stripped oil drain plug hole part 4....

[dc_vince]

Hi - Another question from a beginner. Is a specialized (store bought) ramp needed to roll my KLR into the back of the truck? If so, who makes the best one? More importantly, do people have good experiences with making their own ramps? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Arden Kysely]

Lots of options here. You can find purpose-built ramps in many catalogs that cater to motorcycles and ATVs, or go to a local shop and probably pick up a nice aluminum one. Some fold, some don't. The taller your truck, the longer ramp you'll need for a safe and easy load. Or you can get clever and park where your rear wheels are as low as possible relative to the ramp (like a driveway apron). For the bargain minded, you can buy or make a bent piece of 8" wide metal that bolts to a plank. The downside of planks is that they can get slippery. If you've got some dough to spend, check out www.readyramp.com for a sturdy folding ramp that turns into a bed extender (which is nice since your tailgate will likely be down with the KLR in the back of your Tacoma). Catalogs/web sites to look at are Chaparral, Cabellas, Moose, or just Google 'motorcycle ramps' and see what pops up. One note of caution with ramps--the ramp gets a nudge from the rear wheel when you first start rolling the bike out of the truck and can slip off the tailgate. Some ramps have a tie-down to the truck to prevent this. Be sure to get some help loading and unloading until you're very comfortable with the operation. __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "dc_vince" wrote: > Hi - Another question from a beginner. Is a specialized (store bought) > ramp needed to roll my KLR into the back of the truck? If so, who > makes the best one? > More importantly, do people have good experiences with making their > own ramps? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. > Thanks.

[Jud Jones]

You can not only buy ramp ends that you can screw to a plank, you can buy a kit of stamped steel pieces that will give you traction on a wet ramp. I made a pair of ramps out of eight-foot 2x10s. The day I bought my parts, they only had one set of the traction pieces on hand, so I walk up the ramp that has the grip, and roll the bike up the other, under power, if necessary.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Arden Kysely" wrote: > Lots of options here. You can find purpose-built ramps in many > catalogs that cater to motorcycles and ATVs, or go to a local shop > and probably pick up a nice aluminum one. Some fold, some don't. The > taller your truck, the longer ramp you'll need for a safe and easy > load. Or you can get clever and park where your rear wheels are as > low as possible relative to the ramp (like a driveway apron). For the > bargain minded, you can buy or make a bent piece of 8" wide metal > that bolts to a plank. The downside of planks is that they can get > slippery. If you've got some dough to spend, check out > www.readyramp.com for a sturdy folding ramp that turns into a bed > extender (which is nice since your tailgate will likely be down with > the KLR in the back of your Tacoma). Catalogs/web sites to look at > are Chaparral, Cabellas, Moose, or just Google 'motorcycle ramps' and > see what pops up. > > One note of caution with ramps--the ramp gets a nudge from the rear > wheel when you first start rolling the bike out of the truck and can > slip off the tailgate. Some ramps have a tie-down to the truck to > prevent this. Be sure to get some help loading and unloading until > you're very comfortable with the operation. > > __Arden > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "dc_vince" wrote: > > Hi - Another question from a beginner. Is a specialized (store > bought) > > ramp needed to roll my KLR into the back of the truck? If so, who > > makes the best one? > > More importantly, do people have good experiences with making their > > own ramps? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. > > Thanks.

[Eric Lee Green]

dc_vince wrote:

>Hi - Another question from a beginner. Is a specialized (store bought) >ramp needed to roll my KLR into the back of the truck? If so, who >makes the best one? > >

Home-made ramps are reasonably easy to make out of lumber, but are quite heavy and hard to carry. A pair of long aluminum folding ramps is easier to haul. After weighing the lumber that would be required to build a ramp long enough to easily load my KLR into my Chevy S-10, I gulped and went to the local motorcycle shop and bought one.

