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10-28-2013, 09:35 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 88
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Raptor 21FB Motorcycle Loaded
Just loaded my Raptor 21FB with my Goldwing.
Learned a lesson on the first try. Not a lesson you want to learn on a 900lb bike. I learned that the transition from the ramp into the trailer is too steep. On the first attempt, when the front wheel entered the trailer, the underbelly of the bike caught on the edge of the ramp door. Bent the belly pan that protects the bikes oil filter from road debris. After working to free the bike, while on it, the bike came loose from being caught and slid backwards down the ramp with the front brake locked. No harm done, other than the bent belly pan which I hammered back flat.
Second attempt. I analyzed the problem and found an inexpensive interim solution. I found a set of plastic automotive ramps at WalMart for $45. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hopkins-F3...-Ramp/27966416. I used a piece of 3/4 marine plywood that I had. I used the tongue jack to raise the trailer tongue to its highest point. Then I placed the automotive ramps under the end of the trailer ramp on either side of the center rubber bumper. I then cut the plywood so that it was long enough to go from the end of the automotive ramps up onto the trailer ramp. This kept the plywood fully supported by the automotive ramps from the ground to the trailer ramp. This solution reduced the angle of the transition from the ramp into the trailer and allowed me room to keep my feet down to support the bike as I go up the ramp.
It is a bit of a pain to set all this up but allows me too safely load and unload my bike in the interim. Hope this helps someone else skip the first attempt lesson.
__________________
2018 FR XLR Nitro 35VL5
2013 Ford F250 SRW 4x4 6.7L, Air Lift 5K Ultimate, B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch, Andersen Ultimate Aluminum 5th Wheel Connection
2008 Honda Goldwing
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10-31-2013, 08:07 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Southwest Michigan
Posts: 9
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Bike loading
Great post and pictures. You came up with a method that safely works, good job.
I am contemplating installing a 110 volt 1000lb warn winch in my hauler. You could sit on your bike with the control for the winch in your hand and pull you and the bike into the garage. I love having my bike in the back and pulling it out for day trips.
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10-31-2013, 08:00 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Mehoopany, PA
Posts: 29
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Great solution! I don't have any experience with the G-Wing, but a not so nice lesson I learned (FYI). The brakes on my BMW don't work if the engine is off. I now know not to back the bike down the ramp unless it is running
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'11 GMC 3500 Diesel Dually
'13 Keystone Fuzion 360
Toys to be hauled:
'08 Can-Am Outlander 650 Max XT
'04 Honda 450 ES Foreman
'03 BMW K1200LT
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11-02-2013, 04:41 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Florida
Posts: 66
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Motorcycle Loaded
Good post. What I have learned to do when backing the bike out of the RV is to keep the bike in gear and pull the clutch while backing out a little at a time. Of course with the engine not running. Works better then the front brake locking up and sliding down the ramp. Just my way of doing it.
__________________
2010 Keystone Fuzion 405 Touring Edition II
2012 Dodge Ram Laramie 4x4 Dually Long Bed
2012 Harley Ultra Classic Limited
Retired
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11-03-2013, 12:57 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joestaz
Good post. What I have learned to do when backing the bike out of the RV is to keep the bike in gear and pull the clutch while backing out a little at a time. Of course with the engine not running. Works better then the front brake locking up and sliding down the ramp. Just my way of doing it.
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This is what I do , except I leave the engine running. I feel it gives me a little more control. Slid the front tire down the ramp a few times locked up. A little scary.
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2012 Fuzion 301
2013 GMC Denali Dually D/A
ATV's
Motorcycle's
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11-03-2013, 04:28 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Ottawa Valley
Posts: 329
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You can add 4or 5 feet to the ramp using a full length hinge and flip the added on part over.
See 325SRX door for a better idea.
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2011 325SRX , Mor-Ryde Pinbox
2004 Ram 3500DRW 6spd,4x4,QC.LB ,340L aux tank
1999 Concours
2014 FJR
2014 Jetta TDI
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11-03-2013, 05:48 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: alabama
Posts: 272
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i used a hinge
we fit our 3912 with a 18 inch piece of plywood and long hinges. now to back mine out I use the clutch. I put it in gear(engine turned off) and ease it down the ramp backwards. it was easier than fabricating a hand brake.
