Bike Ramps and other loading tips


VINSANITY

Well-known member
Likes
398
Location
Texas
The whole bike rolled to the drivers side and off the back of the ramp - I had my rear tire strapped down with a Velcro strap which broke - I don’t think I compressed my forks enough so I think they squatted allowing the bike to move - it was scary seeing you baby dangling off the hauling rack.

That hauler Black Widow hauler is basically a flat surface so not much preventing the bike from hopping off if you don’t tie it down just right.

I got this different hitch hauler which is a lot more fail safe / front wheel I’d secured in place because of the steel loops - even the angle of the tie straps is better so the bike really can’t move once tied down.
 

evh1

Well-known member
Likes
190
Location
Montgomery, AL
I’m very pleased with my StepRamp product. I got the longer version as my bed height was at the upper limit of the shorter ramp without my air bag suspension inflated. It’s perfect and super safe loading now, even a large ADV bike like my KTM790R. Well made and thought out. Nice folding closer strap and carry strap is perfectly balanced.

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C5tor

Chief Comedic Instigator
Likes
1,727
Location
SF Bay Area, CA
Today’s project: Got tired of lugging my 8’ (60lbs) tri-fold ramp around. Just too awkward to carry by one person for any distance. So I built this little sleeve that goes over the end. It is built out of 2x6s, and it has some fixed 3” casters for rolling it. I just loop a bungy around it an hook it to the hinges.

Then you can wheel the thing around like an extra-long wheelbarrow. (I can also throw my gear bag on it). It also keeps the ramp from unfolding. So far, much more convenient than lugging the thing about 30 yds to my backyard shed. The flat box surface also allows setting the ramp on its side without it tipping over.

FYI: The black strips on the ramp are grip tape on the parts that tend to get slippery when wet.

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Redwolf

My dog thinks I'm cool
Likes
1,678
Location
Brinnon, Wa.
Nice, that's a slick set-up. For V 2.0 you might consider larger pneumatic tires... If you have that problem at the track/trailhead.
 

C5tor

Chief Comedic Instigator
Likes
1,727
Location
SF Bay Area, CA
Nice, that's a slick set-up. For V 2.0 you might consider larger pneumatic tires... If you have that problem at the track/trailhead.
I considered that, but I don’t need to carry it around at the trailhead. I just slide it out of the back of the truck.
 

C5tor

Chief Comedic Instigator
Likes
1,727
Location
SF Bay Area, CA
Today’s project: Got tired of lugging my 8’ (60lbs) tri-fold ramp around. Just too awkward to carry by one person for any distance. So I built this little sleeve that goes over the end. It is built out of 2x6s, and it has some fixed 3” casters for rolling it. I just loop a bungy around it an hook it to the hinges.

Then you can wheel the thing around like an extra-long wheelbarrow. (I can also throw my gear bag on it). It also keeps the ramp from unfolding. So far, much more convenient than lugging the thing about 30 yds to my backyard shed. The flat box surface also allows setting the ramp on its side without it tipping over.

FYI: The black strips on the ramp are grip tape on the parts that tend to get slippery when wet.

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So, I did eventually put larger pneumatic tires on the patent-pending C5Tor Ramp Dolly. It now looks like a lifted monster truck compared to the old wheels, but it goes over obstacles easier, and the ramp doesn’t rattle as much when I go over bumps. Takes a little more room to store, but shouldn’t cause much issue. Added knobbies for better gription in the corners

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C5tor

Chief Comedic Instigator
Likes
1,727
Location
SF Bay Area, CA
So when should I expect my royalty check?

For V3.0 swivel casters would be a perfect upgrade!
I’ll give you 10% on my first sale. Less manufacturing costs, R&D, marketing, shipping, taxes, environmental fees, COVID surcharges, etc., of course. You should only owe me about $100 after everything is all calculated out.
 

C5tor

Chief Comedic Instigator
Likes
1,727
Location
SF Bay Area, CA

Jayfox911

Well-known member
Likes
182
Location
San Diego, CA
Your funmover is bigger than my house! Nice.
Yeah it’s really nice to have for the family but it only gets 6mpg. I have a 06 sprinter that can fit three bikes and gets 21mpg however it is not hours at the track family friendly.

my thought was if I can go to the track with the family then I can go to the track more often. Haha. Kids are 2 and 4.

the funmover is a 2004 Thor four winds funmover 31c. It’s a 31’ class c rv with a 8’ garage instead of a master bedroom.
One big downside is the generator is only 110v so no rapid changing unless I bring the portable generator also.
So that 36” wide wheelchair ramp is great for the generator as well as walking up the bike.
 

Hreny

Member
Likes
7
Location
Florida
I never owned a truck. First, I had a sedan with a bike trailer, then a Ram B-van, then a Honda Element (one bike fits inside, and the other on a bike trailer behind!). But a few years ago I was in Arizona with a dirt bike but without any of my personal vehicles. I rented a Ram 1500 truck. That was quite a learning curve how to load a bike into a truck! I had to buy an aluminum ramp and rely on the bike's momentum, friends, climbing on top of the bike stand, and not screwing things up and crashing! I am still not sure how you guys with trucks do it every day! No Tesla truck for me in the future. I will be waiting for a Tesla motovan!
can we see how the bike fits in the element
 
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