Taking O/O seriously (bringing motorcycles on the road) help!

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by jrboyce83, Nov 30, 2012.

  1. jrboyce83

    jrboyce83 Bobtail Member

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    I have spent 8 years in this industry on the company side. 5 of which has been driving with my cousin and now we are considering going owner operator. Neither of us have children and have both sat down and thought long and hard about "why" we come home, and it isnt really for the down time. It seriously boils down to two things, an internet connection for our laptops (which i can access on the road) and being able to ride our motorcycles. So in trying to weigh all of our options in planning for the future, I am trying to figure out what kind of modification i would have to make to be able to take our motorcycles with us. Which btw, im not an idiot, the harleys are getting sold and we are looking at lower weight options such as enduros (under 1k lbs for both bikes) or possibly the ktm option which would be under 600 lbs. I have considered trying to find a way to put them behind the cab, what kind of wheel base would give me the necessary clearance to do this without smashing my bikes on a tight turn lol. Thanks for any help and advice.
     
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  3. MJ1657

    MJ1657 Road Train Member

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    If you do some searching there are some pics of set ups like you're talking about.

    I have seriously considered doing the same myself. I would just like to have a small scooter to take places on my 34 or evening break. Nothing more frustrating to me then being stuck somewhere with terrible food and in the distance you can see someplace good but its to far to walk.
     
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  4. jrboyce83

    jrboyce83 Bobtail Member

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    yeah MJ1657,

    My cousin and I are in the same boat, normally my co driver(cousin) and I end up driving a company rig over to the nearest mall, but with owner opping, we are trying to take fuel conservation extremely seriously. I have considered doing the bicycle thing, since the added weight would be negligable and with a double bunk truck, i could turn the top bunk into our bike rack. But there are some cities that Ive been too hundreds of times that I would really enjoy being able to experience and there are some limitations with a bicycle. Check out the KTM enduros, the weights are the lowest ive seen, most of the honda scoots are closer to 300 lbs if i remember right, the vespas are out of the question for me, i think they were over 400lbs, and If im going over 400 there are a ton of sport bikes that are under that weight. but the ktm 500cc is like 250lbs, my cousin and I dead lifted an 883 sportster once, so im pretty sure we could man handle an enduro up onto the catwalk.
     
  5. jrboyce83

    jrboyce83 Bobtail Member

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    oh, also could you give me an idea of what keywords to search under, im having a hard time finding any images via google

    thanks
     
  6. gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

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    Let me know how it goes. I am also interested in doing this. My plan was to stretch my 244" w900L to 280". I haven't made measurements as to how wide it will need to be, but this is all just preliminary thinking. This is one of the possible ideas as far as getting it up onto the catwalk and secured into place for driving. Also need to come up with a way to keep a tarp or something over it to keep it covered from rain and dirt and all that.
     
  7. 59BROCKWAY

    59BROCKWAY Light Load Member

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    I hear you there kiddo.
     
  8. 59BROCKWAY

    59BROCKWAY Light Load Member

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    You guys may want to think about an ARI sleeper and make an area for the bikes , depending upon where you go though as they usually have a wb of about 300" another option would be to get a ramp and place on the side and drive them up one by one but this tactic is dangerous ie trying to balance the bike, look at some you tube videos of people trying to ride up into either a pickup or a van. I'm not trying to discourage you but just save you from a fall. Perhaps some cantilever to lift them up a crane per se' anyhow good luck in your endeavors. Merry Christmas.
     
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  9. MJ1657

    MJ1657 Road Train Member

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    My plan would be to have a folding aluminum ramp. I would not ride it up the ramp just walk it up onto the catwalk.

    The boss is all for this plan as he wants to do it to. Just need to get the wallet out and buy a scooter.

    Merry Christmas to you too
     
  10. MJ1657

    MJ1657 Road Train Member

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  11. jrboyce83

    jrboyce83 Bobtail Member

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    Ive been mainly looking at RV options, but most of them are mounted at the hitch which doesnt help us much. Ive seen a couple setups with tie down hooks and just a basic metal platform with a wheel chock (which may be the route im going, i think if i talk to the company the could mod it to be bolted into position behind the cab) and then have a folding wide metal ramp to ride the bike up into position. And yeh, Ive seen a bunch of youtubers trying to load bikes, kind of funny although Ive had some interesting motorcycle misfortunes when it comes to pickups as well lol. Thats why im mainly looking at lighter weight scoots, something I could dead lift if I had to, I dont really want to part with the harley, but at 780 some odd pounds, the process for loading and unloading it would be tedious to say the least.
     
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