I'm needing to buy a truck to haul a trailer (RV type, non-5th wheel) around that I plan on buying next year. The truck also needs room for my 07 RG in the box. I'm kinda struck on the Toyota Tundra Limited. My question is, does the bike have to fit 100% into the box, or can the tailgate support the rear wheel ? Thanks

 

toyota????????? why?? a little truck when i buy a TRUCK i always use the rule of "bigger the better" that will go a long way when you pull a trailer or use the bed.

by the way i have a F350 diesel so i am partial to big ford dodge or chevy

 

i would want the bike to fit in the bed and not on the tailgate . break them tailgate straps and rear of bike will drop down with the tailgate. like mtairy biker said why buy a little truck get some thing that can handel a biger load. chevy,ford & dodgewould be a good choice

 

Real trucks are not small trucks. First had a Dodge Dakota a number of years ago. Quickly found that I really needed a half ton to haul stuff around. Also, you need to know that max tow numbers are just that. You are much better off sticking toward the middle of the max tow number. In other words, if the vehicle is rated for 8000# you should probably plan on pulling around 6000#. Will a F150 pull 9000#, yes but when you get to that kind of weight you really need a 250.
One more thing, get an American truck and stop sending the profits to Japan. I don't care where it is assembled. I have to laugh at how Toyota is advertising that they have built 10 million vehicles here in the last two decades. The Detroit manufacturers have typically done that in one year. Keep your money here (or at least as much as possible).

 

Also, I'm pretty sure that no mini truck will handle a big bike with out overhang on the gate. In fact, most (perhaps all) quad cab half tons would be in the same boat. Tailgate should handle the weight of the bike just fine though. You could always buy some heavy duty tailgate straps it that is a concern.

 

Come on , there is only 1 truck to haul your Harley .

 

I'd suggest that you take a look at a Toy Hauler Camping RV Trailer rather than trying to load a bike in the back of a pickup. I got rid of a motorhome and now use a truck camper and pull my enclosed motorcycle trailer. A full width drop gate on a toyhauler or a separate trailer sure makes loading and unloading safer and easier - your feet can be on the ramp. A shortbed truck with the tailgate down may also cause some interference with the front of the trailer when backing up sharply. I start out in snow, ice and SALT when I head south in the winter for a few weeks. I want my bike in an enclosed trailer. It would be unprotected and covered with salt and grit in the back of a truck. Get a heavy enough truck to do the job. If you use a 1/2 ton, you should still equip it properly with a towing package i.e.HD cooling, trans cooler, battery, hitch, etc. I also put Firestone air bags in the rear and heavier load range tires all around. It's your money so you should buy what you want. I feel that, especially today, we should try to buy American whenever possible.

 

Go with a toy hauler/enclosed trailer then you will have a portable garage. It will help keep both you and your bike safe, for loading and unloading, from weather, and from those not so honest people.

BTW ask the salesperson how big the tundra's gas tank is. If its still the 20 gallon size, that's the tundra's biggest complaint "No range, always stopping to fill up"

 

ok heres my deal i looked at trucks for over 4 months looked at the toyota chevy ford all of em this is what i bought 2009 f350 super duty. extend cab with 8 foot bed bike fits perfect. oh yeah 13k in rebates on the 09s

 

Need a heavy duty 3/4 or 1 ton long bed. Get a big motor! Tailgates will bend, cables will break.