Bike + Ford Ranger = ?

[buffmaster]

I'm finally getting a new ride, a '01 Ford Ranger, and I need to know if any of you have had any experiences w/throwing your bikes in the back? Specifically, I need to know if I should get the bed extender, or if I can live w/out it. I'll be mostly ferrying it(the bike) to my buddies house, but there may be an occaison or three where I might need to put two bikes back there. So, bed extender or hitch and trailer? Help quick, as I'm probably getting it early next week.

 

[JWW]

I have a 01 Ranger Edge with a V6 and extra cab. I can put my RM in sideways and close the gate. I usually just put it straight in with the gate down. It came with the bed extender but I have only used it a few times.

The only time I have used the extender is with 4 bikes. I put my RM250 in the center. Then I put a XR100 on the right side and a YZ80 on the left side. Finally I would put the PW80 in backwards between the RM and XR. This is the only time I would use the extender. It is just too much hassle to use regularly.

If you constantly haul more than 2 bikes I would recommend a trailer. I have a small 3 rail that pulls great behind the Ranger.

Jeff


PS....... If you are worried about the ramp and gas can falling out you can tie them in. For the ramp I drilled a hole and tied in a short piece or rope. On the other end I installed a clip, the rope runs through the tire and clips back onto itself.

For the gas can I tied a piece of rope off to the handle and tie it off to the fork leg.

 

[Brian]

Be careful, though, not to bend the front wall of the bed with your front tire, because it's VERY thin

 

[JWW]

Stan---- Good point

Also the tie down hooks really suck. Its difficult to get more than 1 set of tie downs hooked in.

 

[BSWIFT]

A simple solution to the "bending of the front of the bed". Take a 2 x 4 and cut it to length to fit across the front of the bed. You can cover it with old carpet if you want to keep it from scratching the paint. I took two small pieces of 2 x 4 and mounted them to put the front tire in. Simple idea that wil only cost you $3.00.

 

[smb_racing]

in my '96 mazda I just put the bike in straight and swing the rear around to close the gate. The tie down points to suck, I would invest in a set of those chrome anchor points that mount in the stake hole, they look cool and you can throw at least 3 sets of tie downs on no problems. another solution would be to put the bike in straight and run another set of tie downs from your footpegs to the bedside, I do this on long trips and the tie downs keep eerything from sliding back farther than the pegs.

 

[rames90]

Here are a couple of tips that I had to learn the hard way on my new Sonoma:
1) Get your box spray lined with Linex or something similar, after two summers of carting around two dirt bikes mine is in very bad shape.
2) Two full size bikes (250's) fit OK, but as mentioned the front wall of the box is very thin and I haver already got a 1" long tear in the metal beside the passanger side corner weld along the top rail, you might want to reinforce the top front box corners with some metal brackets.
3) When carring two bikes the narrow width of the box will cause the straps to the handlebars of one bike to push sideways on the front tire of the other bike, possible turing the tire and therefore loosening the straps. A peice of plywood with some wheel chocks on it put against the front box wall can fix this problem.

Or just get a trailer and don't go through all of the hassle.

 

[jmk_151]

I've got a mazda b2300 (same bed as the rangers) and I agree with everyone's warning about putting the bike(s) in straight and bending the back of the bed. This is why now when I'm only hauling one bike I put it in diagonaly. If you have rear tie down hooks put one tie down of the fron right of the bed and the other at the rear left. I jam my front tire into the left front corner, lift my rear tire so its touching (or near) the right back corner and then attach the tie downs to the bars as usual. This does two things. It keeps the front of my bed from getting warped and running into the cab and allows me to very securely tie down the bike WITHOUT compressing the forks (which leads to more fork seal blowouts than riding) just my $0.02

 

[70 marlin]

also, cut your self a small peice of 2X4

and put it between the tire and bottom fender/forks brackets so the bike dose'nt have to have the forks compressed so much©

 

[buffmaster]

OOOOPS!! Spoke too soon. They wanted more than I wanted to spend, plus w/the up and coming hostilities AND the new house, the new truck idea got scrapped until next year or so. Thanks for the input anyway, guys.:(

 

[CRider125]

Now is the BEST time to buy one! O% financing!!

 

[buffmaster]

Yeah, it is, but now I've got to contend w/7.5% for $183,000 for 30 years.:( :)

 

[zio]

Refi the house! We just dropped a full 1.75%, saving almost $300/month- there's your Ranger payment!

 

[buffmaster]

Yeah, the only problem now is that the little one's crash seat won't work in the mini-trucks 'back seat'. I've got to get a full size pick up unless I can hold out for another year or two. :think ....Nah, I'll just go w/the full size. That's what I want anyway.:D

 

[tashben]

Have a 1987 Ford Ranger that we haul both our bikes in. A Honda 650 and Yamaha 175. We use straps to secure the bikes and it works great. Althought, it is a little bit of a pain motivated the Honda up our makeshift ramp

 

[Kav]

I have a '87 Ranger super cab also on it's great for halling two full size bikes in the bed. :) But If you want a back seat where you can put the little one's car seat I would say get a Dodge Dakota super cab. They have a full bench seat in the back

 

[buffmaster]

Good point Kav. I forgot about that one. Actually, now I'm thinking that I really like the Explorer Sport Trac's. They'll all probably have to wait, thou'. Probably just let my escort die and then go from there.