| Author | Message | ||
     Kinger |
I need to get a ramp to get my bike into the back of my S-10 for track days. I have been looking at the following: http://www.motorcycleramps.com/rrextender.htm http://www.cargogear.com/Ramps/motorcycle.htm (Looking at the Dual runner steel ramp) http://www.cargogear.com/Ramps/RampChamp.htm My other thought is a small trailer. I think that would push my budget up near $400 by the time I got a wheel chock and everything. Any other thoughts? Thanks | ||
| Mikej |
Head up to Menomonie Falls and visit the Northern store, they have a fair selection of ramps. Narrow ramps are fine if you can stand beside the bike and it isn't going up too high, or if you're confident in your ability to ride up what seems like a 2x4 when looking down at the ramp while riding up it. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Narrow ramps are fine if you can stand beside the bike and it isn't going up too high, or if you're confident in your ability to ride up what seems like a 2x4 when looking down at the ramp while riding up it." I try to avoid riding my bike up into the back of my full size Sierra with my skinny folding ramp. I have a few choice spots picked out where I can back up to a high spot and walk it in and back it out by myself, but occasionally, I have to ride it up when I'm on flat ground. It's the closest I'll ever get to the feeling a Navy pilot must have when he brings his plane down on a carrier deck. You get to a point where you've committed yourself and you'll either make it or you're going to have a very, very, bad day. | ||
| Uwgriz |
I got just a basic ramp from Farm & Fleet. Seems to work just fine, but I'm only going up onto a trailer). What's really more important here is that Aaron's going to do trackdays! | ||
| Gusmyster |
Do you guys usually truck/trailer your bikes to track days? I'm about 150 miles from the nearest track..uhh 150 VERY boring miles that is. Wasn't sure about the tire wear and stuff. I have never taken a bike anywhere in the back of a truck/trailer, but then I've never owned a sport bike either. g u s | ||
| Kinger |
I will be doing at least one track day this year! I made that promise to myself last year. The problem is this whole changing jobs and moving thing has kept me real busy. I am having trouble finding time to get the bike ready. I signed up for the free trial through NESBA at RA on 4/21. Jason, what type of trailer do you have? | ||
| Henrik |
I bought a set of very nice folding ramps from Ramp Master some years ago. I used them to get my bikes up and down a 5' loading dock. Very nice product -a bit pricey though. I don't know if they still make that style ramp, but it'd be worth a call. Trailering to track days is a good idea... Henrik | ||
| Uwgriz |
Aaron, just a basic utility trailer. I just throw wheel chocks on when I head to the track. Gusmyster, you definately want to trailer (or truck it) to a track day. Crashes can and will happen, mechanical gremlins can pop up (you'll be riding harder there than you ever do on the street), you'll want bring more than you can carry on your bike (food, chair, water, etc) not too mention that you'll be quite tired when it's all said an done and you'll be glad to driving home and not riding. | ||
| Mbsween |
Make sure your ramp is rated for you + bike if you want to ride up it. Most of the folding ones are 500lbs per section, so if you ride up one section your gonna have at least 600lbs on the ramp. Well I guess if your less than 150lbs, it might be slightly less I got a cheapo folding one at Harbor Freight (70.00) I can walk up one side with the bike on the other. Works great. Look here for a pic. I use the 2 1/2s joined together | ||
| Kinger |
Mbsween, What size truck are you loading? I have a wood ramp that is about the same length as the one's you have, but my exhaust hits at the top when loading on flat ground. I did find a set on e-bay that have to reserve. They are listed for an ATV, but are about 80" long and arched, so I think they would work great. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I find that the suspension on my DR650 is much better for jumping ramps than the setup on my S1. The S1 hits like a ton of bricks compared to the DR. | ||
| Henrik |
Ramp rating; my Ramp Master Ramps were rated for quite high loads. The big, center ramp was rated for 1500 lbs, I think each of the side ramps were rated for 1000 lbs. also, the are slightly arched, so exhaust scraping is less likely. Henrik | ||
| Pcmodeler |
I use a wooden ramp to load my XB into my S-10. It is made from 2 8x2's screwed together on the bottom by a 2x4 and then screwed on the top with MDF along the middle seam. The 2x4 is about 2 inches shorter on both ends. I've ridden it up several times with no issues. Bad thing is that is heavy as heck. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Kinger, I can sell you that ramp you have in your first link for $75 plus shipping. You will need to order new straps for it from the manufacturer. If you want to send me a PM we can work out the details. I don't need mine anymore as I don't see myself getting a truck for awhile and when I do it will be a low rider type as my back just can't cope with loading anything else by myself anymore. | ||
