| Author | Message | ||
     Yan |
We are getting rid of our minivan and getting a Ford Ranger 4x2 Sport instead (apparently there is only a handful of new ones left in Canada, the dealer is getting ours from 14 hours away). Which brings up this question - can I use 2x6 to load the bike into the truck or I must go with one of those motorcycle ramps? If I can use a 2x6 how long should it be? If it has to be a ramp then which ones would you recommend and how long should the ramp be? I saw Black Widow on the internet, it comes in two lengths, just over 7' and 9' - would the shorter one do? Thanks! | ||
| Hughlysses |
I've done mine with a 2x8 for the last several years; I wouldn't go any narrower than that. Mine is 8 feet long, but 10 feet would be better. On the truck bed end, I have an aluminum extrusion I bought at a car parts store as part of a ramp kit. It screws onto the end of the 2x8 and lays over the tail gate. It has provisions for two small pins that you insert through it into holes drilled in the tailgate so that it can't slip off, but I've never used them. After a couple of years, I added a 1x4 to each side of the 2x8 which makes it a lot harder to accidentally steer the bike off the side of the ramp. It's a good idea to bevel the top inside edge of the 1x4's so they don't catch on the tread of the wide rear tire. Another good thing to have is a stool to place on the ground just behind the tail gate. I bought a cheap plastic step stool; it has 2 steps and is about 16 inches tall. As the bike goes up the ramp and gets too high for your reach, you step up onto the first step, then the top step, and then the tail gate of the truck. It makes it a LOT easier than trying to get someone to help you hold the bike upright while you let go and climb up on the tail gate and then try to grab the bike's handlebars again without dropping the bike. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I use one of these: http://www.pviramps.com/products/product-details/i d/44 LOVE IT. Folds up so I can store it in the back seat of my quad cab, and open, it's more than long enough to load into my Dodge 2500 4x4 without dragging on the breakover angle at the top. I also have a pair of 2x6's that are held together with three straps (top, center, bottom). The straps are screwed into the boards, and are long enough that the boards are at each end of my tailgate. I put the bike ramp in the middle and use the 2x6's as walk boards in case I need to put a foot down during the load process, and the straps keep them from shooting out to the side. The boards are 8' and fit in the bed of the truck with the gate closed. | ||
| Yan |
Thank you! Do you think the tailgate on a Ranger is strong enough to hold the weight of the motorcycle and myself as I am riding/pushing it up the ramp (if I choose to go with the ramp)? With a Ulysses I can actually take the tailgate out, the bed of my Ranger will be 71-72" long, and the Ulysses is a few inches shorter if measuring from the tip of the front wheel to the rear axle. So with Ulysses I can just take the tailgate off and rest the ramp on the edge of the bed. My wife's G650GS though is just on the dot - 72" and I am afraid the rear wheel will be slightly hanging off the edge if I take out the tailgate. Well, maybe it's time to sell the BMW and get another Ulysses then  | ||
| Reepicheep |
I did pretty much what Hugh did. 2x8 with 2x4's screwed perpendicular along each side. Probably not necessary, but they sure add strength and make it easy to load (the tire won't walk up that edge as easily as it would walk off the side. In hindsight, 2x6 would have been lighter and probaby just as effective. I also had to buy the aluminum lip thingy so it would hang on the end of the truck flush. | ||
| Tootal |
Hell, it's a damn dirt bike, ride it on in there!!  | ||
| Yan |
How long is your 2x8? ------- Sorry, didn't notice you said 8'. (Message edited by Yan on August 26, 2012) | ||
| Hughlysses |
Do you think the tailgate on a Ranger is strong enough to hold the weight of the motorcycle and myself as I am riding/pushing it up the ramp (if I choose to go with the ramp)? Well, it was strong enough on the last 2 Rangers I owned. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Don't ride it up the ramp, push it. And push it with two people and the motor off preferably (though in a pinch alone I've done it using the motor and clutch). | ||
| Hughlysses |
Don't ride it up the ramp, push it. And push it with two people and the motor off preferably (though in a pinch alone I've done it using the motor and clutch). +1 for that. Youtube has many videos showing why you do NOT want to try to ride it up. A cool thing about the 2008-up bikes like yours, is the IAV (idle air valve) will attempt to hold the idle steady. So you can put the bike in gear, EASE out on the clutch and walk it up the ramp, while the IAV takes care of the throttle. | ||
| Crusty |
I had a Ranger and a Uly. The tailgate will easily hold the weight of the bike and rider. I used a 2X12 that was about 8 feet long, and walked the bike up and backed it down the same way. Rangers are pretty nice trucks. They're low on maintenance and get decent fuel mileage for a truck. I really liked mine a lot, and I regret having sold it so the ex could get a car. | ||
| Timan |
It's a whole lot easier to just buy a trailer. | ||
| Ourdee |
Place I used to work had a Ranger. Used it for product delivery to post office and nearby customers. One day at over 50,000 miles, I asked when the last time the oil was changed. A salesman had it for the first 45,000 miles. I then took it in for it's first oil change. The Ranger was still running fine when I left the company. | ||
| Rwcfrank |
Roll it in at the nearest big rig loading ramp. should be close to the same height. Your The dealership where you are getting your truck may even have one for parts delivery. |
