Mobility — Trailer Hitch Mounted Carrier

October 15, 2015October 9, 2017 Joe AuBuchon

Two years ago we traded in my wife’s Jaguar S-Type for a Buick Enclave. The Jag, which she no longer drove, was not a practical vehicle to drive half way across the country on vacation with two people, two cats and their luggage and assorted paraphernalia. We looked around for a replacement vehicle — not a van — and selected the Buick. Roomy, comfortable and quiet, it suited our needs. I added a roof-mounted 17′ Thule carrier and we were set to go. I’d rather have purchased a Cadillac SRX, but it just didn’t have the room we needed. The only gripe I have about the Buick is the in-town gas mileage — 14-16 mpg; on the open road, even at speeds above 70 mph, it averages better than 20 mpg. (See: Summer 2015 Gas Prices)

Future Needs

My wife has had a GO-GO Elite Traveller 3-wheel battery powered scooter. She used it at work (teaching) for the last few years for going across her intermediate school campus (1800 students). We kept it in her classroom, and when she had to go to distant classrooms and meetings it was there and ready for use.

I foresaw a time when we would have to take this scooter with us — when her rollator (walker) or cane would not be enough. Therefore, I purchased the Buick with the trailer package. While I never intended to tow a trailer, I saw hitch-mounted bicycle and scooter carriers on many vehicles. I figured we’d need to take the scooter with us eventually and the time has come.

Purchase

I looked on-line at a number of sites for dealers and manufacturers, at weights, features and costs and eventually chose Discount Ramps (DiscountRamps.com).

My wife’s scooter weighs in at just under 90 lbs, and I selected an SC400-V2 Hitch Mounted Mobility Carrier with Ramp which has a carrying capacity of 400 lbs. The carrier itself weighs in at about 80 lbs.

Of course, there was some assembly required.

In addition to the carrier I purchased:

Tie-Down Strap Package Includes: (4) 1″ inch wide x 6 ft long ratchet straps. 3000 lb capacity each. (The tag attached to the straps says 1000 lbs, not 3000 lbs.)

5/8-inch Silent Hitch Pin(TM), Barrel Locking for 2-inch receivers. Includes wrench and set of keys

Cargo Net 30″ x 45″

Total price for all of the items (including the carrier) was $276.96. No shipping charges.

I placed the order on October 7, 2015 and received it via UPS ground on October 13 in the afternoon with plenty of time to put it together before dark.

Packaging

The packaging was a thick but flimsy cardboard; it appeared to have gotten damp and then dried out and there were several punctures and tears. The smaller items arrived at the same time in a smaller box that suffered no damage.

The carrier suffered some damaged en-route but not enough to return the carrier–of course, I couldn’t return it in the original packaging and would have had to find some other packaging to do so.

The damage suffered by the carrier amounted to some bending of the sides, where the handholds and holes for the tie-down strap hooks would go. My 36″ pry-bar was able to straighten, mostly, the sides so that the lift-ramp and pins lined up correctly. And, I didn’t even scratch it.

Putting it Together

The instructions are “fairly easy” to follow — suggestion: watch the video several times first (but it’s not quite that easy).

I used the 5/8″ Silent/Locking Hitch Pin I purchased to install the assembled Carrier Main Tube / Hitch Receiver Tube instead of the included parts and mounted it first. I then worked on the carrier basket / carrier ramp (on the grass because I did not have the same tools you see on the video). It was here that I had to do some “convincing” to get the carrier parts to function correctly.

Eventually, I got to where I was satisfied that everything fit and functioned correctly. I lifted the carrier (side toward the car) up and placed some blocks under it so that the tube was about even with the tube in the hitch. I then lifted the other side and shoved the carrier on to the hitch attached tube and secured it with the provided pins and bolts.

And, what do you know — it worked. I tried it in all positions — so far so good. And, then I rolled her scooter on to the carrier — it fit.

I then took two of the tie-down straps and secured the scooter to the carrier. Scooter didn’t budge. Brought Charlie out to show her (the whole thing was a surprise to her) — thank you, Honey, X O X O X.

The next morning I took her to her hair appointment. The scooter was not on the carrier. Nothing came loose; it wasn’t noisy and didn’t seem to bounce around.

Later in the day, I mounted her scooter and took her to a meeting at a local high school — to which we’d never been. She was able to use it and navigate around the large campus without trying to walk. The carrier was a success.

I checked the carrier and, again, nothing was loose or out of whack — same when we returned home.

In a week or so I’ll readjust some of the bolts and nuts to smooth things out. I’ll also use some Loctite to make sure nothing comes loose on those days we travel three or four hundred miles.

Conclusion

It seems like a good investment, so far. Long term? I’m hoping it’ll work.

