hitch hauler

[Roy_V_Thompson]

Does any one have some good pictures of the new Segway hitch hauler.Three hundred plus bucks is out of the question,could be made for a lot less.

[pam]

I bought one at the Fest, and now need to get a fabricator to put on a hitch for me (Honda Insight!)
I think it's a really neat thing.
Pam

[MaceSoul]

It's sad to see Segway sales and adoption struggle. Has no one at Segway taken an economics class? If they lowered the prices across the board they would have much higher sales, more adoption, with increased accessory sales, and replacement parts to make up for it.

[pam]

Ah, well, MaceSoul, I'm sure that someone at Segway has taken an Economics 1 class, and that there's a lot more involved than you think there is.

Sad? I wouldn't say so. I would say traditional with new technology. Someone said recently it took 5 years before cars were accepted. We're still a long way from that date.
Pam

[Stewbonz]

Who's to say sales are dismal?
If Segway announced that they sold a zillion machines the copycats would be building factories.
In my business I meet people from Finland to South Africa and Kuala-Lumpur, claiming to have spotted Segways.


JEFF JARVIS
http://www.thailandsegwaytours.com/

[Chapinville]

Any photos?????

http://members.cox.net/katelyn.moore/segwaywheelsmall.jpg

[MaceSoul]

Actually the sad part was me not having enough for one. :)

[terryp]

quote:Originally posted by pam

Sad? I wouldn't say so. I would say traditional with new technology. Someone said recently it took 5 years before cars were accepted. We're still a long way from that date.
Pam

You've got to admit, though, that EVERYTHING happens faster today than it did in the horse and buggy days.

But once there are enough HTs around that they're not just a curiosity, which could happen with some appropriate advertising, sales could finally take off.

Just out of curiosity - are any of the 60 dealerships taking out ads?

Segway - How do YOU get around?

[KSagal]

I also purchased one at segfest. When it arrives, I will be happy to post pictures.

I think this unit was well made, but photos may not do it justice, as even having it on the display table, and holding it, did not give an easy impression of just how convenient this thing is.

I think that once it is on a car, the photo's may be easier to understand...

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[Brian]

Segway Orange County had an early prototype back in July. It wasn't as nice as the final product is now. It was a 1.25 inch hitch so put it on a car and thought it was really cool. It's convenient and easy to use. May take some time to get a strong grab on the procedure but all-in-all, I think I will like mine, which I get tomorrow.

Brian

[Murray Fisher]

I sure wish those who write ads and articles would include details that EVERYONE wants to know first thing. How does the hitch hauler work? In the pix it is not very clear....appears that it is something you would drive your Segway over and it would be supported and lifted from the bottom, the battery. Like a fork lift truck...then how does it get up to traveling level without having to lift the entire weight? I have built different versions but mine all support the Seg on its tires......that might not sound good but I have traveled over a thousand miles with it back there and see no problem. I have had my Seg going on 17 months now and see no problems.


Murray Fisher

[KSagal]

The hauler has a pivot point on it's main support shaft.

There is a mechanism to have a platform pivot down form the main support. This allows one to bring the seg up to the back of the car, and while angling the platform up, (Having the base near the car, but the control shaft leaning far away from the car).

One then secures the base to this shelf.

Next, by pushing the handlebar closer to the car, the platform will pivot up to level and be secured there.

I was informed that this will leave the tires 11" above the ground. I have not received mine yet, but that was the way I observed it to be...

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[Murray Fisher]

Thanks for the description Karl. Sound like a neat way to do it and I imagine with the power shaft used for leverage it would rise to the proper height easily. In the pix, it looked like there is strapping provided to fasten the footpad/battery to the platform.....apparently it rests on the battery case then. They staate that it will support three SUV's so should be no problem!
Would like a report when you get yours and pix if possible. I am not able to lift things and need all the help I can get!!


Murray Fisher

[teekay]

Thanks Karl, I am with Mr. Fisher on this one. I saw a prototype a few months ago at Srgway Orange County, and we all scratched our heads!

Sounds like they made it work!

I can't wait to see it!

:) Tim

[Murray Fisher]

Pam, I sure am interested in your experiences with the new Seg Hitch when you get your receiver installed on your car. One thing that is important in MY particular situation, is how far does it extend from the rear bumper of the car when NOT being used. I assume the platform is folded up in some way. In my case I can only get the car SO far into the garage and would prefer to be able to leave that Seg Hitch ON the car most of the time. IF it sticks out too far I would not be able to close the garage door without taking it off each time. A problem maybe no one else has! Also, even that bending over to secure the Seg base to the platform with the straps may be a problem for ME. We will see. Karl says they told him the tires would be 11 inches from the ground when raised in traveling position. I am going to measure mine (when it gets daylight here, ha) but believe it is around that now). Hope you can get detailed info and even pix of the process when you get the hitch receiver instlled on your Insight. I had a good receiver installed on our car for $160. I had it made a 2" size and believe the Seg ad said that was available also. I told the installer I did NOT want it showing at the rear of the car any more than necessary and he knew just how to build it and put ALL of the welded up supporting members on the top side of the receiver shaft. I have a plug for the end of it and it almost looks like part of the car...matches the two exhausts on either side. This is on a Lincoln Continental. Thanks.

Murray Fisher

[pam]

They have a 2" and a 1.25 or 1.5", so you'd be ok there. The insert into the receiver has 2 holes, so I'm thinking it might be possible to adjust it based on how far out it has to sit from the body of your car.

I went to a welding shop on Tuesday and it's going to take a bit of work to get mine on my car. The man wouldn't look at the information from Honda on how the frame was put together and - well, you know the joke about men who won't ask for directions? <G> He epitomized that particular stereotype. And he definitely wasn't able to think outside the box. And he wanted to cut out a portion of the trim on my car and attach it to a thin piece of aluminum that the bumper is attached to. I suggested we wait until I could contact someone who has had one done to get information on what they used and did. I'm thinking it's going to require some welding and manipulating to get it up over the wheels and attached to the real frame. Of course, he was negative before he even saw the car, so I really didn't expect a lot when I saw him. And he didn't want to listen to me. Knew it all.

I have a couple of options. (Wish I had your welder here!) One is to wait until the person that had one done and is now in Alaska comes home so that I can find out exactly which hitch he bought and find out if I can get a description of how it was installed (he's in California, I think, when he's at home, so I won't be able to just hop in the car and go see him <sigh>). Another is to take it down to Mel Mellinger - who WILL think outside the box, but is about 14 hours from me. Obviously it won't be done by 10/21, when I go to my HS reunion <G>. But I am taking my Segway the old fashioned way.... disassembled, with the wheels beside me in the passenger seat.

I'll report back when it's all done.

Pam

[IndyFIRSTengineer]

Pam,

Did you ever get a chance to call a local U-Haul dealer (per my initial suggestion)? Not necessarily to do business with them, but at least to see if they have an existing trailer hitch solution for your vehicle.

... and I would DEFINITELY steer clear of the gentleman you described from the welding shop.

Also, and I am sorry I don't remember more details about this, I spoke to someone else at the 'Fest re: the hitch hauler, and he mentioned that he also had a Honda Insight, and that he recently had a hitch installed. Hopefully I wasn't dreaming this, and that person will see this thread (or a new one with a title more like "Trailer hitch for Honda Insight") and come forward.

Good Luck!

Stuart Bloom - Rolls-Royce Corporation
FIRST Team 1018 - Pike High School "RoboDevils"

“Who goes out and says, ‘You have a better probability of winning the state lottery than making a nickel in professional sports. And by the way, last year two million exciting technical jobs went unfilled in this country because you weren't there to take that job. And it pays you 10 times as much as flipping burgers, and it's fun and it's exciting and you get to create things and build things and help make the world a better place and help make yourself a better living.’ Who tells them this?”
Dean Kamen, founder - FIRST Robotics

[KSagal]

Pam,

I agree with Stu. Find another guy.

Hitches are not rocket science, but they do take someone with a positive attitude.

U-Haul is the current standard for hitches. They have a ventured interest.

I have catalogues that have hitches that would work, but that won't help you much from Boston.

Good luck.

