Often, you don’t go wrong when you move your dirt bikes. However, good and bad tools and methods exist.

There are a couple of ways to load a bike into a truck, but some are better than others.

Whether you have help available or you have decided to load your dirt bike alone, this article aims to put you through how to get your dirt bike into the bed of your truck without going around in circles.

Having the right ramps on hand is crucial.

You might want to watch this video for some visual ideas:

Below are steps to take in loading a dirt bike into a truck:

• Get the relevant tools ready.
• Back up to a hill, if possible.
• Do away with the tailgate to avoid being injured.
• If you want to move your dirt bike solo, make sure there is a ramp – wide enough to walk up – or a step to climb up onto the bed.
• Should you have a helper around, divide the tasks of moving and positioning the dirt bike.
• Secure your dirt bike tying it down safely.
• Reassess your effort down the line.

When you load a bike,’ it’s supposed to go up and stay there until you’re taking it out again.

Seeking Help

Both bikers and the helper should stand next to each side of the bike.

Lift on both sides of the fork and handlebars in order to get the front wheel on the tailgate of the truck. Then lift up the rear of the bike together by the swing arm.

Once both wheels of the dirt bike are in the bed of the truck, the biker should hop up in it to hold the bike before it tips over.

Also, before loading the bike, set the tie-straps out and put the hooks on the loops in the front of the bed so they are ready when you get the bike up.

We then put a tie-strap on one side of the handlebars, then lean the bike over and put the other strap on.

Then it’s just tightening it down far enough so that the dirt bike won’t move.

Equipment Needed to Load Dirt Bike onto Truck

The vehicle

The primary and most essential equipment is the truck that will haul the dirt bike. A dedicated bike truck is the simplest way to load a dirt bike.

If you always have to make use of the bed of a truck, you will notice that even the truck itself makes a variation — the lighter the bike and the longer the bed, the better.

Trucks are constructed to be low-lying and firm and secure the dirt bikes safely.

The depressed height of most trucks in comparison to a pickup bed makes them the apparent option for almost all settings.

The ramp

There are lists of ramps on the market. Arched ramps have several characteristics as they actually help ease the outcomes of a break-over angle.

Productively, an arched ramp breaks a moderately pointed angle into several smaller angles.

This lowers the possibility of “hanging” your dirt bike on a sunken exhaust.

Arched ramps relieve the shift over the threshold. Longer ramps make the loading angle less raised.

Other pleasing characteristics are a bit of a stick out at the truck end to clear the bumper, ridges for traction, and a build that lowers confidence-damaging flex.

Similarly, your pick of a ramp will as well be governed by the bike you possess.

You can get off a steep ramp — or a non-arched one — if your bike owns a good ground clearance, just as a lot of off-road machines provide.

Although we’re still talking of ramps, you can cheap out as long as you have the correct topography.

The chock

A chock is also very important in load dirt bikes into a truck.

You have to continuously check and recheck the straps if you haul your dirt bikes without the chock.

This helps to ensure that the wheels do not move.

If the wheel moves after as a result of a bump, chances are that the bike will fall over.

A chock assists in keeping the wheel undeviating. The chock on your dirt bike table isn’t decorative in any way.

Fixing a chock permanently to the truck is excellent. However, a solid interim mount is a genuinely applicable backup.

The variation is as uncomplicated as whether the load is able to detach the fastener or not.

How to Choose a Loading Ramp

When choosing a dirt bike loading ramp, there are some things you need to consider.

Obviously, it will also depend on the type of bike you are loading, and your vehicle tray height.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Dirt Bike Loading Ramp

There are 3 things that could be considered essential when choosing a loading ramp:

The length of the ramp

They generally range from 7.5′ to 10′. The longer the ramp, the less the incline, so the easier it is to wheel your bike up the ramp.

The load capacity of the ramp

They generally range from about 600 pounds (273 kg) up to 1500 pounds (680 kg) for the larger street bike ramps.

Your average full-size dirt bike weighs between 240 pounds (110 kg) up to about 370 pounds (170 kg), so there’s a large safety factor built in there with the capacity of the ramp.

The width of the ramp

Obviously, the wider the better!

There is less chance of the bike coming off, and less chance of the ramp twisting and rotating if the bike goes off-center.

The spacing of the crossbars

The closer together is better. Some are serrated for better grip. The flat plate design usually has holes or grooves to give some traction, but it’s hard to say which is more rigid.

Rubber coated attaching points

This is a nice feature to prevent scratching the tray of your vehicle and helps prevent the ramp slipping, which is the last thing you want when the bike is halfway up the ramp.

Arch design

The upper section of the ramp is curved slightly to help smoothen the transition when loading your bike, and increase the clearance under the bike.

Tie-down strap

This is a good safety measure to keep the ramp in place while wheeling your bike up.

Summary

One of the worst things to do is load your bike into a truck.

Usually, the height of the truck bed determines how difficult the task is.

The higher the truck bed is, the more challenging and energy required to load your bike in it.

Loading your dirt bike into a truck might be a scary task for many people.

However, with the right method and appropriate tools, it can be as simple as dressing up in the morning.

Each and everyone can safely and easily load a bike with the correct equipment.

However, not all bikes, trucks, and equipment are instantly suitable.

Conclusion

Usually, asking people who move bikes regularly is the best way to get some understanding of what applies and what does not.

You only have to remember that you cannot go wrong — there are only better methods than some others.