| Mbsween |
Kinger I'm loading a 2004 4x4 dakota (club cab). The gate is about 1 foot higher than my friends 2wd colorado. Its easiest to walk the ramp with the bike running in 1st gear if I'm loading the bike solo | ||
| Norrisperformance |
www.northerntool.com item# 3303053-2505x Comes with two folding ramps for $119.00 You could sale one of them or keep it to walk beside the bike when you load. Thats the ramps I have. | ||
| Firemanjim |
I remember Evil SV posted on Sacborg that he got a pair from eBay for 99.00.Posted pics and they looked real nice,just like the one I had --paid 100+ for it.Check there. | ||
| Court |
I bought a bracket, then went to Home depot and bought a 10' 2" x 12". Works well. | ||
| Gusmyster |
Uwgriz, Thanx for the advice. Will do! g u s | ||
| Reepicheep |
Most Farm and Fleet type places have the bolt on ramp parts as well. Thats where I finally found one. | ||
| Ceejay |
Watch where you put that ramp on the bumper when taking off the tailgate, wasn't paying attention and put it just above license plate when moving dirt into my Dakota and about lost my leg. just above the license plate is plastic not steel like I thought/it looked, and down came my ramp, along with 200lbs of dirt, wheelbarrow and me too. wasn't fun. Hate to see someone drop a bike because of this. | ||
| Midknyte |
I use a wooden ramp to load my XB into my S-10. It is made from 2 8x2's screwed together on the bottom by a 2x4 and then screwed on the top with MDF along the middle seam. I was thinking along these same lines, only with three 2x10's (or 8's) as so:  I need to load up a lighter bike tomorrow night and I know that it'll handle that. What do you guys think about this for an XB though? | ||
| Reepicheep |
Midnyte, tried something like that and learned the hard way, the problem with it is not getting the bike in the truck with it, the problem is getting it out with it. You back the bike to the lip, and it just pushes the ramp away. The solution is to get the metal end attachment, or just use the ramp for loading, and always back the truck up to some natural wall berm and just roll the bike off. It's not that hard to find one somewhere if you get creative. | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Midknyte, that is exactly as I've done. However, the bottom board should be about 2-3 inches shorter on both ends. That gives you a ledge to set on the tailgate on one end and also makes the other end sit on the ground better. If you have a circular saw or other, you could even angle cut the bottom end. Originally, I only did as your drawing shows, but eventually, the boards started separating down the middle, so I added the smaller pieces of mdf. This actually helped in other ways as it gave me a light edge to help the bike from just rolling down the boards when unloading. Heck, you could even cut a series of strips and attach them at intervals (every 12 inches) on the top as a way of helping to slow the bike when unloading as well as keeping the boards together. As mentioned, the thing is heavy. As for what Reep describes, it's something to be consider. I actually have a small lip where the concrete slab on my garage meets with the asphalt of the driveway. I put the edge of the 2x4 on the bottom against that lip and then pull my truck to the length of the bottom 2x4, leaving the 2-3 inches on the tailgate. This way the boards can't move back any. It's not the perfect solution and it takes up a lot of space, but at the time it was all I had when I bought my bike and needed to get it off the back of the truck. I use it whenever I need to take the bike in for service. Eventually, I'll get some ramps. Not because the boards don't work, but because they take up too much room in the garage and there really isn't anywhere to put them. | ||
| Firemanjim |
The first time that board slips and you drop your bike you will see why spending a couple of bucks to get a pair of ramps makes sense. See here's a pair now. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2491649744&category=43972 (Message edited by firemanjim on March 22, 2005) | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Jim is right, We use a cube van for when we take the bikes on the road for training, we can squeeze about 12 training bikes into a cube which has a build in ramp. As for loading/offloading I just ride them right on up, don't look down as you will want to put your foot down. Offloading I am at the point where I can roll them off the truck seated on the bike with feet almost on the pegs. Really freaked a few of the guys out when I first did it. | ||
| Midknyte |
well, I gotta load up one of the bikes tomorrow night, but I don't gotta worry about unloading it - time to say goodbye to one of the stablemates... I'll put a clip/lip on it later... | ||
| Kinger |
Thanks for all of the input! I think I am going to end up getting a used trailer. Rocketsprink has offered me his since he bought a bigger one. A 4x8 utility trailer all set up for hauling a bike and more useful for other things than a bike. Plus with my truck pushing 150k I am not sure how much longer I will have it. Thanks again for all the input. |
