Show me how you carry your toys

Nice tandem!

 

Hi - update on 29-er mountain bike fit in a DCSB (wheel off, fork mount to floor, bike facing backwards) from my recent post. I looked at a used Gen 2 with a Tradesman aluminum shell (really nice shell) and I test fitted both bikes. A tight squeeze compared to my FlipPac and 6' T100 bed, but totally workable. I then found a used Gen 3 with a sleek ARE shell, I think a Z series which has a fairly sloping rear lift gate that really eats into the space. I didn't test both bikes but my bike fit, very tight but feasible, and probably room for the second slightly smaller bike (mine is a Large, my wife's is a Medium). I also tried it facing forwards with the fork up against the front bedwall, and that was better, though its hard to crawl in and attach the fork to the thru-axle mount. Dropper seat post definitely had to be down all the way. Anyway, the conclusion is that a DCSB is suitablele for hauling bikes, though not much room for other stuff ... in the bed.

 

I had to buy it from the dealer. I believe it was less then $50

 

damn a bobcat!! how was the towing power?? i know those prety damn heavy

 

About 4800 pounds, pulled great locally, didn't go on any steep hills or anything like that

 

badass, what about expressway???

 

I was on the freeway for about 7 miles and it did great as well, used the ect to merge onto the freeway

 

Pretty easy and basic DIY bike mount for a Thru Axle. Credit below for the instructable. I added the PVC in the sleeve to protect the axle so the galvanized pipe should be 3/4" and the PVC 1/2". Tight fit on the PVC but it works perfectly. No wobble with the rear tire nicely held by the tailgate. Just getting through until the Head rail gets here and I can mount up a Rocky Mount.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mountain-Bike-Fork-Truck-Mount/

 

Added the front bed rail and Yakima locking fork mounts with t-blocks.

 

Regarding the DIY thru-axle mount, another non-DIY option is Kuat mounts. I have a pair, they work well and are MUCH cheaper than Thule's or Yakima's adapters. Also, for those with a DCSB and cab-high shell, or considering them, here's my final update on fitting two 29-ers inside. I ended up with one fork mount on a board, like JWhitmer showed earlier, at the front of the bed, for my bike. It was just too big to fit backwards and clear the rear window, hinges and gas struts on my shell, as it could do in my previous 6' long, and wider T100 bed. So I'll just crawl in and attach it up front. I added a second, reversed setup for my wife's slightly smaller bike behind the driver's side. That way, if she's alone she can just wheel her bike in backwards and attach it to the Kuat mount right at the tailgate. And with the two bikes facing opposite directions, there's much more room and access for other stuff. In conclusion, I'm glad we went for the short bed instead of long bed - at least for bike hauling - with the goal of having a shorter truck for city and offroad use, not to mention slightly lighter. My bike location even allows room if I ever get a 140mm fork ...

 

sub'd

 

The some of the setups I have so far.

 

Did you mount the base board to the bed? I just bought a DCSB and have given this a try with the Kuat dirtbag, but I'm having issues with the board flipping over and moving around, even though it feels tight.

 

Some shitter bolts can do the trick... I like it!

 

What brand is the hitch motorcycle carrier?

 

For the board at the front of the bed, I didn't attach it and it seems stable. For the board at the back, for the rearward facing bike, I put the board under my bedmat and then made an angle bracket to extend over the mat and locate the Kuat mount a few inches away from the tailgate to allow closing the rear window of the camper shell. With the bedmat over the board it's very secure. I'm taking off on a trip soon but can post more detailed pics next week. Oh, one more thing: for the forward facing bike I am tying the rear wheel snugly to a tie down loop on the bed side track, with a Velcro strap. That secures it so that the bike can't move and upset the fork mount and board.

 

One more tip - although I laid the board on the bedmat, I did shim the front board under the bedmat with a piece of 1/4" X 2" stock under the mat, to compensate for the bed ribs not running all the way to the front. That helped the board sit flat and not rock. I used a piece of plywood I ripped to about 7" wide.

 

Its a brand made by Cycle Gear. It was pretty cheap, I think $100 - $150 on sale. it works pretty good