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Cruiser
Posts: 219
Pittsburgh, PA | I have never needed to transport my V92C besides riding it. I always thought that if it needed transported that I could get it into the back of my Dodge Ram. Now that I bought the Vision I'm sure that an enclosed trailer would be the best method of transporting it should I need to. I have no more money to afford a trailer nor the space to store one and i plan on riding it everywhere. How easy/difficult is it to use ramps and transport it in the bed of a pick up be? Has any one done this with a short bed dodge pros/cons? Do they make some ramps longer than others? I can also get metal catwalk materials from a supplier and make them any length i want? The thoughts of those with more experience than I are much appreciated. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I would raz the taz on hauling the Vision at all, but there are many who would reprise with rebuttals.
If you have a hitch, U-haul typically has a motorcycle trailer at it's many locations and rent for a reasonable cost. However, that won't help you at 10:00 at night and you want to get your bike home. I would still go with a low trailer that is easy to stow on end and out of the way before I'd try to put it in a high pick-up. But a long ramp is what you would need and the catwalk fabricated one should fit the bill. A small electric winch should be helpful too if you can motor it up on the truck. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | I have never put my Vision in the back of my Dodge short bed, however I did move my E-Glide to meet its new owner (9 hour drive) in that way.
If the rear wheel extends onto the tailgate by the time you get where youre going the tailgate will have a nice v-shaped dent caused by the weight of the bike. Which given the wheelbase of the Vision is pretty much a certainty. I can now see a fair amount of air between the bed and the tailgate at the center of my bed.
Use something under the rear wheel to distribute the weight over a wider area and you shouldn't have an issue. Those deck mount trailer rails might be an option.
You will also need a wheel-chock or other device to move (and keep) the bike away from the front of the bed. I used a chunk of 6x12 beam I had left over from a construction project. A set of good tie downs and you're good to go. My Dodge came with plenty of good places to hook up.
As to the ramp you need to keep in mind that you have to take it with you which poses issues of storage and space considerations. So compact is good as long as it will take the weight.
You also will want a ramp wide enough to put your feet down if something happens . An inexpensive alternative to a wide ramp is a couple of 2x10s with angled deck plates attached to one end. These can be positioned one on either side of your ramp at a comfortable distance to put your feet on if needed.
Not that I'm suggesting you cant drive up a ramp. But if the bike were to stall (say because of a loose connection at the main circuit breaker) all the tip over protection in the world isn't going to help 3 ft above the pavement.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Rent a uhaul trailer. I am regretting buying my enclosed trailer. I see that money just sitting there for the 1-2 times a year I use it. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 273
Midlothian, Va. | I thought trailers and pick-ups were for the HD crowd |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| I rented a UHaul M/C trailer to haul '03 trade in to NJ when I bought Anny. Renting a trailer is easy. The only concern when we got Anny loaded was if the tailgate would go up. O.o Thankfully they had a second location for the pin locks. That trunk sticks way out there. The ramp is plenty wide enough to move the bike up or down and still get your feet down. Reverse sure helped.
I have a Class 3 hitch on my Ranger. The hitch was $125 installed.
I used to have a Toy Trax in the back of my S-10 and often wonder how it would be with the Vision on it. I think it would do fine but I had the heavy duty model that was $2200 dollars when I bought it. It worked great but I did not use it enough to justify the cost. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Biscuit - 2010-09-01 10:30 AM
I thought trailers and pick-ups were for the HD crowd
If I could ride in a foot of snow here in Northeast Ohio, I would. Until then, I need a way to get the bike out of here in the winter. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 219
Pittsburgh, PA | As stated, I do not plan on transporting bike, I will be riding it. I'm thinking about the worst case scenario. I'm also recovering from a torn bicep at the moment and I think it would be difficult to ride this beast home with out the use of my right arm. I am convinced that the bike would look 10 times better in MY garage as opposed to the dealers which is an hour away. Please keep the comments and ideas coming. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | ooooh, now I get it. do you live around Va? I'd be glad to ride it home for you. Hope your arm gets better soon.... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 219
Pittsburgh, PA | I was thinking of holding a $5.00 per chance raffle to allow someone else to ride my new bike home???
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | hmmm, good idea. If not, my brother, who is about 5 years older than me, rides also, and lives up by Altoona. He might be able to ride it for you home. He just got his first bike about 2 months ago, a Honda VTX, so he should be good to ride your Vision. What do you think??? |
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | I bought a nice ramp several years ago to take my TC in my company truck on out of town jobs. http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle_ramps.htm it folds up and will fit in the cab and is very easy to use and super wide/sturdy and along with a locking wheel chock it's a one man show.
http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-stand-wheel-chock-97841.htm...
I brought my Vision home in the back of my personal pickup (long bed also) and it was very smooth loading/unloading |
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Cruiser
Posts: 99
Cold lake Alberta | Don't know what the length of our Visions are but..I did a 1500LC Suzuki in a short bed Dodge once. Rear wheel was on the middle of the lowered tailgate. I used 1/2" ply wood in the box and tailgate first so I didn't warp the guys tailgate
Your milegge may vary but ...I would use a low bed or closed in trailer. I did to bring mine home in a CDN Rockies snowstorm last Christmas when I bought her. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 725
Reno County, KS | To answer your original question, I would find a deep bar ditch and back your tailgate up to it. That is what I have done in the past. And yes, you can easily haul the bike in a 6ft bed. I actually brought my Vision home 300+ miles in the back of a little Chevy Colorado. You will need to keep the rear wheel on the tailgate but do NOT load the bike on the tailgate without laying some material like a sheet of thick wood down. Trust me, I cratered my tailgate with a much lighter bike (V-Star). I had to learn this the hard way. I then used 2X4's and made a square to distribute the weight of the rear with no problems. You will also need to take the front fender off so it does not rub the tip into the front of your bed. This only requires 4 hex bolt and one of the wrenches that came with your bike's tool kit fits them. Personally, I would recommend the U-Haul trailer route for ease but it can be done in a bed for fact. I am lazy and bought an enclosed trailer for multiple toys (Lawn mowers, tool boxes, motor bikes, furniture, etc). If you lived closer, I'd offer to let you borrow mine**
Hope this helped,
-Will
**Offer pending credit check, $3500 deposit, background check and first born child. LOL just kidding. |
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Tourer
Posts: 492
Indianapolis, IN | taz456 - 2010-09-01 10:06 AM I have never needed to transport my V92C besides riding it. I always thought that if it needed transported that I could get it into the back of my Dodge Ram. Now that I bought the Vision I'm sure that an enclosed trailer would be the best method of transporting it should I need to. I have no more money to afford a trailer nor the space to store one and i plan on riding it everywhere. How easy/difficult is it to use ramps and transport it in the bed of a pick up be? Has any one done this with a short bed dodge pros/cons? Do they make some ramps longer than others? I can also get metal catwalk materials from a supplier and make them any length i want? The thoughts of those with more experience than I are much appreciated. You May want to look at the Rescue Riders page on the VMC web site. Many of the people listed throughout the country offer help with transportation. There may be someone willing in your area. http://forums.thevmc.com/bb/riders.asp?region=All |
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pick up hauling of visions