Thread: Pick-up bike loading.

I vote for the u-haul, even though sometimes they aren't the best maintained. Check the wheel lugs. The pick up is an option, although then you'll need to get ramps to load it. You don't really need a chock, just strap it with the front wheel tight against the front of the bed and keep a check on it, should be fine. When you tie the rear, you'll have to pull opposite of the front of the bike, don't snug them down as much as the fronts or you'll pull the front wheel away from the wall of the bed.
Does your vehicle have a hitch already for the uhaul, with the wiring for the lights?

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

I vote for the u-haul, even though sometimes they aren't the best maintained. Check the wheel lugs. The pick up is an option, although then you'll need to get ramps to load it. You don't really need a chock, just strap it with the front wheel tight against the front of the bed and keep a check on it, should be fine. When you tie the rear, you'll have to pull opposite of the front of the bike, don't snug them down as much as the fronts or you'll pull the front wheel away from the wall of the bed.
Does your vehicle have a hitch already for the uhaul, with the wiring for the lights?

No hitch yet, but I'm planning on having it installed this weekend at the U-haul location where I'll be renting the trailer. I like the trailer better too, but since I have no experience either way, I'm listening to other's experiences....
I've always rode to track days here.

Make sure you check the "advisements" part of that link. UHaul really won't let you pull a trailer with a soft top SUV (Jeep). When I was looking to rent one last year for work, they also listed the Ford Explorer as prohibited. Fortunately, I was driving a big ol' BDA van for work at the time.

Depending on how much you think you might use it, you might want to check your local TSC. I got mine on sale last year (~$600 for a 5x8), made about $50 in mods and now have a utility trailer/cycle hauler. They had smaller ones for less than that.

Originally Posted by seamus

Make sure you check the "advisements" part of that link. UHaul really won't let you pull a trailer with a soft top SUV (Jeep). When I was looking to rent one last year for work, they also listed the Ford Explorer as prohibited. Fortunately, I was driving a big ol' BDA van for work at the time.

Depending on how much you think you might use it, you might want to check your local TSC. I got mine on sale last year (~$600 for a 5x8), made about $50 in mods and now have a utility trailer/cycle hauler. They had smaller ones for less than that.

I've thought about buying a trailer vs renting one, but at this time is more convenient for me to rent it and see if that's what I need. It'll also give me more time to put money together in case I decide to go with an enclosed one for next year. Your advice makes sense though.

I'll tow the trailer with my wife's Murano so I think that should work for U-haul. I'll check before I install the hitch however just to be sure. Thanks for the heads up.

Originally Posted by Hamburglar

Juan,

That trailer is the same one I used when I brought my bike to your house. I would recommend a bigger one as that red one has tires about the size of a golf cart and wouldn't last a trip up there and back.

I wish I could get off work long enough for the trip and we could just load the bikes in my truck and split gas. Oh well. There is always next year.

Do you know for a fact that they have a bigger one for bikes? I don't seem to be able to find it in their site but I'll ask them when I go there over the weekend.

Too bad about your work... would've been a blast. Yeah, there's always next year...
We should get together again for a ride now that's seems to be a bit warmer...

Here is what I did that worked well for me.

Take a sheet of plywood cut to length for the PU bed. Screw or nail a board or two to the end by the cab (I used 2 to make an L channel. Bolt the chock (I used a cheep $20 one at the time) to the plywood, centered against the reinforcing boards at the front; I used a shim board to get the wheel height right to clear the brake rotors and used carriage bolts up from the bottom. Put in a couple sturdy eyes at the ends of your reinforcing board to tie the bike down to.

Now you have a removeable platform to tie the bike too, and no one knows it was in the bed of the truck when done. The weight of the bike holds it all down and the 4' width is enough to keep it from tipping, but I would usually run straps to the pockets in the bed just to keep things from sliding around.

I use a similar arrangement on my utility trailer to carry 2 bikes, and store the board against the wall in the garage out of the way until I need it. No need to use treated wood if you do this.

