Transporting Swing in a pickup

I would like to take my Swing along when we go camping. I pull a camping trailer, so I would need to transport the bike in the back of my pickup. I have a Chevy Silverado with a 6.5 ft bed. I am wondering if anyone has tried loading and transporting the bike without the tailgate on the pickup. Since I can't close the tailgate and I can't keep it down while pulling the trailer, I am toying with the idea of transporting the Swing without a tailgate. Has anyone done this?

Also, any words of wisdom for a ramp to get the bike in the back of the pickup?

Thanks,

Kurt.

Also, I measured the Swing this morning and the bed. It looks like the center of the back wheel would be 2.5" in from the end of the bed if the front wheel is all the way up to the front of the bed. Tight fit. I might want to find a way to chock the rear wheel once it is in the bed.

Also, was thinking of using a winch to pull the Swing up the ramp instead of driving it up. That would give me better control over the swing as I am loading.

1. Any thoughts on this idea?
2. Any thoughts on a good place to connect the winch?

Well here it is...Have you ever thought about buying a cheap trailer from Harbor Freight? You can find them on sale once in a while for $150.00 or less. Allot less then replacing expensive Tupperware.

Just a thought.

The only thing is that I can't pull a small trailer behind my camper trailer. So, the back of the pickup is the next best place.

And, by the way, I love your quote. That was a great movie.

I had an old HD panhead for 20 years...It just loved to ride in the back of pick-ups. It was a show bike and loading the darn thing into a PU bed was always sheer terror for me. It liked to brake down...alot, on the road. Anyway it was a heart stopping experiance for me. Just glad that bike is long gone.

I've heard that before about riding a bike up into the pickup. That is why I was thinking about purchasing a ramp that was 36+ inches wide so I could walk beside the bike and to use a winch to pull it up into the bed and help control the roll back out of the bed. I guess the best solution would be to buy a power ramp, but $2100+ seemed a little steep, so I was thinking of my own hybrid solution.

I use a nice folding ramp that came from Dennis Kirk.
It fastens to the rear of my pickup and won't slide
away from the truck.

I place a wooden plank next to the motorcycle ramp I
push the scoot up the ramp while walking up the plank.
I and the scoot arrive in the back of the truck at the
same time - no sweat.

Unloading is just the opposite. Again, no sweat.

I use Canyon Dancers on the handlebars to snug the
scoot into place in the front of the truck. Works great.

YMMV (your mileage may vary)

Henry David

I transported mine in the back of my ranger, all the way from the middle of Arkansas. The rear wheel was sitting on the tailgate
Up Hwy 7. Nothing but curves, and hills.
Did i mention its a 4 cylinder.
With 153 thousand miles.
And the transmission is going out.
Loads of fun!

kleikvold wrote:

I've heard that before about riding a bike up into the pickup. That is why I was thinking about purchasing a ramp that was 36+ inches wide so I could walk beside the bike and to use a winch to pull it up into the bed and help control the roll back out of the bed. I guess the best solution would be to buy a power ramp, but $2100+ seemed a little steep, so I was thinking of my own hybrid solution.

http://www.harborfreight.com/super-wide-tri-fold-loading-ramp-90018.html

I know several people with this one

When I bought my Silver Wing, I transported it in the back of a Toyota with a 6.5' bed. I used a ramp and 3 guys to guide the bike up and down.

3 guys! I just got on and backed it down, using the front brake of course!