I am thinking of picking up a spare om617.952 compete and bringing it home to have around as a spare motor or possibly for a full rebuild for my swap. (1991 Toyota pickup)

the question is, how feasible is it to hang it from my motorcycle carrier hitch mounted tray? you know a ride on platform i carry my dirbike on but with some dunnage under the motor mount arms and a bunch of ratchet/tie down straps holding it.

6000 lb hitch
3500 Mercedes Sprinter if that matters

and carrier is a steel frame with an aluminum c-Channel rail that usually has wheels on it.

hopefully vote in a poll if i can figure it out

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1983 240d 5Sp SOLD
1986 300D(LUCO) SOLD
1983 300TD(dreamboat)SOLD
1984 240d (Executive)SOLD
1984 240d (Euripides) SOLD
1982 300sd SOLD
1982 300sd (Ambas)SOLD

I'd let it rip, I've done some ultra sketchy stuff. I've got a friend that strapped a VW tdi engine to the roofrack of his mk4 jetta from TX to NY.

Engine shouldn't be much heavier than a good sized bike, 5-600lbs according to google, if you can take any accessories off, and drain the oil.

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1982 300D (w123, "Grey Car")
1982 300D (w123, "Blue Car")
2001 Ford F150 "Clifford" (The Big Red Truck)
1997 Dodge Ram 2500 12V Cummins
1996 Dodge Ram 2500 12V Cummins
Previous Vehicles:
1995 E300D, 1980 300SD, 1992 Buick Century, 2005 Saturn Ion

Tongue weight rating matters more than towing limit.

There are lots of really poorly designed hitch accessories out there so don't believe what some of them say.

Why are you not just putting it in the vehicle?

. . . And securely tie it down as I've seen the result of an engine that was not tied down in the bed of a pickup. Engine sitting at the tail gate end of bed, truck hits something, front end of truck compresses enough that dash comes forward towards driver , loose engine then hits back of cab bending it causing the seat to be pushed forward.

The 617 weighs about 585#. What is your platform rated for?

Rent a small trailer.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I bought the carrier secondhand, I'll try to look it up today.

The van is a camper and I'll be staying in it during the whole trip, I wouldn't want to drive 2.5 days with a diesel motor in my lap stinking up the place anyway.

I don't think it would be worth the expense of a week long trailer rental, I'm getting the motor with some extras for 400$

__________________
1983 240d 5Sp SOLD
1986 300D(LUCO) SOLD
1983 300TD(dreamboat)SOLD
1984 240d (Executive)SOLD
1984 240d (Euripides) SOLD
1982 300sd SOLD
1982 300sd (Ambas)SOLD

Consider the value of a motor that falls off on the road....plus damage to the hitch.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Consider the potential damage to others if the engine falls off in the middle of the road. Rent a small trailer.

don't forget to vote!

__________________
1983 240d 5Sp SOLD
1986 300D(LUCO) SOLD
1983 300TD(dreamboat)SOLD
1984 240d (Executive)SOLD
1984 240d (Euripides) SOLD
1982 300sd SOLD
1982 300sd (Ambas)SOLD

+1!

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

I totally voted yes because the option was there.

But my post is going to say, "rent a pickup/suitable transportation vehicle."

The age of YOLO has ended.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

I voted yes, but not because I have used zip ties for anything other than tying wires together. However, the problem I can see is that many of those carriers fit rather loosely in the hitch receiver of the vehicle. With that much weight moving around for many miles, I would not expect the carrier to last long without a failure. If your carrier is above average, fits tight in the receiver, does not bobble left and right going down the road, you should have no problem. If you can strap the carrier and engine tightly to the van bumper and/or chassis, all the better. Regardless of if/how you transport the engine, YOU are responsible for the outcome. If you are fine with that, GO FOR IT!

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All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html

I've done some redneck stuff.

Clamped a vice grip to a brake hose on a leaky caliper and supported it by two zip ties.

Held up to the day I installed the caliper.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

Agree with rent some sort of trailer. 4' x 8' Cargo Trailer (enclosed)
$104.65 U haul seven days . Fill it with all sorts of stuff.

I've been in a similar situation transporting smelly things in my van while sleeping in it at night. Triple bag the motor (at least) with quality industrial garbage bags and put it inside your van/camper. You'll sleep well!

well with all the dire warning and the hassle of worrying about it back there for half my trip ive decided to not buy it.

It was a backup motor and not worth all the extra work to get it here, thanks for the help in decsioning!!

__________________
1983 240d 5Sp SOLD
1986 300D(LUCO) SOLD
1983 300TD(dreamboat)SOLD
1984 240d (Executive)SOLD
1984 240d (Euripides) SOLD
1982 300sd SOLD
1982 300sd (Ambas)SOLD