[tophat]

Posted this in the test forum the other day. I just bought my first TW and hauling it in the back of my tacoma with a tool box, did not like the waythe back tire rested on my lite tailgate. I know the actual weight of the bike at the back wheel is not much, but that combined with the force applied by the tie down straps actually made the composite tailgate material bow in. Didnt like it. Built this from a 9" drop hitch flipped upside down, with a modified ramp welded to it. Made the ramp hinge and put a latch on it to hold it in the up position. makes loading and unloading very quick, dont have to worry about the ramp moving while loading, dont have to worry about straping the ramp in the bed while going down the road. And if you will put a lock on the reciever pin you dont have to worry about someone walking off with your ramp. Works for me.

 

[lizrdbrth]

Good thinking, that.

 

[evan]

Like it. Been thinking of a hitch hauler but think the bike would block the tail/brake lights. Do you think the law will give you any problems about blocking your license plate?

 

[lizrdbrth]

Grenalder has a novel and brilliant solution for the license plate.



Maybe he'll chime in with a pic.

 

[tophat]

Like it. Been thinking of a hitch hauler but think the bike would block the tail/brake lights. Do you think the law will give you any problems about blocking your license plate?

Not here in Texas.

 

[tophat]

Not here in Texas.

It wouldnt be hard to temporarily relocate the plate to the back side of the ramp

 

[ronnydog]

[quote name='tophat' date='18 January 2012 - 07:09 AM' timestamp='1326899358' post='34800']

Very cool!

 

[Greenalder]

Grenalder has a novel and brilliant solution for the license plate.



Maybe he'll chime in with a pic.

I had the same thought about getting stopped for blocking my licence plate - here's my solution:



The plate here is actually a color photo copy of the real one on the hatch. I laminated the paper to a piece of sheet metal (just clear packing tape) and hung it on two clips from my hitch rack so it sways back and forth like a real lic. plate. No one can tell the difference - especially after it get's a little dusty.

The bike looks much wider compared to the jeep in this image. The wheels really only stick out about 6 inches on each side. Good Viz in the side mirrors. Brake and turn signals also easy to see through the spokes.

 

[retmotor]

Great idea and good looking execution thereof.



That would be illegal in my state though because of the license plate.

 

[Greenalder]

I have not checked to see if it's legal here in california (doubtful) but what the hey, I'm trying to do the responsible thing while not messing with my real plate every time I take the bike out.



I'm hoping the police would see it that way too. The real plate is visible enough in profile. I've not been pulled over yet, but I've also not been tailgated by the cops yet either.



I keep meaning to ask about this. Anyone in law enforcement know what the real deal is with a set up like this?



One other thing about the photo copy, don't forget to keep the registration sticker up to date...

 

[lizrdbrth]

An L.E.O. would have a difficult time making a case against it. His concern is identifying your vehicle, which he can. Yes, your "real" plate is obscured, but it's present. I've seen yours, and you had to point out the fact that it was a photocopy before I even noticed.



A light would be the only legal concern in terms of it being justification for a T'stop in and of itself.

 

[joeband]

not that it is a legal observation, but i used a laminated photocopy of my license plates (front and back) to cross 28 boarders in 17 countries from south america to the states, and then 8 months in the states. i never was hassled once by anyone, including u.s. customs and immigration @ mc allen tx. i'd think unless they had some other reason to hassle you, you'd be fine.



btw i love your solution, it looks great.

 

[xdac]

Its a great idea and id probably buy it for simple transportation rather than my hitch haul that sways back and fourth when i go around a corner. Im waiting for that to snap to get a picture to laugh at.



I wouldn't be worried about the back wheel on your tail gate..if thats the case they sell steel straps- literally- that help hold your gate up.



I transport my 1400lb loaded rzr in the back of my short bed diesel truck. I have 2x8's to help distribute the weight to the bed, but according to my LEO truck inspection scales, there's 800ish pounds on my tailgate bouncing and swaying as i jam out to metallica and sip my mountain dew. I have logged a good 800 miles of pavement this way and never had a problem with the gate bending, so honestly your little 300lb bike wont even dent it.

 

[tophat]

Its a great idea and id probably buy it for simple transportation rather than my hitch haul that sways back and fourth when i go around a corner. Im waiting for that to snap to get a picture to laugh at.



I wouldn't be worried about the back wheel on your tail gate..if thats the case they sell steel straps- literally- that help hold your gate up.



I transport my 1400lb loaded rzr in the back of my short bed diesel truck. I have 2x8's to help distribute the weight to the bed, but according to my LEO truck inspection scales, there's 800ish pounds on my tailgate bouncing and swaying as i jam out to metallica and sip my mountain dew. I have logged a good 800 miles of pavement this way and never had a problem with the gate bending, so honestly your little 300lb bike wont even dent it.