>More importantly, do people have good experiences with making their >own ramps? >

A KLR in the back of a pickup truck is sorta like a teetotaller in a bar. You can do it, but why? It takes two people (one on each side) to safely load the KLR into the truck in the first place, and then there is the issue of *unloading* it. Unless the KLR is so busted you can't ride it where you're going (in which case you have no choice), the best bet is to simply ride it where you're going, which is a lot more fun too . Oh, one last thing: You won't fit a KLR into the bed of a Taco unless you leave the liftgate down, at which point you have 200 pounds of weight (the back tire of the bike) sitting directly on the liftgate. You may want to investigate renting a motorcycle trailer instead when you need to haul your KLR somewhere. -E

[John Mellquist]

I have a '93 Toyota 1/2, 2WD pickup that I regularly use to haul motorcycles. I made my own ramp using two 2"x12"x8' planks. On the truck end I put aluminum stops that slip over the end of the boards (and are attached with carriage bolts) and have a tapered "tab" that lays on the tailgate. It has rubber anti-slip pads to help keep the planks in place. The other end has been tapered to make getting onto the ramp easier. I then can walk the bike up the ramp and into the truck bed. I have also added helper springs to the rear leafs that help minimize rear-end sag and-front end float. John Napa, CA --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Arden Kysely" wrote:

> Lots of options here. You can find purpose-built ramps in many > catalogs that cater to motorcycles and ATVs, or go to a local shop > and probably pick up a nice aluminum one. Some fold, some don't.

The

> taller your truck, the longer ramp you'll need for a safe and easy > load. Or you can get clever and park where your rear wheels are as > low as possible relative to the ramp (like a driveway apron). For

the

> bargain minded, you can buy or make a bent piece of 8" wide metal > that bolts to a plank. The downside of planks is that they can get > slippery. If you've got some dough to spend, check out > www.readyramp.com for a sturdy folding ramp that turns into a bed > extender (which is nice since your tailgate will likely be down

with

> the KLR in the back of your Tacoma). Catalogs/web sites to look at > are Chaparral, Cabellas, Moose, or just Google 'motorcycle ramps'

and

> see what pops up. > > One note of caution with ramps--the ramp gets a nudge from the

rear

> wheel when you first start rolling the bike out of the truck and

can

> slip off the tailgate. Some ramps have a tie-down to the truck to > prevent this. Be sure to get some help loading and unloading until > you're very comfortable with the operation. > > __Arden > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "dc_vince"

wrote:

> > Hi - Another question from a beginner. Is a specialized (store > bought) > > ramp needed to roll my KLR into the back of the truck? If so,

who

> > makes the best one? > > More importantly, do people have good experiences with making

their

> > own ramps? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. > > Thanks.

[Doug Herr]

On Thu, 1 Sep 2005, dc_vince wrote:

> Hi - Another question from a beginner. Is a specialized (store bought) > ramp needed to roll my KLR into the back of the truck? If so, who > makes the best one? > More importantly, do people have good experiences with making their > own ramps? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Mark has covered this well: http://www.klr650.marknet.us/ramps.html I made a set myself, and yes they are heavy, but not that bad. I have a 1999 Toyota Tacoma Xtracab with the standard bed, roughly six foot. Using the method Mark illustrates I can get one bike in the back myself and close the gate. I was even able to transport two KLR650s this way, but I don't think I could close the gate with both bikes loaded up. Still, the weight was not so far back that it was an issue for the gate. For traction I used cuttings from the original stock tire from one of our bikes. They don't have steel belts and are easy to cut with a serrated pocket knife. -- Doug Herr doug@...

[Sonny Bulla]

>Eric Lee Green writes: >A KLR in the back of a pickup truck is sorta like a teetotaller in a >bar. You can do it, but why?

Probably to get it and other stuff that won't fit on it to point "B". I've hauled mine before and didn't feel guilty about it at all!

