Towing Question

[Cinco9]

 What are the pros & cons of buying a winch and ramps vs buying a trailer ?


      If I purchase a winch, I'll have it mounted to the bed of the pick up truck, also would get mounts to hold ramps in place.   My Valkyrie won't start, needs to go to the shop, (WHY IT WON'T START IS A QUESTION FOR ANOTHER DAY)   It's entirely to heavy , to roll onto the truck by myself. A winch and ramp
could make this a one man operation...I think ???      There is no place to store a trailer and I've used up all my free roadside assistance tows. Just thinking of all the flexibility I'll have with these products ???

[Chrisj CMA]

Winch?

[Gryphon Rider]

A winch and ramps:

Pros:
A winch will help you get your vehicle unstuck.
A Winch will pull something heavy a short distance.
Ramps will help you move something from one elevation to another without lifting it.

Cons:
You need to come up with something to fasten the winch to and often have to fabricate a mounting system - can be expensive, especially purchasing something to fasten the winch to.
Ramps can take up a lot of space.
If the ramp is not self-supporting, you need to come up with a way of securing it while using it.


Trailer:

Pros:
Some you can haul a lot of stuff in.
Some you can sleep in.
Some you can live in.

Cons:
Can be expensive to purchase.
Can be expensive to equip your tow vehicle to pull a trailer, or even more expensive to buy a vehicle capable of towing your trailer.
Your tow vehicle can use more fuel when towing, depending on the trailer.
Trailers can be unstable on the highway, especially with strong side-wind gusts.
Trailers require regular maintenance.
You need a place to store the trailer when not in use.  That can be difficult and/or expensive.


I'm not sure how to compare the two to each other, however, since you haven't said what you hope to accomplish with them, and what resources you already have to work with.

[sandy]

Let's assume you're wanting to move the valk. I'd go for the trailer. Pickups are tall and dumping a Valk off the ramp is pretty bad. A proper trailer won't need a winch, provided the bike runs. Some bike trailers have decks that drop down to load without a ramp. (Baxleytrailers).

[Roidfingers]

What about the 3rd ? The woman. JUST DON'T GO THERE.

[Jess from VA]

Ride it in, back it down.  

Both ways, a truck is taller than a trailer and takes more finesse/skill than a trailer.

I'd rather drive a truck (with my bike in it) with no trailer, than drive any vehicle pulling a trailer.

Now if the trailer was a camper and/or I had a bunch of uses for it other than hauling my bike, I might want a trailer.  For just moving my bike, I'd use a truck (and own no trailer).  

[Brewer]

one time move?
1) Pay a bike moving service.

2) Fix the bike yourself....

[oldsmokey]

Rent the trailer, no catastrophe going up a ramp. Get it to shop. Return trailer, no parking issue.  Bike gets fixed, ride it home.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Rent the trailer, no catastrophe going up a ramp. Get it to shop. Return trailer, no parking issue.  Bike gets fixed, ride it home.

+1

[hubcapsc]

I'd like to figure out a way to get a dead Valkyrie into a pickup truck, a winch
could physically pull it in, but I don't see how to keep it on two wheels in
the process. I like hauling a bike in a truck, here's the guys at the Philadelphia
Honda shop loading my bike for me back in 2006... it was running of course...



I think it would take a couple of guys or more to roll a dead Valkyrie up onto
a trailer...

There's this trailer:     http://www.razortrailer.com/

-Mike

[Gryphon Rider]

Okay, now you've clarified what you want to do. My old truck has an 8' box, which works well with the tailgate down. I made an 8' ramp out of lumber, and have car ramps to walk up beside on. I also made a wheel chock out of lumber to fit the truck.

I put the truck in my alley with the back facing the garage. I have the back wheels in the lowest part of the alley with the front wheels higher on the far side. This puts the tailgate almost level with the garage floor, allowing me to load and unload by myself. My truck is a 1981 2WD, so it's not lifted ridiculously high.

[mrgeoff]

For what you want to do, RENT a trailer with a tailgate...Tailgate down...roll bike onto trailer (all the way to the front of the trailer)...use 4 ratcheting straps to hold bike in upright position...tailgate up...take to shop...Ezpeezy...!!!

[Hook#3287]

U-Haul rents an excellent 1 bike trailer with a ramp and a front wheel chock.  It has multiple D rings and hooks for tie downs.

[gordonv]

My Valkyrie won't start, needs to go to the shop, (WHY IT WON'T START IS A QUESTION FOR ANOTHER DAY)

Adding your location to your profile will help a lot in finding local help/volunteer.

As for the other thing, you do know we are here to help you? A lot of good help here. The time and effort that it sounds like you might spend in getting it to a shop and the cost involved, you could most likely fix it yourself.

