HarleyTechTalk

        My youngest son just bought his first bike,a Sportster and now he wants to load it on his Toyota Tacoma and come and visit..Anyone have suggestions on a ramp ..I was thinking about the Dennis kirk folding ramp..He can't ride out here cause he's a Federal Park Ranger and starting a new job so he'll be hauling all he owns....The thought of riding with one of my kids is thrilling!
       Any suggestions will be appreciated...thanks

How Cool!!  I never rode bikes with my dad until last year...I am almost 50, he 75.  Wish we had done it years ago.

Cant help much on a ramp.  Back in the day we rode/raced dirt bikes, it was nothing more than a 2x6 or 2x10.  I think a Sporty may break one of those.  Plus, it was always 2-3 of us to get the bike up the ramp.

Same concept, however, there are some folding ramps that help a single person walk/ride the bike up into the bed.  Made of aluminum for weight, and much stronger than a 2x6. lol  Wide too, for 1-man moving.

look here for a start:  http://www.motorcycleramps.com/

menace

Got a tri fold alum. ramp from Harbor Frieght for $75 on sale...It works good.

Quote from: tireater on July 15, 2009, 10:52:04 AM
Got a tri fold alum. ramp from Harbor Frieght for $75 on sale...It works good.

yep used it many times - got mine on sale for $59 I think.

I got a set for lawn tractors at about $50.

I don't think the Harbor Freight tri-fold would work since the truck tail gate is pretty high and the Sportster would hang up. One of those ramps that are bowed might work out OK.
I was just thinking that the Harbor Freight might work if he had someone put a floor jack on the rear of the ramp (you would probably have to fasten a 2x6 on the bottom end) and when the bike is up towards the top slip the jack under the back and jack it up so the bike doesn't hang up. I had a HF tri-fold and put plywood down the center and rode my Sportster and my Road Glide on it onto a Harbor Freight 4x8 fold up trailer which was a lot lower than a Toyota pickup. I think the HF tri-fold runs around $80 on sale and a compact floor jack around $30. I know I'm cheap but the longer bowed ramps are $400+.
  Bigs

Why not just back the truck up to a slope..?...flat ramps work good that way...

rampage lifts i have one and it is the "Potty mouth" http://www.sportslift.com/cycletoylift2.html

l have a folding aluminum arched ramp and have had quite a few bikes on the back of my ford ranger with the aid of it and not one of them has ever grounded on the ramp due to the arch in it. (Even a jap bike with a bellypan )

l use the ramp plus a aluminum fold out step from the local decorating store to load bikes on my own, l just start the bike and walk it up the ramp whilst stepping onto the step and then the tailgate as it goes on.

I think HF sells those cast alum. tips for a 2x 10. I used a plank w/ a cleat nailed on 'till my son sold his ATV and gimme the bi-fold aluminum job.

Have this one for 8 or 9 years , load a Heritage on Silverado 4x4 no problems, no help needed.

http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle-loading-ramp.htm

Buy a decent one, you don't want to fall off the tail gate. $ well spent.

Quote from: rustyflstc on July 15, 2009, 05:14:14 PM
Have this one for 8 or 9 years , load a Heritage on Silverado 4x4 no problems, no help needed.

http://www.discountramps.com/motorcycle-loading-ramp.htm

Buy a decent one, you don't want to fall off the tail gate. $ well spent.

They work really well. I have one that I would sell for a good price if someone would pick it up. Pretty hopeless to try and ship them.

Why go crazy with buying a ramp that is gonna take up space while he's moving everything he owns???  Call a couple of local Metric shops and see if they have a customer ramp for loading and unloading..... then do the same at your end.  FWIW, I've never not been able to find a ditch that you couldn't put to use in a pinch for loading bikes, yard tractors and stuff like that.... Or, cruise around a local mall and see what pops up as far as a loading dock that could be pressed into service.

Rags

Discount Ramps here also. I've got the Black Widow and can ride my Street Glide up into my Dodge Ram 4x4 without scraping bottom.

www.discountramps.com/?gclid=CMD74_ud2ZsCFSBN5QodnmxT-w

What Rags said, somewhere in every town I have been in the is a dock waiting to be used.

Mark

Thanks for the help ,Guys..I ordered a Big Boy from Discount.....I appreciate the suggestions about finding a loading dock in every town but out in the sticks all you can find are cattle ramps and their a bit rickerty plus it takes two people,one to drive the truck and one to drive the bike...

Quote from: Rags722 on July 15, 2009, 05:36:34 PM
Why go crazy with buying a ramp that is gonna take up space while he's moving everything he owns???  Call a couple of local Metric shops and see if they have a customer ramp for loading and unloading..... then do the same at your end.  FWIW, I've never not been able to find a ditch that you couldn't put to use in a pinch for loading bikes, yard tractors and stuff like that.... Or, cruise around a local mall and see what pops up as far as a loading dock that could be pressed into service.

Rags

The U-Haul storage places here all have a loading dock with a ramp.  You can ride the bike up onto the loading dock, then backup up the pickup truck and ride into the bed.  Makes it super simple.

-Craig

2"x12"x8' Board works great with the help of a hill, ditch, neighbor's home (when not at home), etc. Those ramps will work great.  Just remember, while backing down the ramps, there is a chance when the rear wheel is on the ground and the front is still on the ramp, both your feet will probably be dangling, ass will pucker for a second or so.  Been there, done that!

-Snuff

I've hauled my Sportster all over the east coast in the back of my Toyota 4WD.  My ramp is a 7ft 2x12 with an aluminum ramp end bolted on it.  I can load/unload on flat ground with it and some help.  With a ditch or slight back,  I can do it by myself easily.

If you worried about the boards breaking, buy two 2"x10"s and screw them together. Or stick something under the middle of it when you off load. How many times is he going to use a set of ramps. There is or course just picking it up and sticking in the back with the help of a buddy. I like boards myself. Lots of other uses!

Cheapest way for the end ramp is a piece of plate steel 10"x10"x3/16", set in vise, heat, 12# sledge and put a bend (approx 20 deg.) thru the middle, spray paint black, and bolt it on the end of a 2"x12"x8'.

-Snuff

Snuff & Grump
 I know what you guys are saying...It's also a good idea to loop a tiedown over the board and attach each end to your trailer hitch..This keeps the board from slipping and makes it a whole lot safer..

 But this is a young kid..and hopefully he'll be riding for a long time..he might have this ramp for the next 50 years...might as well get a good one now..

Speaking of ramps, anyone else ever borrow a pickup, hit the ramp too slow on the first 2 attempts, and on the third try get up too much speed and shatter the rear window of a borrowed truck?  The day is all downhill from that point!
Rags

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7jsYMrCdb8&feature=related

Check this out

I saw a guy do that with a 32 ft boat...Tried a couple times to get on a trailer..too heavy...
He drove around and dumped the water in the well...tried it again with 2 motors screaming...
It cleared the trailer, kept going up in the pickup bed and broke the back window of the truck with the anchor.
What a mess...wrecked the props and outdrives...bent the truck almost flat...and dinged up a new boat.