We all have to get our machines to where we ride somehow or another. You've seen some of the ridiculous methods our readers have shown us right here in the magazine. But Dirt Rider editors haul bikes for a living, and with over 100 years of combined riding experience, we know how to do it. So we pooled our expertise in truck bed loading and outfitted various types of vehicles to give you some ideas on setting up your own rig. And if you like this, we'll do it with trailers and vans in the future.
Full-Sized Travel Truck
I outgrew my mini-truck in 1997 and I haven't looked back. I learned the advantage of having space behind the seat with my old Nissan King Cab, and now I'm spoiled by the luxury of a full-sized truck with a bed wide enough for three bikes to fit easily-I can even do four in a pinch. I don't go for the long bed, either, as I'm also addicted to four-wheel-drive, going places others can't and the advantages of a shorter wheelbase keeping me out of trouble. So here is a look at my setup:
I started with a luxury by having a Line-X Xtra spray-in bed liner applied. The truck's previous owner had a plastic bed liner in place, and it was slippery, warped and had allowed some dents underneath, especially along the front near the cab. Line-X was able to straighten the front and fill in the imperfections of the bed as well as color-match (the Xtra part) the coating so it perfectly matched the truck's stock color. It gets a lot of compliments, has proven tough and isn't slippery like the wet plastic was.
The necessity list begins with a Bed X-Tender from AMP Research. That effectively gives me a long bed when I need it, then disappears into the back of the bed when I don't. It also makes a nice sectioned-off area to keep stuff from rolling around with the tailgate closed. The extender pulls double duty at the track or trailhead serving as a bench, a toolbox holder or even a leg rest. AMP also makes another truck goodie that I was not aware of how much I needed it until I tried it. The BedStep is a fold-down step that retracts tight up against the bumper. You can't even tell it's there until you simply step on it and its well-engineered pivots swing and lock the step into position so you can easily get into the back left side of the bed. With trucks getting ever taller, this was a welcome addition.
Another necessity, requirement almost, is a bike rack across the front of the bed. CCR Sport makes a burly unit that goes along the front of the bed and prevents the bikes from pushing the thin steel bed wall into the cab of the truck when motorcycles are tied down. It also gives the wheels a place to locate, and CCR adds a modular middle extension that spaces the center bike back so the handlebars stay clear of each other. Tiedown hooks are located in the perfect positions, but we learned to use the stronger side truck-bed-mounted hooks, since the force from three tightly secured bikes is too much tension for the thin steel at the front of the bed to which the bar is mounted. I chose Cycra's new tiedowns with carabineer lowers and soft-tie tops on the thicker-width and colorful nylon straps. Completing the bike hauling setup, a lightweight Moose Racing folding ramp is easy to stow under the loaded bikes and gear, leaving room to spare. I've come to like the TruckShade over the past few years, so I set up my new Dodge with another one. This awning's mounts, simple wood blocks, slide into the existing holes atop the bed rail. It sets up in just a few minutes, takes abuse from winds up to 30 mph and provides enough shade for two dudes, provided you park facing the right direction. It stores into a double-length paper towel-sized tube and weighs nothing.
Finally, the crowning jewel I've found for my truck-a company called Adventure Trailers sells a product called the Eezi-Awn Rooftent. It is a truck accessory I've wanted to set up on my rig for a while, and this article was the perfect excuse. Although it's expensive, I did a lot of research to see which ones were durable enough to take the abuse I know I'll give it. Mounted to the roof via a conventional Thule rack system, it weighs about 120 pounds. But the trickest part is how simple it is to uncover and open up into a ready-to-sleep-in tent. Off the ground and out of the elements, it also provides additional shade. In less than four minutes, and without needing to unload the back of the truck, you can be ready to throw down your sleeping bag on the comfortable mattress contained inside the tent. It is incredibly weatherproof and has two doors and two windows, both covered with canvas and screen mesh closures as well as pop-up shades. The whole unit is constructed from military-spec canvas and rubber materials over a wood and aluminum frame. The 1400's closed footprint of 48 inches in length by 54 inches in width by 11 inches in height (an open measurement of 96 inches by 54 inches by 51 inches) is easily roomy enough for two adults. The Rooftent is so much better than sleeping on the ground and a deal-maker if you arrive late and don't want to unload the bikes. Plus, it closes almost as easily as it opens by using an internal bungee system. Wind noise while driving is minimal, and I haven't noticed a significant decrease in fuel mileage since installing the tent. Now I have a bike hauler and a camper all in one, and a good one at that.
Parts
AMP Bed X-Tender: $250
AMP BedStep: $258
Cycra tiedowns: $34.95 per set
Eezi-Awn Rooftop Tent: $1750
Moose folding ramp: $85.95
CCR Sport bed bar: $139.95
TruckShade: $79.97
Line-X Xtra spray-on bed liner: Starts at $450