Loading Bike in truck bed.
 

Looks like i have to put the bike in the bed of truck and tow the camper to sturgis. 1st time doing this. No problem at home doing this, but unloading @ campground and reloading it is what is a concern. Anyone done such a thing? Any tricks? I have 2 nice alum ramps.

Don't you people ever learn??? There was a guy here about a week or so ago who, instead of riding his brand new bike home from the dealer, decided to load into a pickup. His tiedown broke, bike fell over and his bike got dented up before he even got to ride it. Load your bike up with all your gear and ride to Sturgis or friggin stay home! Trailering or hauling your bike to Sturgis??? What's the point in going - REALLY???

I love reading all the stories of people that do this...
I'd never put the bike in the rear of a PU truck,, unless I had bout 15 sober buddies to help unload it...

After my crash I loaded my old fatboy in the back of a P/U truck. I took it to the bag loading docks of a grocery store and backed the truck up to it. I had a 2X12 and roaled the bike into the bed of the truck. I'm not into trailering or any of that but if that is what you need to do go right ahead and do it. You paid for the bike and what you do with it is of no concern to anyone else. you will see the majority of the folks at the larger rallies trailered their bike for whatever reason. You can bet that if the time ever comes where I can't ride the way I would like to, I will put it on a trailer so that I can enjoy the entire event.

Be really friggin careful loading it. I've done it a couple of times (relocating to a different city, multiple vehicles to move) and have seen it done badly a few more. riding UP a ramp into the bed of a truck is a dangerous thing; you need more throttle going up the ramp than you think, and then when you get to the top of the ramp, you better be ready to back off the right hand, really fast or you'll have the front wheel in the cab.
a Loading dock, several strong buddies to steady it and take it slow...same routine getting it off the truck.

Well i have very limited time to ride out and back. Oh trust me. My bike is only 3 weeks old and has many miles on it. It is all about time i have. Plus when i can stay @ a campground in my new camper for the entire stay for 200.00 not 300.00 a night in a motel. This is the first time i have ever towed a motorcycle. So what.

Remember when Sturgis was a MOTORCYCLE event?

Ya just need some good solid platforms for your feet so you can kinda walk the bike up under power. I brought my RG out to AZ in the back of my Ford Ranger. Loaded and inloaded it myself.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...f/IMG_4078.jpg

The ramp was a cheap dirt bike ramp, but I built a wood block to support the hinge point. The foot ramps all fold up and fit into the truck next to the bike with the ramp. I was limited on space to carry more stuff as I was going on a 4 month business trip out here so I had to improvise with the more compact ramp system. No room for the wider type of ramp.

I built a holder for the front wheel so the bike would stay upright while I tied it down plus wouldn't move around during transport.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...f/IMG_4076.jpg

I put a plank down in the bed of the truck so the rear wheel wouldn't be riding on the tailgate. That would have destroyed the gate plus dumped the bike out the back somewhere on the highway.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...p/IMAG0027.jpg

Over looking Tucson, AZ

I wouldn't be worried, there's always people there who will help you get the bike out. One of my friends bought one of those wide aluminum ramps that folds out to about 4 feet wide. that ramp sure makes life easier!!

My husband has one of those massive auxilliary fuel tanks and tool boxes in the back of his short bed truck...he took his bike to work with him (we live in Utah, he works in North Dakota) he welded this piece of metal together, as wide as his bike tire 9mm??? and as long as his bike. He welded a bar in the front and drilled holes in it so he could put the big screws through the fuel tank into the bar. His bike stuck out to the end of his tail gate and I still think he is a nut but it works like a charm. You need a good ramp or a deep ditch to get it out. He said he's going to start custom making these for people...lol