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[Murray Fisher]

Pam, In a lot of cases you HAVE to go to a so called shade tree mechanic (welder?). No hitch is made by anyone for the car I had mine put on, but I knew an expert at welding who has installed literally hundreds...probably thousands of hitches on horse trailers and motorhomes and built special hitches for handicapped rigs etc. He can weld anything made..including aluminum and all the exotic metals. He says he wants to build me an aluminum carrier, just for the challenge, although it wont really amount to that much. My present hitch weighs 12 pounds. He claims the same one in aluminum will weigh about 5 pounds. I can handle the 12 pound one quite easily....even one hand and it slips in the carrier on the car in seconds and the locking pin slips thru and locks without me hardly bending over. Then I have an upright that the Seg Control Shaft latches into that fastens in a socket that is lock pinned. I have straps for it but rarely use them.....The weight of the Seg holds it in place just fine. Then I run it up under power in the balance mode (on two upside down home type door thresholds with non slip 3M tape on them). I have found it will go up the ramps and drop into the carrier under full control and works better for ME than in the self powered mode, where it is too easy to overcontrol it. That is my experiences so far.
We also have a new Chrysler Sebring that is really too low for a hitch, however I have checked it out quite well and ALL the hitch people make one for it.......the problem is that the spare tire carrier is right at the extreme rear of the car and under the trunk bottom...so the hitch needs to sort of wrap around that thing and fasten at both sides.....my welder said he would just buy that and install it for me but with some better fastenings and also would need the receiver to be adaptable so that the Seg would be 4 inches higher than the one on the Lincoln!!
This is all too long, but might explain various problems involved. Of course these are all for carrying the Seg on the back of a passenger car and NOT in the trunk or inside in anyway.




Murray Fisher

[Murray Fisher]

Hooo boy, Sorry everyone for all the duplication on the two almost identical entries here re the Seg haulers. I hit the wrong key and sent the first one without realizing it.....sorry sorry.

Murray Fisher

[pam]

Not to worry, Murray, I fixed it <G>.

Stuart, I tried both the national UHaul and my local UHaul and neither had a hitch, nor could recommend anything. I hope that the other person with the Insight DOES read this thread - although I think there were a number of people at the meeting who aren't on SegFest. <sigh> I agree with all of you, though, about not going back to the welding dude here. He was recommended, but still... Thanks for the feedback.
Pam

[Brian]

I got my Hitch Hauler from Segway Orange County today and love it like crazy!!! It was very easy to put on my Prius. There might be some ground clearence issues, like going in and out of the driveway, but has no problems. It is a very cool unit. I will take some pic's tomorrow when I get time.

Brian

[adobephile]

quote:Originally posted by MaceSoul

Actually the sad part was me not having enough for one. :)


At last some honesty. That's the REAL truth of your so-called economics. Real-world economics dictate that Segway does what it has been doing: charging a reasonable price for a quality product so that they can stay in business and finance more r&d as well as aggressive marketing and PR in order to establish a mindset that Segways are well worth the price.

http://www.van-garde.com

[Murray Fisher]

Brian....good to see your report and anxiously await pix. I guess you already had a hitch on the Prius then? Re ground clearance issues, is there any way to adjust the height or does that have to be with the height of the hitch itself. On my home made one, everything is fine except for backing out of my OWN driveway and one other place. I need to back VERY slowly and then it will clear...if I am in a rush it takes a hunk out of the blacktop! Ha. Does the platform fold UP and how far does the entire unit stick out from the rear of the Prius when and if it is folded up? How much clearance do you have below the Seg tires? So many questions!! Thanks.


quote:Originally posted by Brian

I got my Hitch Hauler from Segway Orange County today and love it like crazy!!! It was very easy to put on my Prius. There might be some ground clearence issues, like going in and out of the driveway, but has no problems. It is a very cool unit. I will take some pic's tomorrow when I get time.

Brian


Murray Fisher

[beckpm]

Where (exactly) on the Hitch Hauler do you measure the 9"? Is it from the bottom of the vertical part or the horizontal shelf?


<div align="right">http://www.segwaychat.com/photos/beckpm/smallsig.GIF</div id="right">