> It takes two people (one on each side) to >safely load the KLR into the truck in the first place, and then there is >the issue of *unloading* it.

I load (and unload) mine into a short bed Mazda B4000 4X4 by myself using an aluminium folding ramp and two 2X4 "foot planks" in case I get off balance coming down. I ride it up and down.

>Oh, one last thing: You won't fit a KLR into the bed of a Taco unless

you leave the liftgate down The bed on my Mazda is only six foot so, I run it from corner to corner and can lift/close the tailgate. Just had to install some more tie-down points. If one wants to use wood to make their ramp, just get some non-skid paint from your local hardware store and paint 'em....or do like I did and just mix play sand in with regular paint and have at it. Sonny '02 KLR650

[Mark Sampson]

It good to get good info on how to load in a pickup---but also how not to--here's a few---yes, I've done them all--so save yourself. Now remember--these are how "Not" to load the bike into the back of a pickup. 1. Take a run at the ramp---tire misses ramp--slam into tailgate. 2, Take a run at the ram---tire slides off ramp--slam into tailgate. 3. Take a run at the ramp--whoa---too fast---fly into truck bed--slam into truck--fly over the handlebars onto truck hood. 4. Take a run at the ramp----you too slow--more gas--whoops--less gas---spin tire---fall 4' too the ground--climb out from under hot bike---get shop towel too soak up blood. 5. By yourself--motor running---standing on the ground--ease her up the ramp--slowly---slowly--slipping the clutch--oh crap it's too high----bike falls over--hits the ground---climb out from under hot bike----get shop towel to soak up blood. 5. I'm thinkin'--I know there's more Mark Sampson www.bigdogadventures.com

[Erik]

> Oh, one last thing: You won't fit a KLR into the bed of a Taco unless > you leave the liftgate down, at which point you have 200 pounds of > weight (the back tire of the bike) sitting directly on the liftgate. You > may want to investigate renting a motorcycle trailer instead when you > need to haul your KLR somewhere.

Considering how thoroughly loading & unloading my A18 ONCE crushed my F-150 tailgate, this is probably something you should pay attention to! It was a cheap aftermarket tailgate (already crushed one being stupid with a load while offroad), and not as sturdy as the OEM, but... it didn't stand a chance vs the rear tire. erik

[ron criswell]

Be sure the gas is turned on before you try and ride it up the ramp. I knew a guy with a brand new Bultaco years ago with fiberglass tank that forgot to turn on the gas. Bike was 30 minutes new and he fell off the ramp halfway up putting a hole in the new tank. This guy could screw anything up. Only guy I ever knew that threw a rod on a 2 stroke dirt bike (mystery pre mix probably). I think he went to remote controlled model airplanes after he screwed up enough bikes. One reason I don't like buying used. By the way I never ride up a ramp into a truck or trailer. It is an embarrassing way to hurt yourself. Criswell

On Thursday, September 1, 2005, at 10:56 AM, Mark Sampson wrote: > > It good to get good info on how to load in a pickup---but also how not > to--here's a few---yes, I've done them all--so save yourself. > > Now remember--these are how "Not" to load the bike into the back of a > pickup. > > > 1. Take a run at the ramp---tire misses ramp--slam into tailgate. > 2, Take a run at the ram---tire slides off ramp--slam into tailgate. > 3. Take a run at the ramp--whoa---too fast---fly into truck bed--slam > into truck--fly over the handlebars onto truck hood. > 4. Take a run at the ramp----you too slow--more gas--whoops--less > gas---spin tire---fall 4' too the ground--climb out from under hot > bike---get shop towel too soak up blood. > 5. By yourself--motor running---standing on the ground--ease her up the > ramp--slowly---slowly--slipping the clutch--oh crap it's too > high----bike falls over--hits the ground---climb out from under hot > bike----get shop towel to soak up blood. > 5. I'm thinkin'--I know there's more > > > Mark Sampson > www.bigdogadventures.com > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >