Do you have a link to these knockoffs?

 

Which Ultimate MX Hauler are you referring to? The ramp model or the hydraulic model?

What ebay knockoff?

 

Link Please.

 

Ebay knock off: https://m.ebay.com/itm/Dirt-Bike-Hitch-Carrier-Hydraulic-Jack-Hauler/201837288255?hash=item2efe709b3f%3Ag%3At1oAAOSwYS9ZZBoR&_nkw=motorcycle+hitch+hauler+hydraulic&_from=R40&rt=nc


Ultimate mx: Ultimate MX Hauler - Amazon.comAmazon.com › Ultimate-MX-Hauler-Black


Looking at them, I cannot see a difference.

 

Thanks for the links!

Yes, it looks like a direct copy. I'd be interested in how the thickness of the arms, the size of the hardware used, and the quality of the welds compare with the MX Hauler. I have two Moto-Jack Racks and there are significant differences between them in these areas indicating that somewhere along the line, some cost reductions were obviously made.

Unless someone here has already tried one of these knockoffs, you may have to be the guinea pig .

 

I would not hesitate to buy the ebay copy of the MX hauler as it looks functionally equivalent if not an almost direct copy. Teflon sliders on the platform of the Ultimate may last longer but not likely worth the $150 premium. Ethically there might be some intellectual rights infringement if not outright patent violations with the knockoff. Order one quick before trade war changes pricing.

 

It looks like the same photoshopped picture, to me. It's probably made by the same manufacturer.

 

Knockoff is a cute name for “I stole your design to put you out of business”

Original

Chinese

Buy American made products Support American workers.

 

Knockoff is a cute name for “I stole your design to put you out of business”

Original
View attachment 182206


Chinese

View attachment 182208


Buy American made products Support American workers.

While I generally agree with the sentiment, I have several practical problems:

1) Ultimate MX Hauler was not the first to do this design. It's not exactly unique, and there have been others before it (Motojack Rack is one of which I'm aware).
2) Some reviews of the Ultimate MX Hauler have indicated recent ones feel "cheap" and "Chinese" (one review says the jack itsel fis Chinese, and another says the product itself feels Chinese: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-MX-...ws/B0039L7SFW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_viewopt_kywd?pageNumber=1&filterByKeyword=Chinese). If I'm getting the same product, I'm not interested in buying American. Buying a USA made product needs to mean something more than domestic laziness and cost cutting.
3) The unbranded eBay one only has one review that I can see, but I *think* those reviews are seller based. Review says "the geometry is all wrong", whatever that means. If it is a copy, but they got measurements wrong, this is problematic. It could also be the reviewer was trying to do something dumb, like jack up a 1200cc road bike, outside of the design's toleration limits. No way of knowing. Yet, others have reported jack issues due to offset weld points on the Ultimate MX Hauler. So who do I believe? Which way do I roll the dice?
4) When Americans bought into the bullshit of global free trade without tariffs (a ploy to destroy the economy and shift the horrors of the industrial revolution elsewhere), they opened themselves up to this problem. I agree that supporting American companies is better, in this regard. But surely that must include better quality, right?

 

Buy one. Let us know. I have the MX Hauler. It works good but is not for everyone nor every vehicle. Too bad there is no "try before you buy" program.

 

can you or have you given us a review of what you think is wrong with the MX Hauler

I've only known one person who ran one with a TW and he loved it on his Toyota Pre-Runner

I've looked at one closely and the leverage factors are my concern the fact it's binding on the foot pegs is ok the pegs are strong but thats a lot of leverage bouncing around stressing the platform and hitch etc

Yes I agree the bottle jacks looked cheap and even flimsy but they merely perform the lift they are not carrying the weight because its pinned in the up position

Ground clearance is one possible issue that I've heard of but I still like the idea of the overall compact footprint for storage

Personally I haven't found anything I like better than the Versahaul

Thanks

 

I called MX hauler yesterday and had an hour and a half talk with Alex about his products. Alex pretty much runs the company from his office in CA. They employ 30 plus employees building haulers and a few other products. He told me the whole story of the company but I don’t have time to explain it all.
The MX hauler is not designed to haul TW200s because it does not have a frame on the bottom. If you want to haul a TW you will need a HD skid plate and larger steel foot pegs to secure the bike to the rack.

Knockoffs are a problem for the company because they were never able to get a US patent. He is fighting Amazon to have the knockoffs removed because they use pictures of MX racks when selling knockoffs.

He has had customers buy MX parts to repair knockoffs because they fit. One guy bent the main bar on his knockoff hauling a motorcycle that was within the weight limit. Alex said there crash test on that bar bent at 1000 lbs which is way beyond its stated weight limit. He said there product is built using top grade steel, laser cut, welded and powder coated.
They offer a hauler designed to haul the TW. Go to there website and if you have any questions call the number and talk to Alex.

