DELETE-PLEASE
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- Joined
- Dec 7, 2008
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I bought an AWESOME used pickup truck (Dodge Ram 2500 diesel). However the original owner has an auxiliary fuel tank that takes up almost two feet of the bed. I did a "test load" and found a ramp that matches up to the pickup bed's height.
If I load the bike straight down the middle, the tiedown spots on the bed would be forward and down from the front wheel (and around the box), and forward and down of the back seat/passenger footpegs. Here's a picture of where the back wheel will make contact with the tailgate (RIGHT at the edge...the wood block was used as a step-up to load it in). The reason the bike is tilted is because I put the sidestand down to keep it up while I took pictures.
If I load the bike with the front wheel in the corner of the fuel tank and the bed, it puts the bike in a more diagonal position, which brings the wheel away from the edge of the tailgate, but still on the tailgate. It looks more secure, but I don't know how I could securely tie it down like that. Also, it's a little tougher to find a good spot to load/unload like that.
In either case, I'd build a REALLY simple device to keep the wheels in line and from moving. Just a piece of plywood in the bed with 2 x 4's screwed into it about 4 or 5 inches apart. So the wheel can't turn past them.
OR, I can try to snag a harbour freight trailer on sale (cost around $230) and use that with the truck. I'd rather go the cheaper route of tying the bike in the bed of the truck, but I want to make sure it's secure. I don't know how much that tailgate can hold (weight-wise, strapped down), and if it's safe to have the back wheel so close to the edge, even if it's got constant tension forward.
Looking for some more educated opinions. Thanks.
Alexi
If I load the bike straight down the middle, the tiedown spots on the bed would be forward and down from the front wheel (and around the box), and forward and down of the back seat/passenger footpegs. Here's a picture of where the back wheel will make contact with the tailgate (RIGHT at the edge...the wood block was used as a step-up to load it in). The reason the bike is tilted is because I put the sidestand down to keep it up while I took pictures.
![tow001.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/025/025fe09630fedee46196278a199d5d54.jpg)
![tow003.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/777/777416d686bde4b585611ff4f460b8bf.jpg)
If I load the bike with the front wheel in the corner of the fuel tank and the bed, it puts the bike in a more diagonal position, which brings the wheel away from the edge of the tailgate, but still on the tailgate. It looks more secure, but I don't know how I could securely tie it down like that. Also, it's a little tougher to find a good spot to load/unload like that.
![tow004.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/847/847b7177af4bf2e1d5291a38fc6d8c3c.jpg)
![tow002.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/e84/e848cc48eb1c49aad5c0b3b2cb452de3.jpg)
In either case, I'd build a REALLY simple device to keep the wheels in line and from moving. Just a piece of plywood in the bed with 2 x 4's screwed into it about 4 or 5 inches apart. So the wheel can't turn past them.
OR, I can try to snag a harbour freight trailer on sale (cost around $230) and use that with the truck. I'd rather go the cheaper route of tying the bike in the bed of the truck, but I want to make sure it's secure. I don't know how much that tailgate can hold (weight-wise, strapped down), and if it's safe to have the back wheel so close to the edge, even if it's got constant tension forward.
Looking for some more educated opinions. Thanks.
Alexi