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1999 fl70 freightliner. 2011 3912 lev raptor. 2008 Vulcan 900lt. 2005 leighman trike c50 suzuiki boulevard
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11-04-2013, 05:50 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 88
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Ratchet
That sounds like a good idea. Be careful what you attach the winch too. After drilling one hole in the floor of my trailer and finding very thin plywood and styrofoam I chose to move the location of my tire chock to a place that I could drill down into the steel frame.
__________________
2018 FR XLR Nitro 35VL5
2013 Ford F250 SRW 4x4 6.7L, Air Lift 5K Ultimate, B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch, Andersen Ultimate Aluminum 5th Wheel Connection
2008 Honda Goldwing
Veteran
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11-04-2013, 05:54 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 88
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Flyinguy68
Wow, no brakes without the engine running? Do you have ABS? My GW is not the ABS version and the brakes work whether the engine is running or not. If I didn't have brakes on a loading ramp, that would be an eye popping moment!
__________________
2018 FR XLR Nitro 35VL5
2013 Ford F250 SRW 4x4 6.7L, Air Lift 5K Ultimate, B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch, Andersen Ultimate Aluminum 5th Wheel Connection
2008 Honda Goldwing
Veteran
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11-04-2013, 05:57 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joestaz
Good post. What I have learned to do when backing the bike out of the RV is to keep the bike in gear and pull the clutch while backing out a little at a time. Of course with the engine not running. Works better then the front brake locking up and sliding down the ramp. Just my way of doing it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmm2good
This is what I do , except I leave the engine running. I feel it gives me a little more control. Slid the front tire down the ramp a few times locked up. A little scary.
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Good tips! I tried this when I unloaded the bike and it worked great. Thanks.
Curtis
__________________
2018 FR XLR Nitro 35VL5
2013 Ford F250 SRW 4x4 6.7L, Air Lift 5K Ultimate, B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch, Andersen Ultimate Aluminum 5th Wheel Connection
2008 Honda Goldwing
Veteran
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11-04-2013, 06:04 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LittleJoe
You can add 4or 5 feet to the ramp using a full length hinge and flip the added on part over.
See 325SRX door for a better idea.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abneynormal
we fit our 3912 with a 18 inch piece of plywood and long hinges. now to back mine out I use the clutch. I put it in gear(engine turned off) and ease it down the ramp backwards. it was easier than fabricating a hand brake.
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This is kinda what I intend to do, but my problem is the angle at the top of the ramp into the trailer. So I need to add to the ramp as you describe, but also need to raise the bottom of the ramp to decrease the transition angle at the top. I was thinking of fabricating, with some assistance, an aluminum ramp with piano hinge and 1" square tube reinforcing frame. I still need to come up with a method of raising the height of the ramp 6-8" that folds into or secures to the newly fabricated ramp extension. Just another fun project
__________________
2018 FR XLR Nitro 35VL5
2013 Ford F250 SRW 4x4 6.7L, Air Lift 5K Ultimate, B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch, Andersen Ultimate Aluminum 5th Wheel Connection
2008 Honda Goldwing
Veteran
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11-04-2013, 06:16 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lunenburg, MA
Posts: 109
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tho purely unintentional in our decision on which toy hauler to get, (weight was my first concern), I'm very thankful my 325SRX has the dual hinged ramp. I also load a gold wing, and being able to reduce the angles help immensely!!
The SRX has 2 removable feet, that are adjustable, which allows me to adjust the angle as needed. My only mod was to cut a 2x6x8 in half for the lower ramp which lets me keep my feet planted. Works great! I also find using the reverse allows me to really control backing the big girl down!
This was my wife and mine first trip with the new rig up to Acadia National Park in Maine this year. The whole rig worked perfect without a hitch!!
Darn, the rig is all tucked away for the season, and looking at the pics REALLY makes me wish for one more trip!!
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11-07-2013, 01:42 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FTWingRiders
tho purely unintentional in our decision on which toy hauler to get, (weight was my first concern), I'm very thankful my 325SRX has the dual hinged ramp. I also load a gold wing, and being able to reduce the angles help immensely!!
The SRX has 2 removable feet, that are adjustable, which allows me to adjust the angle as needed. My only mod was to cut a 2x6x8 in half for the lower ramp which lets me keep my feet planted. Works great! I also find using the reverse allows me to really control backing the big girl down!
This was my wife and mine first trip with the new rig up to Acadia National Park in Maine this year. The whole rig worked perfect without a hitch!!
