Transporting my Nomad

[patmahoney]

Need to go to PA to pick up my new '11 Nomad. Can borrow an F150 with a 6.5 foot bed will the nomad fit? Anybody done this? Thanks

[ringadingh]

It should fit, we brought mine home in a Dodge Dakota after my accident. Although the forks were a bit bent. If you have a trailer available it would probably be easier to load.

[caribou]

It should. I hauled my 03 Nomad in the my Dodge with the tailgate down and it had a 6 ft. bed.

[Pitchinguy]

I measured my 011 Nomad. From the front of the front tire, as if against the front of the bed, to the rear of the ground contact point of the rear tire is 6' 9". The rear wheel will be mostly on the tailgate. You should be plenty good.

[patmahoney]

Thanks guys! I thought so but wanted to be sure before making the 650 mile trek out to PA.

Thanks again

[nomadtom69]

I picked my Nomad up 360 miles away when I bought it used a trailer I feel alot safer loading one on a trailer than I would getting up in the back of a pick up unless you have a dock to load and unload it

[patmahoney]

I picked my Nomad up 360 miles away when I bought it used a trailer I feel alot safer loading one on a trailer than I would getting up in the back of a pick up unless you have a dock to load and unload it

I thought about this, but decided i would rather not deal with a trailer if it snows. I don't have a lot experience with trailers. The dealer says loading will not be a problem. If it wasn't for the possibility of snow I'd be riding.

[desertdog]

Be sure to look at the tail gate. Neighbor visiting from Canada arrived last night. He had an F150 that he had loaded his Goldwing on. When loading it the weight of the rear wheel bent the tail gate in the center a good 2 inches, because it was hollow, with no supports under the sheet metal.

[dshelly]

If you're going to let the rear set on the tailgate, be sure to check the cables to make sure they are in good shape. Those are the only thing keeping the tailgate up.

Personally Id rather have an 8' bed to haul it. When I went to get mine, I used my 2500 chevy with a long bed, still couldn't get the tailgate closed.

[drewweeks]

Need to go to PA to pick up my new '11 Nomad. Can borrow an F150 with a 6.5 foot bed will the nomad fit? Anybody done this? Thanks

It'll fit fine with the tailgate down. Rear tire will be in the bed, not the tailgate, which is good. I put mine in my 2005 F150 when I went to my brother in laws wedding in Charleston. Rode great in the back. If you can find a small ditch to back into to load/unload it'll help. The 150's tend to have a tall bed floor, so you'll need the incline or a long set of ramps to get the clearance. Enjoy!

[patmahoney]

Be sure to look at the tail gate. Neighbor visiting from Canada arrived last night. He had an F150 that he had loaded his Goldwing on. When loading it the weight of the rear wheel bent the tail gate in the center a good 2 inches, because it was hollow, with no supports under the sheet metal.

Thanks for the heads up! I read online should use a sheet of plywood at least 3/4" for added support and reduce bounce.

[nomadrider1600]

I thought about this, but decided i would rather not deal with a trailer if it snows. I don't have a lot experience with trailers. The dealer says loading will not be a problem. If it wasn't for the possibility of snow I'd be riding.

Hope you have the unloading part of the trip figured out too?

[patmahoney]

Hope you have the unloading part of the trip figured out too?

Should be good, have location where slope will help reduce the angle coming down the ramps

[ringadingh]

Thanks for the heads up! I read online should use a sheet of plywood at least 3/4" for added support and reduce bounce.
Thats a great idea, definitely worth doing for sure.

[nomadtom69]

Do not forget a good set of tiedowns and some soft straps to attach to motorcycle use on all 4 corners

[BC RED VAQ]

ou might check with a local dealer or repair shop to see if they have a unloading ramp you can back up to. Good luck with your new bike and send us a picture.

[cnc]

You might have seen a post recently called failed or something showing all the mishaps loading / unloading out of a pickup. I would makes sure any ramp you use is long enough for a reduced angle and properly secured to the tailgate. Also the wider the ramp the better or a second ramp on either side made out of a 2x8 or 2x10 with wooden cleats may be useful. Another thought came to mind from BC red's post. Most dealers around here have a tommy lift type tailgate set up on their delivery trucks. Probably for a small fee you could back up to their truck, roll the bike onto their tailgate and then lower it to the ground.

