Hauling an FJR in Ford 150 PU Truck ?

[frayne]

Heading from Georgia to Ohio this Thursday with my son in his Ford F-150. Had a hairbrained thought about loading the FJR into the back of it for the trip up and then riding back. Anyone ever haul an FJR in the back of a P/U truck and if so, how did you secure it ? Any suggestions, thoughts or comments are appreciated.

 

[chrisflock]

Heading from Georgia to Ohio this Thursday with my son in his Ford F-150. Had a hairbrained thought about loading the FJR into the back of it for the trip up and then riding back. Anyone ever haul an FJR in the back of a P/U truck and if so, how did you secure it ? Any suggestions, thoughts or comments are appreciated.

My truck has some hooks in the bottom of the box, in each corner. I've used these to secure numerous motorcycles in the back of my truck, although never the FJR, but that's only because I've never really had the opportunity... Also, my truck is a short-box and I'm worried that the FJR would hang out onto the tailgate. I'm not so worried about not being able to put the gate up, but I wouldn't want the tire on the tailgate...

https://www.fjr1300.info/howto/bikeramp.html

 

[TellurideFJR]

I have hauled mine in my Chevy but that should not make any difference. I would have to say the most important thing is a good ramp. I have dropped bikes using a wood plank in the past and now have a sweet alum ramp with a curve near the top to ease the transition. Once you get the bike in regular tie downs are fine but I use soft hooks on the triple clamp to keep the shiny bits shiny. Attach to the triple clamp on both sides and tie to the stake holes at the front corners of the bed. I hook to a hole that is inside the sleeve of the stake hole on my chevy. You may need to add a bit of protection if the strap is contacting the fairing, gaffers tape on the fairing or soft cloth around the strap will work. Tie the back end down if you like but I have rolled without before. Just don't get in an accident or the bike will become a projectile. A wheel chock in the bed is another nice to have for this. There was also another thread about this recently... try google search if you like.

 

[El Toro]

I hauled my FJR1300AE home when I bought it using my Tundra pick up truck. I used a loading dock to load and to unload. If I were using a ramp, it would be the Big Boy II, which has a slight arch to it, and is 10 feet long.

I used a Cycle Cynch bar harness. A Canyon Dancer would also work, but I prefer Cycle Cynch having owned both.

I tied the Cycle Cynch to D rings at the front of the truck bed with clamping tie downs. I tied the rear wheel using a soft tie low around the tire, and a pair of clamping tie downs.

I used a Condor chock at the front of the truck, but I did not secure it. Nothing bad happened on the 80 mile trip, but if I had it to do over again, I would probably rig up some way to secure the Condor chock to the bed.

Edit added August 4, 2008: I am travelling right now, and because of the weather and the large trip segments that would be spent bumper to bumper, I took the FJR in an enclosed trailer. The trailer is set up with a Condor Chock. With the chock adjusted for a 17" front wheel, the FJR goes in just fine, but on the longer trailering (first time it got out of the trailer on this trip was in Maine), it is clear that the motion of the front suspension allows the lower cowl to be shaved by the Condor's lower lip. I shaved a good 1/16" x 1/4" x 1/2" plug off at two points.

To fix this, I've taken movable locking piece off the Condor and cut it back about 3/4". It appears to clear OK now, and after another long trailering segment, there's no new damage. I'll have to fix the lower cowl, but at least I discovered the problem before cutting it through.

 

[Sherman]

Watch out for the top lip of the bed hitting the front tip of the fender depending on the bed. The fender extends further than you might think.

Getting it in is easy, but backing down the ramp is another. Take the side boxes off just in case you mess up.

Don't tie it down so tight as to bottom out your shocks, and check your straps frequently until you are sure all is well, and then check them some more.

Use more straps than you think you need. Gravity will keep it down, the straps should keep it up and centered.

That is everything I know; let us know how it goes, especially how you get it out.

Really, I would try to find a truck dock or elevated sidewalk on both ends of your trip.

 

[El Toro Joe]

Heading from Georgia to Ohio this Thursday with my son in his Ford F-150. Had a hairbrained thought about loading the FJR into the back of it for the trip up and then riding back. Anyone ever haul an FJR in the back of a P/U truck and if so, how did you secure it ? Any suggestions, thoughts or comments are appreciated.

Where in Ohio? Northern or Southern?

 

[Udjeni]

Anyone ever haul an FJR in the back of a P/U truck and if so, how did you secure it ?