 

[tophat]

its not the metal straps i am trying to save its the plastic composit bed material that warps badly while the bike is loaded. Not to mention that I have actually pulled into a friends drive way once just in time to see his metal tailgate straps brake while loading his four wheeler into a chevy 3/4 ton. Bent the tailgate in half and flipped the four wheeler almost on top of him, he's very lucky it didnt land on him. Dont think because they are steel. they cant snap. I also notice on your truck you have some boards reinforcing your taigate, thats just something else I dont want or have to mess with, not to mention jacking with the ramps. Your set up is exactly what i was trying to avoid, to each his own.

 

[tophat]

I had the same thought about getting stopped for blocking my licence plate - here's my solution:



The plate here is actually a color photo copy of the real one on the hatch. I laminated the paper to a piece of sheet metal (just clear packing tape) and hung it on two clips from my hitch rack so it sways back and forth like a real lic. plate. No one can tell the difference - especially after it get's a little dusty.

The bike looks much wider compared to the jeep in this image. The wheels really only stick out about 6 inches on each side. Good Viz in the side mirrors. Brake and turn signals also easy to see through the spokes.

Thats cool. Sitting here thinking about visible plates, if you look around on the road you see all types of vehicles with the hitch type cargo carriers piled up with everything from luggage to coolers, with the plate not visible. I wonder if the law gives them any heat over that. I was a deputy for a few years and never gave it a thought but that could be viewed way different in other states.

 

[qwerty]

Every owner's manual for every truck I ever owned warned against excessive loads on the tailgates. Different trucks had different limits.



Technically, everywhere I've been plates must be visible and rear plates must be illuminated, no matter what.



Driving with even partially blocked taillights is an unsafe practice. I've seen LEOs ticket people with partially blocked taillights after they were rear-ended. I've also seen people ticketed for not flagging loads that extend more than a set distance behind the taillights.



I like the reciever-mounted ramp idea. I prefer one ramp for the bike and one ramp for me when loading and unloading. Same idea modified to hold a pair of ramps attached to a couple crossmembers would also work, especially since I like to load a single bike off-center to allow more room for gear.

 

[tophat]

Every owner's manual for every truck I ever owned warned against excessive loads on the tailgates. Different trucks had different limits.



Technically, everywhere I've been plates must be visible and rear plates must be illuminated, no matter what.



Driving with even partially blocked taillights is an unsafe practice. I've seen LEOs ticket people with partially blocked taillights after they were rear-ended. I've also seen people ticketed for not flagging loads that extend more than a set distance behind the taillights.



I like the reciever-mounted ramp idea. I prefer one ramp for the bike and one ramp for me when loading and unloading. Same idea modified to hold a pair of ramps attached to a couple crossmembers would also work, especially since I like to load a single bike off-center to allow more room for gear.

The offset idea is great, You could also do this same idea with two ramps for a four wheeler kinda a offset x2. 1 on each side.

 

[Greenalder]

Every owner's manual for every truck I ever owned warned against excessive loads on the tailgates. Different trucks had different limits.



Technically, everywhere I've been plates must be visible and rear plates must be illuminated, no matter what.



Driving with even partially blocked taillights is an unsafe practice. I've seen LEOs ticket people with partially blocked taillights after they were rear-ended. I've also seen people ticketed for not flagging loads that extend more than a set distance behind the taillights.



I like the reciever-mounted ramp idea. I prefer one ramp for the bike and one ramp for me when loading and unloading. Same idea modified to hold a pair of ramps attached to a couple crossmembers would also work, especially since I like to load a single bike off-center to allow more room for gear.

I'm not sure about the Jeep's limit but I imaging the TW and the rack are over it. I added some extra metal bracing to the hitch assembly and welded it all to the chassis. A shrader valve in the gas cap cover allows me to pump up the rear air shocks to about 90lbs which helps the handling. (for a Jeep Cherokee of course) I'm usually alone in the car when I have the bike mounted and don't bring very much stuff. For more involved trips I bring the trailer.



Good point about the flags. Since I took that shot of the bike I have taken to putting flags on either side of the bike - just two red cloths with bailing wire.



The rationale about the partially blocked lights for me is that they are still much bigger than many antique cars I see out on the road, plus most people that are behind me are probably thinking "what the hell is that thing on the back of that Jeep? better stay away from him it looks like it could fall off any minute!" I notice that folks don't tailgate when the bike's on there.



I'm sure you're right about the lic. plate, especially because of the the light that's supposed to go above it, I forgot all about that. Guess i'm taking chances all around with this set up but it's worked well for me so far.

 

[MrDNA]

Hey, the cops are probably fine with the fake license plate, but photocopying that little registration sticker can get you in serious big trouble in CA. That's a state license, and it generates passive revenue for the state, so they don't usually like to see them "counterfeited," which is what they will call it in court. I actually know someone who got busted for using a photocopied tag. I wouldn't do it; not here in CA anyway.



I really like the hitch mount idea. Clever. Easy to move the plate.