| Author | Message | ||
     Froggy |
Hey guys, as some of you know, I recently picked up a new 2012 GMC Canyon Z71 pickup truck (rebadged Chevy Colorado). One of the reasons I got it is so I can throw a bike in the back on occasion for various things. My main questions are related to the bed, I am thinking of getting Rhinoliner installed, how would it affect loading a bike? Also, I've seen easy to add/remove plush carpet bed liners, any idea how they would be with a Rhinoliner underneath? Any idea if I can load a bike on top of those? Now, I need a ramp to get the bikes in. Do any of you have any recommendations? I originally was looking at a Colorado/Canyon because they are smaller and lower than the big trucks, but the stupid Z71 suspension jacks it up to be gigantic like the fullsizes, so I assume the same ramps for giant trucks would work. I am not going to do a wooden plank ramp, those are a disaster waiting to happen for me. Anything else I should think about? I already got my eye on a nice soft roll up tuono cover, hopefully it will improve my fuel economy, I'm having a hard time maintaining a 20mpg average! The gigantic monster truck tires on it are not helping either.   | ||
| Xb9er |
Buy my trailer. There, problem solved | ||
| Fahren |
Agreed that wood ramps are not ideal, although I have used them more than anything. They do make tapered metal ends that slip on the ends of a 2x ramp to ease the transition, and those also help avoid slipping. Otherwise, there are good metal folding ramps you can get - I guess it just depends how often you are going to put a bike up in the bed. I've found no matter what method you use, topography is your friend. You should wait and listen to advice that is sure to come along from guys who do this a lot more than me, though. | ||
| Mnrider |
Nice looking truck Froggy. You'll still have all your tie down hooks with a slide in or spray in bedliner. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Rhino liner is good stuff. At some point I need to ditch my bed liner and get that done on my truck. As far as ramps go, just make sure they have some kind of strap to lock it place. Personally I'm not a fan of the soft covers. My truck came with one of these http://www.undercoverinfo.com/ and I love it. Very secure, and if I need it off it takes a minute and someone to carry the other side. It's also much lighter than the fiberglass ones out there. | ||
| Daves |
As far as ramps go, just make sure they have some kind of strap to lock it place. This! | ||
| Madduck |
Your tailgate is not very robust and is supported on the ends not in the middle where you and the motorcycle will be. I used a folding ramp that was supported in the trailer receiver. Folded vertically when in transit and was 40 inches wide which made single person loading a ride it on convenient. Also had a bed rug which really kept the back nice. | ||
| Akbuell |
XB9 may have the solution re a trailer. But you do have to store them somewhere when not in use. As to ramps, don't forget to look at places like Lowes. I have one of their ramps, works fine. Downside is finding space to take them along. | ||
| Etennuly |
Rhino liner is like bullet proofing your bed. Good stuff. Then for traction on the bed floor I have had great results from a form fitted rubber mat. You place something with weight on the mat it stays there, not sliding out of tie straps or nets. The soft covers that I have had suck. Snaps cause rust, velcro will come loose and flap like a flag at 80 mph, the ones that clip in inside the edge of the bed leak, and none of them are secure from easy theft. I have had several hard fiberglass covers that work great at everything except hauling bikes and big TVs. Too heavy to pop on and off. I totally agree about the tailgate comment above. They will bend under just the weight of the bike rolling over it. Lining the inside of it with 1/2" weather treated plywood will keep the weight spread over it so that the inside bracket near the handle will not push out to dent the outer skin. You may want to do the same on the front wall of the bed, they bend easily when strapping a bike to it, or from using it to stop a rolling bike as it goes into the bed. I like the ramp attached to the hitch idea to protect the truck from damage. With that you will have to consider fairly level ground to make it work. Summit Racing has some really good choices for the stuff you are looking for in their catalog. | ||
| Froggy |
Yep it is on the list. I need to do bikes in the back too, for situations like having my girlfriend haul her bike in the back for rallies, etc. I don't think she would want to drive with a trailer.
Indeed, at my house my driveway is a decently steep hill, it wouldn't be too much of an issue to load a bike, it would just be an issue elsewhere.
