Hey guys, I need to transport two motorcycles in my FX4 (6.5 box). Anyone that has done this or suggestions on tieing it down...

Ryan

 

Dirt bikes or street bikes?

Either way, Ford's stock tie down points suck for hauling motorcycles. If you want the bikes to stay put, I strong recommend picking up some additional tie down points that screw into your sheetmetal.

Also, you want good quality tie downs, like Ancra. Good ones will cost more than the el cheapos, but they are strong, easy to use and will hold well.

I haul two bikes all the time, but I have added tie down points on the outside of my bed, and another at the front center of the bed. If you add tie down points to the side of your bed, don't put them too far forward. Also, Having a center tie down point at the front of the bed prevents you from having to run tie downs through the spokes.

For dirt bikes, I can usually get two in with the tail gate up, but some bikes have just slightly too long a wheel base to latch the tailgate.

Basically, have the bikes facing forward, with the bars turned full lock so that the front tire is wedged in the corner of the bed. After you get both bikes in like that, you can slide the rear tires toward the center of the bed and try to close the gate.

 

i hauled two RM 250's in the back of my truck, same setup. put the bikes straight forward, either side and ran two straps for each bike to the stock mounting points, left handlebar to left point and right handlebar to right point, never had the slightest problem. (my tailgate didn't close)

 

They are sport bikes. I have always moved them in trailers and have great straps. It was just an issue of tieing them into the truck. What type of anchors do you put into the bed?

FYI we are heading to Texas for spring break and are taking three bikes (only one will fit inside the trailer).

Thanks guys,
Ryan

 

i like recessed d-rings like the trailer floors are typically furnished with.

 

issue with the sportbikes is how wide they are with the fairings. if you have to put 2 in the bed get canyon dancers for them so its easier to strap them down. not possible to get a bigger trailer to fit 2 bikes then just 1 in the bed?

 

Thanks for the suggestions

 

I've tied down my bike many times using only what Ford originally put in there. My bike is just under 700lbs and I tie it down so it won't even budge. IMO you don't need anything extra for tying it down.

I've always used the front left and front right for each of the handlebars and ran the rear through the back tire on each of the hooks for the rear. Never had any issues so far........knock on wood.

 

hauling 2 sport bikes in the bed, i would be afraid of damaging the fairings like was said earlier. i have had 3 dirtbikes in my bed, and it just doesn't work and they were all race bikes (really narrow). if you can get a small trailer load one in the bed and one on the trailer. or try and find a friend with a motorcycle trailer.

my dad has a some snappy jig that goes onto both grips on the handbars and they each have a loop to strap down so you don't damage the paint and it helps keep the wheels straight. as for loading and unloading, find a hill that you can back up to and use a 4 wheeler ramp so you can just roll it off.

 

Yeah I have a trailer, but the third bike is in there. Those things that your talking about your dad has are canyon dancers, I have a set of those also (They are great)... And there is 3 of us so we are using a small ramp, but if worst comes to worst just pick up the front set it in then the ***; our bikes are only ~425 pounds.

Thanks

 

Yeah I don't think that it is a problem with one bike, I have used their system too. It is the second bike when you sort of need something in the center to tie the left side of one bike and the right side of the other.

Ryan.

 

well if you do decide to try and squeeze to bikes in the bed, get both to hug the sides of the bed to seperate them and put towels on the swing arm since it should be right on the bed where the tailgate closes and on the fairings so if the bike does fall hopefully you can prevent paint damage and hopefully it wont crack anything. also you could look into those front tire holders that you roll the front wheel into, and mount 2 of those on the front and that should also help hold the bike up and keep it in place for a little extra security.