carrying a motorcycle

STJ · 10-06-2022, 05:10 PM

I have a Ram 2500 short bed towing an
Outback 301UBH travel trailer.
I would love to take my BMW 1250 GS on trips buy just can’t find a good option to transport.
Any ideas that don’t involve getting a new truck?

fjr vfr · 10-06-2022, 05:38 PM

Yeah, trade in the trailer for a Toy hauler. But seriously if there was an easy answer I would have had one of my motorcycles with me every trip.
As far as I know a toy hauler is the one answer. They do have some swivel wheel fixed in place trailers, but I'm not sold on them.
If you come up with something practical please post it here.

bsmith0404 · 10-06-2022, 05:59 PM

I have a swivel wheel and love it, but they are not designed to tow behind a travel trailer. They are designed for pickups, motorhome and 5th wheels. Not sure what the difference would be, but that’s what is stated on their website. You could contact them and see if they could be placed behind a travel trailer. You can look at their info here

https://www.cruiserlifts.com/collections/swivelwheel-transport-systems

wiredgeorge · 10-06-2022, 07:43 PM

I spent months in Houston undergoing medical treatment and it is about a 150 mile ride home on the weekends. I bought a curved ramp that spanned the width of my tail gate (had a bumper pull) and just drove the bike up onto the bed. I had one of those chocks which lock your front wheel bolted to the bed and used a couple tie downs to keep the bike from shifting. I routinely took my 1980 GS1000G with me this way and used it to shuttle home on weekends rather than my gas guzzler 96 F250 w/7.5L.

This worked out well for me. Still have the ramp and chock but no longer on two wheels due to geezerhood issues. The wide triple section ramp came apart and was easy to store when not in use and had a hump near the tailgate part so the bottom of the bike didn't get hung. My bike was around 600 lbs I estimate.

bsmith0404 · 10-06-2022, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

I spent months in Houston undergoing medical treatment and it is about a 150 mile ride home on the weekends. I bought a curved ramp that spanned the width of my tail gate (had a bumper pull) and just drove the bike up onto the bed. I had one of those chocks which lock your front wheel bolted to the bed and used a couple tie downs to keep the bike from shifting. I routinely took my 1980 GS1000G with me this way and used it to shuttle home on weekends rather than my gas guzzler 96 F250 w/7.5L.

This worked out well for me. Still have the ramp and chock but no longer on two wheels due to geezerhood issues. The wide triple section ramp came apart and was easy to store when not in use and had a hump near the tailgate part so the bottom of the bike didn't get hung. My bike was around 600 lbs I estimate.

Was this in a long or short bed truck? I’ve seen some people get bikes into a short bed by placing them in at an angle. I know both my Harleys are too long for a short bed loaded straight and be able to close the tailgate. They might work straight if I removed the tailgate, never had a need to try. That may be something for the OP to look at/consider.

notanlines · 10-07-2022, 04:35 AM

A short bed Ram with a tailgate width of 63 inches and a bed length of 76 inches will give theoretically 99 inches to wedge an 87 inch BMW into. It will be tight, but can probably be done. See George's ramp idea.

**flybouy** · 10-07-2022, 05:05 AM

If you're riding the bike up that ramp you better have quick reflexes and good brakes.

bsmith0404 · 10-07-2022, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notanlines

A short bed Ram with a tailgate width of 63 inches and a bed length of 76 inches will give theoretically 99 inches to wedge an 87 inch BMW into. It will be tight, but can probably be done. See George's ramp idea.

The tailgate down would work, but most travel trailers I pulled you can’t tow with it down, the jack is in the way. Even if you could, I’m not sure how tight of a corner you could do before other things like LP tanks or the front of the rv start hitting.

Lee · 10-07-2022, 06:02 AM

Here's how I haul my bike.... not as heavy as yours though. It's supposed to be 700lb rated.

jasin1 · 10-07-2022, 07:06 AM

i saw this coming back from florida

bsmith0404 · 10-07-2022, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

i saw this coming back from florida

Who’s worried about cab clearance? Obviously not this guy.

**chuckster57** · 10-07-2022, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

Who’s worried about cab clearance? Obviously not this guy.

He might have a slider hitch.

bsmith0404 · 10-07-2022, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

He might have a slider hitch.

You only gain about a foot of cab clearance with a long bed over a short bed. Off the top of my head, I don’t know how far a slider extends, but I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable giving up 2-2.5’ cab clearance even with a slider. I’d like to see it in action.

travelin texans · 10-07-2022, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

Who’s worried about cab clearance? Obviously not this guy.

Or being overweight! Even if that's a F350 it's bound to be over or right at it's weight limit.

jasin1 · 10-07-2022, 02:35 PM

found this…looks like it could work with the trailer

wiredgeorge · 10-07-2022, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

Was this in a long or short bed truck? I’ve seen some people get bikes into a short bed by placing them in at an angle. I know both my Harleys are too long for a short bed loaded straight and be able to close the tailgate. They might work straight if I removed the tailgate, never had a need to try. That may be something for the OP to look at/consider.

It was a 96 F250 crew cab with the short bed which is longer than most of today's short beds. Can't find the spec for length using google.

wiredgeorge · 10-07-2022, 04:40 PM

This is the one I have. The thing comes in 3 parts and pins together and is really solid.

https://www.discountramps.com/motorc...ps/p/MF-12038/

fjr vfr · 10-07-2022, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

i saw this coming back from florida

That's because there are no turns in Florida...it's all straight.

bsmith0404 · 10-07-2022, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiredgeorge

This is the one I have. The thing comes in 3 parts and pins together and is really solid.

https://www.discountramps.com/motorc...ps/p/MF-12038/

I have the same ramp, works great. The 10’ length gives a nice gradual slope to load and unload, it’s wide enough that you can put your feet down and roll the bike back to unload while riding the front brake. Don’t ever try to load or unload a motorcycle unless the ramp is wide enough to put your feet down.

bsmith0404 · 10-07-2022, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasin1

found this…looks like it could work with the trailer

That’s pretty slick. That could work since you don’t need the tailgate. Gives just the little extra length needed and is narrow so you don’t have to worry about the corners causing damage like you would with a tailgate.

You may also like: