Securing Ulysses on a truck

[Yan]

Will be transporting Ulysses in the back of a Ford Ranger. Never done that before, so wondering how much should I compress the forks? Want it to be secure and stable of course, but concerned about blowing a seal if over torque those ratchet straps.

Thanks!

 

[nikfleisch]

About 1-2 inches.

 

[snrusnak]

I run two straps in the front. One on each side over the lower triple tree. I compress until it's very stable. It will move slightly but it is stable and the hooks can't come undone at the tie down point. I never measured but I'd say there's about 3" let of suspension travel. I also usually put 2 straps on the rear just to keep it from hopping around.

 

[06xbss]

you could always put a 2x4 between the front tire and triple tree, then you can crank down the straps without worrying about the fork seals.

 

[MotoX6]

I have a Chevy Colorado, similar size. I drive it in straight towards the left side, then I swing the back end to the right and put up the tailgate. Two straps, around triple tree, and I use tie down straps too. I run a strap around the back end too if I leave the tail gate down. So tailgate up, two straps, tailgate down three straps. I crank it down pretty good, just look at it and see..it snugs up pretty quick!

 

[Doc13]

The thing you want to avoid is the forks compressing as you go down the road...as of course it would put slack in your tie downs and possibly dump the bike on it's side. Get her down low n tight and you should be good.

 

[Yan]

The thing you want to avoid is the forks compressing as you go down the road

very good point, didn't think of that. Thanks!

Just ordered a wheel chock, sounds like it will make the whole setup more stable

 

[BuellyBagger]

The wheel chock is a good call I picked my cyclone from a dealer in illinois using my mom's little ranger (for good mpg) and bent the rear bed panel into the back of the cab with the front tire of the bike.

 

[Doc13]

I picked my cyclone from a dealer in illinois using my mom's little ranger (for good mpg) and bent the rear bed panel into the back of the cab with the front tire of the bike.

Built Ford Tough.

 

[Yan]

Well, Ranger is really just a Mazda

 

[user_deleted]

using my mom's little ranger (for good mpg)

bagger; i just took my 2006 V-8 Dakota to WV and back for new buell last sunday. got exactly 20.8 mpg round trip. how did the ranger do?

 

[2004xb12s]

Make sure you either use the chock or strap the front and back tire down somehow. When bikes fall over when transporting it is because the back end of the bike will hop around and loosen the straps on the handlebars. If you keep the wheels in a straight line and 2 straps on the bars it will not fall over.

 

[snrusnak]

bagger; i just took my 2006 V-8 Dakota to WV and back for new buell last sunday. got exactly 20.8 mpg round trip. how did the ranger do?

That's great for an 06 4.7L. My 97 4 cyl s10 got low to mid 20's on the highway. My full size ram with 4.7L gets 20mpg easy on the highway. I'd give up a few mpg for comfort and power any day. Not that I hated my s10, I loved it, but boy was it small, and slow.

 

[SlyFox]

What others said... try to block them from compressing at all...transported mine thousands of miles and had seals redone...under warranty, but it probably my fault.

 

[BuellyBagger]

bagger; i just took my 2006 V-8 Dakota to WV and back for new buell last sunday. got exactly 20.8 mpg round trip. how did the ranger do?

about 20mpg i think (that was 7 years ago) i think its little 4pot was a little under powered to be carting an extra 400lbs in the back fords arent exactly known for their MPG and the other option @ the time was pull a trailer with my '95 V-6 Explorer which would have rendered 15mpg on the interstate, i have since "upgraded" my tow vehicle to a 5.4L Eddie Baurer Expedition which gets 15 undloaded or loaded well i lie it only got 11.5 pulling my tracker back from manhattan, KS