How do you strap your bike in back of truck?

crowe176
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4/26/2019 3:06am Edited Date/Time 2/14/2020 5:10am
Since I can remember I’ve always loaded my bike in straight on drivers side and left tailgate down so I could see out of rear view mirror.

I have a smaller bed (5.5ft) super crew F150 now and want to switch to loading it diagonal and closing tailgate.

Question for you guys that haul this way, How do I secure bike this way so it doesn’t fall over lol?
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kb228
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Mansfield, OH US
4/26/2019 4:15am
I also use tie downs. The pro taper ones are my favorite.
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crowe176
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4/26/2019 4:26am
Lol thanks, where on the bike do you attach the tie downs?
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kkawboy14
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4/26/2019 4:37am
I also use tie downs, 1 end tied to the truck and the other end tied to the bike!

The Shop

Meister
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Canton, OH US
4/26/2019 4:47am
They're missing your point lol.. I just bought an f150 with the 5.5 bed and the first time I put a bike in it I said the same thing. I think I did it normal but the drivers side I hooked up in the rear of the bed. Only had a bike in it once when I picked mine up lol
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zb658
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Hammond, LA US
4/26/2019 4:51am
When i use my truck (have a van), i load my bike diagonally and place tie down perpendicular so that the bike and tie downs make an “X” form. Use one tie down from the back and one from the front. Pull em tight, and say “That aint goin no where.” Then get your ass to the track and ride!
haydos25
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4/26/2019 5:03am
zb658 wrote:
When i use my truck (have a van), i load my bike diagonally and place tie down perpendicular so that the bike and tie downs make...
When i use my truck (have a van), i load my bike diagonally and place tie down perpendicular so that the bike and tie downs make an “X” form. Use one tie down from the back and one from the front. Pull em tight, and say “That aint goin no where.” Then get your ass to the track and ride!
I can’t stress how important it is to say “that ain’t going nowhere”. It really is the key to the whole operation
moto314
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Mooresville, NC US
4/26/2019 5:17am
I put the front wheel in the wheel chock and kick the back end sideways, then put a 3rd tie down from the handlebar to the rear. Bike is much more solid than straight with just 2 tie downs in the front. Downside is you can't see very good out the back window. I can take a pic tomorrow morning when loading up.
4/26/2019 5:19am
Silverado with the 5.5' bed. Diagonally with the front tire going into the front driver's side corner, then strap tie down from passenger side front hook mount to foot peg, and drivers side rear hook mount to foot peg. Tailgate closes, never comes loose.
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jpfiester82
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4/26/2019 5:21am
Front tire in the drivers side corner, left side ran to the back drivers side corner and right side to passenger side front. Like said before makes an X across the box between tie downs and bike. The part I like about this is you can do it with basically just the weight of the bike on the suspension. I have the same set up and it works great. My Yamaha is a perfect fit from corner to corner. I also like the pro taper straps.
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4/26/2019 5:26am
For the love of god run your tie down straps through the lower clamp area and not the bars.
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rhummel628
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Sparks, NV US
4/26/2019 5:43am Edited Date/Time 4/26/2019 5:43am
If you want it straight and still have visibility out your tail gate, try a https://readyramp.com . I got one when I bought my short bed tacoma. Pretty good product.
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fourfourone
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86oh, CT US
4/26/2019 5:48am Edited Date/Time 4/26/2019 5:49am
I go both ways haha. If you strap the bike straight in make sure your tie downs have closed hooks. If you go over some uneven terrain where the truck rocks back and forth sometimes the suspension will compress and take load off the straps and they can come on done. Happened a few weeks ago pulling out of a gas station. Bike tipped over. I was lucky it just landed on the top clamp. no damage to the truck or bike.





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sandtrack315
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Philadelphia, PA US
4/26/2019 5:55am
Honda Ridgeline, front wheel about 8 inches from the drivers side edge of bed. Swing the rear wheel to the passenger side. Then I clip a tie down to the tailgate and the subframe, and I can get the tailgate about 80 percent closed, enough to ensure nothing flys out. I’ve seen people do the diagonal tie down with the strap on the triple clamps but this doesn’t make it easier to shut the tailgate for me.
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mattyhamz2
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4/26/2019 6:03am
Op I have an f150 supercrew with the 5.5ft bed as well. This is how I load my bike


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MPJC
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4/26/2019 6:10am


F-150 with short box as well. Here’s one way of doing it.
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crowe176
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4/26/2019 6:13am
zb658 wrote:
When i use my truck (have a van), i load my bike diagonally and place tie down perpendicular so that the bike and tie downs make...
When i use my truck (have a van), i load my bike diagonally and place tie down perpendicular so that the bike and tie downs make an “X” form. Use one tie down from the back and one from the front. Pull em tight, and say “That aint goin no where.” Then get your ass to the track and ride!
Perfect!

