3 choices for hauling motorcycle

[KamperBob]

I'm planning a road trip early this Spring. I'm planning to drive my truck and haul my motorcycle. I have a choice of 3 different ways to do so.

1. Load motorcycle in bed and strap it down. It's a short bed truck so the tailgate has to be down.

2. Carry the bike crosswise on a hitch carrier that fit in the 2" receiver on the back of the truck.

3. Same as #2 except using receiver on the front of the truck.

Since the decision is some weeks away, I thought it might be a fun discussion to hear opinions and more importantly rationale and even better experience supporting said opinions.

Below are some pix of the truck with motorcycle on the front (#3).




So what do you thinkl?

[Clev]

From an FE point of view I would guess that putting it in the bed would be the most efficient (unless you can mount the hitch on the back of the trailer, that is), with the front mount being second best. Having loaded a Helix in the back of a lifted Ranger, I'll guess that it's much easier to use the hitch mount.

[KamperBob]

Thanks, Clev. Ease of loading is a valid concern (along with safety, etc).

I should mention this exercise does not involve a trailer. (Hence, available bed and rear hitch as options.)

[redneck]

My vote is for option #1.

Better FE and ease of loading.

If thats not easy enough, you can load it like this guy does...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZIxi...eature=related

>

[KamperBob]

I'm amazed what turns up on YouTube.

Maybe the field of choices would be even more interesting if we handicap #1. With a carrier on the front or rear the bed can be covered with scrap plywood, including a crude aero cap. That could really clean up the wake for #2 and #3.

I should also mention the bike plus carrier weighs about 300 pounds. Depending on where that weight is placed does effect the pitch of the truck...

[Frank Lee]

I pulled a Gold Wing on a lil Harbor Freight trailer and the fe hit IIRC was 1 or 2 mpg.

[KamperBob]

I guess your lobbying for a 4th choice, Frank. Partial credit for the creativity.

[brucey]

I actually like the idea of it up front. It probably balances out (with the trailer/loaded bed) the truck a bit more, and as far as aerodynamics I'm sure the air it disturbs has plenty of time to reattach to the sides/top.

How does your road train drive?

[KamperBob]

Thanks, brucey. So far I've only carried the bike on front with the trailer behind as well so balance was no problem. The rig handles fine but then again I'm a putz. Someone driving fast and cornering hard might report a different story.

[brucey]

I'm just thinking of the times we've loaded a bed full of fill dirt and the headlights basically pointed at the sky. Steering was real light! I would have loved to have some dead weight up front to balance it back out.

Edit: Speed and towing? Jeez. :P I've towed a few trailers in my time, but I don't think you can ever be in a hurry if you've got something on the hitch.