Table Lift Loading Issue
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 404
From: SE,GA
On my motorcycle trailer I have it set up with a double hitch from harbor freight, I use an electric winch to pull the bikes up if they are not running, this way I can load them myself. I have a steel bar about the width of the front end of the bike with eye hooks, I use the soft tie straps around the forks and wrench them up. Maybe you can fabricate a mount that will fit the lift.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
Get a run at it, inertia will help you roll the bike right up the ramp and into the chock. Aim well.
Use a longer ramp for less steepness. Get it long enough and you can just walk the bike up it.
Those are two ways one man, working alone, can roll the likes of a heavy bike, car, etc up onto a lift table.
The aforementioned electric winch works also, as well block and tackle, a chain-fall, even a come-a-long.
I have heard of garage door openers being used, and even fall weights just for assistance.
As the old saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Use a longer ramp for less steepness. Get it long enough and you can just walk the bike up it.
Those are two ways one man, working alone, can roll the likes of a heavy bike, car, etc up onto a lift table.
The aforementioned electric winch works also, as well block and tackle, a chain-fall, even a come-a-long.
I have heard of garage door openers being used, and even fall weights just for assistance.
As the old saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,465
Likes: 6,333
From: pacific northwest
Get a run at it, inertia will help you roll the bike right up the ramp and into the chock. Aim well.
Use a longer ramp for less steepness. Get it long enough and you can just walk the bike up it.
Those are two ways one man, working alone, can roll the likes of a heavy bike, car, etc up onto a lift table.
The aforementioned electric winch works also, as well block and tackle, a chain-fall, even a come-a-long.
I have heard of garage door openers being used, and even fall weights just for assistance.
As the old saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Use a longer ramp for less steepness. Get it long enough and you can just walk the bike up it.
Those are two ways one man, working alone, can roll the likes of a heavy bike, car, etc up onto a lift table.
The aforementioned electric winch works also, as well block and tackle, a chain-fall, even a come-a-long.
I have heard of garage door openers being used, and even fall weights just for assistance.
As the old saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat.
all the same I will just let the power of the bike run it up the ramp, trying to push the big beast faster would be afraid of loosing balance and possibly dropping it on myself.
Tourer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 390
Likes: 266
From: Waterloo Ontario
My experience with a lift. The damn thing scoots across my floor when I try to load my bike on it.The Harley just isnt fast enough to catch up. I had to block it in place. I have friends who do concrete work and we were all set to sink my lift in the floor. But buddy ,who is smarter than me, asked what height do I have the lift at. My answer was-all the way up.So dropping it 5 or 6 inches into the floor just wouldnt work for my height.
I store the lift under an antique car when not in use and prop a 16 2x4 in front of it when I am loading my bike. I cant load a non running bike without help. The speed I would need to get up the ramp would have me running beside the bike and that isnt happening. Since I have a beer fridge in my garage, there is always someone to give me a hand to load a bike.
I also use the lift to load a bike into my pick up truck.
So my solution to your problem is to get a beer fridge and a 2x4
I store the lift under an antique car when not in use and prop a 16 2x4 in front of it when I am loading my bike. I cant load a non running bike without help. The speed I would need to get up the ramp would have me running beside the bike and that isnt happening. Since I have a beer fridge in my garage, there is always someone to give me a hand to load a bike.
I also use the lift to load a bike into my pick up truck.
So my solution to your problem is to get a beer fridge and a 2x4
Last edited by H20loo; Dec 31, 2022 at 03:50 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 484
Likes: 38
From: DE
I bought a cheap 12 volt winch with a key fob remote from harbor freight. I mounted a bracket at the top of the wheel chalk. I hook it to the front of the bike- either crash bars on dressers or handel bars on others. I ride on bike and use remote to pull bike up. I only do this on non running bikes and my panheads that are foot clutch. Other wise I ride up under power with side extensions
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 231
Likes: 100
From: WI
Having read through this thread, I will definitely be adding side extensions to my Harbor Freight lift. Gonna make some out of 2X12's. Just have to decide whether they will be attached or free standing. Decisions Decisions
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 5,317
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...xtentions.html