 

Good point TopPredator my buddy who used one for his TW did have the Ricochet skid plate and a set of DMO foot pegs and the TW perched perfectly and the pegs were plenty strong. I would hesitate to use a cheap cast foot (China) style peg because of all the stresses carried at that attachment point. The owner was very amicable towards new dealers and quantity purchases

 

Ultimate MX hauler Ramp Style. It is a bit pricey at $650 but for some it may be a solution.

 

Thank you for the info. I had wondered if perhaps they'd just photoshopped out the branding and used the photo of a branded one. I have a heavy duty skid plate (ricochet I bought from PlacerLode) and extra wide steel pegs (krators). I hauled my other TW just fine on the Moto Jack Rack, and others report on the Amazon reviews that it (ultimate mx) fits the TW. I understand that, and why, it would be problematic for a stock bike. Thanks to this wonderful forum, and many helpful posters (such as yourself!), it's no longer stock in the ways that matter for this use.

I'll go ahead and pop for the Ultimate MX Hauler.

Thanks to everyone, and especially TopPredator.

 

Thank You CS, Alex also recommendations ordering racks from Rocky Mountain ATV and they offer free shipping.

 

added in the OP but here too, to update:

I ordered the Ultimate MX Hauler from https://www.redlinestands.com/catal...6_339/hitch-haulers-c-336_339_362/ultimate-mx-hitch-hauler-for-dirt-bikes-p-417

Shipping was free and total cost was $459.50, so a $30 savings over Amazon. I checked out xrsonly.com but their shipping person said it would be ~45-50 for shipping, despite their cost being 419. So as far as prices go, redlinestands seems to be the best price going.

Keep in mind that redline does drop shipping, but when I called they checked on their supplier's status and confirmed in stock.

 

I have the real Ultimate MX Hauler and picked it up a few years ago for $419 with free shipping from Rocky Mountain ATV. Their current price is $449 with free 3-day shipping but it looks like you'd earn $22.46 in their Quick Cash to use on a future purchase. It worked will with the TW and I've gone on 300 mile trips with it. Wider footpegs like the DMOs recommended.

 

I buy all my parts when possible from RM-ATV. That Quick Cash bonus money adds up quick and you are damn sure gonna need more parts down the road.

 

Likely would have ordered from RM but I’m on a time crunch and they were out of stock. Haven’t check since.

 

Update:
I did get the ultimate mx hauler and put it together and did a test run with the tw200 strapped on. Much less lowering of the rear end than I'd feared. A little side sway, but not awful. Won't be taking any corners at 70mph or anything. Got my OHV sticker for the bike the other day, so I'll be doing more 2-wheel scouting of area 50 in the coming weeks, and then using the bike for reducing amount of walking necessary to get higher in elevation.

Next time I have it on the vehicle, I'll show how I had to place the peg bolts. Suffice it to say you have to put through (large) footpeg on the furthest to the rear of the hauler (left peg) and then use the hook on the other bolt for the right peg, which is closest to the vehicle. I then use a strap on the hauler's strap u-bolt thing and place other end on handlebars. This reduces the bike's desire to tip toward its rear tire -- a problem exacerbated by the Ricochet's mounting bolts on the rear of the skid plate (provides a fulcrum point).

I think I need to loosen the tension some on the arm bolts as when I went to remove the bike/lower it, it didn't lower immediately (arms were binding on the hauler center frame). I gave it a kick and it SLAMMED down. eek.

 

re sway you might be able to add some ratchet straps between the bike / hauler and the trailer hitch or rig frame to stabilize the assembly. On iccasion I use extra straps to the trucks frame to stabilize a Versahaul especially when I forgot the anti vibration clamp

 

It's due to play in the hitch female I.D. not being as tight as the hauler's male O.D.

I'll look into the clamp.

 

My mind wondered when I read this. Sorry.

 

With use the pivot bolts for the 4-bar linkage will oblate the mild steel of the bars creating additional undesirable play as the holes get bigger. Reducing any slop via the hitch tightener and/or strap restraints back to the haul vehicle will extend the service life before repair is warenteed. I repaired mine by replacing the 1/2 inch bolts with 9/16ths diameter bolts last week and the restored lack of wobble is reassuring.

 

Fred, are you using the anti-wobble insert that comes with it, or just a straight 9/16 without the threads?

 

I would spend the extra bucks for the real product, not a copy. This is a critical thing/component. Also something you will use for years. If you ever decide to sell it...the real deal will sell quickly/hold value.
I looked and all I could find was the one negative review of the Chinese knockoff vs many positive reviews of the original. The sales pictures of the copy were definitely ripped off from the MX product as well.

 

My Motojack was purchased used w/o any special anti-wobble insert. I use a quality anti-wobble clamp between van's receiver hitch and Motojack lift as well as 4 tension straps between TW and overhead lumber rack and also to bumper. This helps on the dirt roads I use to reach riding and camping areas.