mike Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Has anyone ever hauled a Tracer in a short bed small pickup? I'm thinking of buying a Chevy Colorado with a short bed, five foot length. I figure I will have to fortify the tailgate somehow to keep the weight of the rear tire from causing damage, to the tailgate, when hauling the bike over longer distances. Maybe a channel running front to back to help keep the full load off of the tailgate or some side to side brace on the tailgate to distribute the load over the full width of the panel. Any comments from those who have run into this situation would be appreciated, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
limpy88 Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 (edited) Our bikes are a smudge under 500lbs. Most tailgates can handle at least that or more. Even so. Split the weight on both wheels and your at 250lbs. And Im 250lbs and never broke a tailgate. I have seen 400lbs guys on tail gates as well. I have owned 8 trucks and drove many others for work. Broke the rusty lift gate on my craiglist find service truck with a 2000lbs electric motor. 1200lbs was fine. Also a quality spray on bed liner stiffens a bed up. There is a company here in indiana, i have bought products from. The sprayed a soda can and would it put under a wheel of a truck at shows to show the strength. Edited November 12, 2019 by limpy88 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norcal616 Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 I have a Ranger... I put the bike in the bed diagonally... 2012 wr250f - C-class 30+ age group 2015 fz-07- Hordpower Edition-80whp 2015 fj-09- Graves Exhaust w/Woolich tune by 2WDW @120whp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmark101 Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 I have loaded heavier bikes into my small truck where the rear wheel sits on the open tailgate for the duration of the trip with no issues. Just make sure you have the bike very well secured for the trip. I highly recommend investing in a Baxley wheel chock if you plan on doing this on occasion. Great product!! There is nothing like spending a day riding with friends in the grip of a shared obsession. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitown Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 No specific knowledge of the Colorado but I'm a bit more careful with gates compared to previous generations of pickups given the constant migration away from steel to lightweight construction materials. At 1/2 Tracer weight it's not too concerning but If you can't angle it to get the rear off the gate consider a plywood sheet to distribute. While my bed isn't that short I use plywood with one or two chocks attached for hauling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark&Stormy Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 Ive hauled my FJ in an 08 Canyon with a 5'5" bed and the rear tire rests on the tailgate. I would just make sure your tailgate cables are in good shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 (edited) 3/4” plywood would stiffen things up. Just make sure it’s up against the front of the bed and tight against the wheel wells so it doesn’t slide. Most loads shift while braking not acceleration Edited November 12, 2019 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member 1moreroad Posted November 12, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted November 12, 2019 I like @donk's idea of a secured plywood sheet. I have an F150 with a 5 1/2' bed. The rear wheel sits in the gap just ahead of the tailgate, not on the tailgate itself. If you angled it slightly, you could do the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincep Posted November 12, 2019 Share Posted November 12, 2019 I wouldn't be concerned about the weight on the tailgate. It will be fine. Many 1000s of miles in a Ridgeline with the Tracer, Multistrada, Hyperstrada and a KTM - no issues. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted November 14, 2019 Author Share Posted November 14, 2019 Well, we jumped up to a full size Silverado with a 5' 8" bed and I believe the issue has been resolved. It appears that the back wheel will be much closer to the bed which is the strongest part of the tailgate. Thanks for the input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member 1moreroad Posted November 14, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted November 14, 2019 That's how it begins. A buddy bought a used DRZ400 for $3k or so for a little dual sporting. Then he upgraded it. Then he bought dirt bikes for his kids. Then a dual sport for his wife. Then bigger dirt bikes for his kids. Then a dirt bike for his wife. Then a toy hauler. Then a 3/4 ton pickup to tow the toy hauler. Then spent well north of $10k on a really nice KTM for himself. That DRZ probably cost $80k or more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted November 14, 2019 Author Share Posted November 14, 2019 Luckily I was buying a new pickup anyway and just upsized the unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member keithu Posted November 21, 2019 Premium Member Share Posted November 21, 2019 In 1993 I hauled a BMW K100RS 1000 miles in a 4-cylinder Nissan pickup and it was fine. That bike is longer and quite a bit heavier than the Tracer. Loading diagonally helps. Coincidentally, this coming weekend I am hauling that exact same K100RS for someone else. Now I have a Tundra which is a slightly better bike hauler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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