New bike hauler! What would you do?

FruDaddy

Member
Aug 21, 2005
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mtk said:
Just make sure you have your fuel well-secured and sealed inside. Riding with gas fumes gets really old after a while.
You could put it in a sealed cabinet with a vent hose running out of the truck. Possibly with a door on the exterior of the truck.
 

mtk

Member
Jun 9, 2004
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That works for the gas can.

The fuel tank on the bike is another story. Keeping it from stinking up the interior is a problem, particularly if you run race fuel.
 

Offroadr

Ready to bang some trees!
Jan 4, 2000
5,227
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To help with vapors add a couple RV roof vents with rain covers so you can leave them up all the time. A nice quiet Honda gen set would be sweet to power that RV air conditioner you talked about. Then with 110v you have lots of options, air compressor, etc
 

Masterphil

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Aug 3, 2004
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That VP jug seals very well. I've had it in the cab of a pickup for a couple hours and couldn't smell it. I'll just have to drain the tank.

I like the awning and exterior light idea. Flooring would be nice, eventually.

As for the color, I was thinking Hugger orange with a black KTM logo on it somewhere. I've also been thinking of painting the rear door black and making the whole thing a "ride stealth" logo. Cosmetics are going to have to come after it is "fully functional"

I'd love to be able to afford one of those nice honda generators, but it's not in the budget yet. I've only put in about $10 not counting the purchase price. I had all the other "junk" lying around waiting to be used.

I think I'll have to paint the pin-up girl under the drivers window...
 

Masterphil

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Aug 3, 2004
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Much progress has been made. The rear gate is useable, but not exactly as I want it yet. I've made a fluids cabinet, fold up table, bike stand holder, and 5-gallon water cooler holder. I've also make a boot holder that holds them upside down.
DriversSeat.JPG

My new drivers seat. I have no idea what vehicle this seat originally came out of, but it has adjustable front and rear seat height, adjustable lumbar and side supports, recline with memory, and it's damn soft! Much more comfortable than the lowback that was on there.
standbracket.JPG

That is my solution to, "Where should I put the stand when the bike's not on it?"
Gate Down:
gatedown.JPG

Gate Up:
gateup.JPG

The gate is made of wood, and is pretty heavy, but still doable by one person. I'd like to evantuall make one of light gauge steel tube and expanded metal sheet, but that's not in the budget right now. It's got 2 huge barrel latches on the sides with one chain-pull latch on top. I don't have any method of locking it yet, but will in the near future.
 

Masterphil

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Aug 3, 2004
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chairandfuturegearcabinet.JPG

I'm going to make a small "closet" to the right of the white board, just below the silencer to hang my jersey, pants, socks, gloves, and goggles so that they will stay clean.
bootsandwater.JPG

Here you can see my watercooler, boot retention device, and part of the "consumables cabinet".
tabledownopen.JPG

The consumables cabinet open, and the table folded down. I'm going to use a piece of Lexan for the final table top and seal it around the edges so there is no place for oil/grease to go and suck dirt into creating a nasty ass mess.
tableandstuff.JPG

Table up. It is strong and sturdy. It has no problem at all with me sitting on it, so it should be good for about anything I'd be working on in there. When the table is down, the chain doubles as a bike holder-upper. When I get done with a moto, my arms are usually dead, and the last thing I want to do is grab a frame and pick up 200ish pounds. Now, I just ride the bike in the rig, hook the chain to the bars, and lean it to the left.

It went on it's maiden voyage yesterday, to it's first race, and my first one since winter '03. It performed well and everything worked as planned, I just need to get some damn AC in that thing... BTW, I got 3'rd place overall in 250C. I finished 2'nd in moto 1, and was leading moto 2 until a stupid mistake (took the outside line) allowed 2 riders past me on the last lap.

That's all I have to say for now.
 

FruDaddy

Member
Aug 21, 2005
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Try putting a counterweight on that door. Hook a cable to the end of it, run it through a pulley on ceiling, and attach the weight to the other end.
 

Masterphil

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Aug 3, 2004
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FruDaddy said:
Try putting a counterweight on that door. Hook a cable to the end of it, run it through a pulley on ceiling, and attach the weight to the other end.

I'm probably going to try to reuse the cable/spring system that the roll-up door had. It weighed at least as much as this door does.
 

rickyd

Hot Sauce
Oct 28, 2001
3,447
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Nice box van :cool:

I would look into putting some sort of a barrier behind the drivers seat, something like wire mesh.. Im thinking just in case you were involved in a wreck, wouldnt want all the cargo flying around inside, much less fuel.. A friend of mine had a pretty cool set up for keeping his bike secure.. Had these blocks that came up and pinned somehow too the footpegs.. No load on the suspension.. I forget exctly how it was done though..

