Daytona Bike Week and...

[H3Jim]

I have two open bays and each one is 44" tall by 44" wide.  Have to turn the bars down, but it fits.

[DaveG]

I have two open bays and each one is 44" tall by 44" wide.  Have to turn the bars down, but it fits.

Any chance you'd post a picture of this?

Anyone else with suggestions on loading motorcycles?

[Blacksheep]

I built a simple channel that was attached to a sqaure tube. That tube was inserted into the trailer hitch. To get bike on and off, I left the ends of the channel open. Built a ramp out of thinner steel that would work on either end. Roll the bike on one end and off the other. The ramp worked on both sides. Built it in a day. Used it twice and traded it to a friend when I got rid of the bike. Now I have another bike but opt to use enclosed trailer.
Ace

[DaveG]

I built a simple channel that was attached to a sqaure tube. That tube was inserted into the trailer hitch. To get bike on and off, I left the ends of the channel open. Built a ramp out of thinner steel that would work on either end. Roll the bike on one end and off the other. The ramp worked on both sides. Built it in a day. Used it twice and traded it to a friend when I got rid of the bike. Now I have another bike but opt to use enclosed trailer.
Ace

One concern here is hanging two 400# motorcycles out the back end of the bus...my understanding is that most coaches aren't set up to handle loads like that; not sure if you would make your trailer hitch hang off/tie into the engine cradle or not. In addition, there is the theft and exposure to the elements concern.

[cody]

The ideal situation for us would be to have some kind of a rack on the bus hitch that I could run the bike onto and then be able to also hook the truck towbar too. Libby wants to start towing the truck so she can have her golf cart in the back.  She keeps reminding me tho that I'm not supposed to be riding the bike anymore.

[REK]

Cody:

A thought from someone who is only dreaming of owning a bus currently but   .   .   .

Why not tow the truck and hang the motorcycle off the back of the truck  .   .   .   if you set it up like Ace did way back when, you should be able to use the "motorcycle carrier" on the bus when not towing the truck.

Just my 2 cents worth.

I now return you to the people who know  .   .   .

Rick

[cody]

Rick, the problem is the golf cart, if we leave the golf cart at the house, then the bike fits nicely in the pickup box, but if we take the golf cart with us we have to leave the tailgate down on the truck cause the golf cart is too long, the wheels all fit inside the short box but the body length prevents me from raising the tailgate. With the tailgate down, the bike won't fit on the back without a long extention on the reciever and it's a harley, not as light as it could be.  I just found this carrier, looks interesting but not sure if my iggle has the kind of frame to hold it.              http://www.motorcyclecarrier.net/rv_motorcycle_carrier.html

[John316]

Cody,

That is one great looking bike!!!

God bless,

John

[circusboy90210]

I built a simple channel that was attached to a sqaure tube. That tube was inserted into the trailer hitch. To get bike on and off, I left the ends of the channel open. Built a ramp out of thinner steel that would work on either end. Roll the bike on one end and off the other. The ramp worked on both sides. Built it in a day. Used it twice and traded it to a friend when I got rid of the bike. Now I have another bike but opt to use enclosed trailer.
Ace

One concern here is hanging two 400# motorcycles out the back end of the bus...my understanding is that most coaches aren't set up to handle loads like that; not sure if you would make your trailer hitch hang off/tie into the engine cradle or not. In addition, there is the theft and exposure to the elements concern.

Iknew a truck driver who built a box out of steel to put his motorcycles into, however I don't think 2k is much compared to your bus, could be wrong think I've seen this done on a bus too.

[Hartley]

Uh.. Why not make an aluminum channel & rack that will fit the golf cart.
Rig the top of the cart to fold down or be removable. Attach the bike rack so it will hinge
back or retract when the bike is not being carried. That way the golf cart rides in the truck and the bike rides on the golf cart.

Sure it's wierd but there's enough engineer types and metal guys that could probably design and build it and look good.

I need a new brain.. I think I broke this one trying to get the plastic wrapper off...

[Blacksheep]

Dave I don't think a golf cart will carry a 1000 lb bike but if it will, it sure won't be mine hanging off the back of it which is off the back of an open pick up! Uhh... nope!

Ace

[Van]

Cut it out ,you guys got me lookin at stacker trailers now,I want to take it all with me! lol. Hey prices are getting better 32,000 for a new stacker

[Hartley]

Dave I don't think a golf cart will carry a 1000 lb bike but if it will, it sure won't be mine hanging off the back of it which is off the back of an open pick up! Uhh... nope!

Ace

I have carried loads of over 900 lbs on the back of my Yamaha electric golf cart. My old EZGO stretch limo cart currently has a 450 lb diesel generator on it and you don't even know its there.
The only time I maxxed out the ezgo was when I had a 300 gallon tank full of veggie oil and the batteries were weak. It is rated at 2,500 lbs and uses the same running gear as most regular carts.

Most golf carts are actually made with industrial parts and would surprise you at their load handling capacity (weight). I have pulled my 20 foot car trailer with the yamaha in the past.

Now, My thought was that if you modified the cart a little, Like maybe if the cart has a roof and separate seat backs. The passenger seat back could me made removable. The top could be removed or setup to fold out of the way. The bike rack (track) could run from the back of the cart to over the passenger side and have tie down posts & eye on each side. All could be made removable when not needed. Then have tie downs on the back of the truck bed to stabilize the bike and cart.

Load the bike on the cart and drive the cart onto the truck. lock the brakes and attach tie downs and straps from there. Then you only need the one set of ramps to get the cart into the truck.

HF sells a nice little 2,000 lb radio remote control 12 volt winch system that could be adapted to operate the loading and unloading part. I have one in the back of my box truck mounted on one of the 1/2 ton truck booms (also from HF) and it easily lifts stuff like my riding mower and golf cart all with the press of a button. It swivels in and outside of the back of the truck.

(Yup) Thinking out of the box again.(literally)..

[cody]

I got a couple of nice emails cause of this thread, thanks guys for the compliments, it is a nice bike.  The main reason I'm not riding yet is that we are still in the death throes of winter, spring is coming but it's still a while off up here, I explained that often we have snow well into june in places so I thought I'd take a pic and show you what I mean, 12 to 25 foot tall snow banks are not unusual here in april and may, this pic was taken yesterday april 8th, behind the snow bank is snow that is still 5ft deep on the level but you can see some water running, it is melting lol.  Incidentally, my pickup is a full sized dodge 4x4, you can see we still have a little snow lol.

[Van]

Cody,LOL I can just picture your Harley doing the "Flying Santucci"act atop the golf cart in the back of that 4x4 dodge,OH BOY.I will be wanting to take our pick up,as well as the Roadglide,and an enclosed trailer is the perfect solution those of you(like us LOL)that have started(again)to accumulate more stuff(toys)than we can carry on the bus safely ,besides I like my mc close to the ground,if you know what I mean,