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Transporting an 1100g in a 6' pickup bed

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe Garfield
  • Start date Start date
The HF trailer works pretty well for hauling a bike or other things, but I wouldn't recommend keeping it outside. I don't think the paint is durable enough. You'd be better off renting a trailer occasionally, than letting the HF trailer rust. Even as cheap as they are.
 
Here's a simple conversion of a 6ft x 4ft garden trailer which handles my GS850, there's a couple of inches clearance for the tailgate. I added a chequer plate fill in panel to the front, chopped a 14" section out the front bulkhead and made a couple of guides so it slides back in. The wheel stop was from a local auto store for $90 and bolted straight on, and I added eye hoops to secure the straps.
before this I had to load the bike on diagonally and couldn't close the gate. Pretty simple conversion and only took a weekend to do, for some one mechanically minded.
 
I've always used variation of the one mentioned ,: back the p/u truck to a hill and place the ramps on the hill.
Making sure there'll be enough room for rolling the bike. Last time my ramps were longer than truck bed even and I used a curb w/ grass to unload. (Alone. F-150 4x4).

One time I was loading my old Softail harley-davidson into my 7 foot bed ford ranger (previous truck).
Luckily a buddy helped because one of the tail-gate cables snapped (w/ me half way up ramp) the other cable was missing...Dangerous...My advice, always check the cable condition (two that help secure tailgate).

Then once we loaded it, the mini-truck springs were so weak, the bed started this sway that turned into a oscillation rythmic thing with me standing in truck-bed! ...it was crazy! Drove OK though. (about 90 miles).

I ALWAYS remove the seat OR place a thick rolled up towel or pad between the seat and strap.
The seat can get messed up permanently.

ALSO: Very careful how strap goes near the handle bars, the strap (or driving w/ strap motion ,whichever) can bend the handlebars permanently !

I often see folks hauling bikes with the straps in such manner and have learned better from my own experience.

I needed to get MC license again recently and chose NOT to rent a tiny bike to take test on because of possibility of damage hauling in Pick-up. I've hauled few MC's in few trucks over the years, no major problems, but my own MC/truck.

Oh, The straps can dent the truck IF placed certain ways as well (My truck it's a non-issue)..
The strap anchor posts (In stores) that go in the holes in top of truckbed are probably sufficient and shouldn't cause damage IMO.

!@#M! CK Yes it's friday, too tired for eve. ride and wifey at workey...thinky needy GF !
AND less physical job ! TMI...:(
 
I just back my 1993 Ford Ranger against a hill, drop the bed door and roll the bike on. Most times I need to use a small board if the hill isn't steep enough.
 
$15 to rent a good heavy duty motorcycle trailer from uhaul (6 hour rental). you could rent a trailer 60 times for under $1000...and don't need to store it.
 
Gorminrider said:
Blue-sky but How about: attach the bike to a pallet. Drag the pallet into the truck. A "pallet" opens up a lot of design opportunities but the main thing is, with the centre of gravity well inside the pickup box, a wheel "over" the tailgate won't matter because the tailgate won't be supporting it- the pallet will.

Dragging the pallet into the truck is a single-handed idea...winch, come-along, block and tackle but the interesting bit will be dealing with the last foot, where the come-along is...so, route the hauling part through a snatch block so you can get the pallet all the way in.
Click to expand...
That is a great idea.
 
I've had my GS1100 in the 6' bed of my truck a few times already. I've also had multiple bikes in the bed. Rear tire sits on the tailgate but it's not terrible. Like everyone has already said, loading by yourself is a big no no. The lower the truck, the easier. Also a good ramp goes a long way.
 
quote_icon.png
Originally Posted by Gorminrider

Blue-sky but How about: attach the bike to a pallet. Drag the pallet into the truck. A "pallet" opens up a lot of design opportunities but the main thing is, with the centre of gravity well inside the pickup box, a wheel "over" the tailgate won't matter because the tailgate won't be supporting it- the pallet will.

