Hauling a Harley with my 1st gen Tacoma

Hello!
This is my first Tacoma thread - I have scoured the web for an answer found some related - but it may nothing that has given me
confidence or specifics yet.

I would like to haul my 2006 harley sportster from SF to LA in my 2003 Tacoma (5speed regular cab)! The bed length is long enough so no weight will sit on the tailgate - other than the loading of the bike.

I am planning on a plywood, wheel chock, tie down combination but want any and all advice before I purchase any of the above. As you can see from the motorcycle photo I have hauled things in creative ways - and well I am to stubborn to hear a no!

Thoughts? Concerns? Success photos?

 

Welcome to TW!

That shouldn’t be too hard. I’ll defer to those who’ve done it though.

 

Thanks Glenn!!

 

To be safe, I would just remove the tailgate when loading and unloading. The last thing you want is to make a giant fold in the middle of the tailgate because the cables held, but the tailgate couldn't support the big heavy pig. (Sorry, I had to. I have lightweight dual sports )

 

Welcome to TW, i will have to defer as well. But if your bed is less 6ft long and your bike is less than 6ft in lengthen it just boils down to how heavy that bike is

 

I carried a 300 pound bike way off the rear cantilevered off a hitch rack and was fine. Although this was with the OME suspension with WAY better leaf springs that stock.

Take it slow (without getting rear ended by all the idiots driving 95mph between SF & LA) and you'll be fine.

 

Done it. Make sure you load up on a driveway or loading dock. Some Harley’s sit lower and can scrape the tail gate when loading. Get some good quality tie downs and recheck everything after driving a few miles to make sure everything is solid. Aftermarket tailgates will bend for sure with a 550lb ish pound bike so +1 on removing it or reinforcing when loading/unloading. Get a buddy to help you out

 

Thank you all for your help.

The bike will fit but it’s a Harley so it’s HEAVY (600lbs). I will remove the tailgate ✔️

Other than that any plywood wheel chock, assembly and tie down Input? I am
Thinking about something like the attached photo (although my wheel chock will sit diagnolly in the corner of the bed)


Thank you!

 

I have hauled motorcycles and have always just used straps on all four corners (bars front, frame/wheel rear) and not needed wheel chocks. You need tie down hooks in the bed though, so if you don't have any the plywood method would provide those anchor points. But, depending on the thickness of that plywood method shown, to me it just looks like more weight to carry. That plywood can still bounce upward I assume. That's why I like strapping all four corners to the bed rails.

Make sure you use ratchet straps left and right in the front and pull them down far enough to compress the front forks. If you don't compress, they can come unhooked.

If you don't use wheel chocks, put something (non compressible material) between the front tire and the front wall of the bed. Make sure it is wide enough to spread the load and not dent your bed wall. Pull the tire up against that object, but really the rear straps should prevent forward movement. Make sure the material wont remove paint if any vibration movement occurs. The rear straps will also keep the ass end from bouncing around, and don't really need to compress the susp on the bike.

Definitely check the straps regularly, especially if you hit any rain and the straps are not 100% nylon.

 

Weight isn't a problem. Worst part is getting it in the truck. I would recommend longer ramps with an arch. It's no fun when you get to the top of the ramp and it high centers.

 

Dude u can rent a 10ft trailer from uhaul with a built in wheel chock. I did it for a 1 way 4 hr trip it was like $70.
Way lower to the ground way easier to tie down and load unload.

 

The uhaul trailer is the best option, IF you have a tow hitch on the truck. Otherwise, Wsidr1 has the best suggestions with using the tie down points that are already in the bed. I would only use plywood on the tailgate to help protect that from bending from the weight of the bike. Any bike can cause that to bend, not just a Harley.

I ride and haul track bikes to the race track on a monthly basis. Don't leave the kickstand down when it's in the bed!! Use ratchet style straps, not cinch straps that are commonly used for securing dirt bikes.The wheel chock is a good idea but keep in mind that it will take up additional room in the bed. You can fit more of the bike in the bed without it.

 

It will without an issues.

The tailgate is not very strong and might bend.

Take the tailgate off and your ok

 

Because so many people are escaping from the Bay Area, U-Haul trailers are SUPER expensive. Like 10x the rate if you pick up anywhere within an hour of SF. I drove from Oakland up to Sacramento to save about $100 on a trailer when I moved out to Colorado.

It will be fine towing it in the bed, like others said: borrow a friend to help load it, use a loading dock or long ramp, tie it down well / check the straps often.

You'll be fine.

 

You can always find wheel chair ramps used on Craigslist for 50.00-100.00 that will
support 800 pounds too and they fold up nicely

 

I know from experience the tailgate will bend. I loaded a 03 Heritage Softail Classic in the bed of my 01 Taco and it tweaked the tailgate. Definitely remove tailgate first! And idk about ur Sporty, but the softail was too long to fully fit in the bed and the rear tire stayed on the tailgate while driving.

 

https://www.relentlessfabrication.com/products/96-04-tacoma-tail-gate-reinforcement

 

Does anyone know the measurements of those tailgate reinforcements? I'd love to support them and buy one, but they don't ship to Canada, so I was thinking of getting my local metal shop to bend me one.

 

I fit 3 dirt bikes in my 5’ bed. here is a picture for reference.
2 bikes are 250cc 4 strokes and 1 300cc, they are about 240 pounds each. That’s +-720 pounds of just the bikes. Plus I had other gear we loaded after. Made a 2 hour trip no problem.

 

All so helpful!

Terrance question for you and your sporty.

I am going to put my bike diagnolly in the bed. Using the corner as a chock and then I can close the tailgate. Did that not work for you?