Moving motorcycles in a rental truck

Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:02 pm

Next week I'm moving to Colorado!
Anybody got any tips, tricks, or suggestions about moving motorcycles?

We are going to be using a 16' rental truck like this:

It might have a lift gate, it might not.
I'm going to build a platform something like this but add some sides and top:

Most shipping companies want the fluids drained, I imagine for liability reasons but is it a good idea? I have four tie downs and will be utilizing them all give it the most
stability but should I put it up on the center stand? My center stand has been reworked to be quickly removable and is slight bent to one side not too extreme but still would it make more sense to just strap it down without the centerstand in?

Anybody else have experiences with moving?

Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:22 pm

when i bought my 1100 from cali, i rented a small uhaul trailer. rode it into, tie downed to walls and floor (front and back), gas off, bike upright and centered (not on center stand), in gear. no problems all the way home around 400 miles. then fired it up and backed down out of trailer, and went for a short 10 mile ride.
do yourself a favor though, go to lowes or the depot and get a pack of ratcheting straps, as you travel, pull over and give the straps another click or two when needed. also do front of trailer to back of bike first to get up tight to front wall, then front of bike to back somewhere, bike won't move at all.

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:00 am

Good Luck with your move . I used a half piece of 3/4 inch plywood w/ harbor freight motorcycle chocks bolted to the plywood w/ large load distributing washers. I also bought D rings from home depot and mounted them to the plywood. Use ratcheting straps (short as possible) to secure the load. Total cost for 2 bikes under $100. Used several times works great. Moving vans also have mounting systems on the box walls you can strap to. A stand allows the bikes suspension to soak up road shock and bumps on the way.

MB-5 Joined: Oct 07, 2007 Posts: 6 Location: SF CA

Don't do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkQYYBOrRNk

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:24 am

I rented an enclosed uhaul trailer before and stopped once the tie down rails ripped off the inside and my 900F fell into my VFR. Very upsetting day. Since that point in time, uhaul added D rings to those trailers, which would make it OK to use. I think that platform idea is GREAT, but i'm not sure how you'd push it around once loaded without a pallet jack.

Anyway, I started using one of these for moving motorcycles. I attach the rack to my K5 Blazer and drive happy.
http://www.gc-carriers.com/sport_bike_carrier.htm

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:07 am

Weekend_Junkie wrote:

I rented an enclosed uhaul trailer before and stopped once the tie down rails ripped off the inside and my 900F fell into my VFR. Very upsetting day. Since that point in time, uhaul added D rings to those trailers, which would make it OK to use. I think that platform idea is GREAT, but i'm not sure how you'd push it around once loaded without a pallet jack.

Anyway, I started using one of these for moving motorcycles. I attach the rack to my K5 Blazer and drive happy.
http://www.gc-carriers.com/sport_bike_carrier.htm

I like that carrier!
The plan, in my mind anyway, is to first load the platform in the truck. Back the truck up to a loading dock then using the ramp, which would be almost level at that point carefully (avoid repeating vowelsound's video Wow

) load the bike, strap it to the platform and box it in. Then load the rest of the stuff.
Sounds too easy. Very Happy

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:35 am

Load it like this! Its fast, easy and impresses the ladies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZo33y7w0Wk

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:50 am

If the truck has D-rings to mount to, I'd use those, both wheels on the floor. Let the bike's suspension take up any bouncing that will happen as you drive.
I would suggest NOT tying it to the (usually) wooden rails that they put on the sides of most trucks, as they really aren't made for that.

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:12 pm

You don't have to move a platform. You do need a ramp or a hill to park at the bottom of. Takes 15 min to roll bike into stand and then do straps. You get there, disconnect and roll it out. Lift the wood out (one man op) and you're done.
Same set up works if bike breaks some where or if you find a deal on a bike thats not road ready. I used three D-rings mounted to the platform to give me versatility mounting different bikes.

The only downside for me has been finding short enough ratcheting straps (under 10 ft) to secure the bike. My rope and knot skills leave much to be desired and ratchets give you the ability to slightly pre-load the suspension.

I forgot that I did also buy aluminum ramps at Costco for $99 so the deal cost around two bills w/the straps (Evil Empire/Walmart)

Many times those rental trucks have a pull out solid floor aluminum ramp so you can wheel handtrucks up it. That would work too.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96349

These were $29 a couple of months ago.

**EDIT** For the record My side stand is up while transporting...I took off two straps prior to the photo, loosened the others, and put it down.

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:23 pm

Don't use either the side or main stand,leave the bike on the wheels. Tie it down "part way" on the suspension,but do not fully compress the forks. The remaining movement allows the bike to float over bumps. A side stand is already "falling over" to start and the main stand concentrates the tie down load or bends it.

If there are tie down hooks on the floor that is great. Another version is simple 2X4's nailed to the floor or to a separate plywood to act as "chocks" to keep the bike from scooting to the side.

I assume you will be packing more than just the bike,so sides are a good idea to prevent the other stuff from making contact with it.

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:58 pm

yup, what everyone else said. Plus...

I've taken bikes on ferries a few times....

Side stand...
Pad anything the straps are in touch with (including seat)
Strap it down so a bit of suspension travel is taken up
Be sure if it moved an inch or two it's not going to contact anything

Go to bar

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:22 am

vowelsound wrote:

Don't do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkQYYBOrRNk

He shouldn't have stopped.....I hate to see good bikes wrecked for no reason. Twisted Evil

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:32 pm

I kind of like this idea.

Hawk Joined: Apr 30, 2008 Posts: 304 Location: Colorado

Lowblues wrote:

I kind of like this idea.

I saw something a lot like that the other day but they had it flipped upside down so the handle bars were on the trunk and the seat was on the roof, i did a double take as it passed me going down the highway.

Where in Colorado are you moving to Motomoon?

Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:13 pm

The Denver area, going back to school. I lived most my life in Fort Collins and after being away for six years I really missed Colorado.

Hawk Joined: Apr 30, 2008 Posts: 304 Location: Colorado

I can understand why you would miss it. Maybe we can go for a ride sometime when you get here.

MB-5 Joined: Sep 02, 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Denver, CO

Count me in on the ride when you get out here. As long as your Fs don't mind being seen with a K.

Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:23 pm

Sounds good to me!

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:14 pm

GO by a Baxley bike stand .

Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:24 am

Going to get on the road tomorrow early AM, 1046 miles. Here's how the bike is going, hope it all goes well.

The side wall is actually a workbench, and the top is the workbench supports, recycling is good. Wink

Made some room for all the parts that did not sell. viva eBay!

Nice thing about clip-ons, the bike can be made thinner.

Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:24 pm

see ya when you get here!

id be down for a F ride/get together.