Addendum

Tools Required: 17mm wrench, 3/4″ or 19mm wrench, 7/8″ or 22mm wrench, 1/2″ or 13mm wrench, Phillips screwdriver, 10mm allen wrench

If you’ve got a good adjustable wrench, use it. 10mm allen wrench? That’s not in my set — they should include this in the kit. You’re not going to use it anywhere else, and you’re not going to want to go to the hardware store in the middle of assembling the carrier.

Tie-Down Straps — Get good ones; do NOT use bungee cords or twine. The tie-down straps above are good. If you’ve never used them before, they’re not too hard to figure out. If in doubt, buy them at an auto supply or camping store and have the clerk demonstrate how to use them. Work them yourself and make sure you strap something down and loosen the straps before you purchase them.

Auto: The rear lift-gate on my Enclave will not function if the carrier is in the unloaded vertical position or is loaded with the scooter. There is an additional Scooter Carrier Swing Away Kit available for $135. Also, with the scooter carrier attached the parking assist on the Buick does not function. And, if the carrier is unloaded and stored in the vertical position, the rear back-up camera is just about useless.

Oh yeah, get some reflective tape to put on the carrier. The two included reflectors are inadequate.

Update on Scooter Carrier–Nov. 5, 2015

It already shows signs of rust (cheap Chinese manufacture and finishing?). I am not pleased, but I can purchase a can of Rust-Oleum black paint for the carrier. Some of the bolts and nuts are also showing rust–very cheap plating.

Unloaded carrier in vertical position.

Unloaded horizontal

Unloaded — ramp up

Loaded

Tied down

Rear camera view - scooter on carrier. — Rear camera view – scooter on carrier.

Navigation screen

Summer 2015 Gasoline Prices

October 14, 2015October 9, 2017 Joe AuBuchon

I’m one of those people who keep track of what they spend on gasoline and what kind of mileage they get. I used to to this on paper in a booklet I kept with my car or motorcycle. Nowadays I use a little app on my phone called Car Logbook. Our little vacation trip to Minnesota put about 6,000 miles on our Buick Enclave. Both mileage and prices varied widely.

May 22 — Union 76 — $56.15 — 14.6 gal — $3.86/gal (87 octane regular) — HB, CA

Jun 25 — Union 76 — $56.13 — 16.5 gal — $3.40/gal — HB, CA — 14.83 mpg

Jul 02 — Union 76 — $24.60 — 7.2 gal — $3.40/ gal — HB, CA — 14.51 mpg

Jul 03 — Union 76 — $56.74 — 17.3 gal — $3.28/gal — Gilroy, CA — 20.87 mpg

Jul 04 — Chevron — $62.45 — 17.4 gal — $3.60/gal — Arcata, CA — 21.03 mpg

Jul 05 — Chevron — $50.13 — 14.7 gal — $3.40/gal — Albany, OR — 23.87 mpg

Jul 05 — Exxon — $59.50 — 19.6 gal — $3.04/gal — West Spokane, WA — 21.09 mpg

Jul 07 — Conoco — $51.56 — 18.6 gal — $2.77/gal — Belgrade, MT — 22.45 mpg

Jul 08 — Flying J — $44.65 — 16.9 gal — $2.65/gal — Beach, ND — 24.21 mpg

Jul 09 — Holiday — $42.89 — 16.8 gal — $2.55/gal — Moorhead, MN — 21.22 mpg

Jul 18 — Holiday — $51.31 — 18.7 gal — $2.75/gal — Warroad, MN — 21.85 mpg

Jul 31 — Holiday — $51.06 — 19.3 gal — $2.65/gal — Warroad, MN — 19.14 mpg

Aug 14 — Holiday — $45.53 — 16.9 gal — $2.70/gal — Warroad, MN — 18.97 mpg

Sep 03 — Holiday — $42.98 — 17.9 gal — $2.40/gal — Warroad, MN — 17.64 mpg

Sep 18 — Holiday — $37.25 — 15.5 gal — $2.40/gal — Warroad, MN — 19.13 mpg

Sep 19 — Holiday — $24.06 — 10.9 gal — $2.29/gal — Moorhead, MN — 21.29 mpg

Sep 19 — Flying J – $44.33 — 17.7 gal — $2.50/gal — Beach, ND — 19.84 mpg

Sep 20 — Conoco — $36.87 — 14.5 gal — $2.54/gal — Laurel, MT — 18.87 mpg

Sep 22 — Conoco — $25.68 — 10.1 gal — $2.55/gal — Belgrade, MT — 15.78 mpg (back and forth city driving between Belgrade and Bozeman dealing with my wife’s toothache)

