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Will my Harley fit in the back of a 5.5 bed?

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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 09:21 AM
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Will my Harley fit in the back of a 5.5 bed?

I've got a Scab with the 5.5 bed instead of the longer one. I also have a bed extender. Do any of you know if a harley Fatboy will fit in the back. I'm going to pick up my bike this weekend a few states over since I moved an would like to strap in the back of the truck instead of renting a another uhaul trailer. If anybody knows I would appreciate it. I really don't want to angle the bike if possible, I'd like to push it straight in and strap it at all 4 corners with the tie downs. I think it will fit with the tailgate down and the bed extender protecting the back. Thanks for any input.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 09:34 AM
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My buddy puts his 06 Duece in the bed of his Supercrew. It also is a 5'5" bed. I've never actually seen it in there but i know it can be done. I 'm not sure about the angle part. If you have the bed extender you should be okay.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 09:37 AM
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A few people here have done it.
 

Last edited by 05supercrew; Mar 13, 2008 at 04:07 PM.
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 09:42 AM
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Here you go.
https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...cle+in+5.5+bed
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 09:43 AM
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I picked up a Honda Shadow a few weeks back for a friend of mine. I had a 6.5 bed and the contact patch of the back wheel was about 4 inches from the end of the bed. However, I couldn't close the tailgate.
I think you'll make it in length, but you'll close to the end of your tailgate and have alot of weight on it.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 09:47 AM
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Personally I'd rent the uhaul trailer for the peace of mind. Getting a bike in and out of the trailer...especially if your not experienced with it...can be a bit of a pain. Do you have proper ramps for this as well? The uhaul motorcycle trailer is super cheap and you can load and unload it yourself. If you dropped your bike loading it and damaged the truck and the bike you'd be really upset you didn't fork over the less than $20 for it.

If you are determined to do it though you shouldn't have any problems depending on the model of the bike. Take a friend or two to help with the loading and unloading.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 09:58 AM
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Can it be done? Yes.

Would I do it? Heck no.

That's a hefty bike to be pushing up a ramp. I hardly liked putting my KX125 in the back of my ranger. And that thing was light.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 10:19 AM
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From: the moral high ground
If you decide to use the bed, you might want to use a piece of 3/4" plywood.
Cut it 5.5 plus the height of your tailgate, minus an inch or two.

This will distribute the weight of the rear wheel and reduce the 'tailgate bounce'.

On the load/unload, find a curb, the higher the better.
Bike high, truck low, to reduce the ramp angle.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 02:06 PM
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I loaded my buell xb9s (short tiny bike) in my 6.5 bed and the tailgate barely shut. Not sure how much longer your bike would be than that but I know if I tried to put my roadstar in the bed it would definately be sitting on the tailgate.

I wouldn't do it on a regular basis. But if you have some good wide ramps to get in with and like is said before try to load it on an incline or nearby loading dock it will be alot easier. Riding a big cruiser up a steep incline to get into a truck that sits kind of high is a PITA. That said I think it would fit sitting on the tailgate.

Go on any harley forum and ask somebody to measure front to back the full length to make sure, or just run down to a local harley dealer and take a tape.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 02:11 PM
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The pic up top is a Fatboy in a 5.5 bed.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 02:13 PM
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Or ask whoever has it now to measure it.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 02:19 PM
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From: the moral high ground
According to the HD site, the Fatboy is 91.7 inches and weighs 669.7 lbs.
Your bed is 66 inches and your tailgate is 22.3 inches = 88.3 inches.
Makes the bike 3.4 inches longer than the bed/tailgate.
Of course the tire will rest a foot or so short of the 91.7.

I'd safely assume that you can leave the bed extender at home.
Even if you could attach it, considering the load it would only be decorative.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by 05supercrew
The pic up top is a Fatboy in a 5.5 bed.
Thread says 6.5 bed

The wheel chock in that thread is pretty awesome though for one man loading. Wish I could fit two bikes wide in the truck with those...then I wouldn't need a trailer.
 

Last edited by duece212; Mar 13, 2008 at 04:25 PM.
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 04:06 PM
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Yup, the thread says

My 6.5 is barely large enough to load straight in with no weight on the tail gate after being pushed all the way forward.
So his back wheel will definately be on the tailgate of the 5.5.

And the person below the post with the pics says they definately couldn't put their bed extender on either.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by duece212
Thread says 6.5 bed
Sorry your right.
 
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