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Is there any suggestions on how to Load / Unload a bike from a pickup, working alone? I just purchased a CRF230F5 on Tuesday of this week and it has sat on the truck ever since. I am Short 5'3" and I don't have the arm reach to control the bike from the top of the Ramp. I heard a suggestion of starting the bike down the ramp hold in the front brake and Kneel on the tailgate and step to the ground, while working the bike down the ramp. It is still a ways to the ground, and while I am doing all this I still have to balance the Bike. When it comes to loading, how do I push it up the Ramp? The Ramp is short only Six Feet and on level ground it is still appears steep. I am a Newby to Dirt after a Fourty Year Lay off. I had a Honda 150 CA-92 1963 Model when I was in High school that I chopped for dirt. It was basically a street bike that I rode to location. Any suggestions please Advise.

use a wider ramp
so you can walk with your bike
I have a simple 8" board for a ramp
when loading the SV I put a second board next to it, and walk the bike up, engine running 1st gear just off idle
back in the old days with 4" bed height on my old Mercedes, I did ride the bike up the ramp, since I could open all 3 gates I could sit on the bike and roll it down, or very seldom, to freak out streetriders, ride it right off the bed without a ramp

use a bank so your ramp is not as steep

ask your neighbor for help

use a stool, toolbox, ... as a step between the bed and the floor

I am with ev...either get anoter board to walk on or get a wider ramp that you can walk next to your bike on.

Ken,

there's a couple of options in bike carrier designs as well. The pickup truck bed & ramp is by far the cheapest.
Here's one that's not inexpensive, but boy is it neat. It's working great for me so far, and also provides a neat workstand for your bike.

http://www.motojackrack.com

I have a short bed pickup, so it was either try something like this, or purchase a small trailer which is more expensive and difficult to store where I live.

Good luck, hope this helps!
matt

As matt points out there are some solutions that can help with this problem. ev makes some great suggestions. another that i would mention is using natural terrain to help. i often can find a small slope or depression that i can back my truck to and it can signficantly reduce the angle. Also, using a step is a great idea and I will often use a bike stand which makes a great step. Lastly, it helps to be 6'3" but there's no place I know where you can order that as an add-on.

just use a bike stand to use as a stool. I'm 5'4 or 5'5 on a good day and i dont have much trouble. back my truck into the curb and launch that mofo up there.

I'd take it off the truck ASAP. you dont want to keep those forks compressed.

turn your truck into a low rider!

redrider660 wrote:turn your truck into a low rider!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA thats good thats good

yeah turning you truck into a lowrider would probably cost more than a good solid ramp

Click on the link indicated here.

http://crfsonly.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=897

This technique will work for loading into a pick up as well.

I have a 05 CRF250x .. I got a folding ATV ramp 71" long by 42" wide cost about $139 .. I start the bike up an walk it up the ramp in first gear.. feel very stable and safe. My ramp came with straps to hold to truck bed. I can just push my daughters Yamaha YZ85 up. Then I just fold the ramp and bungee cord into the bed

hold the rear swing arm.....grab the bars....back it off the tailgate....right as the front wheel reaches the end of the tailgate to drop.....let go of the swingarm.....getting it in......cry for help

Both of my knees are bad and I have a full size pickup. I have to use a folding step stool. Run the bike up the ramp as far as you can push it: grab the front brake. Step up on the first rung, push it a little further: grab the front brake. Step up on the second rung: grab the front brake. From here you can step onto the tailgait and right into the bed. Unloading is just the same in reverse. Hold it back with the front brake while you step down the rungs. The shorter first (lower) rung height of the folding step makes it very easy especially with my bad knees. The step stool folds flat and stores easily in the bed of the truck.

there are a couple of options to make this easier. first if it's just one bike you are hauling you should consider the Motojackrack. It's great because it installs in your trailer hitch and lowers and raises via a hydraulic jack. Very easy to use...here's a link:

http://crfsonly.com/catalog/product_inf ... ts_id/1338

The other solution is to get a longer ramp which will ease the angle of the ramp you are trying to push a dirt bike up. The ReadyRamp is among the longest and doubles as a bed extender. Here's a link:

http://crfsonly.com/catalog/product_inf ... ts_id/1457

The last option is a trailer. A two or three bike trailer makes loading and unloading bikes pretty easy. The bad news is you have drive a trailer speeds which depending on how far you are traveling to ride can be a huge negative.

ken

xyourlocaldjx wrote:just use a bike stand to use as a stool.

I'd take it off the truck ASAP. you dont want to keep those forks compressed.

yep, you can't beat the bike stand...but if you don't want to lug your bike stand everytime you go ride, use your cooler...works like a champ.

ps: the most secure way to carry a bike in the bed of the truck does not require the compression of forks....

1) Angle the front tire into one of the front corners.

2) put one strap to the other front corner

3) put the other strap to the BACK corner (same side of truck as front tire is stuck into)

4) the tailgate should touch the rear tire when closed

5) bike is rock solid secure, forks are totally uncompressed. Bike is wedged into the corner, front wheel can't move, bike can't fall left or right. I've done 4-wheel drifts on pavement with this setup with zero problems.

The only things these photo's don't show is my tailgate up.