How to Haul a Motorcycle
Purchase a motorcycle ramp with a sufficient weight rating for your motorcycle., Measure the width of your front tire. , Prepare your pickup bed for transporting a motorcycle., Cut a 10-by-10-inch (25.4-by-25.4-cm) piece of plywood to place under...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Purchase a motorcycle ramp with a sufficient weight rating for your motorcycle.
Ramps should be rated for at least 800 pounds (364 kg).
Ramps with a lesser weight rating may start to twist, bend, or fail completely with continued use.
Look in your owner's manual for the weight of your motorcycle or ask your dealer. -
Step 2: Measure the width of your front tire.
, Cut a piece of plywood 5-by-1 foot (1.52-by-.3 m) to place right behind the back window.
Nail 2, 2-by-4s that are 1-foot (30.5 cm) long far enough apart to accommodate your front tire, which is typically about 4 inches (10.2 cm).
This will hold the tire steady and not allow it to twist from side to side.
Nail a 2-by-4 to the front of these 2 boards to act as a front tire chock and to stop the motorcycle from rolling forward. , This will keep the motorcycle upright and protect the bed of the truck. ,,,, This can help secure the bikes when you haul motorcycles.
Attach a pair of the tie downs to the front corners of the truck, and extend them as far out as they can go.
Attach them to a structural part of the bike such as the triple tree or the front of the engine where the frame meets the crash bars, which is found on inverted fork bikes. , Run the straps to the back corners of the truck and secure on the tie brackets.
Find a high place on the motorcycle, such as the chassis, to attach the tie downs to and tighten. ,, -
Step 3: Prepare your pickup bed for transporting a motorcycle.
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Step 4: Cut a 10-by-10-inch (25.4-by-25.4-cm) piece of plywood to place under the kickstand.
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Step 5: Make the truck as level as possible with the ground by backing up to a hill or curb.
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Step 6: Line up the ramp with the front wheel chock in the center of the truck.
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Step 7: Load the motorcycle into the truck.
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Step 8: Use 2 pair of cam buckle tie downs or ratchet straps.
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Step 9: Use a pair of straps to secure the back end of the motorcycle for extra stability.
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Step 10: Stop the truck
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Step 11: and check the motorcycle every 30 minutes to be sure that the tie straps have not loosened or the bike shifted.
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Step 12: Finished.
Detailed Guide
Ramps should be rated for at least 800 pounds (364 kg).
Ramps with a lesser weight rating may start to twist, bend, or fail completely with continued use.
Look in your owner's manual for the weight of your motorcycle or ask your dealer.
, Cut a piece of plywood 5-by-1 foot (1.52-by-.3 m) to place right behind the back window.
Nail 2, 2-by-4s that are 1-foot (30.5 cm) long far enough apart to accommodate your front tire, which is typically about 4 inches (10.2 cm).
This will hold the tire steady and not allow it to twist from side to side.
Nail a 2-by-4 to the front of these 2 boards to act as a front tire chock and to stop the motorcycle from rolling forward. , This will keep the motorcycle upright and protect the bed of the truck. ,,,, This can help secure the bikes when you haul motorcycles.
Attach a pair of the tie downs to the front corners of the truck, and extend them as far out as they can go.
Attach them to a structural part of the bike such as the triple tree or the front of the engine where the frame meets the crash bars, which is found on inverted fork bikes. , Run the straps to the back corners of the truck and secure on the tie brackets.
Find a high place on the motorcycle, such as the chassis, to attach the tie downs to and tighten. ,,
About the Author
Douglas Harvey
Committed to making practical skills accessible and understandable for everyone.
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