I have a 05 SCAB and want to load a 700lb Harley using an aluminum ramp setup. My question is, how much weight can the tailgate safely support without doing any damage to it or to the cable type straps that hold it in place?

 

You can hold that easily. I set a pallet of tile on my tail gate when i backed up the forklift to get it out on the ends of the forks to get it up over the axle. I figure it was a 1800 lb pallet. 400 square feet of tile. truck dropped until i got it up over the axle.

 

Only the Harley-Davidson F-150 can haul HD's.

 

thats why i have the fx4 with the flareside! i put a 600lb vmax in the back of mine quite a few times! pics in my folder.....

 

I have an 05' SCAB and a 700lb FatBoy. The tailgate will support the weight but you should place a board, or somthing on top of the tailgate when loading. I have a small dented area where the bike rolled over the gate.

 

This is just a dumb question: Do you guys ride your bikes up those skinny ramps when you load your bike? Or do you push 'em up?

 

When I had my old bike I used to ride it up but that probably isn't the best way. When I get my R6 I am gonna walk it up for sure no risks taken

 

I use a wide ramp and drive it right up there.
When backing down the ramp, leave the motor off, tranny in 1st gear and use the clutch to control braking on the rear tire. Of course, right hand is busy with the front brake/tire.
With the wide ramp, I can have both feet touching for compleate control all the way down.
No way am I gonna risk dropping a 16K 700lb. bike by pushing up/down a ramp. I sould also mention, I have a "condor" locking wheel chock in the bed of my FX4. Makes loading a breeze

 

I use two 10 foot arched aluminum ramps--one to roll the bike up and the other to walk up along side. I start the bike and power it up one ramp, walking alongside up the other ramp. I can't ride the bike up because my bike is slammed and the frame rails drag on the ramp "lips". I had to get the longer ramps because my bike high-centers right where the ramp sits on the tailgate. I have had some close calls where I almost dropped my bike, which is why I now have a bike trailer to load my bike onto, should I choose not to ride it.

 

I have a 3 piece arched folding aluminum ramp that has 6 tabs that rest on the tailgate and I was concerned with the weight of myself and the bike. It sounds like a good idea to put a piece of 3/4 in ply on the gate first to distribute the weight when loading it. I didn't want to dent or bend the tailgate.

 

Usually, Harley owners become very good at loading their Harley's...since they break down so often and have to be hauled to the Harley dealership for repairs on a regular basis!

 

That's a bunch of B.S. based on the days Harley was owned by AMF over 20 years ago. Do you own a Harley and have experience with it? I own 2 and love them both and haven't been stranded with either one since buying them in 1998. 12K miles and 25K miles.

Ilan.

 

I was wondering when this was going to start

 

A colleague of mine has an '05 Dyna WideGlide. The motor has already been replaced in its entirety....TWICE. Wouldn't stop me from buying a Harley, but I would sure examine what the hell was going on with his bike to find out WHY in God's name all that happened. I'd like to have a V-Rod. Now that would be sweet!

 

You can say whatever you want about Harley's but NO ONE can duplicate that B-E-A-U-TIFUL sound of a Harley many have come close in looks..... but it's a Harley thing.

I say that as I am trying to buy an R6 . If I could afford a softail believe me I would have a problem saying no to an R6