? for those that haul an MX bike in their Tundra

[WalterMitty]

I am picking up a bike on Saturday.....I am almost positive that the bike (97 YZ 250) won't fit into the bed perfectly straight with the tailgate closed. (Also, I don't want to bend the front rail on the bed)

Given this, I was planning on putting the front wheel of the bike in the front passenger side corner of the bed. With the bike in diagonally (sp?) I think I can get the tailgate closed. Then I would use my tie downs from the bike to the two opposite corner hooks (Driver Side Front & Passenger Side Rear).

Have any of you done this? Any problems? Also, what is the best place to attache the tie downs to the bike in this positoin. I was thinking one on each side of the handle bars.

Thanks.

[lelandstanford]

I can fit an EX500 in the (short) bed with tailgate closed.

Front wheel is on the driver side with bike's handle bar fully turned and locked to left. Front wheel pushed against corner of the bed. Rear wheel is almost against right rail. 4 tie downs to 4 corners.

The bed still have room for a bike 5"-8" longer. I had to remove right front signal light since it's too close to sliding window.

[justagirl]

Nope, a YZ will not fit straight. My husband and I both have YZ's and with both bikes in the truck I will use a tie down on both ends of the tailgate (from latch hole to tie-down ring) to hold it up to the back tires. If, for some reason, there is only one bike in the back we put it diagonal and shut the tailgate.

[pakalas]

This is exactly how I loaded my YZ250. I made sure that the front wheel sits straight in the corner of the front side bed to make sure the the front wheel will not turn while having tension on the straps. To optain good tension on the straps I compressed the front forks while pulling/tighting them. No straps were needed for the rear wheel. Tailgate goes up with no problem. Hope this helps, Alohas!

Originally posted by WalterMitty
Given this, I was planning on putting the front wheel of the bike in the front passenger side corner of the bed. With the bike in diagonally (sp?) I think I can get the tailgate closed. Then I would use my tie downs from the bike to the two opposite corner hooks (Driver Side Front & Passenger Side Rear).

Have any of you done this? Any problems? Also, what is the best place to attache the tie downs to the bike in this positoin. I was thinking one on each side of the handle bars.

Thanks.

[TampaBayTundra]

Hmm. my RM 400 fits fine straight in with the tailgate down. The place I ride is only 1/2 hour from the house and I haven't attempted a long trip with it yet.

[WalterMitty]

Thanks for the input.

[thecarguy]

does my 1981 toyota pick up have a longer bed than a tundra? I can fit my CR250 in straight in the middle and close the tail gate.

[WalterMitty]

Not sure on the 1981 Pickup, but if you don't have an Xtra cab it might be longer.

The following are the bed lengths for the 2002 Tundra:

Reg. Cab = 98.2"

Access Cab = 76.6"

The YZ 250 length is 85.9", so with the regular cab (and thus the longbed) I would be fine.

I have kids, so I opted for the Access Cab in lieu of the longer bed. However, if an Access Cab/Longbed version were available, I would have been all over it.

(I think the 2004 Double Cab Tundra is going to be coming with a longbed)

[UCK40]

bed is to short for modern full size motocross bike
although most shortbed fullsize trucks are

the trick to not bowing the bed panel is to
not load bike in center of bed
load it about a third one way or the other
cinch the tie downs slightly (dont want any blown seals or sacked springs) 20-30 pounds of pulling is all thats needed then pick up back of bike and push it to the opposite side of bed up against inner quarter panel
this will put the bike in a bind
kind of like power sliding it
and i have never had a problem this way
ie ..99kx250/99kx250/01cr250
95 ranger/93 f150 flare side/84 f150/79 chevy /03 tundra
but the best mx hauler i have ever owned is my 93 ford econoline van but its no as nice to drive as the tundra

[thecarguy]

You guys know about lamer? geeze. you must know someone or you your self visit clubSi. great site. lots of goodies.

[thecarguy]

http://www.lamer.net/capslock.gif


no img tags huh? its cool, i understand how it slows others down.

[dannozrx]

I have had different bikes with different vehicles and what I found best is to load it centered and straight on. Then cinch the tailgate with straps against the back wheel. It won't go any where and you don't have to worry about bending the front rail and panel of the bed if you don't cinch it down too tight. If your bending the rail, your overcompressing your springs anyway.

[WalterMitty]

Puting her in sideways worked beautifully.

I put the front wheel in the front passengers side corner, and the back wheel was against the bed rail on the drivers side, near the rear corner.

Just two tie downs going from each side of the handle bars (one to Driverside Front, the other to Passenger's side rear) and she didn't move an inch even after driving about 100 miles.

[GrandRapidsF4i]

Originally posted by justagirl
...I will use a tie down on both ends of the tailgate (from latch hole to tie-down ring) to hold it up to the back tires...

Thats what I do with my F4i as well. Put it in straight and hold the tailgate up with tie downs. Works great.

[bigairmaier]

In the 15 years Ive been racing bikes(out of the bed of an 89 Toyota Xcab)Ive hauled 3 bikes at a time(CR250,CR125,&CR80RB for my wife,it was an ordeal with a 3rd bike), and never had the tailgate up(with one you can angle it and close the gate).Never saw the need to run anything behind the bikes rear wheels or lift the tailgate partially with tiedowns.Over 40 trophys and 3 class championships("B" class)later Ive never lost anything out of the bed with the tailgate down over many miles.Never had the front of the bed flex with only one bike in the center either.