Hauling bikes in a pickup: How big of a box?

[boomshakalaka]

I'm in the process of selling my 99 540i, and I'm looking into pickups as my next four wheel vehicle. A big reason for setting my sights on a pickup is so that I can haul my bikes, pick up good deals off CL without the hassle of having to rent or borrow, and hopefully go on some epic road trips with the bikes in the bike ready for excursions on all the twisty roads that are found. The thing is, I also live in an urban area and would prefer to not have a 20ft long truck. So my question is, is 6ft of bed big enough to carry a cb350 or two?

I'm also torn between the simplicity of a rwd truck and the utility (and don't forget pure awesomeness) of a 4x4.


have wanted a datsun 620 for a long time, it would be the RWD candidate... 4x4 conversions pop up on CL now and then, but a quality conversion is pretty rare.

and a 1979-1983 (preferably 81.. round headlights, 22r, 5 speed and tach on dash) toyota 4x4 pu would be the 4x4 candidate.

Both trucks come in long bed versions, so 7ft beds instead of 6ft, and I'd go with that if I needed to. But I def would prefer to be able to rock the short boxes. Anyways, what do you guys think?

 

[boingk]

I think the 6ft beds would be fine and dandy for smaller bikes, but the 7ft option really would be better. I mean, you're probably not always going to be hauling smaller stuff, and then theres always the odd 'Hey mate can you help with...' kind of request from friends.

The 22R engine will be the pick as it had a good amount of go and theres plenty of tuning information (and parts!) around for it.

You could also probably use a Chevy panel van.

Cheers - boingk

PS: Just looked up a ute I've previously used to haul and it was running a 7ft tray. It was just adequate for a Suzuki GS850G (long & heavy, sitting diagonally) and fine for smaller bikes like my KV100 (could fit 2 or 3 abreast). I would not recommend smaller, and with a 7ft tray the ute was only as big as a regular sized sedan.

 

[Koestum]

You can carry two or three bikes in that truck with the tailgate down and the Toyotas will last forever with reasonable maintenance.

Truck beds are taller and much hard to unload without help than unloading a trailer thats only 12" off the ground.

 

[boomshakalaka]

Ya, I've considered both a 60's chevy panel van (prob would still go for one if the right one popped up) or just getting whatever and putting a hitch on it. I think the van being 10-20 years older than the datsun and yotas make it less desirable as a daily driver. The problem with a trailer is storing it, I'd much rather just have an all-in-one setup for hauling/daily driving. One of the appeals of the 620 is that since its not 4x4 its ride height is fairly low so loading would be a bit easier than in the yota.

 

[VonYinzer]

Its a myth that old trucks/vans arent good daily drivers man. Vehicles dont get much simpler. You have to remember that when they were new they were daily drivers. I have a friend that had a 72 Chevy C10 stepside that was his everyday vehicle. I have an 08 Tundra 2wd with the 8' bed and hevy suspension. Its a pain in the ass to get bigger bikes in and out of the bed. Even with a ramp. Smaller bikes are relativly easy. Youll always need help though, unlike on a small trailer. You can load and unload by yourself. Ever looked into one of those 2 rail bike trailers that fold up? A little pricey, but its cool that you can fold them up and tuck them in the corner of the garage.

 

[mysta2]

I was in the exact same position as you (except for the urban part) not too long ago and ended up with this:

I love both those trucks you posted to death and have wanted one of either since I was about 14. I couldn't escape the convenience and comfort of hauling in a van though. Also if you're strapped for space in the garage the van amounts to another 108 square feet of mobile garage space. It's not in any way nearly as cool as either of those trucks and it gets an average of 16 mpg so there's that to think about. I bought mine off a lot for just less than $8000 with 115k on it.

As far as space goes for the Datsun or Taliwagon I wouldn't worry about it, I'd look for a shortbed, just because they're so much cooler looking. If I can fit my 360 in my Ranchero with this much room to spare:

I think you'll be fine, the Ranchero's tiny. I could even close the tailgate if it wasn't slanted forward so much.

 

[boomshakalaka]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Pretty sure the only van/step van I'd be willing to drive as a DD is one of these:

the last one.. I'm not a big MB fan, prob would never buy one of their cars (not because they are bad cars, but because I'd just rather have a bmw) but these vans are awesome, and bmw never made panel vans to my knowledge.

And ya, I think I'll prob just go with a short box if I find the right one.. afterall your ranchero bed cant be over 6ft and I tend to be into bikes with shorter wheelbases anyways. And you're def right mysta, the shortboxes almost always look way better.

 

[Redbird]

My '86 Chevy Stepside is my daily driver, and I put roughly 300 miles a week on it just commuting to and from work. It holds my DS7 just fine with room to spare. I've had two KLR600's in it side by side with no problems other than the tailgate wouldn't close all the way. My Hayabusa will fit into the bed with the rear wheel resting on the tailgate, but I haven't tried/had to load it in it yet.

 

[Basement rat]

mines the one at the back

 

[Blake]

The rear tire of my Cb500 just sticks out beyond the bed onto the tailgate of my 6 ft. bed Ford F150. I'd prefer to close my tailgate but I get along fine. The 8 foot boxes are very practical but a real buggar to maneuver in tight spots.

 

[Basement rat]

(Pssst, put the bike in diagonally)

 

[MarcW]

I had a no problem fitting multiple bikes with the gate up in my longbed ram. I picked up 2 CX500's with extra parts and my ramp with a shortbed 09 F150 today, no issues with the gate down.

(Pssst, put the bike in diagonally)

or that.... hahahaha

 

[oxford]

Your fine with a 6' bed. Some bikes won't go head in with the tail gate up. My rd350 just made it in with the gate up and the tires low, my dirtbikes go head in and the gate down. The guy that bought my klx250 dirtbike hauled in home with a 6 hr. drive in the bed of a new Subaru brat, and a riding buddy of mine fits 2 fullsize dirtbikes in the back of his newer Nissan frontier crewcab with the short bed.

 

[hurley209]

just dont get a lifted truck lol. ive had to load and unload a bike on my truck, and i would hate to do it again, i wouldnt mind lowering it back to stock.

 

[Wingspan]

I used to drive a short bed F-150. No problem fitting bikes, even fat girls like the TL1000R (or two).

 

[tWistedWheelz]

I have hauled several different bikes in 06 Tacoma quad cab and it has a really short bed. I just strap it in real good and leave the gate down. It works fine that way. Just make sure you use good quality ratchet straps and plenty of them. When I haul I use 5 straps. 2 on the front end, 2 on the rear end, and 1 that goes through the frame in the center from rail to rail. I also have four tie downs mounted in the bed, the truck came with two and I mounted the other two.
My tie downs points look like this:

My truck:

 

[dewjantim]

I have a 93' Ford Ranger, v-6 and 5-spd....... bought it from a friend for a grand. It looks like crap and smells worse on the inside (it is my dog's daily rider) but the air is cold, stereo loud, and it gets 25 mpg highway loaded down with bikes. Short bed and I have never had any trouble hauling bikes. Have had it all over the east coast....... great little truck.