How do you carry your bike?

[Quick281]

So my plans to get to Alaska seem to have changed a bit and suddenly I may be looking into a truck/suv and just carry most of my belonging with me instead of riding around and having them sent to me.

Sorta sucks because I wanted to do the big trip but since I have to be in Alaska at the end of April, I would have had to spend some money on cold weather gear and still take various amount of risks with the cold/icy roads.

None the less I am looking into truck and just throwing my bike in the back for the trip. Think my bike is just under 7 feet.

Wondering how all of you do it? I have seen some interesting setups so I know there is a wealth of experience to be shared here.

[rogue]

I've used canyon dancers, ratchet straps, and a wheel chock.....

[derf]

I have a wheel schock on a 2x8 that goes from one end of my truck to the other, then I just tie the bike down good with ratchet straps. My cbr fits in my 5 foot bed with the tailgate down, but I learned that you need a piece of wood under the rear wheel or it will collapse the tailgate, and the tailgate will start to fold.

[Quick281]

Originally Posted by derf

I have a wheel schock on a 2x8 that goes from one end of my truck to the other, then I just tie the bike down good with ratchet straps. My cbr fits in my 5 foot bed with the tailgate down, but I learned that you need a piece of wood under the rear wheel or it will collapse the tailgate, and the tailgate will start to fold.

Thanks for the input. Ideally I will get a truck and some of the ones I am looking at are either equipped with a short or long bed. I think the short beds are 6 feet long and in that case it will be tailgate down. But I suppose I could fit the bike in sideway.

How do you get the bike in and out of the truck? That seems to be the challenging part to me.

[buzzcutt2]

Backup to a hill or slope or ditch. Drive it right in/out.

[Quick281]

Originally Posted by buzzcutt2

Backup to a hill or slope or ditch. Drive it right in/out.

Figured that as a backup if ramps are ridiculously expensive.

[derf]

What he said. I have a small set of ramps, like 3 feet each, I bougth the end at autozone that sits on the tailgate and then I used some 2x8's with a 2x4 screwed into the bottom for strength, I just back up to a hill and ride it right up or down.

It literally takes 5 minutes to load or unload my bikes by myself.

I think the ramps cost me a total of like $35

Also check your PM box

[rogue]

Originally Posted by Quick281

Thanks for the input. Ideally I will get a truck and some of the ones I am looking at are either equipped with a short or long bed. I think the short beds are 6 feet long and in that case it will be tailgate down. But I suppose I could fit the bike in sideway.

How do you get the bike in and out of the truck? That seems to be the challenging part to me.

I've used a 4 wheeler ramp or even backed the truck into a ditch and rode/pushed the bike in. When you do that, it should allow the tailgate to be pretty even with the ground when you let it down. Ok, I didn't....the ex did. No way would I do either.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Quick281

How do you get the bike in and out of the truck? That seems to be the challenging part to me.

Home Depot.

There is a yellow hard plastic ramp that will expand to 8 feet. It's arched, so your bike won't bottom out on it. Get a small bench to put next to it, then it's an easy transition from ground, bench, truck bed for you. Best part - they are $60.

In the back of the truck, I use my sport chock. That way, I can load the bike and tie it down without another human to hold the bike. I also don't have to worry about compressing the forks too far and blowing a seal.

[DLIT]

Uhaul has decent motorcycle trailers. I use one of those, some canyon dancers and 3-4 tie downs to secure Bikey. They're $15/day. Had that bitch up to 80 and it was stable as hell.