One of the most sought-after hitch carriers for motorcycles is the Harbor Freight Haul Master Motorcycle Carrier. But what makes this carrier a brilliant choice? And are there some downsides consumers should be aware of? If so, be sure to read on.
What Is The Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master Motorcycle Carrier?
The Harbor Freight Haul Master is attached to a car or a van with a hitch mount. Manufacturers claim that the device can carry a motorcycle up to 400 pounds, which is quite substantial in this day and age.
Harbor Freight Haul Master Motorcycle Carriers are built from sturdy stuff. The construction consists of both aluminum and steel, which contributes to the overall durability of the carrier.
That being said, consumers should be aware that these carriers always include some degree of assembly. Most suppliers also do not include any tie-downs with the delivered carrier, so be sure to check if these come with your carrier before you place an order.
Harbor Freight Motorcycle Hitch Carrier Review
One of the most sought-after hitch carriers for motorcycles is the Harbor Freight Haul Master Motorcycle Carrier. But what makes this carrier a brilliant choice? And are there some downsides consumers should be aware of? If so, be sure to read on.
What Is The Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master Motorcycle Carrier?
The Harbor Freight Haul Master is attached to a car or a van with a hitch mount. Manufacturers claim that the device can carry a motorcycle up to 400 pounds, which is quite substantial in this day and age.
Harbor Freight Haul Master Motorcycle Carriers are built from sturdy stuff. The construction consists of both aluminum and steel, which contributes to the overall durability of the carrier. That being said, consumers should be aware that these carriers always include some degree of assembly. Most suppliers also do not include any tie-downs with the delivered carrier, so be sure to check if these come with your carrier before you place an order.
Assembly Of The Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master
Those who are familiar with motorcycle carriers already know about the affordability of Harbor Freight products. However, this does not mean that the brand provides lesser quality. In fact, most Harbor Freight carriers are sturdy and durable. The same applies to the Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master.
The Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul master is straightforward to assemble. Overall, the assembly of the carrier should not take you any longer than an hour. To help you get started, these are the general assembly instructions for this carrier.
- Start by attaching the supplied wheel clamps with accompanying bolts to the carrier platform. Then, apply the lock nuts for each of the claims as well as the lock pin. Ensure everything stays in place with one of the supplied R-pin.
- Once you have installed the wheel clamps, you can install the supplied lock pins and adjustment pin. These should also be secured with R-pins.
- Next, remove the nuts from the bottom of the bracket and line up all the bracket bolts with their corresponding holes. Then, use the nuts and two additional brackets to secure the construction.
- Finally, fasten the brackets with the supplied bolts and nuts.
As the Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master is quite straightforward to assemble, this carrier is quite suitable for those with little assembly experience.
Is The Carrier Easy To Operate?
When you use the Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master for the first time, it can be a little daunting. That being said, most motorcycle carriers require you to read the instructions when you use it for the first time, so it is not that unusual.
One of the things to keep in mind with the Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master is that motorcycles with larger wheels may require some adjustments during the loading process. In these cases, you can leave the adjustment pin completely. If you do manage to use the adjustment pin, always secure it with the accompanying R-pin.
Harbor Freight has also catered to those who cannot secure their motorcycle with the accompanying wheel lock pins. If this happens, you need to use ratchet tie downs to secure the bike properly. As mentioned earlier, tie downs are not included with the standard Harbor Freight Haul Master, so make sure you obtain them beforehand.
Is Unloading Easy With The Harbor Freight Haul Master?
The bike can easily be unloaded through the release of tension. While the overall construction is relatively safe, one must always consider that the sudden release of tension can cause injury; this when there are motorcycle parts that can quickly move away when the tension is released. That being said, the only thing consumers need to do is stay at a safe distance from these parts.
Is The Harbor Freight Haul Master A Durable Carrier?
There are some mixed reviews regarding the durability of the carrier. Some consumers experience no problems at all, while others experienced a failing carrier after several months.
To enjoy the Harbor Freight Haul Master for a long time, it is recommended to clean, maintain and lubricate the carrier on a regular basis. If you maintain the carrier properly, you will be able to enjoy this motorcycle carrier for a long time to come.
Before you use the Harbor Freight Haul Master, always inspect the carrier for any visible signs of damage. One of the most important things to look out for is misaligned parts, as they can cause serious damage to the carrier if used in this state.
Once you have used the carrier to transport your motorcycle, always make sure you wipe down the carrier properly. A clean microfiber cloth is usually all you need. However, if you notice any oil residue, you can use a suitable cleaning product to remove it from the carrier.
Overall, the maintenance process of the Harbor Freight Haul Master is minimal; this is obviously positive for those who intend to use the carrier on a regular basis and do not have the time for extensive cleaning and maintenance routines.
