Undertaker Motorcycle Trailing System: How It Works and Why It’s Controversial

ByThe Answerlode Editorial Team

What Is the Undertaker Motorcycle Trailing System?

The Undertaker Motorcycle Trailing System is a trailer hitch attachment designed to tow a motorcycle by lifting the front wheel slightly off the ground while the rear wheel remains on the road. Unlike traditional motorcycle trailers, it’s small enough to fit in a car trunk when not in use, making it an attractive option for riders who tow occasionally and lack storage space.

The system mounts directly to a standard vehicle hitch and uses ratchet straps to secure the motorcycle’s frame and handlebars. For lighter bikes, this approach can work. But for heavier street bikes and cruisers (especially full-dress Harleys that exceed 600 pounds), the setup raises significant practical and safety concerns.

The Transmission Damage Problem

This is the core issue that appears repeatedly in motorcycle forums discussing the Undertaker system. When you tow a motorcycle with the engine off and the rear wheel rolling, the transmission is forced to rotate without oil pressure from the running engine to provide lubrication and cooling.

Modern motorcycles rely on the engine-driven oil pump to circulate oil through the transmission while running. During towing, this circulation stops completely. The oil doesn’t splash properly across internal gears and bearings, especially if the bike is tilted slightly. Over time—even on short tows—friction and heat can accumulate, potentially causing:

  • Accelerated wear on transmission gears and bearings
  • Varnish buildup from overheated oil
  • Metal particles from internal wear, contaminating the oil
  • In extreme cases, seizure or gear breakage

Some riders suggest placing the motorcycle in neutral before towing, but neutral only disengages the drive chain; internal transmission components may still rotate slightly due to brake drag and road friction, creating the same lubrication problem at a smaller scale.

How Hitch Carriers Compare to Trailers

Hitch carriers like the Undertaker are fundamentally different from motorcycle trailers, and the difference matters for reliability.

A dedicated motorcycle trailer typically lifts the bike completely off the ground using a wheel chock or dolly system. The wheels don’t turn during towing. This eliminates forced transmission rotation and all the wear that comes with it. The trailer’s axle absorbs the weight through a proper suspension system, and the bike’s suspension remains unloaded.

Hitch carriers keep the rear wheel on the road, distributing the motorcycle’s weight across its suspension and transmission, and they avoid trailer registration and toll restrictions in many states. But they also subject the motorcycle to 500+ miles of forced transmission rotation, depending on trip length.

The weight capacity of a hitch carrier is limited by your vehicle’s hitch class: Class II hitches typically support 350 pounds tongue weight, and Class III around 500 pounds. Many cruisers and touring bikes exceed these limits, requiring a trailer instead.

Safety and Handling Considerations

Beyond transmission concerns, towing a motorcycle with a hitch carrier changes how your vehicle behaves.

The weight of a motorcycle—especially a 700+ pound cruiser—mounted behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle alters weight distribution. The rear end sits lower, and the front end feels lighter. This affects steering response and can make the vehicle feel squirrelly on turns, particularly if the hitch is underrated for the load.

Braking distance increases. A motorcycle’s weight adds inertia to your vehicle, and the motorcycle itself has no powered brakes (the engine is off), so the entire deceleration load falls on your vehicle’s brake system. Highway speeds amplify this concern dramatically.

Road imperfections—potholes, gravel shoulders, railroad crossings—translate directly to the motorcycle through the hitch and its tires. A properly equipped trailer with suspension and wheel chocks isolates the bike from these impacts.

Legal and Regulatory Issues

Motorcycle towing laws vary significantly by state. Some states regulate whether a motorcycle can be towed at all using a hitch system, while others restrict speed limits for vehicles towing motorcycles, require specific lights or safety chains, or mandate that unregistered motorcycles meet certain conditions for legal transport.

A few states classify hitch carriers and trailers differently under towing law, meaning the Undertaker might be legal in one state and subject to additional registration or requirements in another. Check your state’s motor vehicle regulations before towing.

Additionally, your vehicle’s hitch rating is legal minimums, not comfort or safety guidelines. Towing a motorcycle that exceeds your hitch’s rated tongue weight can result in citations, and insurance may not cover damage if an accident occurs while you’re exceeding equipment limits.

When a Hitch Carrier Might Make Sense

The Undertaker works best for lighter motorcycles: scooters, lightweight dirt bikes, small cruisers under 400 pounds. For these applications, transmission stress is minimal over short distances, and the hitch load is comfortably within Class II ratings.

Short trips—under 50 miles—reduce exposure to transmission wear. If you’re moving a bike across town or to a repair shop, the risk is lower than cross-country touring. And if you truly have nowhere to park a trailer and tow only a few times per year, the convenience trade-off might be worth it, provided your motorcycle stays light and your hitch is properly rated.

For anything heavier, longer, or more frequent, a proper motorcycle trailer remains the safer choice. The upfront cost and storage hassle are real, but they eliminate transmission damage, provide better weight distribution, and keep your motorcycle and your tow vehicle in better condition.

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