate is not obstructed. Washington's statute lets a bicycle rack, ski rack or luggage rack temporarily obstruct one of two plates, but only if the device is installed to the maker's specifications and the plate can be read from an accessible angle when parked.
MotoTote sells an LED tail light kit for $99 that extends running, brake and turn signals to the carrier, and a plate holder for $49. One owner of the plate holder says that in their state the vehicle would fail its annual inspection unless the plate was lit, and had to relocate a lamp. One owner reports that a loaded bike hides the vehicle's turn signals. Check your state's vehicle code and test every light with the bike loaded.
Hitch carrier or trailer?
MotoTote owners often compare the carrier with a trailer. One Sport owner says they gave up hauling a trailer to track days because of the extra fuel, bridge tolls and lower speeds. A trailer carries most of its load on its own axle, so only its tongue weight counts against your hitch. If the numbers above do not work for your vehicle and bike, a trailer or a pickup bed with ramps and chocks is the next place to look. See our ramps and tie-downs guide for those setups.
Questions buyers ask
Can my SUV carry a sportbike on a hitch carrier?+
Only if the tongue weight rating allows bike weight plus carrier weight. Find the lowest rating among your hitch label, your vehicle's owner's manual and the carrier. A 448 lb bike on a 60 lb carrier is 508 lb, which is above the 500 lb rating of one CURT Class 3 hitch we checked.
What is the difference between a Class III and Class IV receiver?+
Both take a 2 in shank. CURT says Class 3 goes up to 8,000 lb trailer weight and 800 lb tongue weight, and Class 4 up to 10,000 lb and 1,000 lb. The real rating is on your hitch and in your vehicle manual, and is often lower than the class maximum.
Does a 600 lb carrier mean I can carry a 600 lb bike?+
No. The 600 lb is what the carrier is rated to hold. The carrier's own weight and the bike's weight together must stay under your hitch and vehicle ratings, which are usually lower.
Do I need an anti-wobble or anti-rattle device?+
Every carrier here has one built in or supplied. MotoTote owners say to torque all bolts to spec, and some add an aftermarket hitch tightener. A few report the ZeroWobble bolt loosening, so check it at the first fuel stop.
Do I need lights and a plate holder?+
Often yes. A carrier and bike can block your plate and lights, and states treat plate obstruction differently. MotoTote sells an LED light kit and a plate holder. Check your state's rules.
Can I use a hitch carrier on an RV or camper?+
Check the maker first. Discount Ramps says Black Widow carriers are not recommended on tow-behind trailers, motorhomes or RVs, though it lists a separate Black Widow carrier for RVs. Several MotoTote owners say they mount theirs on motorhomes.
Which carrier takes the widest tires?+
Of the picks here, the MotoTote Max+ has the widest track at 9 in, then the Sport at 8.5 in and the VersaHaul Sport at 7.75 in. The Black Widow MCC-600 takes up to 7.25 in.