Thanks guys.
crowe176
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4/26/2019 6:15am
rhummel628 wrote:
If you want it straight and still have visibility out your tail gate, try a https://readyramp.com . I got one when I bought my short bed...
If you want it straight and still have visibility out your tail gate, try a https://readyramp.com . I got one when I bought my short bed tacoma. Pretty good product.
That’s perfect! I just bought a couple foldable harbor freight ramps for cheap but I might have to grab one of those.
fatpurplepanda
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4/26/2019 6:19am Edited Date/Time 4/26/2019 12:52pm
zb658 wrote:
When i use my truck (have a van), i load my bike diagonally and place tie down perpendicular so that the bike and tie downs make...
When i use my truck (have a van), i load my bike diagonally and place tie down perpendicular so that the bike and tie downs make an “X” form. Use one tie down from the back and one from the front. Pull em tight, and say “That aint goin no where.” Then get your ass to the track and ride!
haydos25 wrote:
I can’t stress how important it is to say “that ain’t going nowhere”. It really is the key to the whole operation
you forgot to grab the rear tire and give it a little shake to confirm it aint going nowhere
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526
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Colgate, WI US
4/26/2019 6:22am
For the love of god run your tie down straps through the lower clamp area and not the bars.
Why?
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526
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4/26/2019 6:25am


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Motox627!
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4/26/2019 6:45am
If its just my bike, i go diagonal and shut the tail gate. Run the tie downs to bars like normal and have had zero issues. Seems like pushing back tire over against the bed helps keeping it from moving. If we are bringing the wife's bike, then i have to bust out the Moto-Gate

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7I3N
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4/26/2019 6:45am
If you put a eyelet in the center front of the bed, and another one on the bed walls just in front of the wheel wells, you can tie the bike down with the wheels turned into the corners and get two bikes in a six foot bed with and still close the tailgate.






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4/26/2019 7:04am
I have a Ford Ranger. If i'm only bringing one bike to the track, I put the front wheel in the front left corner of the bed and the rear wheel up against the rear right side of the bed. Tiedowns go in the front right and rear left of the bed.

This way the forks dont get compressed (prolongs life of fork seals) and i can close the tailgate.
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brocster
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Aliso Viejo, CA US
4/26/2019 7:51am
I have a Ford Ranger. If i'm only bringing one bike to the track, I put the front wheel in the front left corner of the...
I have a Ford Ranger. If i'm only bringing one bike to the track, I put the front wheel in the front left corner of the bed and the rear wheel up against the rear right side of the bed. Tiedowns go in the front right and rear left of the bed.

This way the forks dont get compressed (prolongs life of fork seals) and i can close the tailgate.
This^^^^ with your bike in a straight line (bar inline with the frame) and diagonal in the bed (front left/ back right) you can wedge it in and it’ll almost stand on its own (almost). The straps compress you entire bike in this fashion and doesn’t have all the pressure and stability on just your forks. Safe travels!
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yz133rider
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Avondale, PA US
4/26/2019 7:58am
This is the best way when strapping it in diagonal that ive found.

Doesnt pull down on the forks, is wedged against the truck basically stands up straight on its own, and is rock solid.

The other side straps to the same point on the frame to the opposite corner of the truck.
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spimx
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Port Isabel, TX US
4/26/2019 8:09am
Strapped from the foot pegs!

With the front tire in one corner and the rear touching the side, sitting diagonally.
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Radical
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4/26/2019 8:21am
526 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/04/26/341999/s1200_Silverado.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/04/26/342000/s1200_Silverado2.jpg[/img]


This is exactly how I've loaded my bike for the past several decades. The forks hardly compress, and the bike is going nowhere. As TheyCallMeBrian stated, pushing the rear wheel against the right side of the bed helps as well. I drive a Ford Ranger as well.

Visibility is great too. By putting the front wheel into the driver's side of the bed, you can see what's going on in the lanes to your right.
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kage173
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TX US
4/26/2019 8:43am
Anybody else have trouble with PW50s? I have the worst time getting that thing properly tied down in a truck.
Falcon
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4/26/2019 9:07am Edited Date/Time 4/26/2019 9:07am
kage173 wrote:
Anybody else have trouble with PW50s? I have the worst time getting that thing properly tied down in a truck.
Hook the tie downs underneath the brake and clutch perches with the hook end over the handlebar. The hook will sort of jam itself when a little tension is applied to the strap.
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