I would think you could do this to any open or closed trailer if you needed to rent one without tie downs.

Originally Posted by gt702

Here is what I did that worked well for me.

Take a sheet of plywood cut to length for the PU bed. Screw or nail a board or two to the end by the cab (I used 2 to make an L channel. Bolt the chock (I used a cheep $20 one at the time) to the plywood, centered against the reinforcing boards at the front; I used a shim board to get the wheel height right to clear the brake rotors and used carriage bolts up from the bottom. Put in a couple sturdy eyes at the ends of your reinforcing board to tie the bike down to.

Now you have a removeable platform to tie the bike too, and no one knows it was in the bed of the truck when done. The weight of the bike holds it all down and the 4' width is enough to keep it from tipping, but I would usually run straps to the pockets in the bed just to keep things from sliding around.

I use a similar arrangement on my utility trailer to carry 2 bikes, and store the board against the wall in the garage out of the way until I need it. No need to use treated wood if you do this.

I would think you could do this to any open or closed trailer if you needed to rent one without tie downs.

That's one of those ideas that when you hear it you ask yourself why didn't I think of it?
I like to have options.
Thanks a lot.

I used to get Budget online special Ford Ranged pick ups for $20/day.

The biggest problem with trucks is the need for a ramp, your bike is exposed, and any gear in the back is not secured.

I've already reserved a truck at Enterprise. It was the only rental co. that had some available in my area.
Also bought a wheel chuck, canyon dancers, and some tie downs. The wheel chuck they recommended is 6.5" wide which seems a bit wide for my tire. Is the wheel chuck supposed to touch on the rubber?

Thanks for all your help.

Interesting choice of drawing medium...

It is likely to late but a Baxley would work nicely.

Originally Posted by SheepOfBlue

It is likely to late but a Baxley would work nicely.

Yeah, I've seen them and they look really nice and safe.
I'll keep them in mind for next year. My budget for this trip is allocated for the most part, so I'm trying to SAFELY get there and back in one piece while watching my expenses. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Originally Posted by Pete

Here's a top view, with the green showing the 2x4's that are placed on-edge, and the yellow 2x4's laying flat next to them for support. Your front tire will be sandwiched between the green ones and pulled tightly against the front of the truck bed. I did this in a trailer, which was a much rougher ride than in a pickup, and it worked well for 16 hours of travel that included some hellaciously bumpy roads.

Sorry, I'm not a very good draw-rer.

16 Hours eh? That's pretty good. I thought a comercially available wheel CHOCK (thanks for the spelling correction) would be more reliable than the one I can build but after trying this one on, it kinda sucks.
Thanks for you help.

Originally Posted by Pete

The only other program I have at work suitable for drawring (sic) is MS Paint, and just that first little piddly drawing was almost twice the allowable file size.

sorry Pete but I think my 4 year old does better on the computer with drawings

Originally Posted by Pete

I don't have an artistic bone in my body.

You do sometimes.

The chock is just there to keep the wheel from turning, not to support the bike like a Baxley. You should be fine, just check it every so often to make sure that the tie downs are still secure.

Originally Posted by Hammer

The chock is just there to keep the wheel from turning, not to support the bike like a Baxley. You should be fine, just check it every so often to make sure that the tie downs are still secure.

I think I might return it and build one myself with some 2x4s. But your response makes sense and answers my question.
Thanks.

Originally Posted by XSIVSPD

when my dad and i when to pick up my triumph in MD we built a thing kinda like that for the floor of a 5x8 enclosed trailer and fit 2 bikes in... had no probs with it moving at all and they were never the wiser... we still have it sitting here if you want some pics

I think I have a good idea of how I'm going to build it, but if you have pics I'll take a look... . Thanks.

Originally Posted by XSIVSPD

no prob... i'll get them up tonight... maybe even take some measurments for you so you can have a cut-sheet

Pics would be fine. Don't worry about measurements. I think I might be able to figure those out, if not I'll let you know. Thanks a lot.