Topic: Pickup ramp?

[DaveInTexas]

maybe it seem pessimistic but this is a 36yr old bike.  What options are there for a lightweight ramp that will allow 2 people to get the bike into the bed of my pickup should it ever quit by the side of the road? 
Commercially available preferred over plans. 

[KB02]

I've always liked the aluminum ramps that they seem to cary in just about ever bike shop I have been in.

http://www.handiramp.net/shop/category.asp?catid=38

[grumburg]

Tractor Supply sells a nice steel folding ramp for about $50.

[Gordon]

I've always just used the trusty eight foot long 2x8, less than ten bucks at the depot.  Although if I were going to be doing a lot of bike loading and unloading, I'd probably get something that folds for easy storage. 

[DaveInTexas]

How do you get it up these ramps?  Several hundred pounds of dead weight; it will only need loading if the engine is sick of course.  Lots of upper body training?  I was thinking 2 people, maybe a cum-a-long?

[seaweb11]

Park the truck facing down hill. Ramp not so steep now.

Dropping the back wheels into a slight dip works well to. No biggy, just push er up and in
 

[robbiec]

My favorite are the alluminum ramps that have fingers at the top that keep it butted flat against the tailgate and attaching cables to stop it from sliding. The ones I used when I worked for a rental company were runged (is that an actual word?) so that if you had to stop partway, you simply let the tires sit in a slot. They also had a slight arc so that the initial push was steeper, but leveled off as you reached the top.

Okay, I just thought I'd check the link that KB02 posted and what-d'ya-know....those are the ones. Man. I loved those ramps,  It's the simple things that make your job better.
Damn. Now I have save and to go buy one. (Now I also know why my boss wouldn't get a pair for each truck....) 

[mutters]

 mate, I just bought a small electric boat winch for this very purpose and it works a treat.

 runs off  the truck battery and the operating switch is on a long  lead so you can operate it while you guide the bike on to the ramp

 brilliant!!

[74cb750]

Here, in New England there is usually no problem finding a small hill, so
 I just used a 10 foot 2x10 board, but it is a pain
when it hangs out of the back of the truck.
I have a dirt ramp I use at home, but I probably
should get some of those aluminum ramps as I usually purchase 5-15 bikes a year
and have to truck them home.
maybe next year.
peace,
michel

[cb650]

I have a 2x8 that is 8 ft long and a piece of angle steel on the end to hook into the bumper.
Been using it for 10+ yrs.   




           Terry

[siter81]

Try loading a ZL1000 Kawasaki into a elevated bed of a f-150. I broke down and bought a trailer with a drop gate.Life is so much easier now.







Siter81   

[Ernie]

a small extension ladder works great.about 16 foot ir a nice angle

[Rushoid]

I also just use lumber. I got some aluminum ramp tops ($20/pr. at Home Depot) and put one on a 2"X10"X8'. They come with the hardware, just drill a couple of holes for the bolts. Rubber backing keeps them from sliding. I screwed a shorter 2X4 to the underside for extra strength. Easy push for me and a friend into the bed of a 4wd pickup. As long as the brakes work. 

[bill440cars]

             Well, I don't have a truck, I've got a van. The way I load and haul is, I've got a WaveRunner
     trailer (removed everything off the topside of the trailer and installed a 4 x 8 foot sheet of 1/2"
     treated plywood w/ some front tiedowns. Bolted 3 plastic wheel chocks in place to rest the front
     wheels against (hauls 1 or 2 bikes). Bought 2 sets of end pieces from Wal Mart on clearance,
     attached them to a couple of 2 x 6 treated boards, added an electric winch from Harbor Freight
     and there you have it. Next step will definitely be a larger trailer, since I have to have a van or a
     minivan!                                          Later on, Bill   

[mcpuffett]

i also have a van and use 2 8ft scaffolding boards to load my 750's  , i can get them in and out on my own no problem , mick.

[bill440cars]

i also have a van and use 2 8ft scaffolding boards to load my 750's  , i can get them in and out on my own no problem , mick.

               
                     Only thing is, my van is a conversion van and there's not even enough room for Jame's
       (the handicapped young man that I work with) wheelchair. I use a cargo carrier that plugs into
       the hitch receiver for that. (got an adapter from JC Whitney that allows the carrier to be folded
       up out of the way, when not needed). Matter of fact, I brought home a Kawasaki F9 350 Big
       Horn  dirt bike on that once.
                                                                        Later on, Bill

[scott_cb650]

I bought some steel attachments to a 2x10 for mine.

I park at the end of the drive way. It makes for a less of a rise in the ramp.

These are also on sale for $40 if you have a Harbor Freight near by.
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=44649

[GeoffT]

I got free recovery service with my insurance so if I break down they can come pick me up take me home 

[turtle]

My better half does a lot of roofing work so a 4 metre plank or two onto his ute (pickup truck to you guys I guess) works reasonably well. There was a guy on our local tv (Aussie BC) the other night who had come up with a system where the sides of his ute tray converted to ramps.
http://www.abc.net.au/newinventors/txt/s1625350.htm