Dragging the pallet into the truck is a single-handed idea...winch, come-along, block and tackle but the interesting bit will be dealing with the last foot, where the come-along is...so, route the hauling part through a snatch block so you can get the pallet all the way in.
Click to expand...
posplayr said:
That is a great idea.
Click to expand...
Haha..thanks for saying so but I've never DONE it...but I do think the pallet is the crux of it...no need for tailgate worries..and the last bit moving pallet to the back -could be done with levers to just jack it the last way in.. dispensing with anything too complicated...maybe levers could entirely replace the comealong too by placing wedge stoppers or pins on a ramp while levers repositioned...
I wish I had a pickup just so I could try it :-). If I had a bike in a basement I would try it this way.
Getting people to help can be good but can be also be a disaster too when they can't follow instructions or try to take charge when incompetent...
 
Is the HF trailer better than Kendon's tie-down trailer? Looking for something to buy for my ride. May I also know if anyone here tried Blue Ox towing bars? Need some parts for my truck to transport my bike. Would appreciate any recommendation.
 
Ggee22 said:
Is the HF trailer better than Kendon's tie-down trailer? Looking for something to buy for my ride. May I also know if anyone here tried Blue Ox towing bars? Need some parts for my truck to transport my bike. Would appreciate any recommendation.
Click to expand...

Well, I don't know what Kendon's "tie-down trailer" is but I have a HF trailer and have seen plenty of single and double rail Kendon trailers. The Kendon is by far the better trailer but for the price the HF is hard to beat.

Both fold for storage. The HF is more utility oriented meaning it can haul bikes but also mowers, lumber, furniture, etc. Whereas the Kendon (in my experience) is motorcycle focused. I've known guys to carry riding mowers on their Kendon but they're not really made for it.

So - if you afford a Kendon get it. If the budget is tight you can't go wrong with the HF.

Just my 2 cents.
 
I've been considering Kendon but I'm open for other recommendations. I saw this thread and decided to ask for insights. Checked both and have seen the price difference between HF and Kendon. There are good reviews for Kendon but I'm glad to see direct feedback for it. The Lowes carry-on trailer looks interesting too. Thanks for the response. I may need to take a good look at these.
 
Trailers are great when your using them...otherwise they sit. One can be tacked on as a policy rider to a given car...but the plates will have to be kept up.
Take your truck, add a motorcycle wheel guide that's bolted in, and then a ramp, and it would be cheaper. One man loading and unloading could be done via a clamp on box winch...clips to the front of the bed box and a power tap can run thru the pass thru window to the lighter socket....weak, but enough power to slowly haul a motorcycle up a ramp while you guide - two people is still better though.
I've seen the clamp on winch but can't remember who's it was...HF would have the U channel w/front wheel chock...ramps can be found in a lot of widths and lengths........just remember the best ramp safety is to run a cable anchor from the ramp to the p/u truck somewhere so it won't slip off.
 
80GS850GBob said:
Trailers are great when your using them...otherwise they sit. One can be tacked on as a policy rider to a given car...but the plates will have to be kept up.
Take your truck, add a motorcycle wheel guide that's bolted in, and then a ramp, and it would be cheaper. One man loading and unloading could be done via a clamp on box winch...clips to the front of the bed box and a power tap can run thru the pass thru window to the lighter socket....weak, but enough power to slowly haul a motorcycle up a ramp while you guide - two people is still better though.
I've seen the clamp on winch but can't remember who's it was...HF would have the U channel w/front wheel chock...ramps can be found in a lot of widths and lengths........just remember the best ramp safety is to run a cable anchor from the ramp to the p/u truck somewhere so it won't slip off.
Click to expand...
I got my trailer because it is a 1 foot rise instead of 3+ to the truck. I want to load and unload by myself in 2 minutes as much as twice a week. For me, it was worth the expense. It is pretty scary loading a bike in a moderately high truck bed.
 
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