[coffey67]

Use a trailer for the Nomad. Backs of pickup trucks are for Harleys. They like to be in the back of a pickup more than most dogs. :lmao:

[dank]

U-haul rents a great motorcycle trailer. Inexpensive rental, no loading issue, good tie down spots, track for the wheels, holds the bike securely, and you won't even notice it behind you truck other than needing a longer parking space and the smiles on the faces of kids in cars that pass you..

[patmahoney]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions! Anticipation is starting to sink in, like a kid at Christmas! 4 more days

[redjay]

Watch Youtube for all the mishaps loading bikes onto pickup trucks. My choice would be a trailer.

[spoon059]

From experience with a 6.5 foot bed...

Buy a sheet of 3/4 plywood to lay down across the entire bed and the tailgate. Pull the bike in at an angle so that your rear wheel is either completely in the bed, or straddling the end of the bed and the front of the tailgate. The bike will fit fine and you don't have to worry about the weight on the tailgate.

Unfortunately truck manufacturers are using thinner sheet metal in these newer trucks to cut down on weight to increase fuel mileage. Running a 700+ lbs bike over the tailgate WILL dent the inner sheetmetal on the tailgate if you don't use plywood or something else to distribute the weight.

[MAS Tequila]

http://cheezburger.com/46703105

Take a look and hopefully avoid a problem.

MT

[patmahoney]

http://cheezburger.com/46703105

Take a look and hopefully avoid a problem.

MT

Thanks for the link. One thing I know for sure, no video cameras. If I am going to be that stupid, at least I can be sure it won't end up on Youtube....

Love the fifty foot run up into a pick up!

[yoda]

I would strongly encourage the trailer from Uhaul vs the bed of a truck. 800lbs may not seem like a lot of weight for a pickup, but the getting it on an off is a pain(maybe literally..) The trailer is made for it, is not expensive, and will make your life a lot easier.
I have also seen a lot of bowed tailgates, and replaced quite a few. If you are borrowing the truck from someone else, think about the cost to replace the gate should something like that happen.
Good luck on whatever your decision and your bike.

[glwilson]

http://cheezburger.com/46703105

Take a look and hopefully avoid a problem.

MT

That video clearly shows why a trailer is a better idea... especially with a heavy bike. :D

[jjg3]

Man, I know you've probably made your decision already, but here's another endorsement for the U-Haul bike trailer. I went to Steubenville, OH from Alex, VA to get my 09 Nomad. Was going to use my truck (a 4x4 Colorado so it rides high) but the seller suggested I fly and ride since it was near PIT and he would pick me up (and he was really nervous about the truck thing). I've hauled a Triumph America and a BMW R/RT on a Tacoma bed (previous truck) and they rode just fine (tailgate did well), getting them in and out went ok mostly, but there was a time with the Beemer that was an experience the 3 Stooges would have been proud of, no cameras... good idea there if you go with the truck. When I found out the U-Haul was only $14 a day, and it's purpose built, it was a no-brainer (and I only needed 1 day). I used a Corolla to tow so you can get an idea of how easy the whole thing was. The full-width ramp is low to the ground so ride-in loading is a snap, as was said already, plenty of tie-down points, it can be towed by anything (except for some reason they won't rent to a Ford Explorer tow vehicle). Seller was happy I showed up with the U-Haul. If there's snow predicted, as long as you drive reasonably it won't be any problem. Good luck however you do it and enjoy the new bike.


http://images50.fotki.com/v393/photos/6/962226/10903737/IMAG0087-vi.jpg

edited to add: an fyi, I got the trailer locally and brought it back. turns out it was cheaper to return it where I got it.

[patmahoney]

I will be heading out tomorrow. I am giving the Uhaul serious consideration, but they do not have a bike trailer available for rent. They do have a utility trailer. I will check things out when I get out to PA.

Thanks to all for your input.

[MAS Tequila]

I usually use their 5x 9' utility trailer with ramp.

http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/RatesTrailers.aspx

MT

[yoda]

I will be heading out tomorrow. I am giving the Uhaul serious consideration, but they do not have a bike trailer available for rent. They do have a utility trailer. I will check things out when I get out to PA.

Thanks to all for your input.
I don't know where in PA you are headed, but I live in Lancaster County and drive past a UHaul place every day and they have several motorcycle trailers sitting on the lot. I used one to bring my wife's first Vulcan home from southwestern Ohio.

