DIY portable winch system - Easily load a motorcycle into your Tacoma (or any pickup)

I put together a little DIY winch system to help load my bikes into my 2001 Tacoma. It's a simple idea, but it works well and takes all the sweat (and trepidation) out of the process. Thought I'd share...

 

An interesting idea, but honestly, it still takes two people to operate. Might as well have the 2nd guy push from behind.

What would be cool, is a small ATV winch with a wireless controller, then it truly would be a 1 person job.

 

Yah, I say both of those things in the video - takes 2 people, would be optimal w/ a powered winch. Also, when you and your 2nd guy are 5'5" 120lb, pushing a 300lb bike up a steep ramp is a daunting task. Never felt in control. With this, it's nearly effortless.

If you're bigger and got the muscle to do it, of course this device isn't for you. : )

 

I'm not what you'd call a "big guy" but I ain't small either, guess you could say "average". My problem isn't strength, but lack of coordination, lol. I won't lie, there have been a few times, even with the help of someone else, that I almost died (or at least almost put some new dents in the truck/bike), but you know, I like to live dangerously.

My other solution was to get a trailer (I had it for other reasons, but converted it to a moto trailer, too. I recently built a fold down "tailgate" for it, which means I can actually ride into the trailer easily, or at least push it in with minimal effort.

My main problem with the truck is that it's high enough that I need a middle step between the ground and the tailgate, and there have been a few times where the moto stand or milk crate I was using shifted and made me about fall on my ass with a 280+# bike to follow.

Have you thought about making the winch portion attach to the h-bars (instead of in the truck)? That might help make it more of a 1 man operation.

 

I am glad that it works for you, but I think it is a solution in search of a problem, even for people who struggle to load a bike. The first time you let that bike lean too much on the ramp (which figuring you are sitting on the ramp for quite some time while your buddy operates the winch) and you can't roll back to regain balance, you're going to dump the bike.

It does not take much coordination or skill to walk a bike up a ramp under power if you are not strong enough to push it up.