advice on loading a motorcycle

I have a 2009 4x4 dclb. Aslo have a bike that weighs about 600 lb.

my ramp is about 16 inches wide. So:

Can I load the bike without bending the stock tailgate?

once in, can I tie it down with bed cleats, or do I need to use the floor anchors

when I am driving down fire roads, will small potholes cause the side stand of the bike to break thru the floor.

I had none of those problems with my 02 nissan frontier, but it seems the materials are different and a bit thinner on the taco. Would hate to learn the answers to those questions the hard way.

Any advice, especially experience based is appreciated

Kevin

 

I never trailer a bike on it's kickstand. You are putting unwanted stress on the bike. It's always best to have the bike standing upright. I don't haul mine in the truck, but for my trailer, I have a tire chock for the front wheel, and I run a rachet strap around the bars near the forks to the floor. I then usually run another strap over the seat, but it's not really necessary.

 

Use the tie downs on the floor, I have loaded my 350lbs bike on the tail gate no problem, but you might watch the plastic lip at the top because its scratches easy. I would doubt that the side stand would punch through the floor, but a piece of plywood or 2x6 is cheap insurance. If your bike isnt too long, you could remove the tail gate to load then reattach. What kind of bike is it?

 

use the anchors
cleats are only rated for 200 pounds or something like that
extra tie down systems are available (que tacopartswhoring) I use these and highly recommend them

http://www.jpmetalfab.com/products.html

also you can install extra D rings

the bike should be sitting upright, not on the kickstand

I would say your tailgate would be fine but others will come in here squawking about how weak the tailgate is.
If you are concerned about it get a piece of plywood to help distribute the load

 

My dad removes his tailgate when hauling his Ultra-Glide Shriner Special (in an '09 Sierra 2500), and rachet-straps in place with six tie-downs. Four go around the tires, and basically lock the bike to the bed. The other two clip to the frame to keep the bike upright. All the hooks are rubber-coated. The kick-stand never comes into play, as it'll get snapped off on the first pothole. The ramp folds in half and slides in next to the bike. Once loaded, nothing moves, but the bike can still gently adjust itself on its suspension without coming loose.

He's recently gotten a trailer for taking his bike to out-of-state parades, because parking garages can "be a little short." He doesn't want to have to replace his bike's windshield...again.

 

The tailgate will be fine. But you will find that you need to park on a hill if you and your two friends helping you want to load that 600 pound bike safely.

I've used the cleats for dirt bikes but for a larger bike I would definitely use the bed tie downs. And your bed/side stand will be fine, because like others said, you don't want it sitting on the side stand anyway.

A trailer is a better option for pulling such a heavy bike. Well worth the investment.

 

If you ever end up hauling it with a dove-tail trailer you'll never go back.

If you couple one of these with it, you'll really be in heaven:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zK8mEM8d1c

 

Dont use the bed cleats. Use D-rings and my 2006 only came with the ones in the rear by the tailgate so I added 4 more to tie down my dirt bike.

 

I would remove the tailgate.
I've seen too many pictures of bent tailgates on this site. And who knows what the cables can hold.

 

I put a dirt bike on the tailgate, I'd never try to load my Harley though. No way.

 

Re: kickstand, I'd be more worried about it breaking off from bumps than I would punching through the deck. Regardless, you should put it 'up'.

Do you have a curved ramp? If not, be prepared for most bikes (except dirt bikes) to bottom out where the ramp and tailgate come together.

I use 4 tie downs to the bed rings. The cleats are light duty.

 

Yes you can and probably will bend your tailgate. I bent mine
putting a 675 pound harley fatboy with the rear tire resting on the tailgate.
You didn't say what type bike you had but based on the weight your rear tire
will be resting on the tailgate. The easy solution is to put a piece of plywood
over the tailgate and on the bed. No worries on the kickstand. If you load the bike properly with tie downs the bike will be standing up. Use the bed tie downs only. Unfortunately the flimsy tailgate on our tacomas is one of the very few flaws we have. Good luck and ride safe!

 

You have a long bed. See if your bike will fit in the bed without the rear tire resting on the tailgate. When I have my XR650 in the bed and am towing a trailer, I take the tailgate off, put the ramp right on the rear bumper, and load the bike right in and leave the tailgate at home. Trailer gets hooked on after the bike is loaded.

Also, very important to have extra D-rings installed in the front of the bed. That's what you want to be holding your bike in with.

 

http://www.canyondancer.com/

 

It must have sounded horrifying!

As much time as Shriners spend keeping their bikes immaculate, he must have been highly peeved.
Shriner bikes are always something special.

Reading Pa Shrine has a bike team and it is always a pleasure to watch them perform and they raise beaucoup money for charity.

As a chunky old man myself, I am still impressed how well those chunky old men handle the big iron.