[old2soon]

U-Haul has motor cycle specific trailers for rent. Believe my Brother-da prez-told me they come in 2 sizes and I Believe you want the larger one. My Valkyrie was running-alt took a dump-and drove it on. But had she been completely dead we could have pushed her up-nice low floor. And use at least 4 tie downs-each corner at 45 degrees or as close to 45 degrees as you can get. We used 2 more across the saddle. That was also the year my A M A insurance went from a 100 mile tow to a 45 mile tow and I was 85 miles from my Brothers casa.  Have you got a friend with a trailer? 6 pak and lunch gits a lot done with me!  RIDE SAFE.

[mark81]

U-Haul rents an excellent 1 bike trailer with a ramp and a front wheel chock.  It has multiple D rings and hooks for tie downs.

what he said and its only $15
https://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/RatesTowing.aspx

[Cinco9]

Thanks everyone, still debating which move to make, the ramps may win out over all, as I live on a lite weight incline. Park the truck down hill, align the ramps at the crest of the hill and guide the bike onto the
truck.  This appears to be the easiest and cheapest route to take. Thanks Everyone ! Will Update......

[Jess from VA]

For years, I watched my brother back his truck into a ditch, and just ride his stuff right in the bed with no ramps at all, just the tailgate.  Course these were not heavy bikes like the valk.  And deep ditches were plentiful and easy to use.  Though most deep ditches are drainage and wet and muddy so you might stick your truck.

Loading docks can also be used, but dock height for semi trucks may not be the same for your pickup.  And trespassing on some business' loading ramp on a Sunday afternoon can still get you on video or otherwise in trouble.  And don't bother asking, they'll just say their insurance won't allow it.

[Roadog]

  Cafeful out there riding Valk's up ramps onto tailgates.  That bike and a good sized rider are right at a  1000 lbs.   The two cables holding tailgates up , not sure if they are rated for that kind of weight .  Might be safer to disconnect cables or metal straps from truck and mount ramps to the beds  themselves.  I like the trailer idea best.

Ride safe
Roadog

[hubcapsc]

  Cafeful out there riding Valk's up ramps onto tailgates.  That bike and a good sized rider are right at a  1000 lbs.   The two cables holding tailgates up , not sure if they are rated for that kind of weight .  Might be safer to disconnect cables or metal straps from truck and mount ramps to the beds  themselves.  I like the trailer idea best.

Ride safe
Roadog

I agree. I got new OEM cables for both my used trucks, that one, and the 97 that we have now.

-Mike

[Hook#3287]

If you're going the ramp route, I'd suggest you tie the ramp(s) to the truck somehow, to prevent them from slipping off.

I'd also suggest you get 2 people to help and that you support the ramp (s) at mid point.

[Hook#3287]

Years ago, one winter,  I did a southern road trip with my truck and bike.  I didn't want to use my equipment trailer for the trip, as it's 14' long.  I knew I wouldn't have help at my stops, so I came up with a "system" to load and unload my bike alone.

I took 3 - 10' 2x6 and cut an angle on the bottom 1'.  I attached a 3/4" 4'x8' piece of plywood, spaced the 2x6 rafters at the 1', 2' and 3' centers and added another 2'x4' plywood piece on the bottom.  I put I-hooks on the outside rafters and attached the ramp to the trailer hitch with ratchet tie downs.  I used small lengths of 2x4 and attached them to the rafters about 5' up for middle support, like posts.

Because I had 4' to ride up and I was able to use both feet for balance,  I was able to ride up very easily.

I used square tip deck screws and my impact driver , so assembly and disassembly was only 10 min or so.  I would remove the middle rafter, flip the ramp over and stuff it under the bike.  I was amazed I could push it all the way up to the front tire, leaving about 1' hanging over the truck bed gate.  That worked out good, because after I strapped the back of the bike down, it held the plywood, which held the gate.   No bouncing.

I used it that winter and then later that year, to pick up #2 in MD and #3 on Long Island.  It worked great.  It only let me down once, when the road was wet and the bike wouldn't go up the plywood.  I just waited till it dried out.

Then I bought a small utility trailer and retired that system.

[Gavin_Sons]

I always back my truck down into a ditch or low spot in my yard. I have one spot that lets the tailgate be within 2 feet of the ground. Makes for easy loading/unloading.

[Chrisj CMA]

  Cafeful out there riding Valk's up ramps onto tailgates.  That bike and a good sized rider are right at a  1000 lbs.   The two cables holding tailgates up , not sure if they are rated for that kind of weight .  Might be safer to disconnect cables or metal straps from truck and mount ramps to the beds  themselves.  I like the trailer idea best.

Ride safe
Roadog

Been doing this for years with no problem.  Two different Ford trucks

[ridingron]

No matter what, try not to star in a video like these guys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDwplBUEfXg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NOFEBXvcuA

[Jess from VA]

A recurring theme in these falls is the engine or low frame in front hitting the bed or ramp, as the front wheel drops off the ramp in the bed, reducing clearance underneath.  A slower speed may reduce the risk of this happening, but increases the risk of not getting the bike up the ramp.