[patmahoney]

I don't know where in PA you are headed, but I live in Lancaster County and drive past a UHaul place every day and they have several motorcycle trailers sitting on the lot. I used one to bring my wife's first Vulcan home from southwestern Ohio.

Heading to Cranberry, just north of Pittsburgh. Went into Uhaul reservations which shows only utility trailers are available for my dates.

[dlars]

I was going to load mine into a 2011 Ram 2500 with 6 1/2 foot box until I realized the back tire would be on the tail gate. I took a look at the flimsy cables on the tail gate and changed my mind....bike is worth too much. I had a tailgate cable let go while loading my Kawasaki 750 Brute quad and it was no picnic, bike would be much worse.....just my two cents

[fish]

how did you make out?

[Sin City Stan]

http://images50.fotki.com/v393/photos/6/962226/10903737/IMAG0087-vi.jpg

Didn't know this. Filing it away for the future. :tup::tup::tup:

[nomadman]

A couple years ago, I bought a trailer and modify it to the ultimate bike transporter.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/jantalmon/Biketrailer/IMG_2130-1.jpghttp://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc199/jantalmon/Biketrailer/IMG_2123.jpg

Transportation is very easy to do, and the bike is protected agains dirt and dust.

Nomadman

[BC RED VAQ]

Didn't know this. Filing it away for the future. :tup::tup::tup:

Pat
If this is your bike on the uhaul is realy looks good sometimes I wish i would have bought a nomad instead of my vaquero more room for the wife and I. Good luck getting it home safely and show some more pictures.

[patmahoney]

Trip complete! Ended up just using the truck, with a sheet of 3/4" plywood in the bed overlapping the tailgate. Contact point for rear wheel was at the very edge of the bed. The dealer had a lift for loading and tie down points in the truck worked fine. Came home to 30" of new snow so had to unload the bike at home with out a lift or being able to take advantage of a slope to reduce angle. Ended up using two 2x6 boards butted side to side as ramp, worked fine with one person on either side of the bike.

Spent the rest of the day shoveling snow snow so no pics yet.

Thanks once again to all for your help.

[cnc]

Glade it all worked out for you. Bet you can't wait till the snow is gone

[patmahoney]

Glade it all worked out for you. Bet you can't wait till the snow is gone

You got that right!! But we are supposed to get some more later this week. No more than 4" but, will still delay riding. Might keep riding the 02 until spring, when the sand and salt is off the roads.

[jjg3]

Glad you got it home safe man. Good time to read over the owner's manual do a close inspection of the bike just to get to know it. Be careful with that shoveling thing and have a good time with the new machine.

[crazygene49]

Congratulations on your new bike. Enjoy the snow.

[BC RED VAQ]

Congrags on a safe trip home and unload feel sorry for you with all that snow and don't over do it shoveling all that snow. Take time to enjoy your new toy and read up on it ride safe.

[Jared]

I'm kind of behind ,but I have hauled a 1600 several times in the back of a 6' truck bed. I had to leave the tailgate down and the back wheel rested right in the crack of the tailgate and the bed, but there's never been any problems.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gYQC0wqNF8o/SsUhwl0iUlI/AAAAAAAAAUI/s8ITf84ExSw/s400/nomad1.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gYQC0wqNF8o/SsUhodx7QuI/AAAAAAAAATw/QpjXn_640po/s400/Nomad4.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gYQC0wqNF8o/SsUhns3ENZI/AAAAAAAAATg/-JmJk07RExY/s400/nomad6.jpg

[patmahoney]

I'm kind of behind ,but I have hauled a 1600 several times in the back of a 6' truck bed. I had to leave the tailgate down and the back wheel rested right in the crack of the tailgate and the bed, but there's never been any problems.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gYQC0wqNF8o/SsUhwl0iUlI/AAAAAAAAAUI/s8ITf84ExSw/s400/nomad1.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gYQC0wqNF8o/SsUhodx7QuI/AAAAAAAAATw/QpjXn_640po/s400/Nomad4.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gYQC0wqNF8o/SsUhns3ENZI/AAAAAAAAATg/-JmJk07RExY/s400/nomad6.jpg

Just about how it was for me, though I wish I had those ramps for unloading it would have been a lot less nerve-racking.