Hauling A Motorcycle In The Bed
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,576
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From: Florida
I have a 07 VTX1300R and put that beyatch in the bed.....had a 7 hour drive from Florida to Savannah - no problems at all and I was towing a U-Haul 6 X 12 trailer to boot. I did have it loaded/unloaded on a hydraulic lift though.
You"ll be fine.
You"ll be fine.
Last edited by ibcop; Mar 12, 2010 at 10:09 PM.
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Green Bay, WisconSIN
yeah i have no problem with loading up my 500 h.o. in the back, it sticks out onto the tailgate when i have a tool box on my truck and no problems...i strap it down on to all 4 latch points in the box...i could probably get away with just doing the from but if there was an accident i wouldn't want my wheeler going threw somebody's windshield (at least i'd have a little additional security anyways)....
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Joined: Mar 2010
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What he said. When I am just going to a practice day and the track is within 4 hours I leave the trailer at home and put both of my GSXR1000’s in the bed. I don’t have wheel chucks but I did put an anchor I the middle/front of the bed for the tie downs. I also have my generator, a few tools, extra tires, stands, canopy, etc back there too (sounds like a lot but the trailer has 10x more stuff I it). I have even put two bikes I the bed, 4 more I the trailer with the big toolboxes ad the truck has no issues with those either even through the mountains. My trailer weighs at least 6000# full. That VTX (which I have also hauled for my Dad a few times) will not even be noticed by your truck.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 582
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From: Rowlett, TX
My biggest piece of advice is to use 4 straps!!!
The guys saying you can get away with two straps are insane. I can't tell you how many times I've had a strap come loose on one of my bikes. With two straps, your bike is falling over when a strap comes loose. With 4, you reattach a strap and keep going.
The guys saying you can get away with two straps are insane. I can't tell you how many times I've had a strap come loose on one of my bikes. With two straps, your bike is falling over when a strap comes loose. With 4, you reattach a strap and keep going.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 221
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From: San Antonio Texas
tail gate shouldn't be an issue. the plywood (3/4" or better) is a definite advantage in spreading the load and reducing bounce. diagonal load is a good idea also. two things are very important:
preload the suspension with the straps; and stop every so often, especially on beginning the trip, to check the straps. the longer you drive, the looser they get, whether it's straps, cables, chains, welds, bolts, etc. you absolutely must check them, whether you're loaded in the bed or on a trailer. i would make the first check no more than 30 minutes after starting, then again about 30 minutes later. assuming the second check shows no stretch, you can go to every hour or two after that. the first check will show the straps have loosened, because they were cold when you put them on; the first few miles warmed them up and that's when they'll stretch the most.
Also, if you leave it unattended for a time, such as while on a bathroom break or at lunch, do a thorough check before you restart. there are people out there who either want to rob you, or just think it's funny to mess with your tiedowns...
good luck
jg
PS - ditto, 4 straps is a minimum... i would suggest the "2 strap" crowd has no experience with this, or are so lucky, we should send them money to buy the rest of us lottery tickets.
personally, i have used six, mostly because i have six... the time to put on two more straps cost me ? dollars, the bike cost me a whole lot more than that!!!
preload the suspension with the straps; and stop every so often, especially on beginning the trip, to check the straps. the longer you drive, the looser they get, whether it's straps, cables, chains, welds, bolts, etc. you absolutely must check them, whether you're loaded in the bed or on a trailer. i would make the first check no more than 30 minutes after starting, then again about 30 minutes later. assuming the second check shows no stretch, you can go to every hour or two after that. the first check will show the straps have loosened, because they were cold when you put them on; the first few miles warmed them up and that's when they'll stretch the most.
Also, if you leave it unattended for a time, such as while on a bathroom break or at lunch, do a thorough check before you restart. there are people out there who either want to rob you, or just think it's funny to mess with your tiedowns...
good luck
jg
PS - ditto, 4 straps is a minimum... i would suggest the "2 strap" crowd has no experience with this, or are so lucky, we should send them money to buy the rest of us lottery tickets.
personally, i have used six, mostly because i have six... the time to put on two more straps cost me ? dollars, the bike cost me a whole lot more than that!!!
Last edited by Joethefordguy; Mar 14, 2010 at 11:36 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 280
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From: Live in Baghdad, home is WA
Looks like the factory bed extender would even reach around your bike with that little 5.5 bed... Could probably close the tailgate with the 6.5. I haven't tried my bike in the new truck yet... Thinking about one of those trailer hitch motorcylce haulers. I have a dual sport now that doesn't weigh much and we just ordered the shell for the new truck.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: N.E. Iowa
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