Help with ways to carry my bikes (bicycle )

The flap is not in the right location for the backup camera. I took mine to a local upholstery shop and had a hole cut for the camera. $25 and works great.

 

I may do that....of course...I have only had a back up camera since 12/27....so I could just old skool it when I use it

 

I never take the tailgate pad off as I always have a bike with me.

 

Now I am kinda jealous......................LOL

 

Going to have to try this. Was thinking about cutting the hole myself but who knows how that will go. Love the simplicity of the tailgate pad.

 

@Neodous does the your bike fit in the bed with the tailgate closed?

 

Yes! I have a 5ft bed and if you leave the bike strait you would have to keep the tail gate down, so all you have to do is after clamping the bike in move the rear tire to the center of the bike and you can close the tail gate.

 

Thanks, I'm waiting for the header rail to come in i have the rocky mounts.

 

Anyone just bolt directly to bed? I did with my first generation Tacoma. Keeps bike low and they fit straight. Wondering how well composite bed will hold?

 

Now running softopper over the rail bike mounts with rockymounts

 

has anyone tried taking the front wheel off and laying the bike down flat in a short bed? does that not work?

 

I tried it, I can get the tailgate to close, but the bike will not lay flat and will move around too much. I ride an XL tho may b if it's a med. or small it might work. I usually ride with someone too, and you can't get another bike in the bed.

 

same, my frame is 19.5" so I doubt I will find success with that method too.

 

I have a couple of these I need to get around to screwing into the bed:

$30 Bike Hitch Pro Truck Bed Bike Mount by Delta Cycle - Lockable Hitch Securely Holds All 9 x 100mm Bicycle Fork Dropouts & Fits Any Flat Surface - Heavy Mountain, Road & eBikes Aluminum

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000ACAM7E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They seem to be very well built.

 

Rockymounts are good alot of people on here use them, I have a pair mounted to the header rail its a real easy install and some have a lock on them.

 

The fat bike still don't fit with the tailgate closed, but the rockymounts are secure the bike isn't going anywhere

 

@DwightKSchrute ... I always thought the 5' bed was too small for a real bike, and never tried it, since I either use fork mounts or a hitch rack. But a few weeks ago I gave a buddy a ride back to his car and his full suspension 140mm travel Niner, probably a L or XL frame (he's a tall guy), fit easily lying down with front wheel off and tailgate shut.

To the folks who use the SofTopper rack or homebrew mounts on the bed rails ... it looks handy, but don't you worry about snagging trees, passing wide loads on the freeway etc? It just looks so vulnerable ... I'm not crazy about bikes on the roof, but at least they're within the footprint of the vehicle. Or do you get used to it? Otherwise, I love the idea of 2 bikes + RTT without a hitch rack hanging off the back, which has its own set of risks.

 

Im used to it. It's a hair wider than the mirrors where the handlebars are. Also I've had lifted f250 so I'm used to being wide. It's no wider than a 1/2 ton truck. When the bikes aren't mounted the bars are almost as far as the mirrors