FJR transported in a pickup?

[BrunDog]

A friend and I are taking a little roadtrip next weekend from South FL up to North GA for a little area riding (Gap, Cerohala, etc.), Oct 8 - Oct 11.

Anyhoo, he has a F150 (crew cab?) and a single enclosed trailer. I rented a U-HAUL 12 x 6 open trailer because another guy was coming, and we were going to drive the F150 pulling the U-Haul. Well, that third guy dropped out, and my buddy now says we don't need the U-HAUL trailer, as we will put his bike in his enclosed trailer and my FJR in the pickup bed.

Anyone think this is a bad idea, like I do? Ideas and reasons are appreciated.

-BD

 

[slapnpop]

I've had the FJR in an F150 bed before, and the tailgate had to remain down for the bike to fit in. Don't know how closely his trailer fits.

It was also a large *** heavy pain in the *** to get in/out of that tall truck without a really good ramp or loading bay.

 

[Fencer]

I have transported many bikes, mine and others for service in my truck. No probs if tied down well. It is a PITA unless you are properly equiped (like I am) to load-unload a big bike. I have the largest most powerful (add a Tim Allen Arrrrr Arrrrrrrr here) liftgate made for a pick-up. But then again I have a Chevy .

Find an aluminium supply house in your area. get a piece of 10 inch wide (min) {tire width} 12 may be better by 10 foot long ( 8 1/2 min Wheelbase) longer the better for a loading ramp. Get "C" Chanel 3/8 thick. It will run around $100-150. WAY better, stonger and just as light as the ramps sold for bikes at stores. I use one to support the rear tire as it hangs off my lift and let people borrow it to load their trucks.

I mention the width and length as I had to get a new one with the FJR as it was longer and wider than my old Katana. Think of future apps.

 

[SkooterG]

From south Florida to north Georgia?

YGTBFKM!!!

Ride the damn thing!

 

[twowheelnut]

From south Florida to north Georgia?
YGTBFKM!!!

Ride the damn thing!

What, and rack up another hunnert miles?! WTF are you thinking?! Have you seen the price of an oil filter for this machine?

:grin:

 

[Ignacio]

I am shamed to confess to my LD brethren monitoring this thread (including those that maybe should have trailered to and from the playa) that my FJR has 120 more miles than shows on the odometer. When I first bought it (10 days before my first SaddleSore) I didn't have a ride to the dealership and hauled it in the back of my Chevy 1500. Certainly the tailgate was down and I was very careful with the Canyon Dancer tie downs and extra straps for the rear wheel horizontally.

Once home I went to my local snowmobile dealer (non-Yamaha) and they oohed and ahhed as I pulled off the bike.

 

[BrunDog]

From south Florida to north Georgia?
YGTBFKM!!!

Ride the damn thing!

...including those that maybe should have trailered to and from the playa...

Thanks Matt.

Hey, "beachstake": STFUBIKYA.

-BD

 

[SkooterG]

:wub:

:kiss2:

Ride the damn thing!!

Have a nice trip!

Follow my advice:

Don't Crash!

 

[chornbe]

A friend and I are taking a little roadtrip next weekend from South FL up to North GA for a little area riding (Gap, Cerohala, etc.), Oct 8 - Oct 11.
Anyhoo, he has a F150 (crew cab?) and a single enclosed trailer. I rented a U-HAUL 12 x 6 open trailer because another guy was coming, and we were going to drive the F150 pulling the U-Haul. Well, that third guy dropped out, and my buddy now says we don't need the U-HAUL trailer, as we will put his bike in his enclosed trailer and my FJR in the pickup bed.

Anyone think this is a bad idea, like I do? Ideas and reasons are appreciated.

-BD

Trailering an FJR is like spanking Mother Theresa.

PS... if you want to avoid enclosed uhaul trailers for the rest of your life, check this out:

https://chornbe.com/motorcycles/cbr600/uhaul/

From south Florida to north Georgia?
YGTBFKM!!!

Ride the damn thing!

+10000000

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Shpuld workwith a trailer as long as he has a reciever hitch and not a bumper mount.

Heres mine

 

[MotorSWATCop]

There is a very nice ramp at the Deal's gap store for loading/un-loading bikes from pickups.

 

[Duff]

A friend and I are taking a little roadtrip next weekend from South FL up to North GA for a little area riding (Gap, Cerohala, etc.), Oct 8 - Oct 11.
Anyhoo, he has a F150 (crew cab?) and a single enclosed trailer. I rented a U-HAUL 12 x 6 open trailer because another guy was coming, and we were going to drive the F150 pulling the U-Haul. Well, that third guy dropped out, and my buddy now says we don't need the U-HAUL trailer, as we will put his bike in his enclosed trailer and my FJR in the pickup bed.

Anyone think this is a bad idea, like I do? Ideas and reasons are appreciated.

-BD

This is no problem. The biggest concern is loading/unloading. The ONLY way I can afford and would load/unload the bike from a pickup is with a loading dock/ramp. I loaded mine at the dealer for the trip home (I know, long story) and unloaded at a dealer near the house. This allowed total control of the bike and a drive-on/drive-off configuration.