This is how I did it when I had to take a pick-up to Windhoek earlier this year:

There were no hooks in the bottom of the box, but the cattle grid helped. The main tie-down was around the front forks (I took the front mud guard off). I used 7 in all, 5 of which you can see in the photo. I could not close the box at the back, but I lifted it up and tied it with rope.

 

[Big Sky]

Here's something to consider as well: If it starts to rain, typical textile tie-downs stretch when wet and the bike can become pretty loose, bouncy and wobbly, to the point it might fall if things are not re-cinched. The converse is true, too: as the wet tie-downs dry, they will shrink, putting perhaps way more pressure on suspension and tie-down points than you desire.

 

[agrats84]

I used the Wheeldock - Clicky The only strap in the front that you will need is securing the tire in the dock (for that just in case moment). Then you only need 2 straps in the back to keep it from bouncing left to right. The nice thing is that I dont need to compress any of my suspension. The Wheeldock is a bit pricey but well worth the security. I have also not had a problem keeping the tailgate down on my 150 when transporting my dad's Wing. Like most people have said- use more straps until you feel comfortable. Good luck.

 

[artistonFJR]

A Ford?! A Ford!? You might as well drag it on its side behind a mule if that is all the respect you have for it... a ford...

If you MUST haul it in a Ford at least load it safe. Most cycle places have a ramp sitting beside the building they use to unload/load customer bikes/atvs safely. It's big and stable, made just for that, and you can use it if you ask nicely. Meet up at a Yammie place and load up, then when you get to BFE do the same at their local Yammie joint... or whatever is there. Note: Most beer distributers and commercial loading docks and train depots have big cement ramps at their locations that will do the trick.

Great idea about the trip. Ride well!

C

 

[DailyCommuter]

I hauled mine from Illinois to Massachusetts with no problem in a short bed F-350

 

[mattster31]

When using the ramp, make sure it is well secured to the bumper or hitch below. You don't want it to slide out when unloading!!!I "thought" mine was tight enough................ :dribble: :dribble: :dribble:

I now have nice dent in my tail gate where the lower shock pivot landed. So there I was holding on to the handlbars from the ground with a 500lb bike perched precariously on the very lip of the tailgate, yelling for my wife to help me push the bike back up into the truck. It was funny (of course, not at the time), I only wish someone had taken a picture.

 

[El Toro]

When using the ramp, make sure it is well secured to the bumper or hitch below. You don't want it to slide out when unloading!!!I "thought" mine was tight enough................ :dribble: :dribble: :dribble: I now have nice dent in my tail gate where the lower shock pivot landed. So there I was holding on to the handlbars from the ground with a 500lb bike perched precariously on the very lip of the tailgate, yelling for my wife to help me push the bike back up into the truck. It was funny (of course, not at the time), I only wish someone had taken a picture.

It is really important if you use a ramp to tie the ramp to the vehicle so that it can't be driven off the tailgate by the force of the rear wheel once the front wheel has cleared the ramp and is in the bed. I've seen guys lose bikes and ATVs. Its sort of humorous if no one gets hurt and the bike's not worth much. It could really be tragic with something like an FJR. Ramps usually come with a tie down strategy, and you really want to be sure to use it.

The other thing to be careful of is that if you back your tailgate up to a loading dock, and it overlaps the loading dock, when you ride up with the bike, you will very likely grind your tailgate into the loading dock's surface. Stick a piece of carpeting on the loading dock under the tailgate so that you don't chip up your paint. I've seen this a number of times too.

 

[Spook]

If there is a road ditch in the area . Back your tail gate up to it and a at least with the grades in my area you can ride the bike right on.

 

[git-r-dan]

Hauled mine from FL to TX in a Dodge Dakota (6 cyl). No problems at all. Do remember that it was a lot easier unloading than loading/securing.

git-r-dan :beach:

 

[FJRBluesman]

I've done two bikes (FeeJ & TL) in my Dodge PU 6cyl, no issues.

Seccured it with Canyon Dancer bar tie downs, and soft ties, along with the best, Ancra tie downs (DO NOT use cheap tie downs). No issues at all.

 

[Ordrock]

First, you should go by the motorcycle dealership and purchase a pair of cloth straps to attach your tie-down straps to. When I truck my bike I use these to ensure that there isn’t any metal to plastic contact.

The second thing you’ll have to do is make sure the bike is centered in the bed of the pick-up. A centered tie-down will ensure that the straps won’t touch the bike.

Also, you should secure the rear tire with the tie-down at the rear of the pick-up bed.