Darn, the rig is all tucked away for the season, and looking at the pics REALLY makes me wish for one more trip!!
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FTWingRiders,
This is very interesting. I have a bunch of questions, hope you don't mind. Did this setup come this way from the factory? What material is the second folding ramp that touches the ground made of? Do you know who manufactures the legs?
Great looking setup!
__________________
2018 FR XLR Nitro 35VL5
2013 Ford F250 SRW 4x4 6.7L, Air Lift 5K Ultimate, B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch, Andersen Ultimate Aluminum 5th Wheel Connection
2008 Honda Goldwing
Veteran
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11-07-2013, 03:26 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: near Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 227
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Another thing to consider, I raise the power jack on the front of the trailer. It lowers the back and reduces the angle.
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Scot
2014 Ram 1500 Laramie
2014 Raptor 27FS
2016 Polaris RZR S900
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11-07-2013, 03:44 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Essness
Another thing to consider, I raise the power jack on the front of the trailer. It lowers the back and reduces the angle.
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Absolutely, did that too. It does become a pain though. Unhook the trailer before heading to the campsite. Unload the bike. Re-hook the trailer, proceed to campsite. Wash, rinse, repeat on leaving the campground.
It will be much easier when I can remove this step.
Curtis
__________________
2018 FR XLR Nitro 35VL5
2013 Ford F250 SRW 4x4 6.7L, Air Lift 5K Ultimate, B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch, Andersen Ultimate Aluminum 5th Wheel Connection
2008 Honda Goldwing
Veteran
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11-07-2013, 04:35 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: near Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 227
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nailz
Absolutely, did that too. It does become a pain though. Unhook the trailer before heading to the campsite. Unload the bike. Re-hook the trailer, proceed to campsite. Wash, rinse, repeat on leaving the campground.
It will be much easier when I can remove this step.
Curtis
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I leave it hooked. My road cart can only clear about 4 inches.
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Scot
2014 Ram 1500 Laramie
2014 Raptor 27FS
2016 Polaris RZR S900
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11-07-2013, 04:53 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 80
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Or just keep a set of heavy duty car ramps handy, drive the rear wheels of the truck up them.
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11-07-2013, 07:02 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lunenburg, MA
Posts: 109
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nailz
FTWingRiders,
This is very interesting. I have a bunch of questions, hope you don't mind. Did this setup come this way from the factory? What material is the second folding ramp that touches the ground made of? Do you know who manufactures the legs?
Great looking setup!
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Thanks!! Ask away, tho I don't have a lot of answers. This is how it came from the factory.. minus the 2x6's..LOL!! The SRX has a smaller door and garage, and is really only meant for a single full size bike, or two smaller bikes. I had to do some careful measuring for the condor chock, I only have a few inches all around the gold wing.
The second folding ramp seems to be the same as the main ramp, minus the outer skin. My guess is plywood,(?) but totally wrapped front and back with a heavy duty rubber non-slip surface. The small ramp did flex a bit more with the big wing on there, the main ramp was solid. Maybe the skin and aluminum frame adds some strength. The Camper isn't here right now, its on a storage lot while the barn it's going to call home is being built, but I don't recall a mfg name on them. Maybe someone who's camper is more accessible could make sure. They're mounted to brackets on the folding ramp with pins, and I remove them while traveling.
Forrest
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11-07-2013, 08:06 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Alaska
Posts: 213
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An easy way to bring the angle of your load door down is put your trailer leveling blocks under the rear wheels of your tow vehicle to drive up on or try finding a place where you can drop the front of the truck into a ditch or over a hill. U would be surprised at how much a 6 inch block under the tires can make on ramp angle.
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11-09-2013, 01:19 AM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Eastern Oregon
Posts: 74
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Adventurider
Or just keep a set of heavy duty car ramps handy, drive the rear wheels of the truck up them.
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That is what I did with my last trailer. Differences were that the trailer had no dove tail and the bike was a 1500 Goldwing which has better ground clearance. I know because I have both now. I had a set of steel ramps that I used at first but one of them gave up. Then I went with a set like the OP bought from Walmart and that problem was solved. I had hoped that with my new trailer I could do it without using ramps. I think with the shocks adjusted all the way up the 1800 should go right in.
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2000 Dodge Ram Cummins Turbo Diesel
2014 Fuzion 301
2012 Goldwing
1995 Goldwing
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