Hauling big bike & little bike in truck bed?

[Biglmbass]

When hauling two similar size (adult) dirt bikes in the bed of a pickup truck, I’ve always loaded them side-by-side, handlebars strapped together, front wheels forward (toward the cab), with each bike strapped to the tie-down points in the corners of the truck bed. This arrangement has never failed me and I’ve never had a bike fall.

Now I’m faced with hauling my son’s XR70 and my KDX in the bed of my truck and am curious how to arrange things for secure transport. Obviously one is a “big” bike and the other a “little” bike, so strapping the handlebars together is out of the question I’d think. I suppose I could try them side-by-side, but w/out their handlebars tied together, but I have my doubts how secure this would be. Another thought is loading them the same but with one pointing towards the cab and the other towards the tailgate.

The truck is a Toyota extra cab, so the tailgate will have to be down during transport. I’m trying to come up with something that will work w/ my truck, as I really don’t want to have to buy a trailer.

Does anyone have similar experience w/ hauling two differing size bikes such as I’ve mentioned? Any advice?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[nikki]

I would do the following:

Face them both forward, with tie straps going from the bars to the bed hooks - 2 tie straps per bike. Load the big bike first, tie it down, pull it snug. Give it a shake and make sure it's good. Then load the small bike. You might have to lift the tie strap on the big bike to tuck the front tire under the tie strap. Now tie down the little bike (you might want to thread the tie strap through the front wheel of the big bike to get a direct route to the bed hook). And you're set. As long as you have decent tie straps, they won't go anywhere.

 

[Biglmbass]

Nikki,

Thanks for the info. and idea. I expect I'll try it as you suggested (& illustrated). As added insurance I think I'll cobble together some sort of 2x4 to put against the rear of the cab to keep the front wheels straight.

Kinda like this...

____I_I________I_I____

Thanks again.

 

[John Harris]

Been doing it like Nikki illustrated without problems for years and years. I think you will find that 2 x 4's will be unecessary unless you are hauling on very rough terrain, ie 4 x 4 territory. If it is that rough, park the truck and ride the bikes! Cheers John

 

[trout]

we haul 2 to 3 bikes...a cr250, xr100, and a yz85. I can put them all in straight side by side and hook each one to each front anchor from the bars...just like you would if only one bike.

 

[Mrobbins]

What Nikki said. I load my KDX and my son's XR70 exactly that way in my little Explorer Sport Track. Might have to watch that the handle bars/bark busters of the little bike don't bang/rub the forks on the big one.

 

[Biglmbass]

in a Sport Track? And the rear wheel of your KDX ends up on the tailgate? I'm in awe. How long is that bed? 5 feet?

 

[Mrobbins]

It's only 4 feet until you drop the gate, but the KDX fits straight in and I have hauled it that way for 3 years. Have to carry a shorty ramp too. Company vehicle with everything paid for but no "trucks" allowed so I get by with it.

This is not mine, but when I saw this a few years ago I knew it could work.

http://www.autoworld.com.my/klims2000/images/gallery/Ford_Explorer_Sport_Trac.jpg

 

[ktmboy]

I've always turned the front wheels into the corners and tied the inside tiedowns to the center of the front rail and the back tiedowns to a point halfway between the two stake pockets.