Hauling a motorcycle in a short bed double cab....

Ah, one of those "I've been doing this longer that you've been alive" types...

 

Hahaha. Well makes sense.

If I backed the bike in the truck, and had the front wheel on the tailgate....?

 

Andrew,
Personally I say ride to the rally, but I am more of a purist. Looks like just under 900 miles so 2 days to get there doing 450 miles per day. We used to do 400 miles in about 8 hours going there but I can do the same 400 miles in 6.5 hours with no one following. My wife rides her Sporty all day long and loves it, even loaded for the rally.

As for places to stay in Sturgis, if you are camping I recommend the Rush-no-more campground. It has lots of trees for shade, which a lot of campgrounds do not and it is at exit 37 off 90 and exit 32 is one of the ways to downtown Sturgis. I have stayed there 6-7 times.

Sorry I can't help much on the haul your bike issue, but feel free to PM me for ideas about what to do when you go.

 

Yeah. We are leaning more towards campin. Thanks for the tip! Definitely going to look into rush no more. My wife says camping is apart of the experience. Does your wife ride on the back of yours? I'm having issues with the Mrs being comfortable. I bought a sissy bar, helped. But she's having issues with her feel falling asleep. And every time she hits a bump she screams. And he says her vagina goes numb. Haha. She got new foot pegs from a friend of hers. But she they look like they belong on a big dresser or something. Big and flat... I really think they are going to look like shit.. It's my bike not hers.... But happy wife happy life right?

Ever hear of a butt buffer?

 

If you're really interested PM me. I was kinda kidding but could probably make something work. My place is under construction but has 2 couches left in it I think. The guy moving in with me for next semester has a house too, not sure if he's sold it yet. I'm gonna try to go out there for the first weekend of the rally and possibly could meet up with anyone else out there (just in the taco, I don't think I'll drag my ninja out there just to get made fun of by the Harley guys I get to ride all those roads the rest of the year when there isn't so damn many other bikes )

As for your original question, my suggestion is just to measure everything. I'm sure my bike is shorter than yours and would just barely fit in my bed with the tailgate down, but I have a toolbox that eats about 2 ft of bed space. Never tried it, but from my measurements it would fit straight and I wouldn't have to angle it. I just bought a trailer instead.

The tent trailer is kinda a crapshoot. It seems to me their tongues are much shorter than say a boat trailer or my utility trailer for turning with the tailgate down. I've seen a combo pop-up in the back with a utility bed on the front, you could try finding one of those. They seem neat.

Anyway good luck!

 

I don't think it would make a difference, plus it would be a biotch to load! Keep in mind, I'm in a 2nd Gen and they're known for having weak tailgates. the picture on the page before, notice I didn't use plywood for my bike but it only weighs in at 465 wet. If the tire is actually on the tailgate, I'd use the plywood, if it's like mine where it's at the back edge of the bed, but sticks out just enough so you can't close the tailgate, I wouldn't bother because the load is still being supported by the bed.

 

My vote would be to skip Sturgis until you are 40+ years old, unless you are going for the concerts. If you are going for the "party" just think of it as geriatric spring break and you won't be disappointed. I was stationed at Ellsworth and went three years in a row before I got tired of being the youngest person there. If you want to take a trip to the black hills (highly recommended) go a week after Sturgis ends, you can buy all the Sturgis crap for 70% off and avoid the insane traffic.

 

She used to ride on the back but decided she liked being in control. When she was on the back I had a sissy bar and a touring seat so she was comfortable. She would get sleepy and chew gum or we would stop for a few minutes and have some water. As for her butt getting numb, yeah happens to all of us, part of the experience. Again stop, then offer to massage it, to help with circulation of course .

 

I don't get it

 

How about renting a toy hauler? I dont know how much they weigh or sizes available or even if they rent toy haulers, its just an idea that may solve your problem.

 

Normally I rent a casita. From tinker AFB it's only $130 for a 3 day weekend

 

Except that he needs to find a place to park the camper, and with bike week only 2 months away campground space for a big camper is becoming scarce.

 

Yeah, didn't think that far ahead. Haha

 

True. I'd imagine there would be room for a tent

 

If I do rent a camper... There is always Walmart parking lot. Walmarts are rv friendly. Ours here even has water hook ups

 

May be a bit late to this one but a good way to save your tailgate is to slide a 6X6 under the frame rails of the bike, takes all the weight off the gate and makes a solid platform for the bike.

 

Anyone do this with a sportster?

 

Why not just leave a motorcycle ramp in the bed to help strengthen it?

 

My thoughts are that if it will fit length wise you can haul it. I have hauled a 550 pound bike in my old 86 Toyota truck with no problems. Hook your tie downs where they are pulling down and forward toward the cab. The bike must be tied down where there is absolutely no movement in any direction.