Bike Hauling

healingpath · Post by **healingpath** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:37 pm

What do you all recommend for transporting a bike over impassable roads?
I've been looking at motorcycle carriers, ramps, trailers, etc, to be used with a pickup. The one-person ramps - the wide kind you can actually drive your bike up into the truck on - seem expensive to me. A trailer seems like more trouble than it may be worth, and the hitch type carriers.....?

What do you all use?

Matthew

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:35 pm

What do you mean by "impassable?" Really rough terrain?

The Tilt-a-Rack or Versa Haul both have built-in ramps. Otherwise, you're looking at a more traditional trailer which probably doesn't fare well with "impassable."

http://www.tilt-a-rack.net/motor_cycle.htm

http://www.versahaul.com/

healingpath · Post by **healingpath** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:36 pm

Sorry for the vagueness. By "impassable" I mean snow and/or ice and/or mud covered dirt road, impassable to my scooter only. My car and/or pickup will do just fine.

The $600 price tag on the versahaul is way too much for me. Anything else?

Scootden · Post by **Scootden** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:02 am

Wow those things are expensive!

I've been looking into something to put on my truck as well.
I work with a couple of master welder's so I'm thinking I might just have them build me something similiar to the tilt a rack.

Probably cost me under $100. We'll see...

josh

Scootden · Post by **Scootden** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:22 am

Check this out....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motorcyc ... p1638.m146

Wow that's a long link...hope it works.

Anyone with experience have any thoughts on the above link?

josh

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:38 pm

I got a Moto Tote (http://www.mototote.com/) - the M3 if memory serves - from a local scooter shop (http://www.scooterinvasion.com) - support your local scooter shop!

I'm happy with it. The Moto Tote and four straps keeps the scoot nice and secure. It cost quite a bit more than the one in link, but my scoot is 300lbs, so it was out of the question for me anyway, plus I couldn't find out any info on the carrier in the link other than the web site.

Drumwoulf · Post by **Drumwoulf** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:16 am

healingpath wrote:What do you all recommend for transporting a bike over impassable roads?
I've been looking at motorcycle carriers, ramps, trailers, etc, to be used with a pickup. The one-person ramps - the wide kind you can actually drive your bike up into the truck on - seem expensive to me. A trailer seems like more trouble than it may be worth, and the hitch type carriers.....?
What do you all use?
Matthew

I bought one of those folding ladder ramps from Pep Boys for $119. It's made mostly for ATVs I think, because the cross rungs are a bit far apart for 10" wheels. But a 6X4 sturdy plywood flat laid on top of it took care of that. Now I have a good wide (and inexpensive) ramp to ride up on into the side door of my minivan...

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:03 am

Whenever I want to lift a scooter onto a pickup without a ramp, I just drop something heavy on my foot and turn into the Incredible Hulk.

Problem solved!!! RRRRRGH!

healingpath · Post by **healingpath** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:15 pm

Many thanks to you all for your input. I've looked online at all of the options: ramps, the "carrier" type hitch things, trailers.

I seem to be leaning toward your basic ATV or Harley type ramps: plenty wide, and some with "plated" floors, so no holes to fall thru. I'm wondering if in using these you've run into any challenges either with loading or unloading the bike. My P250 weighs close to 400 lbs with stored items, top case, fuel, etc. I'm a little nervous about how stable I can be with it.

Also, those of you who have used/are using the "carrier" method, how hard or easy is it to roll up and down those ramps onto the carrier?

Thanks for more feedback and recommendations.
Matthew

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:56 pm

healingpath wrote:... Also, those of you who have used/are using the "carrier" method, how hard or easy is it to roll up and down those ramps onto the carrier?

Thanks for more feedback and recommendations.
Matthew

Well, I'm closer to Dr Banner than the Hulk, and getting my 300lb SYM on and off the MotoTote is easy, by myself. The hardest part is keeping it balanced until I can get one strap down. But the Tote does prevent access to the back of the truck (I can't open the shell's hatch) which would be a pain on an extended trip.

ryder1 · Post by **ryder1** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:36 pm

I have the Versa Haul and we like it. I don't think we paid $600 for it...no, I know we didn't pay $600 for it. I think around $400 or so.

It is easy on and easy off...and the scooter is easy to load off and on.

I looked at the Moto Tote and it shows the tires secured down but I think on the versa haul the tires are not suppose to be secured but I can't remember why--maybe so they absorb the shocks in the road better.

Need a certain size hitch and weight capacity to haul the scooter using a versa haul.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:29 am

I don't strap the tires down on my Moto Tote either. A Canyon Dancer and two straps up front, and two straps on the back rack, tightened in the back enough to pull the rear down just a bit; the listed capacity of the SYM's rear rack is also about 10lbs.

Bethers · Post by **Bethers** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:27 pm

I'm female, 120 lbs - weakling - and I bought the hitch ramp for the back of my rv. I'd be happy if it was a little easier- and have been thinking of simply buying something to extend the ramp to make it slightly less of an incline, but can load a scooter myself.

I purchased on ebay from this store:
http://stores.ebay.com/ATVxpress

Again, I got the single hitch hauler (at a better price than he has listed now - so watch his prices) but if you have a pickup, I'd probably go with one of his ramps.

Lots of them out there - I found these prices to be good.

healingpath · Post by **healingpath** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:49 pm

Thanks again to all for your experiences and recommendations. I'll just have to decide which option best meets my needs and abilities.

I think I'll sleep on it for a while and let the answer present itself - like after the holidays.

Best of the holiday season to everyone, may there be love and good will, peace and compassion toward all, patience and generosity of spirit, and many blessings to you and yours for the coming year.

Matthew

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