Loading a bike onto a trailer

**prettybillie** · 29th March 2009, 16:17

Hi All

What is the easiest way to load a bike onto the trailer. I don't always have people around me when I need to and really struggle to get the bike up the ramp alone - well I can't do it.

Has anyone got any worth while tips to help me?

Cheers

**munterk6** · 29th March 2009, 16:24

stand on the footpath outside the house and do the "damsel in distress" number....oh and hitch up the skirt as well!
Works everytime LOL!

no seriously tho, put some pieces of board on the trailer on each side of the channel the wheels sit in, and ride the bike up the loading ramp. Then put ya feet down on the boards and dismount the bike and grab the tie-downs you have already placed in a convenient spot.
The rest is a piece of weeze. Good luck.
ps- I love the bashed in muffler on the TL-R in your profile pic LOL!!!

**MotoGirl** · 29th March 2009, 16:30

Originally Posted by prettybillie

Hi All

What is the easiest way to load a bike onto the trailer. I don't always have people around me when I need to and really struggle to get the bike up the ramp alone - well I can't do it.

Has anyone got any worth while tips to help me?

Cheers

Back the trailer up to a bank that's the same/similar height to your trailer. Then all you have to do is push your bike forward and over the ramp instead of up it.

I suspect this might be something we have to do if the RSVR bottoms out going up the ramp into the float.

**McDuck** · 29th March 2009, 16:33

Never had a problem myself, maby a remote opperated winch with you just ballancing it?

**McDuck** · 29th March 2009, 16:39

Not cheep but maby this? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-210398237.htm
You would not need to drop many bikes to pay for it

**jrandom** · 29th March 2009, 16:42

Originally Posted by prettybillie

I don't always have people around me when I need to and really struggle to get the bike up the ramp alone - well I can't do it.

Are you trying to push it up?

Start the bike, pull the clutch in, put it in first and then use its own power to ooze it up the ramp.

If you want to be super-organised and minimise the possibility of expensive embarrassment, a box or something to help you step up onto the trailer with the bike would work well with that plan.

**McDuck** · 29th March 2009, 16:45

Originally Posted by jrandom

Are you trying to push it up?

Start the bike, pull the clutch in, put it in first and then use its own power to ooze it up the ramp.

If you want to be super-organised and minimise the possibility of expensive embarrassment, a box or something to help you step up onto the trailer with the bike would work well with that plan.

Just DONT SLIP....

**paturoa** · 29th March 2009, 16:54

The brave way is to ride it on, but many have come to grief doing this. Find a steep drive or bank to back the trailer up to so the ramp is near flat.

**JovoMan** · 29th March 2009, 17:03

Originally Posted by jrandom

Are you trying to push it up?

Start the bike, pull the clutch in, put it in first and then use its own power to ooze it up the ramp.

If you want to be super-organised and minimise the possibility of expensive embarrassment, a box or something to help you step up onto the trailer with the bike would work well with that plan.

What he said but I use two ramps. One for the bike, one for me walking alongside it while I'm gently easing it up the ramp in 1st Gear. Be careful though, one time I got half way up, needed more power, revved too much and spun the ramp out from under the back wheel. Bike was hanging out back of van.

It becomes easy after a few goes.

**sinfull** · 29th March 2009, 17:04

Originally Posted by MotoGirl

Back the trailer up to a bank that's the same/similar height to your trailer. Then all you have to do is push your bike forward and over the ramp instead of up it.

I suspect this might be something we have to do if the RSVR bottoms out going up the ramp into the float.

Be ok if she could back the trailer !

If its a flat trailer go with the board beside the ramp to walk up or run if ya need to and once its up put the side stand down and tie the stand side first !
If its a bike trailer and your own not a borrowed trailer, it would be a good idea to get something made up, ie: a board to walk up beside and a platform for the stand to sit on !
Using the bike to drive up is a good idea but if it goes wrong it goes real wrong ! The longer the ramp the easier it is to push up !

**prettybillie** · 29th March 2009, 17:11

Originally Posted by munterk6

stand on the footpath outside the house and do the "damsel in distress" number....oh and hitch up the skirt as well!
Works everytime LOL!

ps- I love the bashed in muffler on the TL-R in your profile pic LOL!!!

I would try this but I totally live in the hood and they would probably think I am one of the local fafafines hahaha

It wasn't me that bashed it either - honest ha ha

**FROSTY:Me** · 29th March 2009, 17:24

All BS aside. Decent plank and just take it up the ramp under its own power. Run the front tyre against the front. Once on the trailer kick the sidestand down.
Hook up the offside tiedown and pull down just enough to put pressure on the strap. Then hook up the stand side tiedown . Kick the stand up and crank the tiedown down a few turns. Go over to the offside and crank it right down. Then back to the stand side and crank it down.
--Its actually quicker to DO it than it is to type it out .

**Trudes** · 29th March 2009, 17:29

I would suggest NOT to ride the bike up the ramp... I have heard some real horror stories about ramps breaking under weight of bike and rider and bike and rider both ending up on the ground, not good. I'd go for the uneven ground idea or the bike in first gear and slowly ease the bike up the ramp using the clutch to control the speed and load. Good luck.

OR the damsel in distress.

**pecks** · 29th March 2009, 17:45

well i belive that the best way is what frosty said as this is the way that i have always used an belive that you can have much more control of the bike but most of all take your time an make sure you feel safe doing this on your own cause once you get to the track there will be lots of guys willing to help a lady in need with what ever she wants