How Does The Harbor Freight Haul Master Hold Up Against Other Motorcycle Carriers?
Compared to other motorcycle carriers, the Harbor Freight Haul Master is one of the most affordable. There is a considerable price difference between products from Harbor Freight and other well-known motorcycle carrier brands.
While the construction is durable and the maintenance minimal, there is one downside to this carrier. Even though it does keep a good grip on your motorcycle, the carrier can seem a little wobbly at times. While it does not affect the overall functionality of the carrier, it does mean that consumers need to pay extra attention during the securing process.
Despite some small flexing of the unit for bikes over 250 pounds, the design of the carrier is quite sturdy and is unlikely to fail. While it could benefit from a higher-quality aluminum, the price-quality ratio does not disappoint in this case. It certainly meets the standards associated with Harbor Freight.
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Assembly Of The Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master
Those who are familiar with motorcycle carriers already know about the affordability of Harbor Freight products. However, this does not mean that the brand provides lesser quality. In fact, most Harbor Freight carriers are sturdy and durable. The same applies to the Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master.
The Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul master is straightforward to assemble. Overall, the assembly of the carrier should not take you any longer than an hour. To help you get started, these are the general assembly instructions for this carrier.
- Start by attaching the supplied wheel clamps with accompanying bolts to the carrier platform. Then, apply the lock nuts for each of the claims as well as the lock pin. Ensure everything stays in place with one of the supplied R-pin.
- Once you have installed the wheel clamps, you can install the supplied lock pins and adjustment pin. These should also be secured with R-pins.
- Next, remove the nuts from the bottom of the bracket and line up all the bracket bolts with their corresponding holes. Then, use the nuts and two additional brackets to secure the construction.
- Finally, fasten the brackets with the supplied bolts and nuts.
As the Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master is quite straightforward to assemble, this carrier is quite suitable for those with little assembly experience.
Is The Carrier Easy To Operate?
When you use the Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master for the first time, it can be a little daunting. That being said, most motorcycle carriers require you to read the instructions when you use it for the first time, so it is not that unusual.
One of the things to keep in mind with the Harbor Freight Motorcycle Haul Master is that motorcycles with larger wheels may require some adjustments during the loading process. In these cases, you can leave the adjustment pin completely. If you do manage to use the adjustment pin, always secure it with the accompanying R-pin.
Harbor Freight has also catered to those who cannot secure their motorcycle with the accompanying wheel lock pins. If this happens, you need to use ratchet tie downs to secure the bike properly. As mentioned earlier, tie downs are not included with the standard Harbor Freight Haul Master, so make sure you obtain them beforehand.
Is Unloading Easy With The Harbor Freight Haul Master?
The bike can easily be unloaded through the release of tension. While the overall construction is relatively safe, one must always consider that the sudden release of tension can cause injury; this when there are motorcycle parts that can quickly move away when the tension is released. That being said, the only thing consumers need to do is stay at a safe distance from these parts.
Is The Harbor Freight Haul Master A Durable Carrier?
There are some mixed reviews regarding the durability of the carrier. Some consumers experience no problems at all, while others experienced a failing carrier after several months.
To enjoy the Harbor Freight Haul Master for a long time, it is recommended to clean, maintain and lubricate the carrier on a regular basis. If you maintain the carrier properly, you will be able to enjoy this motorcycle carrier for a long time to come.
Before you use the Harbor Freight Haul Master, always inspect the carrier for any visible signs of damage. One of the most important things to look out for is misaligned parts, as they can cause serious damage to the carrier if used in this state.
Once you have used the carrier to transport your motorcycle, always make sure you wipe down the carrier properly. A clean microfiber cloth is usually all you need. However, if you notice any oil residue, you can use a suitable cleaning product to remove it from the carrier.
Overall, the maintenance process of the Harbor Freight Haul Master is minimal; this is obviously positive for those who intend to use the carrier on a regular basis and do not have the time for extensive cleaning and maintenance routines.
How Does The Harbor Freight Haul Master Hold Up Against Other Motorcycle Carriers?
Compared to other motorcycle carriers, the Harbor Freight Haul Master is one of the most affordable. There is a considerable price difference between products from Harbor Freight and other well-known motorcycle carrier brands.
While the construction is durable and the maintenance minimal, there is one downside to this carrier. Even though it does keep a good grip on your motorcycle, the carrier can seem a little wobbly at times. While it does not affect the overall functionality of the carrier, it does mean that consumers need to pay extra attention during the securing process.
Despite some small flexing of the unit for bikes over 250 pounds, the design of the carrier is quite sturdy and is unlikely to fail. While it could benefit from a higher-quality aluminum, the price-quality ratio does not disappoint in this case. It certainly meets the standards associated with Harbor Freight.
