Carrying a bike on your Ranger

[Musick17]

If you were closer I would just let you barrow my moto-tote
great investment.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You guys are making it sound like I only need to strap down the front. I need the back strapped in too, don't I?

Yeah, try strap the back down somehow. That is where bikes differ (they all have something of a fork for the front) Mine has part of the frame that wraps around the top of the fender that works great.

My bike is pretty heavy for what it is (nothing like a Harley or whatever though) By utilizing the terrain I haven't had a problem loading it myself. Usually I can find a ditch or bank to position my truck so the ramp is fairly level.

As long as it is tight against headgate and tight you shouldnt need to tie down the back. On a long trip stop every so often and check the straps

I don't trust mine enough, I lock'er down all around.

And on the tiedowns, I didn't know but the regular stakepocket ones are not rated for do much more than hooking bungie cords into. One of mine striped out (doing nothing, just a clunk into the bed of my truck) so I went to get new ones and saw the pathetic weight rating. I have probably had them 10 years, mainly got them to hold the back end of the bedliner in, I have hooks bolted in on the front. Now I just haul it in my F-150 since it has the nice towdowns bolted to the bed from the factory.

Nothing on the bike moves, if I grab and jerk on something it is like it is part of the truck.

I need to get the Ranger where I want it so I can stick a carb kit and a set of cables in the stupid thing...

 

[LearjetMinako]

Use tie down staps at all four corners. You really can't use too many straps. This rigging lasted my over 2,500 miles round trip at highway speeds of 65mph and greater. And even survived a 50mph cross wind from a thunderstorm.

As for loading or offloadingl, I find its best to find a hill or park the rear axle in a shallow ditch to lower the truck bed.

 

[TheTopher]

Its a ninja250, overall length is 82 inches.

 

[fastpakr]

My preference is the way LearJet Minako demonstrated in his photos. Quick and easy and you can close the gate.

 

[Musick17]

Its a ninja250, overall length is 82 inches.

should fit corner to corner if you dont have a toolbox in it.

 

[hoosier1104]

Ok. You have heard from the rest, now hear it from the best.

Tractor Supply has a tri-fold ladder ramp that is the width of the bed w/ straps to hook it to the bumper to keep it drawn tight to the tail gate, canyon strap and some racket straps.

I have a small down slope at the end of my drive way and that helps alot.

Set up the ramp on the tailgate
Roll the bike up into the bed angling it from left front to right rear
Put the kick stand down and stabilize it
Take the canyon strap across the front bars and attach the straps to either making them tight
With the tail you have 2 options
1. Attach the straps to the rear pegs (not what I do)
2. Go from side to side looping the rear wheel w/ the strap (what I do) until tight
Close tail gate
Repeat in reverse for unloading

 

[TheTopher]

Sounds good, Hoosier...but what the he'll is a canyon strap?

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

heres how i haul my 250,center it in the bed, put one strap to each bar (ive actually got the soft straps that wrap around the bar and you hook the tie down onto the nylon eyelet), the other end goes to the tie down points in the middle of my inner bed sides, and then i slide my ramp in and put a strap on it so it wont slide out on me.

i can fit this little guy in the bed with the tail gate closed, and its so light i dont need a ramp either!

 

[84bluebronco2]

My old Yamaha made transporting a joke. It had a center stand so one strap on each handle, and one across the seat. For a ninja 250, I vote four points. Two on the handles, two towards the back, and try to keep it on it's side stand for that extra bit of support.

 

[doorgunner]

If they didn't say it.......secure the ramp to the bed with a towstrap while you're loading the bike to keep the ramp from scooting off the edge of the bed. I ride my streetbike onto the bed & it will LAUNCH the ramp if unsecured. I also use 4 straps (left-front/right-front & left-rear/right-rear) & tighten them down until I see the front & rear shocks compress a couple inches (that keeps the bike from boucing loose on rough potholes).......



plus whatever else they said....

 

[hoosier1104]

Said Canyon Strap

That reminds me, I need to get one. DOH!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I hauled my buddy's old street bike in the bed of my Ranger along with a load of stuff for college, we just nosed it into one corner, put the back in the other corner, strapped it down front and back then piled everything else in around it, lol. Survived a 100+ mile trip that way.

 

[LearjetMinako]

Dude, love your rig's setup. Prerunner bumper, sway bar spare tire, light bar, and those classic white star wheels.

 

[TheTopher]

Dude, love your rig's setup. Prerunner bumper, sway bar spare tire, light bar, and those classic white star wheels.

You ain't the only one.