Yea I saw some with that, seems like a must!
One of the trucks I looked at had an Undercover on it, I personally didn't like it. The locks felt flimsy and it would be too much of a pain to deal with when I am hauling any decently large object. I can't get rid of it if I unexpectedly need to haul a large box while away from home. I'm assume the guy didn't install his right either, the paint was worn off around the tailgate and tail lights from the vibrations. My father has a Truxedo soft cover on his 02 Silverado, it still looks brand new despite 10 years of NY snowstorms, rain, sun, and other general wear and tear. It attaches with Velcro and rolls up and out of the way.
I've seen mention of that on Colorado forums, some have dented the middle of the tailgate by having the rear wheel rest on it while traveling, but those people have the 5' bed, not the 6' like mine. I don't know why anyone would bother with a bed that small!
Do you have a link to this or a similar product so I can research it more?
I saw his posting for the trailer before I even bought the truck and I decided I wanted it! My Tax refund can't get here fast enough. | ||
| Guell |
Go line-x. Its far more durable. Rhino line will eventually peel. I've had both. | ||
| Al_lighton |
I had rhino liner on my 2003 F150. It held up well, but when it was time to get lining into the new 2012 F150, everything I found pointed to Line-X instead. After seeing/having both, I agree. Go with Line-X. I had a fiberglass cap on the bed of the 2003 F150. It looked good and function reasonably well, BUT, every time I needed to haul a bike, I needed to remove it and store it, which was a PITA. So I was considering a roll-up, but found that the Back-Flip design was even better. It's more secure, will weather better, and got great reviews. They're a bit pricey, but they work real well and it's a good design. I got the G2 version and I'm VERY pleased with mine. See http://www.bakfliptonneaucover.com/ .  Al | ||
| Jhuppdog |
I just got a new company truck and had Line-x installed. Line-x has a lifetime warranty if you ever have issues with it. I also got the premium version which has an overcoating on it so the liner looks new forever. No fading. I think Line-x is the original truck bed liner and the others are copy cats but I could be wrong. Here is a link to the bedrug. One of the subcontractors that works for me has it in his truck and loves it. No need to have rhino lining or line-x underneath as this is a bed liner. He said he hauls everything and has no problems. He is an avid hunter and says all he has to do to clean the carpet liner is hose it out. If I had a personal truck I would seriously look into the bedrug. I bought my ramps at harbor freight. They are nothing great but they get the job done. | ||
| Strokizator |
Guell has it right. Line-X is a superior product. I also have a Ready-Ramp for my Dodge Dakota. It's much more versatile than a regular ramp. http://www.realtruck.com/ready-ramp-motorcycle-loa ding-ramp/images/ | ||
| Thumper1203 |
Line-X +1 ....the arched, double wide atv ramps are the bomb.. walk up one side while idle-clutching the bike on the other. | ||
| Xl1200r |
Frogman - Unless you want it for security, skip the tonneau cover. It will save you maybe 1 MPG (and that's only if you're doing a lot of highway driving) and be more hassle than it's worth when you have something taller than the bed. By the way, that's real nice truck. I was looking at getting one a while back, I believe the rear wheel of any Buell will not be resting on the tailgate with the longer bed that comes on the regular and extended cab models. The shorter bed only came with the crew cab model, which I think was just to keep the wheelbase the same so they could use 2 chassis lengths (could be wrong, though) | ||
| Froggy |
I'm really liking the Roll X model they have, but wow $849!  Maybe for Xmas? I'll look more into Line-X, I've heard nothing but good about both them and Rhino. | ||
| Froggy |
Yea the longer bed is why I went with an extended cab instead of the crew. I do want the security of the cover, as it is the bed is useless. I spend too much time in NYC, and anything left back there would not be there when I come back. From what I've seen from other hypermiling Colorado owners, I'm expecting 2-3mpg, which is about 14% better fuel economy. That, smaller low rolling resistance tires, lowering kit, removing the front driveshaft, some wheel covers, undercarriage airflow kit, custom tune with injector kill switch, I should easily hit my 30mpg goal this summer. | ||
| Jhuppdog |
