Who is transporting their ebikes standing up inside a truck bed under topper?
- Thread starter Dallant
- Start date
Dallant
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Real problem is the height of the topper door. I’m looking into a high top model like the A.R.E. TW. Problem then becomes it’s pretty pricey and then how do you lock ‘em down for transport.
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6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
I've been using this slide out rack for over 10 years now:
This season, I replaced the low profile side tool boxes with full size units:
I'm looking at adding a "plumbers" cap to mount on top of the side boxes. Until then, I use a tarp across the bikes & box tops to keep the weather off the bikes when the truck is parked. No pics yet since I took the bike rack off the truck for the winter. You can see it up on the lift in the upper right of pic 3. I plow snow during the Winter and there is no reason to have the rack bouncing around in the bed when it isn't needed.
The high side boxes provide a degree of security since the only way to access the bikes is from the rear. A thief would have to climb up into the bed to get at them and set off the motion alarm in the process.
This season, I replaced the low profile side tool boxes with full size units:
I'm looking at adding a "plumbers" cap to mount on top of the side boxes. Until then, I use a tarp across the bikes & box tops to keep the weather off the bikes when the truck is parked. No pics yet since I took the bike rack off the truck for the winter. You can see it up on the lift in the upper right of pic 3. I plow snow during the Winter and there is no reason to have the rack bouncing around in the bed when it isn't needed.
The high side boxes provide a degree of security since the only way to access the bikes is from the rear. A thief would have to climb up into the bed to get at them and set off the motion alarm in the process.
Now, see, I had thought of that also, and putting a soft top on it so I could climb in and roll it up and be able to walk to the front. Or just using a soft topper, but of course that is minimal top security. A high top van would solve a lot of problems
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ruffruff
Well-Known Member
My new in bed bike rack!
Mn is awful with chemicals on the road in the winter. I really like having my bike in the bed this time of year. I was using my Yakima Holdup and just throwing it in the bed, but heavy and took up a lot of space. I really didn't find an off the shelf solution I liked. So you gotta make something...
electricbikereview.com
The handlebars on this bike are above the roof line so it wouldn't fit under most toppers.
I use to have toppers but went to a soft rollup cover and like it a lot.
Lightning 123
Well-Known Member
I just purchased a locknload wheel chock to use for transporting my ebike. It is a well designed system that locks the front wheel in place and is then secured with a strap. It can be bought on eBay for just over a hundred bucks and I'm going to make so it can be removed and installed easily without doing any damage to the back of the truck.
ruffruff
Well-Known Member
Not cheap...
www.backcountry.com
Thule Insta-Gater Pro Truck Tailgate Mount - Bike
Buy the Thule Insta-Gater Pro Truck Tailgate Mount online or shop all Bike from Backcountry.com.
www.backcountry.com
bikeman242
Active Member
Interesting product...how does it install? Drill into truck bed? Post pictures when you have it set up. Thank you.
Lightning 123
Well-Known Member
It can be attached directly to the bed, I'll probably just use some heavy duty plywood about 2 feet long and fasten to it that way.
Dallant
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Nor would it ever work with a topper, which is why I started this thread.Not cheap...
Thule Insta-Gater Pro Truck Tailgate Mount - Bike
Buy the Thule Insta-Gater Pro Truck Tailgate Mount online or shop all Bike from Backcountry.com.
This is the one I’m looking at, though with some modifications.
Dallant
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
That’s part of the planned modifications. No drilling into the bed involved either. If it works as planned, both of our Allant+7 will be locked inside the topper with both wheels on.
6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
With a slide out rack, you really don't need to climb into the truck bed to get at the bikes.Now, see, I had thought of that also, and putting a soft top on it so I could climb in and roll it up and be able to walk to the front. Or just using a soft topper, but of course that is minimal top security. A high top van would solve a lot of problems
A high top van equipped with a slide out rack would definitely be Ideal for transporting bikes. It would offer perfect protection from weather and the bikes would be out of sight from would be thieves.
Unfortunately, my vehicle has to do double duty. Transport bikes in the warmer weather and plow snow during Winter. Although there are a few factory equipped 4WD vans out there, none are equipped to handle a plow without major aftermarket modification.
Dallant
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
I got the high top topper for my truck exactly because I’m not willing to spend major money on another vehicle as I have long distance bike trips planned. If I was wanting to buy another vehicle, I’d certainly consider a taller van.
bikeman242
Active Member
I have been looking for a couple years for a means to carry my bicycle on some crossbars that run over a tonneau cover. Basically, I want the security of a locking tonneau, and keep the bikes up on top of the tonneau so they don't pick up debris from being in a hitch mounted bike rack. The problem is most of the bike carriers that you would put on the crossbars are designed to go on top of a roof rack, and are only rated to carry 45 pounds. Most eBikes exceed that. While it's probably fine, in an accident you would be liable. I concluded there is no solution.
6zfshdb
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Northeast Pennsylvania
I use 40# rated roof racks to carry my 60# bikes in a pickup bed. The rating is due to the side to side or sway loading on the rack arms. I compensate for this by tying off the bikes to the rack base thus taking some of the load off the arms. I've been carrying bikes like this for over 10 years without any problems. Your point is well taken about liability in case of an accident though.
A month or so ago, I saw an interesting scheme for carrying bikes in a pickup bed. The truck was equipped with a ladder rack and the bikes were simply hung from crossbars attached to the rack. There was enough clearance underneath the bikes for an enclosed tool box with a slide out tray. The tires of the bikes rested in channels mounted on top of the box to keep them from swaying. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera to take pics.
Another idea would be to use one of these:
Mount the roof style bike racks to the top of the box and store your gear in the slide out underneath. Not cheap though.
Another idea would be to use these cheaper slides and make your own "drawer" and cover box out of plywood:
You could make the box as tall as you like, even flush with the bed sides, and then mount the bike racks on top. That way, there would be no need for a tonneau cover.
The whole rig could slide out when not in use.
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