help: loading two bikes into pickup

[drop]

well, here i am loading two bikes into the back of the pickup. i can't figure out a secure mount point for the right side of my zzr600 - everywhere i go to route the strap seems to be faired or interferes with (read: will damage) throttle/brake lines. the left side was no problem - went up along the fork to the lower triple tree.

anyone have any suggestions for dual loading a pickup? the other bike (ninja 250) has a relatively thin profile w/smaller cowlings and doesn't look to be a problem for routing straps. i don't have a center mount point on my pickup bed (2002 tundra, 81" bed)...wish i did though - this would be super easy!

at this point, i really regret not buying the trailer, and u-haul wants $350 to rent a trailer for 8 days.

question 2: anyone want to rent out their trailer for less than uhaul? i need it from today through next saturday (8/16 - 8/23). i have full collision & comprehensive insurance on my truck. total distance round trip is 250 miles.

any and all help is greatly appreciated!

- jamie

[GixerJockey]

So, which is it? Do you want trailer recomendations, or, help putting two bikes into a trailer???

[drop]

i need to roll today, so loading both bikes in the pickup would be ideal.

if i can't get them both securely strapped down without possible damage, i'll have to find/rent a trailer. it's not worth risking the bike(s) to save a couple hundred bucks.

i'll buy a case of beer for anyone in the area that can stop by and give me a hand getting this right.

[Mr. Kurtz]

It's probably of no help to you, but I have a small trailer(one bike perfect, 2 in a pinch) you could borrow for your trip for free. Only problem is it's in southern Connecticut.

[drop]

thanks a lot, mr kurtz...appreciate it. looks like i'll be ok this time, but that is very generous of you.

i ended up getting both bikes loaded in the pickup. pete (OreoGitorio) chimed in with a few suggestions, and finally i feel confident they're both strapped securely.

well...i guess i'll know for sure in about 120 miles.

[imkindafkedup]

if u can, post a pic up. I'm interested to see how they fit.

[e30addict]

I'd love to know how to do this too. I need to get two bikes in a full size Chevy next month and have no clue how to get two tied down safely.

Ninja 250 and a CBR are the two bikes.

Help

[Mr. Kurtz]

thanks a lot, mr kurtz...appreciate it. looks like i'll be ok this time, but that is very generous of you.

No prob dude, glad you got it worked out. Did's Pete's suggestions involve anything illegal or immoral? Because they usually do...

For reference, anytime anyone finds themselves needing a small trailer in the lower CT area, I only use mine a few times a year, so that offer stands to almost anyone, almost anytime.

[drop]

i figured someone would want to see pics so i took a few before i left. guess i was right!

everything went great - bikes were stable the whole ride up. loading/unloading is much easier with the right equipment - two 10" aluminum ramps...one for the bike itself, and one to walk up alongside & steer.

pete suggested cross-strapping to improve clearance around fenders & cowlings, which worked great. then he suggested i throw rocks at children & send him naked pictures of old ladies - for good luck, of course. is that what you were referring to?

pictures of the bikes strapped in are attached. and yes, my finger got in the way on the first couple shots.

[e30addict]

Looks nicely done. Did you bolt the chock to the bed?

[Jim]

Jamie, why didnt you strap down the rear tires

[drop]

Looks nicely done. Did you bolt the chock to the bed?

the chock on the right is securely strapped to the front wheel of the 250. i didn't want to cut holes or drill into the bed for a one-time thing.

[drop]

Jamie, why didnt you strap down the rear tires

i was told it doesn't really need to be done, and since the tires/bikes didn't move even a slight amount i guess that was a fair suggestion.

even so, i did try throwing a strap over the rear tires because i felt weird about leaving it free. however, as i rocked the bikes the strap tension seemed to force the rear wheels closer to each other. putting a strap through the rear tires just flapped around, and behind them had the same effect as over the top. it looked like i was going to need 4 more straps to keep things even and prevent side motion from the strap tension.

was there a better approach? i still need to get home

[Jim]

was there a better approach? i still need to get home

this is how i was taught to strap downt he rear tire. may not be the best way, but i've heard a bunch of other people use the same method. i just wrap it around the rear tire and ratchet it until there's a slight indent around the tire and strap. the rear tire will move around a bit while in the truck if you dont strap it down

[drop]

ah, makes sense. i'll strap the rears that way for the ride home. thanks jim!

[hammadown]

heres a pic of my 2 bikes strapped down in my ranger for those of you asking for pics. They were very solid for 200+miles. If I can do it in a ranger, a full size should be a piece of cake.