?? Ramps for loading into a truck bed??
Novice
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Loading bike in Truck Bed
Just purchased the Big Boy II loading ramps from discountramps.com
I got the 10' length. They work really well and I highly recommend them. Plenty of clearance. In addition, I purchased a pair of tailgate support straps, and a loading bracket that the ramps fit into to prevent them from kicking out.
To secure the bike, I built a wooden platform that is "keyed" around my rear wheel hubs so that it can't slide out or side to side. On top of the ramp, I have a Condor chock for my front wheel. The wood platform extends out over the tailgate but floats about 1" above it. When the rear wheel of the bike is on the plank, no weight is on the rear tailgate..it continues to float.
The tailgate support straps are kind of gimmicky. I don't know if they actually help relieve stress on the cables or not. However, I will say that although everyone stresses the cable strength..CHECK your tailgate brackets. Mine were rusted and crumbling, I replaced them for $20 at autozone.
Plywood used was 3/4 inch and the plank is 2" x 12"
The whole setup is somewhat heavy. I wouldn't recommend it for those with a bad back.
Now the question is what to do with those big ramps while travelling. I'm thinking of buying a hitch receiver platform that will store the ramps below the tailgate. Probably route a cable through them to lock them to the platform.
I got the 10' length. They work really well and I highly recommend them. Plenty of clearance. In addition, I purchased a pair of tailgate support straps, and a loading bracket that the ramps fit into to prevent them from kicking out.
To secure the bike, I built a wooden platform that is "keyed" around my rear wheel hubs so that it can't slide out or side to side. On top of the ramp, I have a Condor chock for my front wheel. The wood platform extends out over the tailgate but floats about 1" above it. When the rear wheel of the bike is on the plank, no weight is on the rear tailgate..it continues to float.
The tailgate support straps are kind of gimmicky. I don't know if they actually help relieve stress on the cables or not. However, I will say that although everyone stresses the cable strength..CHECK your tailgate brackets. Mine were rusted and crumbling, I replaced them for $20 at autozone.
Plywood used was 3/4 inch and the plank is 2" x 12"
The whole setup is somewhat heavy. I wouldn't recommend it for those with a bad back.
Now the question is what to do with those big ramps while travelling. I'm thinking of buying a hitch receiver platform that will store the ramps below the tailgate. Probably route a cable through them to lock them to the platform.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 401
From: Port Coquitlam B.C.
First of all, Do you have a full size bed? I have a F150 with a short bed. I have carried my bike in the bed but the back wheel is on the tail gate and it makes me a little nervous, the cables that hold the tail gate are pretty thin. I have used short ramps but I back up to a little hill to make loading easier.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 995
Likes: 2
From: Canada
Worst case scenario you find a ditch, lord knows there has to be a ditch somewhere around use a 6 ft ramp, and you are gold. I have an old 6ft trifold snowmobile ramp nice and wide, but being so short you have to be on some sort of hill.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
I was watching vids of the LoadsAll ramp. It is self contained. I don't have one nor have I ever used one but having the ramp slide into the base looks pretty nifty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SivVEyZnNoI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SivVEyZnNoI
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 97
Likes: 1
From: ga
vouche for loadall sys! i own one
i can vouche for the loadall system. i own one an love it...it also 'floats over the tailgate and you don't have any weight on the tailgate straps.
Last edited by getanxd; Mar 7, 2012 at 07:59 AM. Reason: typo
Just purchased the Big Boy II loading ramps from discountramps.com
I got the 10' length. They work really well and I highly recommend them. Plenty of clearance. In addition, I purchased a pair of tailgate support straps, and a loading bracket that the ramps fit into to prevent them from kicking out.
To secure the bike, I built a wooden platform that is "keyed" around my rear wheel hubs so that it can't slide out or side to side. On top of the ramp, I have a Condor chock for my front wheel. The wood platform extends out over the tailgate but floats about 1" above it. When the rear wheel of the bike is on the plank, no weight is on the rear tailgate..it continues to float.
The tailgate support straps are kind of gimmicky. I don't know if they actually help relieve stress on the cables or not. However, I will say that although everyone stresses the cable strength..CHECK your tailgate brackets. Mine were rusted and crumbling, I replaced them for $20 at autozone.
Plywood used was 3/4 inch and the plank is 2" x 12"
The whole setup is somewhat heavy. I wouldn't recommend it for those with a bad back.
Now the question is what to do with those big ramps while travelling. I'm thinking of buying a hitch receiver platform that will store the ramps below the tailgate. Probably route a cable through them to lock them to the platform.
I got the 10' length. They work really well and I highly recommend them. Plenty of clearance. In addition, I purchased a pair of tailgate support straps, and a loading bracket that the ramps fit into to prevent them from kicking out.
To secure the bike, I built a wooden platform that is "keyed" around my rear wheel hubs so that it can't slide out or side to side. On top of the ramp, I have a Condor chock for my front wheel. The wood platform extends out over the tailgate but floats about 1" above it. When the rear wheel of the bike is on the plank, no weight is on the rear tailgate..it continues to float.
The tailgate support straps are kind of gimmicky. I don't know if they actually help relieve stress on the cables or not. However, I will say that although everyone stresses the cable strength..CHECK your tailgate brackets. Mine were rusted and crumbling, I replaced them for $20 at autozone.
Plywood used was 3/4 inch and the plank is 2" x 12"
The whole setup is somewhat heavy. I wouldn't recommend it for those with a bad back.
Now the question is what to do with those big ramps while travelling. I'm thinking of buying a hitch receiver platform that will store the ramps below the tailgate. Probably route a cable through them to lock them to the platform.
Novice
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
That loadall system is pretty slick. But I wanted something that I could put in and take out of on my own. I'm not sure how heavy that platform is. The thing I like about that system is it works for ATVs also.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 426
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis, MD
that loadall system looks great but for $2,000 why not get a trailer? then you can use the trailer for multiple purposes an still have your bed space free
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I agree (for my situation) Rented a MC-specific trailer from U-haul. If needed, I'd buy one exactly like it
