Hauling MX Bikes with the Double Cab

[WhiteFang]

Isn't it funny how needs change. When I bought the truck 2 months ago I had street bikes only and needed a rig to tow my enclosed trailer. So I pick up a Tundra and now I've got enough tow power to move a small mountain. But lo and behold I decide to do dirt for change of pace and I pick up a pair of dirt bikes for fun. So now I'm looking at the bed and wouldn't you know - the bed is too short to haul them without lowering the tailgate. So...

Anyone hauling with the tailgate down? Any issues?

What are you using for wheel support on the bikes? Chocks or something else?

[Art64]

Originally Posted by WhiteFang

Isn't it funny how needs change. When I bought the truck 2 months ago I had street bikes only and needed a rig to tow my enclosed trailer. So I pick up a Tundra and now I've got enough tow power to move a small mountain. But lo and behold I decide to do dirt for change of pace and I pick up a pair of dirt bikes for fun. So now I'm looking at the bed and wouldn't you know - the bed is too short to haul them without lowering the tailgate. So...

Anyone hauling with the tailgate down? Any issues?

What are you using for wheel support on the bikes? Chocks or something else?

I've read from the other forum that driving with the tailgate down could result in the tailgate falling off from its mounts. This occurs when there is not enough weight on the tailgate when it is down. Apparently, the tailgate bounces up, the right side hinge comes off and down it goes. Although the cables will prevent it from falling completely off, a hanging tailgate could also damage the expensive tail lights. However, someone said that putting a small hose clamp on the right side hinge will prevent it from coming off.

Another issue is that if you're driving on a dirt road, some of the rocks can fling from the rear tires and hit the tailgate damaging the finish. I found these info at tundrasolutions.

[RunItHard]

Originally Posted by WhiteFang

Anyone hauling with the tailgate down? Any issues?

I have a bunch of times. But I went out and bought an inexpensive lashing strap that I keep in the center console of the truck, and when I drive with the tailgate down I feed it vertically around the tailgate and strap it down to the hitch receiver so there's no chance it can bounce.

I don't want to take any chances and figure it's better to be safe than sorry.

[dbdolan]

Keith, welcome to the dirty side. I haul my KLR and my friends XR all the time with the tail gate down with no issues. I even had it down on a trip up to NM and back and I never noticed it bouncing much even on the crappy roads. The shock seemed to keep it from bouncing, I did have a couple of rock chips on the tailgate but it was down for 1600 mile trip. and we drove on alot of gravel roads. I have seen people wrap the tailgate cables back up on the latch so the gate is not all the way down. I bought a set of aluminum ramps off ebay and make loading a breeze. I am not using any wheel support but a couple of chocks would be nice.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...r8-5-07009.jpg

[WhiteFang]

Hey Bryan - looks great! We need to get together and go for a ride sometime. Your Tundra is the standard bed right? What kind of ramp are you using?

Here's my newest "toy"! 2007 Kawasaki KX450F

[dbdolan]

Thanks, yeah the bed is the standard 6'5". That Kaw is going to be a hoot up in the national forest, that is what I need for the trails. I bought some ramps off ebay and they work great I believe they were 130 bucks including shipping.
Here is the link to the ramps,
eBay Motors: NEW 7.5' ARCHED FOLDING ATV RAMPS-TRACTOR/MOWER RAMP-AP (item 230217540983 end time Feb-03-08 18:07:58 PST)

And here are some pics of me loading the KLR.
I motor the bike up the right ramp while walking it up the left ramp.

[Impelled]

Those look heavy duty. Nice set-up all around! How did your tailgate do?

[WhiteFang]

Now those are NICE ramps!

[dbdolan]

Originally Posted by Impelled

Those look heavy duty. Nice set-up all around! How did your tailgate do?

I have loaded and unloaded a dozen times and I have not noticed any issues with the tailgate, of course I don't stand on it and bounce up and down.

[zman8537]

You won't have a problem, I have hauled my KTM 450 a couple times now with the tailgate down, as long as you have weight on the talegate you won't get any bounce and if you would get slight bounce there is no way that it would bounce high enough to come out of the slot at the angle you need to remove the tailgate. You will be fine. I just strap the handlebars to the front two hooks and away I go, never had any issues.

[Deznutjob]

Truck Bed Extender Go to this website and get one of these! Problem solved!

[FRITHATISH]

I Have My 250 And Friends 450 In The Bed Of My Cm At Least 2 Times A Week No Problems The Rear Tire Sits On The Tail Gate. I Didnt Think About Rock Chips On The Tail Gate Though Im Going To Have To Check That!

[Deznutjob]

I load up my WR450 and YZ250 just about every weekend and head for my pad in the California high desert, oh and with a loaded Rhino in tow also. I usually just keep the tail gate down but after reading about them possibly bouncing off.. I'm gonna have to look into a way to stop that from happening.

[WhiteFang]

Being a farm/ranch owner I tend to shop in some rather non-urban places - such as Tractor Supply. While there this weekend I ran across these and picked up a couple.



Loading Ramp; 44 x 11 x 4 inch Folded Size; 88 inch Length Extended Size; 500 lbs Capacity; Center Folding Type; Light Weight Aluminum Material; For Lawn Tractor and ATVs; With Adjustable Security Straps

Here's a link to them on their web site.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...g=true&cFlag=1

Total price was $70.35 each with tax. And get this, the EXACT same ramp is $150 EACH at Home Depot. That's more than the price of two at Tractor Supply.

Already tested them out for loading the dirt bikes and they work perfect. The weight rate on the ramps is 500 lbs, so they're great for the lighter MX bikes but a heavier street bike might have an issue. Should work fine for "most" track bikes though.

Also found a retractable ratcheting set of straps - that's right. I said RETRACTABLE! And man oh man are those things sweet. I absolutely HATE messing with the extra length on the ratcheting straps. Seems I always manage to bird nest the darn things. Not any more! These retract!

[zman8537]

I have a good story about ramps! I was out looking for ramps for loading my motorcycles back before I bought my Tundra and had my 1988 Toyota Truck. I was driving my 98 4Runner and hit a couple bike shops and the local Farm and Tractor Store. I was undecided which ones to go with and they were all around the $125-$150 price range. After loeaving one of the bike shops I drove about 5 miles and saw in the distance what appeared to be a tire casing or something laying on the road, the closer I got, it did not appear to be a tire casing from an 18 wheeler rather it was a set of aluminum ramps laying in the middle of the road. What was the chances of that! It was my lucky day for sure they were ramps that sold for about $130.00 but the price was definitely right! Somebody I am sure was pissed as hell when they got to their destination but I checked the paper for 2 weeks afterwards and never seen an add stating that someone lost a set of ramps, Oh well their loss my gain!!!