Tie it in just like it were on a trailer. I use 8 tie-downs... I know, it's over-kill, but I don't care!

 

[jestal]

Find the nearest ditch to back the truck into to make loading/unloading easier. Even backing up to a tall curb will help a lot with reducing the angle of the ramp.

Get a piece of 2x10 as long as the truck bed is wide and place it across the front of the bed so that the front wheel is pressing against the board to spread out the load. Put the front wheel directly against the bed and you risk kinking the bed if something happens during the trip to really shift the bike forward hard against the bed. I've seen two different pickup boxes kinked in the middle of the front of the bed by motorcycles. One was a from dirt bike that was ridden rather...uh...agressively...into the truck. The other was from a street bike that was just pulled down firmly against the tiedowns and at the other end of the trip the bed had bent.

If the bed liner is smooth or slippery make sure to run a tie down to the bottom of the tire or the bottom of the forks on each side to keep the front tire from sliding sideways on the bed. If it rains and gets wet that bed can get surprisingly slippery.

As usual....tape the end of the tie downs so that they cannot unhook themselves if the bike sways during the trip.

When you are all done tying it down take hold of the handlebars, seat, etc. and shake the bike as hard as possible and try to turn it over. If you are afraid to do this then continue tying it down.....

Remember, you are tieing the motorcycle down anticipating the worst case situation not the best case. If you have to swerve hard, slam on the brakes, etc....the last thing you need to do is to worry about the bike in the back.

 

[Rickster]

Get a piece of 2x10 as long as the truck bed is wide and place it across the front of the bed so that the front wheel is pressing against the board to spread out the load.

+1 -- have kinked the front of the bed of my pick-up (actually loading a 4-wheeler) but a great tip!

As usual....tape the end of the tie downs so that they cannot unhook themselves if the bike sways during the trip.

+2 -- another great tip.

Also -- if you have a bed-liner or if the bed is damp -- be extra careful -- slip/slide can be nasty!

 

[FJR1300Jeff]

[/img]

Do it all the time....But it is a PIA. Make sure you have few guys to help.

Wish I could go!!! :huh:

[/img]
Do it all the time....But it is a PIA. Make sure you have few guys to help.

Wish I could go!!! :huh:

[/img]
Do it all the time....But it is a PIA. Make sure you have few guys to help.

Wish I could go!!! :huh:

[/img]

Do it all the time....But it is a PIA. Make sure you have few guys to help.

Wish I could go!!! :huh:

 

[Toecutter]

Anyone think this is a bad idea, like I do?

Bad idea? No. But definitely a gay idea.

 

[BrunDog]

Find the nearest ditch to back the truck into to make loading/unloading easier. Even backing up to a tall curb will help a lot with reducing the angle of the ramp.
Get a piece of 2x10 as long as the truck bed is wide and place it across the front of the bed so that the front wheel is pressing against the board to spread out the load. Put the front wheel directly against the bed and you risk kinking the bed if something happens during the trip to really shift the bike forward hard against the bed. I've seen two different pickup boxes kinked in the middle of the front of the bed by motorcycles. One was a from dirt bike that was ridden rather...uh...agressively...into the truck. The other was from a street bike that was just pulled down firmly against the tiedowns and at the other end of the trip the bed had bent.

If the bed liner is smooth or slippery make sure to run a tie down to the bottom of the tire or the bottom of the forks on each side to keep the front tire from sliding sideways on the bed. If it rains and gets wet that bed can get surprisingly slippery.

As usual....tape the end of the tie downs so that they cannot unhook themselves if the bike sways during the trip.

When you are all done tying it down take hold of the handlebars, seat, etc. and shake the bike as hard as possible and try to turn it over. If you are afraid to do this then continue tying it down.....

Remember, you are tieing the motorcycle down anticipating the worst case situation not the best case. If you have to swerve hard, slam on the brakes, etc....the last thing you need to do is to worry about the bike in the back.

Good point on the 2x10. I was going to frame some 2x4's in to keep the wheels from moving. I will add the 2x10, too, and add some blocks on the side for chocks.

Not sure where I am going to find a hill to ramp the truck up to, but I'll give it a shot.

-BD

 

[FJRMGM]

you guys up North forget that down South it's still 90+ degrees and a long ride is just that - a long ride, particularly from south Florida up north.

On the other hand, if you do trailer it, be sure to get a window sticker that says: "My other trailer queen is a Harley".

 

[git-r-dan]

Made the trip from FL to TX with it in the back of my extended cab Dodge Dakota 6 cyl. Seven guys from my wife's office came by to help with the loading or just stare in amazement (don't forget the hospitality beverages). It angled across with the tailgate shut using 6 tie-downs. Gas mileage varied at 14-16 mpg. No problems. Had a couple of guys over for the unload. The steep driveway allowed the truck to back to the curb and the ramp had almost no angle.