It cost $587.00 tax included to have the premium line-x installed in a 2012 F-150 with an 8' bed. I would think yours would be cheaper since there is less surface area. | ||
| Rkc00 |
Backflip is what I would get | ||
| Davefl |
I have a Bak-Flip on my truck and I would buy it again.. When I replace this truck the new one will get a Bak-Flip as well. | ||
| Etennuly |
Froggy.....are you really going to spend about $3500 or more to save some gas? You might save $3000 in gas over the duration of ownership of the truck.....if you drive it a hell of a lot of miles. The soft covers add NO security except from wind. It'll keep your plastic Walmart bags from blowing out after your stuff rolls out of them.  I rigged a secure cable through snap loops with a lock on one pickup I had in Tampa. With the bed empty.....they just cut the cover to see what might be inside to steal.  | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Please explain to me why you'd buy a 4wd truck & then take off the front drive shaft to save gas. Sell the thing & buy a 2wd truck then add a lowering kit. It'll be easier to load & way more economic. Or if you want load hauling capacity & security buy a van. Friend of mine has a V series Mercedes. He get's his wife, kid, tools, racebike, etc in it & tows a caravan behind. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Froggy on my first Chevy Silverado, I had the Rhino liner sprayed in and it was rock solid but the black appearance starts to dull and look bad so on my second Silverado, I went with the Line-X spray in liner and it was a better looking finished product. As for the topper, I had Truexedo on both of my trucks. They both looked and worked great. I highly recommend them. I had a tri-fold ramp that I could use for loading my four-wheeler, snowmoble, or my motorcycle in the back of my truck. It worked fine right off my tailgate as long as you connected the safety chains. I forgot to do that one time loading my four-wheeler, got the front tires on the tailgate, spun the ramp off the tailgate. Lucky for me I had my knee on the seat you I was able to jump off before it flipped. | ||
| Froggy |
I don't care. I'd spend anything to get 30mpg average
4wd is overrated, and the mechanical loss of it even in 2wd is ridiculous. At least with the shaft removed,I can still easily reinstall it during the two months of the year it might be useful.
That's what I wanted to do. Long story short I couldn't. I still want this: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledet ails.xhtml?zip=10541&endYear=2009&keywordPhrases=z q8&modelCode1=COLORADO&showcaseOwnerId=627948&star tYear=1981&makeCode1=CHEV&engineCodes=8CLDR&engine Code=8CLDR&sellerTypes=b&searchRadius=500&mmt=%5BC HEV%5BCOLORADO%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&listingId=3252578 15&listingIndex=1&Log=0 | ||
| Al_lighton |
I use dual folding ATV ramps like Tad (thumper1203) for the same reasons..it's easier to walk up one ramp next to the bike. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS attach one of your tie down straps to the bike ramp and the truck chain mount and pull tight. Ramps come off the truck gate all the time if not, especially if powered up the ramp. (Message edited by al_lighton on February 08, 2013) | ||
| Just_ziptab |
I have a battery powered driveway motion detector that I put in the truck bed with the bike and park within eyesight. Keep the receiver with me and anything going on in the truck bed....sets off the chime that "something is happening". Ramp? I use a 6' 2x10 with one of those "ramp maker" aluminum lips that lets it set flat to the tail gate. Eye bolt,mid ramp to chain it to the ball hitch to keep it from slipping off. Stores crossways under the sinched down bike.There is always a curb or small rise in the landscape to lesson the angle of attack. When I was your age,I just rode the bike up a ramp made out of two "T" fence posts welded together. Think"tightrope" walking.........  | ||
| Kenm123t |
ever hear of locking Hubs Froggy? the 4 wheel drive isnt moving unless the hubs are locked it | ||
| Froggy |
Ken, just because the hubs are open doesn't mean several hundred pounds of front axles, differential, and shaft are not sapping energy. The truck does not coast downhill, removing the front shaft is proven to reduce rolling resistance significantly, which means more coasting and MPG. | ||
| Guell |
Ken, you need to look into some other 4wd vehicles. My ranger has no locking hubs, everything up front is bolted and spins together. The transfer case determines if I go to 4wd or not (Message edited by guell on February 08, 2013) |