I'd keep the exterior paint basic, not a good idea too advertise you possibly have bikes and equipment inside, unless KTM or whoever is paying..

Rick
 

06yz

Member
May 2, 2006
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rickyd said:
Nice box van :cool:

A friend of mine had a pretty cool set up for keeping his bike secure.. Had these blocks that came up and pinned somehow too the footpegs.. No load on the suspension.. I forget exctly how it was done though..Rick

Sounds interesting, can you get some pics from your buddy and post them. :nod:
 

WaltCMoto

Sponsoring Member
Jan 1, 2001
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I put my bike on a stand, no load on suspension . There is a d-ring in the floor below each footpeg. Secure it with turnbuckles from footpeg to d-ring. secure as anything you will find.
 

rickyd

Hot Sauce
Oct 28, 2001
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06yz said:
Sounds interesting, can you get some pics from your buddy and post them. :nod:

I would but i havent seen him in awhile.. WaltC has a good way..
 

IndyMX

Crash Test Dummy
~SPONSOR~
Jul 18, 2006
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Amo, IN
06yz said:
Sounds interesting, can you get some pics from your buddy and post them. :nod:


I use a very inexpensive suspension saver when I load my bike
in the pickup truck.

I cut a 2x4 that is just shorter than the distance between the tire and the bottom of the fender where it mounts to the forks.

Put that baby in there and pull the straps as tight as I can, and I get no bounce at all when going down the road. And I am only compressing the forks about a quarter inch.

Did I mention that the 2x4 was scrap, so total cost $0.

My favorite price!!!
 

woodsy

~SPONSOR~
Mi. Trail Riders
Jan 16, 2002
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Been reading this thread... VERY intriging - certainly up my alley as I have three in College so disposable income is,,,,,, is not ;)
I read two very good suggestions that may have been over looked. The truckdriver who suggested the bulkhead and the other guy suggesting a mesh - both on the same trail..
IMHO, you really need to pay attention to these guys. All that essential stuff you have hanging on the walls/ceiling WILL become missles during an accident. A bulkhead would be the absoulute best.
ANother note, I know they are not cheap (about $75) but a ATK Bike Shoe is - with out a doubt - the BEST item there is for holding down the bike. I watched a friend total his Diesel Ford out with a Honda XR650R (BRP) in the back. I was behind him when he was hit head on by another vehicle. Bottom line, both vehicles TOTALLED, my buddy went to the hospital.. The XR650's rear tire went about 2 feet in the air on impact and dropped right back down - NO DAMAGE to the bike and, even more importantly, the bike didnt end up in the cab of the truck - it HAPPENS!!!!
Beyond that, AWESOME idea!!!! Personally, I would paint the outside of the truck with "Daddy's Diaper Service" to turn away anyone thinking of getting a free bike - under those words you could put - "WE WIPE OUT THE COMPETITOIN" :uh:
Woodsy
 

MXGirl230

Stupid tires and trees
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Dec 19, 2002
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woodsy said:
Personally, I would paint the outside of the truck with "Daddy's Diaper Service" to turn away anyone thinking of getting a free bike - under those words you could put - "WE WIPE OUT THE COMPETITOIN" :uh:
Woodsy

Nice Woodsy :laugh:
Nice of you to join us in this forum. You should venture out of the MTR forum more often :nener:
 

woodsy

~SPONSOR~
Mi. Trail Riders
Jan 16, 2002
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MXGirl230 said:
Nice Woodsy :laugh:
Nice of you to join us in this forum. You should venture out of the MTR forum more often :nener:

Hey MXgirl....
I have been bouncing all over the place the last few days.. Got the ol super structure out of my back and been back on the good stuff :whoa:
Thanks for the yelp!!!
I talked the doctor into letting me keep the rods and screws. I think I will snap a shot and post it over yonder - that'll stir the pot a little ;)
Woodsy
 

Masterphil

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Aug 3, 2004
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I haven't done much more work to it, yet. I've been too busy with work, riding, and using it as it is. It's not pretty, but it does it's job quite well. Most of the things that I still want to do to it require money, and with race fees, bike parts, new gear, gas... Most all of the work I've done to it thus far has been done on a very bare bones budget.
 
Jul 24, 2006
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sweet rig man does that front seet swivle? (sp) The love seat with the seetbelts would be awsome you could do some side of the road shoping for that stuff!! I helped a friend of mine do that with a old similer style truck and we did the ice cream bells it was funny pullin into the pits but sad to see the kids broken hearted faces when there was no ice cream to be had on the hot summer. You could set up a small concession out of it though like cokes 50 cents and stuff just an idea. well any ways good luck and lets see some more pics!!
 
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