Guzzi V7 in a pickup

[jackthebiker]

I purchased a Dodge Ram 1500 regular cab truck with a 8'0" bed. I am thinking of buying a 6 foot ramp at Harbor Freight to load the V7 in the truck to haul it around when needed. Do I need a wheel chock to hold the front wheel in place, or can I just leave the bike on the side stand and strap it down?

[oldbike54]

 Buy the chock .

 Dusty

[Cam3512]

I use a Condor wheel chock up in the front of the bed of my Tacoma.   Locks it in place, and makes it easier to get it strapped down.  All about the piece of mind.

[oldbike54]

I use a Condor wheel chock up in the front of the bed of my Tacoma.   Locks it in place, and makes it easier to get it strapped down.  All about the piece of mind.

 And not breaking a sidestand , or gashing the PU bed .

 Dusty

[Texas Turnip]

Spend the money on the wheel chock.I picked one up on sale for $40.

I wouldn't trust the side stand or the center stand for transporting.
Tex

[Cam3512]

You wouldn't tie it down on the sidestand anyway.  Without the chock you brace the tire against the front of the bed and strap it down upright with the forks heavily compressed.

[Nick]

Chock or not, don't use the side stand. Just use some good straps and attach them on the Ram's provided bed-tie-down brackets. (your truck should have two on each side)
Here a picture of my Norge on my short-bed Ram

[oldbike54]

Chock or not, don't use the side stand. Just use some good straps and attach them on the Ram's provided bed-tie-down brackets. (your truck should have two on each side)
Here a picture of my Norge on my short-bed Ram

 What's all that white stuff Nick 

 Dusty

[Cam3512]

And he probably rode it up the ramp in all that snow!

[keener]

i went without a chock for years ....and when i finally got one ..i though what the hell was i waiting for  they are the only way to go... get a good that not only locks the wheel but clamps on the the sides of your tire as well they are worth the $$

[TDF]

I'm with Keener, you can usually securely tie a bike down without a chock, but you've really got to think about it, use multiple straps, and every once in a while you'll have one that's tough.  Happened to my MV Agusta.  Couldn't get enough load on the front tire, and it kept wanting to walk around on the bed.  Almost tipped it over before I noticed it while driving in the rear view mirror of the truck and repositioned it in the bed and tied it a different way.  Since then I made a custom chock and worlds of difference.  Two straps and that bike ain't going nowhere with that front wheel locked in the chock.  Made me wonder as well  "What the hell was I wating for".

TDF

[swooshdave]

If you decide to go without a chock just make sure you tie down at four points.

[chuck peterson]

Proper loading technique....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T2xpAdKIS74

[not-fishing]

Better have two to three strong guys to load.

I've spent decades pushing 350 lbs+ of concrete in wheel barrels, pushing a 450 lb motorcycle up a ramp is difficult and dangerous. 

Heck at 62 and 235 lbs yeah, with 45 lbs of chub I wouldn't push my Griso up onto a trailer by myself then again I've lost loads before and know how bad it is when they get away from you.

[rboe]

I found a reasonably priced 48" wide ramp that is fairly long; makes it riding the bike a breeze and I can walk it down just as easily. The ramp splits into thirds so that it is fairly easy to stuff the bits along the bike (wrap the ramps in a canvas tarp to control noise and abrasion).

[jackthebiker]

I found a reasonably priced 48" wide ramp that is fairly long; makes it riding the bike a breeze and I can walk it down just as easily. The ramp splits into thirds so that it is fairly easy to stuff the bits along the bike (wrap the ramps in a canvas tarp to control noise and abrasion).

What is the name of the ramp? I found a 6'0" ramp at Harbor Freight for $149 dollars. About 3' wide I think and solid plate alum. If I put my rear wheels of the truck in the end of the driveway gutter I only have 29" to the tail gate from the ground, still 6' seems a little short, 8' would be better.

[jackthebiker]

Chock or not, don't use the side stand. Just use some good straps and attach them on the Ram's provided bed-tie-down brackets. (your truck should have two on each side)
Here a picture of my Norge on my short-bed Ram

Nick, looks like what I need to escape this winter.

[jackthebiker]

Better have two to three strong guys to load.

I've spent decades pushing 350 lbs+ of concrete in wheel barrels, pushing a 450 lb motorcycle up a ramp is difficult and dangerous. 

Heck at 62 and 235 lbs yeah, with 45 lbs of chub I wouldn't push my Griso up onto a trailer by myself then again I've lost loads before and know how bad it is when they get away from you.

