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Carrying A Harley!

8

800XP

Full Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2003
Messages
9
Location
Port Orange, FL
Hello all! This is my first post. ;D Read the FAQs first, and searched for this topic or some like it; my apologies if it's already been addressed and I didn't catch it.

Can a full size Harley, such as a Heritage Softail, be carried in the bed? I might have seen something about how it could be done with a bed extender, and caught the reference to the bed extender cum ramp; great idea. :0: Does one not have to lower the Midgate to fit the bike? And it'd fit front- or rear-first, yes or no?

The reason I ask: I've always liked the idea of the Avalanche, maybe more so with the WBH. When I pay off my current vehicle (less than 1 year), I'm getting a Heritage. Thought that, when I decided to replace my car, that an Avalanche would be a logical choice for a bike owner.

Thanks, and you folks have a great site here!
 
Every time I have seen a large bike carried in the AV, I have seen it carried with the midgate down. Others have talked about the weight not being a problem on the tailgate. I have no experience with this though. Im sure others will chime in soon.

Wiki
 
I believe that it would fit with the tailgate up and midgate down (tail in first); or tailgate down, midgate up front of bike in first, with bed extender to be safe. Either way the weight should not be an issue with the tailgate. Besides, you could always replace the tailgate cable straps with chains if you were worried.

Rob
 
Thanks for the replies! BTW, I was at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport between flights (I'm a professional pilot, which explains my handle), and saw in an adjacent parking lot a Yellow Z71 WBH, with the wheel flare & molding pkg. Aside from Yellow being the last color I would consider, I must admit that it looked great! Since I'm not looking at getting an Av until at least the '04 model year, the WBH is probably how I'll go. I'm anxious to see the new Red and Blue.
 
Yes it can be done. I do it all the time. I carry my FLHTCI (Dresser) in the bed with the midgate up and the tailgate down.

Just make sure you strap it in real good.
 

img_Softail_FLSTC_c1e.jpg

​
A beautiful FLSTC/FLSTCI Heritage Softail Classic like this is 94.5 inches long and 25.4 inches high at the seat. the bike weights out dry at about 700 lbs.

The weight won't be an issue as the 1500 2wd can carry over 1,300 lbs.

The bed is 63.0 inches long with the midgate up and 97.6 inches down. It is 50 inches wide.

I suggest going with the midgate down and the tailgate closed. I think that there would be too much weigh out on the tailgate if you rode with the hog in back and midgate up. Your wheel would be out over two feet onto the tailgate. I wouldn't trust the bouncing over bumps on a long ride.

Personally I would get a trailer for the AV. That way you can still camp in a tent in the back of the AV, carry two hogs, and don't have to work that big bike up to the height of the AVs bed.

I've seen some nice trailers you can ride in forward and ride out the front side. Very nice.

....the more I look at the photo, the more I think it might work. You need to back it into the AV's bed. Most of the weight is over the bed.... I think this will have to be tried to be sure.

BTW - have you checked out the Chevy Avalanche Fan Club National Meet this summer? It's going to be in Sturgis, SD this fall!
 
Great idea about the ride in/ride out trailer; do you have a link? ?And, yes, I saw mention of the meet in Sturgis. ?Cool! ?Will it coincide with the bike meet? ?I didn't notice the date. ?Again, thanks for the replies, and it looks like a lot of you have really tricked out your Avs nicely. ?You've given me ideas for when I get mine>:D. In another life, you'd all be riding custom Harleys . . . ;D
 
800XP,

An AV tailgate is rated at 1000 pounds. I do not know what the midgate is rated. I have bowed the front of a regular truck bed using straps to put a GS500E in the back of an S-10. A full sized softail might stress the midgate latch hardware.

Aloha,
Murman :cool:
 
800XP said:
?In another life, you'd all be riding custom Harleys . . . ;D
Click to expand...

Doesn't have to be in a different life. I am waiting for finances to settle down, cause I have my eye on a working on a basket case or ground up 'Warrior' Chassis Kit.

I spotted Jackalanche's post in another thread that might be worth looking into:

jackalanche said:
better solution, in order to keep the Av secure (running around with the midgate down is decidely not secure) and protected from the elements (to the extent you get infiltration into the cab, we could discuss that but we all can agree on the "midgate-down-on-a-winter-day-makes-cab-cold" conclusion, is to keep the midgate up and run with the tailgate down, and use a bed extender. There is an Av-specific bed extender (because of the intrusion of the drip rails and such, the GM bed extender is the only real choice in the "flippable" bed extender genre) but I would suggest you consider one other alternative, the Ready Ramp which is a ramp and a bed extender in one, and it fits the Av - I have one myself:

Ready Ramp pic

check them out here
Click to expand...

 
I cant believe why someone hasnt asked the TRUE question... WHY would you want to haul your Harley in the first place??? :rolleyes: lol

This sticker is on the back of my Screamin Eagle Road Glide2:
"If you see this bike on a trailer... dial 911",
RA
 
half-breed: ?tailgate closes just fine...with a few inches to spare!
RedAllison: ?Gotta tow it if it don't run....and I hate tow trucks, so I drove out and brought it back myself...that way we know it ain't scratched! ?I do agree, however, that if it's runnin', ride it! ;D ;D

PS: depending on your mirrors, you might have to turn them down prior to puttin' her in! (y)
 
My FZ750 won't fit in the back with the tailgate closed, the windscreen is a bear to remove (I don't even know how), and if I try to back it in the rear plastic hits the roof (it might fit if I can compress the rear suspension for a foot or so.....

It goes in the back of the truck if it isn't running, and I don't drive it to the strip for fear of it breaking and having to walk back home. So far it has never broken, but you can only do so many 6K RMP hole shots until something will give.
 
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