dirt bike in doublecab bed tailgate closed, brainstorm

So I am looking to tow a trailer (that's a different thread) but I need to carry motorcycles in the bed at the same time. That means I need to be able to close the tailgate with the bike loaded.

Anybody have some creative solutions for me? I have been dreaming up all kinds of crazy fabricated/home made solutions, like lifting the rear wheel over the closed tailgate using a stand of some sort.

Thoughts?

 

I take it diagonal won't work either. What if you pull the front wheel off and make a little bracket for the fork like a bicycle roof rack, but mount it to the front bed rail.

 

Diagonal won't work, bed is too narrow and the wheel wells go all the way to the front of the bed.

Interesting idea. Bracket would need to be heavy duty to hold up to a 300 pound bike. Probably bolted to the bed floor using some thick steel.

I think it would be easier to secure the bike with the front wheel in place. I would have to measure it to see if that would shorten it enough.

 

Take off the tailgate temporarily?

 

My dad used to haul a motorcycle and tow his camper and the bike was too long to fit in the bed. He made a platform out of plywood that fit in the bed and went off the back edge a bit. He supported the back edge with a couple blocks of wood bracing it down to the step in the bumper so the rear tire would be supported. This allowed him to tow the trailer and the bike, he just had to completely remove the tailgate.

 

^^^something along these lines would be the only way to do it. Either plywood or a C-channel steel section for the rear wheel to sit on.

 

Don't over think it.

Just get a hitch extension so the trailer sits further back. Then you can have the tailgate down with the motorcycle wheels on the tailgate.

HF has them for $20 Here's some info from etrailers, take note of the tongue weight reduction.

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-hitch-adapters-extenders.aspx

I'll add that you may need longer safety cable/chains & trailer wiring...

 

Another option is a hitch receiver extension. That way you can keep the tailgate down and the hitch point would just be further back. It just depends on how big/heavy your trailer is.

 

^^^^ LOL, posted the same time.

 

For anything beyond a very light flat bed trailer, I wouldn't do the hitch extension. That just puts the point load of the trailer that much further behind the rear wheels, making it feel a lot heavier than it actually is (especially when there is already a motorcycle in the bed).

 

I'm looking at a small travel trailer. So 2500 pounds dry. Maybe 3000-3200 loaded. I think the GVWR is going to be in the 3500-3700 range

 

The double cab bed is so short that the rear tire is completely on the tailgate.

 

I would set down a 10 inch wide 1 or more inch thick piece of plywood running diagonally to the back of the truck. It would have to be cut at the correct angle to fit in tight into the front corner of the bed. A cradle around the rear wheel of the bike to hold it tight. Since the front wheel will be strapped down hard onto the front of the board, it would be in there tight. The rear would need to be braced some to prevent shifting.


This way the tailgate could be removed


Kinda like this:

 

How about a small boat trailer. They are way long. Tailgate down and plenty of room. You can custom build a deck on it to fit whatever you need.

 

Trade up to a long bed

 

I was thinking of a way around this problem also. I was thinking of building a rack for the front tires that would that would sit above the back window or the cab. I will try to find a pic.

Something like this
http://1t6q364e2bnv1k845asbp9uc.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/DSC00027.jpg

or this
http://www.omplaya.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/truck-bed-dirt-bike-rack.jpg

 

what about putting the rear tire at the front of the bed, and turn the front tire sideways along the tailgate. idk.

 

You ever tried to load a bike backwards? it sucks...

 

just strap the bike down with the tire on top of the tailgate! thats what id do. if your worried about the tailgate put some foam inbetween there.

 

yes, i have and it is a pain in the ___.