Hauling a motorcycle

[Iammemares]

Have searched and found zero discussion or images of people using an NV to transport motorcycles. Anyone out there putting motos in the back of a low roof? Curious how they are securing and about height

[Carmen]

I've carried my Ducati MTS1200 and a Suzuki DR650 in my high roof although it doesn't answer your question.  Typically use the D rings but I recently installed some floor mounted L track and can bolt down a Condor bike mount when needed.  There is a photo in this threadhttp://nissannvforum.com/topic/1060-what-have-you-done-to-your-nv-van-lately/ .  I'll take pictures with the bike in it if I get a chance.

 

Hauling bikes and pulling a travel trailer is primarily why I bought the NV.

[Iammemares]

Thanks and nicely done. Surprised at how little info exists on all the web about NVs and motorcycle hauling.

[laharview]

The rack I use is a Cycle Country Wedge-Lok 50-0500.  It flexed more than I liked so I added two 2" x 2" angle supports from the front to the center tube and a couple of eyes.  Two of the tie down straps I use are attached to the chain holes in the hitch.  Made it a very robust rack.

 

You can see a photo under "Laharview Farm Camper Build" post #18.  Could not copy it to insert here...  Slides into the hitch.

[laharview]

Found it.  This photo is before I started the camper conversion.

 

 

 

[laharview]

Here is last weekends project.  Modified a boat trailer to haul either both of our DR350"s or the Kayak.  The trailer empty weighs 250 pounds so it is easy to move and stow at a camp site.

 

 

[ASD Dad]

Nice work on that trailer!

[breeze]

I think the OP was talking about hauling a motorcycle inside the NV, which is made even harder in a low roof like he has. That's a big reason for my greedy heuristic of always having accessible transportation carrying a bike in a van, THAT CANNOT BE VANDALIZED! A motorcycle outside hanging on the rear bumper is great for random part time use, but ... it is not the best design for full time vehicle use no matter how financially appealing and pragmatic it is.

 

I've seen a lot of jib-hoist cranes (that requires more reorientation to secure the motorcycle than they show), but no actual users otherwise ($300 non powered to $4,500 for a partial material handling solution). Spitxcraft??

 

I tracked down someone in the Netherlands who had a slick looking expandable roof I-beam lift, but they did not return e-mails (and I was sold on it but it really was too good to be true - it must be severely under-duty sized and needed much larger support beams).

https://www.liftingequipmentstore.com/product/mad-easyload-van-and-lorry-crane-500kg

(about $4500 plus shipping? -ouch)

 

It really is a nifty solution. I may deal with Netherlands vender's, but not with UK middlemen jacking up the exchange rate 50% (BRExit on that!)

 

http://mad-tooling.com/en/easyload/products/_easyload/examples/

 

And then there is the 2-pickup truck size loader that lifts it up with a tray 20' in the air for $3K plus (give me a break!) I think the liability of a large vehicle material handling device can be disastrous when things go wrong, with that much mass being re-oriented.

 

What I originally envisioned on the cheap will be what I'll do most likely, with a:

A. ramp I can store on it's side;

 

http://www.discountramps.com/black-widow-motorcycle-ramp/p/BW-40-AMR/

(about $350 - $450)

 

B. locking front wheel chock that secures when the wheel runs over it, and what will make this a system will be tow-able Chassis on two wide front wheels (at least 36" wide) and two narrower rear wheels: so once attached, it should be virtually hands free until it locks or butts into the docking station.) 

 

http://condor-lift.com/cycle-loader

(about $450)

 

C. cheap electric pulley/winch cable; and 

https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Cable-Hoist-Pulley-440lb/dp/B007KP3PH

(less than $200 OR less than $1,000 for complete loading assembly)

 

D. Exact docking station to accept the cycle loader will be physical barriers, some type of lock, and with maybe steel loops to hold vehicle fixture if is ever turned in a non-vertical direction (to be determined.) 

 

There are thousands of bikers and tall van owners out there. Most must just quit riding when they get older, and I may go to a 3 wheel (front leaning 2-wheels) design before it is all said and done. So here is a feasible and almost effortless way to load and unload the motorcycle in a van. All the pie in the sky handling alternatives that go nowhere, since 2010, must just be unrealizable for one reason or another (gravity, unrealized and required material handling reorientation positions - not even mentioned, ...); and someone big enough to help you load one manually is not always convenient (to play hide and seek!) while loading up.

 

Ymmv.

Edited April 9, 2017 by breeze

[breeze]

And presto, from Youtube, http://www.rollinbike.com/eng/product.html

 

 

There are still questions of tying down, shipping, etc... but it has secured ramps, and ties the bike down to the secured ramp to maintain balance: where I would be relying on gravity and approx. 36" wide front wheels. Their's looks custom engineered which is ok, except for the cost which I haven't seen yet (I can guarantee it's over $1,000 usd :-) Anyway, pretty cool toys he has. 

 

Other than cost, he looks like he has more tie downs not shown which is time added to load and unload. I think my greedy/cheap heuristic wins out so far: but he has less vertical room access required (vs. extra straps to keep bike upright with less strap leverage - time is money.) His is also a strict fixed path and mine would be variable upon different loading requirements effecting the pathway. I'm on the right track: effective and cheap (and poor :-(

Edited April 9, 2017 by breeze

[breeze]

https://youtu.be/RIecj7UWaMs

 

Here is an articulating jib, which almost has straight line fluid motion; and it can be bought from an US addressed company too. It also looks like it's over budget priced, but it is an extra degree of freedom in mobility too, which is an essential asset. It looks like the best thing going at the moment, and the fat lady is starting to chirp... so it looks like a safe purchase to make: that will not only increase my cubic capacity of the van, but will also relieve me of catching a 450 lb. motorcycle every now and then.

 

Motorcycle front wheel chocks (like the Condor in the above post pic, but stationary to the floor and cheaper) can almost support a motorcycle alone, but an efficient room-wise strap over the front wheel may be almost all that is needed for stability, except for a couple of additional straps that do not take up essential floor space :-)  It's starting to look like a plan now. This equipment in the video looks like a very high quality, precision made assembly.

 

 

Edited April 25, 2017 by breeze

[TanStewie]

I know this is an old thread, but this is the method I use to haul my Road Glide around when I need to.  I use to 6' aluminum ramps bolted together and a removable wheel chock in the van.  I'll usually back up to a curb when possible so the van is lower to the ground to make it easier. I modulate the gas/clutch with the bike running and walk it up the ramp while standing next to it.  I haven't gotten the courage to actually ride it up the ramp yet.  

[Glidedon]

I mounted a winch between the front seats to pull my Vstrom 650 up a ramp and use a wheel chock and the tie down rings.