Sep 23 — Exxon — $38.32 — 14.7 gal — $2.60/gal — Spokane Valley, WA — 25.91 mpg

Sep 23 — Exxon — $30.03 — 12.7 gal — $2.37/gal — The Dalles, OR — 22.01 mpg

Sep 24 — Chevron — $15.53 — 6.0 gal — $2.60/gal — Albany, OR — 25.10 mpg

Sep 25 — Chevron — $45.26 — 15.1 gal — $3.00/gal — Arcata, CA — 23.98 mpg

Sep 26 — Union 76 — $44.14 — 16.2 gal — $2.73/gal — Gilroy, CA — 22.07 mpg

Oct 10 — Union 76 — $50.83 — 17.7 gal — $2.88/gal — HB, CA — 21.69 mpg

So, the best price of the trip was $2.29/gal in Moorhead, Minnesota and our best mileage was 25.91 mpg between Belgrade, Montana and Spokane Valley, Washington.

The Highest gasoline prices were (are) in California and the lowest were in Minnesota.

Vacation Travels 2014 – Part 1

September 1, 2014September 1, 2014 Joe AuBuchon

Travels

Our vacation got off to a late start this summer as both Charlie and I had dental issues with which to deal—mine was a cracked tooth into which I could insert a fingernail.

We loaded up our new Buick Enclave with a Thule carrier on top. Great car with a smooth and quiet ride. Gas mileage is 15-16 in town and 20-26 on the open road. We took the cats, Mist and Smoke, with us; they were quite noisy the first couple of days but eventually became good travelers and, for the most part, stayed out of the front seats.

We spent the first night in Gilroy (via I-5 and Cal 152) at a friend’s house; they were on vacation and out of town at the time but mailed us a key and we enjoyed a quiet evening there. The next day we drove to Arcata on US 101. A very nice drive although we went a bit slower than in the De Ville as the Enclave is both heavier and has a higher center of gravity.

Stayed the night at the Arcata Super 8 (on “motel road”), which has one smoking, handicapped room (and allows cats with fee). The original adjustable handicapped shower handle/head was broken and not properly replaced. (I informed management; the problem was not fixed by the time we returned several weeks later.) Otherwise the room was fine.

The next day we drove to Albany, Oregon via Coos Bay/North Bend and the Umpqua River route and I-5. We stopped for an hour at the Mill Casino and Hotel in North Bend but did not spend the night. (Charlie loves their casino and gift shop and we both like their restaurants.) They do not take cats although they do take dogs, some of them very large.

While Charlie was in the casino, I put the cats on their leashes and walked around the hotel and fell into conversation with a security guard. I explained why I was outside and why we were not staying at the hotel and he expressed surprise at the no cats policy. He told me he would speak with management about the issue and we exchanged email addresses.

After Charlie’s hour and a half were up, we resumed our travels and stopped and watched elk for a few minutes at the Dean Creek Elk viewing area on the Umpqua River. Then on to the Super 8 in Albany on the I-5. (Handicapped, smoking and cats with a Subway a half mile’s walk away.)

The next day it was the I-5 to Portland, east along the Columbia River and north to Spokane, actually the Super 8 in West Spokane. (Smoking, cats but not handicapped equipped—more about which later.)

On to Bozeman, Montana and the Holiday Inn. (Cats, smoking but not handicapped equipped.) We like their restaurant but it is too far a walk for Charlie and we didn’t feel like getting back into the car and driving around to the other side of the hotel. So, we had a room service dinner: two appetizers and two dinners—too much, but delicious.

Travels with Mist and Smoke asleep in hotel. — Mist and Smoke asleep in hotel.

The next day it was a “straight” shot east on I- 90/I-94 to Wibaux, Montana where we stayed at the Beaver Creek Inn and Suites. Cats, smoking but their only handicapped room is non-smoking. The room was comfortable and the staff (owner) friendly. Charlie did not feel like going out to dinner so, on the motel owner’s recommendation I called the Shamrock Club for a take-out dinner—delicious and, once again, too much food.

Then it was across North Dakota to Moorhead, Minnesota and the Travelodge. A very nice smoking, cats but not handicapped equipped room and a Subway sandwich dinner. (Charlie usually has a tuna with onions, tomatoes and avocado and I have a Subway Club with just about everything, including lots of jalapeños.

Last day of travel was north on the I-29 and the east on ND 66 and MN 11. (Neither OnStar nor Waze was aware of the too long detour on MN 11—dirty word, dirty word, dirty word. (Or bleep, bleep, bleep, if you prefer.)

Aside from this it was a nice, easy journey with no weather problems and very little delay for construction.

Travels: Postscript

I received an email from Suzann Anaya, Director of Operations for the Mill Casino Hotel on the reason for their no cats policy: “Our main concern with cats in the hotel rooms is the allergens they leave. We have many other hotel guests who have severe feline allergies.” I can quite understand this but still . . . Super 8, Motel 6, Travelodge and Holiday Inn allow cats.