I once rode my Hog up a short steep ramp into the side of a semi trailer (military move).  The rear of the trailer was already full of some other guy's stuff (big wooden crates).  I had to run down a very narrow military housing road, make a hard right, right up the steep ramp.  This sucked, but was my only option.  

Like Evel Knievel, I made a bunch of practice runs, not to increase suspense (for the ever growing bunch of spectators), but to try and gauge what speed I needed to take into the ramp.  I gunned it pretty hard, and made it OK, but almost went out the other side of the trailer (with no ramp at all).

The spectators cheered, but I was pretty sure there was disappointment from no falling down.

Getting it out of the trailer was a piece of cake.... forward, not backward.

[MarkT]

HF has a 1700# trailer that works well for hauling the Valk. Used it for 15 years - they still sell it inexpensively, often on sale.  You have to add the deck.  It has a tip down feature.  I added a welded-up front chock and a hydraulic jack at the chock & 2 chains for it to tighten against, and hoops to work as tie downs.  Now I can align the deck with the trifold ramp they sell by jacking the front up - works great for low-clearance long bikes like the wing.  Good ramp - I reinforced the center section with angle iron & lattice steel.  Have towed cross country on the freeway several times - tows well, does not impact mileage much.  Right-sized for the Valk.

[Hook#3287]

Mark, that looks like it will definitely do the job. 

[Chippy01]

Different solution .....

http://www.motorcycle-rack.com/images/CTBB-1_600w.jpg

taken from ..... http://www.motorcycle-rack.com/MFWT.html

[Chrisj CMA]

Different solution .....

http://www.motorcycle-rack.com/images/CTBB-1_600w.jpg

taken from ..... http://www.motorcycle-rack.com/MFWT.html

That's a terrible solution.  Not only does it wear an expensive back tire, its horrible for the drive train / transmission to run like that without the engine running

[phideux]

If your Valkyrie won't start and you need to get it to a shop to get fixed, why are you worrying about winches, trucks and trailers for a one shot deal?
Any reputable motorcycle shop will have a trailer and should be willing to pick it up to work on it.

[Bighead]

Thanks everyone, still debating which move to make, the ramps may win out over all, as I live on a lite weight incline. Park the truck down hill, align the ramps at the crest of the hill and guide the bike onto the
truck.  This appears to be the easiest and cheapest route to take. Thanks Everyone ! Will Update......


RIDE IT don't worry about a tow :cool dude:been on my bike for almost 20 yrs and the only time it saw a tow was because of a flat.

[h13man]

You notice that MarkT has the wheel chock mounted forward off the bed a little, that because a Valk will not fit in a 8ft. walled/railed trailer safely. HF trailer folds up for storage.

[Chippy01]

Different solution .....

http://www.motorcycle-rack.com/images/CTBB-1_600w.jpg

taken from ..... http://www.motorcycle-rack.com/MFWT.html

That's a terrible solution.  Not only does it wear an expensive back tire, its horrible for the drive train / transmission to run like that without the engine running

On a long journey, I would agree with you; but he only wants to tow to a repair shop and he has no place to store a trailer.
It's a small enough piece of kit to store in a garage, quick to use in an emergency, and not as expensive as a full blown trailer/winch/ramps, etc.
As I said - different solution.

[WintrSol]

One thing not mentioned is a small slope. My front yard is street level in the front, but has a slope on one side. With the pickup or trailer backed to the hill, the ramps have very little lifting to do, so pushing it onto the bed is fairly easy with two guys. Same for letting it back down. A parking lot with two levels will do as well (how I got mine off the trailer when I towed it home). Of course, a P/U needs a steeper slope than a trailer.

[falconbrother]

I also bought one of those 1720 pound Harbor Freight trailers.  I hauled my broke-azz electraglide on it many times, pulled it behind the motorhome to bile rallies as well (cause my dogs go too).  It's a shade higher off the ground than I would like but, it pulls well and does the job.  I bought the folding HF ramp to load it as well. 

[Bighead]

Thanks everyone, still debating which move to make, the ramps may win out over all, as I live on a lite weight incline. Park the truck down hill, align the ramps at the crest of the hill and guide the bike onto the
truck.  This appears to be the easiest and cheapest route to take. Thanks Everyone ! Will Update......

My first question is why or what is keeping it from starting? a bit of info could have YOU getting it running in short order.

[pancho]

You notice that MarkT has the wheel chock mounted forward off the bed a little, that because a Valk will not fit in a 8ft. walled/railed trailer safely. HF trailer folds up for storage.

I have an 8ft trailer with a drop down gate, and it does work on the Valk, but you need to remove the lower rear fender to lock the gate. It would not work with an extended exhaust system.

I agree with Bighead,, why don't we just get some info and talk you through fixing the bike?