I'm hatching a new plan and need some advice.

I've been trying to figure out good ways of transporting bikes lately. I currently have a Ford Ranger with a 6' bed and a 2' bed extender. I've hauled my Seca and my Seca Turbo in it with no problems except loading and unloading. I have a typical set of ramps and I've dumped both bikes at various times doing this. Luckily neither bike suffered seriously, but something serious is inevitable.

I also have a snow mobile trailer that can haul either bike, but there are times that the trailer is just too inconvenient.

So a little research has led me to this:

Rampage

Neat idea. Too big for my truck though and there's no way I'm paying that kind of money.

After a little thought though, I've decided that I can build something like this. In fact, I think I can build it better and for very little money.

I intend to make a 4 wheeled platform, not unlike the one this one uses:

Curiser Ramp

I will then weld together some tracks for its wheels to run in. There will obviously need to be a ramp in the center as well.

I already have a nice winch that is more than up to the task. I'm thinking of mounting the winch on the platform that supports the front wheel, running the cable to a pulley at the front of the bed and back to the platform. As the bed is only 6', I can't afford to give up much in the way of length by having the winch at the end.

This almost sounds too easy. My Ranger has 40" between the wheel wells and a 40" wide platform should be easily wide enough to support a bike.

I beleive I could even haul my Goldwing this way. The truck can certainly handle the weight and I have about 6" to spare in length. I would need to put something under the rear wheel in order to spread out the weight, but this is doable as well.

Some of this apparatus would need to be permanently attached to the truck. The Pulley for sure and I'm thinkng that it would be good to have a way of really seriously securing the front wheel platform when loaded.

I don't want to drill holes in my bed, but would be willing to if I could do it right. And this is where I need advice. If I drill a hole, how do I protect it from the weather? I don't want the bed to rust out. Some sort of grommet? Paint?

Please let me know your thoughts. Am I missing something big? Am I crazy to attempt this? I know the truck can handle 1000lb payload easilly as I've done it many times. I'm thinking the apparatus would weigh no more than 150lbs and even my wing is only 600.

Thanks,

Greg

 

Good questions Greg. You could drill your holes, then prime with galvanizing primer (which has sacrificial zinc suspended in the medium to provide added protection) followed with one or two coats of paint of your choice. You could also prep the bed and use that thick bed-liner paint that will put a rubberized coating over the entire thing. Your weight issues seem to be covered rather well with an easy 20% safety factor. I'd go for it, you've nothing to loose and a whole lot of safety and piece of mind to gain. Good luck and post your progress with pics if you can.