I am 64 and 200 lbs and spent most of my life watching other people work, and sitting behind a desk. And my helper would be my 130 lb wife. Sounds like trouble doesn't it.

[Groover]

What's all that white stuff Nick 

 Dusty

That white stuff just made my stomach turn.. Summer is dwindling down... noOOOoooooo 

[Nick]

Nick, looks like what I need to escape this winter.

That was in Feb. 2007. I had just purchased the Norge from a dealer in northern NY State and could not wait to pick her up and ride her back, until the snow storm the day before dumped 2ft of the white stuff in the area. So, the first ride for the brand new Guzzi was on my pickup truck 

[lucian]

Uh OH , this could lead to a thread on the Harley forum about guzzi's always riding around in the back of pick up's.

[oldbike54]

Uh OH , this could lead to a thread on the Harley forum about guzzi's always riding around in the back of pick up's.

 Let me just go ahead and apologize for this .

 "You ain't nuthin but a hound dog" .

  Just couldn't help myself 

  Dusty

[Demar]

Like others have said.... get the chock. I have a Condor I use to do oil changes, etc.

I'm thinking of getting a Chevy Colorado short bed and want to put a smaller bike (250cc - 350cc) in the bed with the rear wheel sitting on the tailgate. Anybody have any pictures of that set-up?

[pyoungbl]

Get the widest ramp possible.  All you have to do is watch one guy step off the tailgate, miss the ramp, and fall on his ass with the bike then falling in his direction.  Youtube is full of proof. 

+1 on the chock.  Remember that as you go down the road the suspension will compress.  Your straps will be tight, then loose, then tight.  Too loose and the bike starts to walk, too tight and you risk blowing the fork seals.  Also, on the loose cycle a hook can come free and all hell will follow.  With a chock at least you can keep the front end under control. 

[atavar]

yeah, I always use masking tape on hooks and the bitter ends of straps.  It is amazing how low stick masking tape will keep a hook from unhooking if it gets a slack moment. 

[lucian]

Let me just go ahead and apologize for this .

 "You ain't nuthin but a hound dog" .

  Just couldn't help myself 

  No worries Dusty,,I knew I had it coming.

  Very nice looking Norge by the way!

[Perazzimx14]

A wheel chock is a great option especially loading and lashing down by yourself but not a necessity. Another welcome addition unless using wrap around hand guards is a Canyon Dancer. It slides over the grips and give you a place to hook the tie down straps keeping the hooks and metal parts of the ratchet strap away from the tank and other painted surfaces.

Another bit of advice is when ratcheting down the straps the idea is not to see how tight you can get them totally compressing the suspension. Tie straps need only be tight enough to support the bike from either swaying L/R or back and forth. I have sold bikes and watched guy use 6 or 8 straps compressing the daylight out of he suspension and making the bike an integral part of the truck. All of it was overkill and bad for the suspension. With a proper wheel chock, a Canyon Dancer and two straps compressing the front suspension maybe a 1/3rd of the way is all you need.

[Demar]

I just use soft loops on the bike and then attach the ratchet hook to the other end of the soft loop.


http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/34477/i/steadymate-soft-loops

[Tom]

Loop strap extenders help with tieing down a bike for transport.  Don't have or use a wheel chock.  I can see the positive uses for them.  I would roll the bike in at an angle with the front wheel/tire going into the left front corner (looking from the rear of the truck).  Kickstand goes down.  4 straps.  1st strap goes to the left front side.  2nd goes to the right front.  Other 2 go to the rear.  Crashbar mounts are good.  They all get tightened but not were they're compressing the suspension.  Tight so that the bike doesn't move.  Bike ramp goes in last behind the front tire wedging it in.  I use 2 ramps one for the bike and one for me to walk on.  Ancra bike tiedowns.  Loading sometimes I need help.  Unloading is not a problem since the driveway slopes up to the garage.

[Cam3512]

Like others have said.... get the chock. I have a Condor I use to do oil changes, etc.

I'm thinking of getting a Chevy Colorado short bed and want to put a smaller bike (250cc - 350cc) in the bed with the rear wheel sitting on the tailgate. Anybody have any pictures of that set-up?

Short bed and tailgate down, no problem.  Chock up front, and 4 tiedown straps - 2 up front, and 2 toward the rear.  For extra security, put it in gear and run another strap across the rear tire left/right.  That's how I do it every time.  Bike is slightly to the right in the bed leaving room for my folded ramp, also secured from sliding off with a strap.  Piece of cake, especially with a small bike.