Hauling a bicycle in a truck bed

"nermal" (nermal) 02/07/2018 at 13:04 • Filed to: Bro, Conundrums, Bicycles, Security

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I’m searching for a way to haul a new bicycle in my pickup. The biggest concern is security, since I’m in an area where unattended bicycles will get stolen within minutes. Whatever I come up with must not damage the truck or the bike, but I’m ok if it damages a person attempting to steal the bike.

The over-the-tailgate method above may scratch both the truck and the bike, so that’s out.

I already have crossbars that will mount over the bed, so something like the below pic may be an option. Seems poor for aerodynamics, and difficult to secure.

I could hire an armed security guard to watch my bike and shoot any potential thieves, but that seems needlessly complicated, messy, and expensive.

I could get a cap for the back of the truck and store the bike in there. I am not old and do not currently have any grandchildren, however, so I don’t think I meet the requirements for driving a truck with a cap.

That leaves a flip-up tonneau cover, with the bike on its side underneath. Has anybody used this method before? Seems like the biggest concern here is making sure the bike doesn’t bounce around too much, and making sure there’s clearance for the handlebars.

Patrick Nichols > nermal 02/07/2018 at 13:33

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I just have a roll up cover that you need to drop the tailgate to release, so that could be an option too. I tend to leave my hockey stuff back there unless I have real truck things to do. As for the bouncing, a couple bungies should work right?

E92M3 > nermal 02/07/2018 at 13:34

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Sell your truck and get a Ridgeline, it has magic seats!

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > nermal 02/07/2018 at 13:34

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If you’re covering the bed anyways, just get the cap. Otherwise what about mounting the bike racks in the bed instead of over it?

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 02/07/2018 at 13:36

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Maybe something like this?

https://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/Bike-Racks/Thule-Insta-Gater-Truck-Bed-Bike-Rack?utm_source=google&utm_medium=Bike-Racks&utm_campaign=GoogleProducts&utm_term=Thule-Insta-Gater-Truck-Bed-Bike-Rack&gclid=CjwKCAiA5OrTBRBlEiwAXXhT6CkY9AIxr1vXvD0gRHAxKCSQmX9Q57AgfCi0RAmTSFvhiSEYmr3bTBoCGPoQAvD_BwE

Wacko > nermal 02/07/2018 at 13:39

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I’LL watch your bike, after my nap...

HammerheadFistpunch > nermal 02/07/2018 at 13:50

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What my friends with pickups do is attach one of these

To the mounting rail against the forward bulkhead. Mounts solid, and you can run a cable lock through it and all the bikes. seems work really well.

If you don’t have a cargo rail on that bulkhead, you can bolt one to the bed or mount them on a 2x4 and lock that to the bed.

Its nice because it takes up next to zero space, its secure, its cheap and it works with the bed full or empty.

benjrblant > nermal 02/07/2018 at 13:51

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a fork mount is relatively inexpensive. Bolt it to some 2x wood or a steel plate that bolts into the truck bed? Wouldn’t hurt to run a cable through the frames too.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > nermal 02/07/2018 at 13:51

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When I take my bike in the work truck I take the front wheel off, fold up the back seats and put it in the cab. Otherwise a very expensive locking hitch rack would probably make the most sense for you. I have a 2 bike hitch rack. I trust it in a low crime area but I’m not leaving it out overnight. The locks can be broken with a hammer or big screw driver.

https://www.rei.com/product/103178/thule-t2-classic-2-bike-hitch-rack

Frankly the over the tailgate pads work really well. I know tons of people who use them. You can then run a cable through the frame and lock the cable to the anchor points in the truck bed. I have only experienced minor rub marks on my fork from the over the tailgate pads.

Additional reading: my friend has the F250 with the home made tail gate rack.

http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/mountain-bike-reviews/diy-tailgate-rack

http://blistergearreview.com/?s=rack

vicali > nermal 02/07/2018 at 13:53

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How we roll;

If you don’t need a cap other than for bikes I don’t think you’ll get your moneys worth- but it is going to be your most secure method;

RallyWrench > nermal 02/07/2018 at 13:56

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My truck is a beat up old shitbox, but my buddies with much nicer and newer trucks all have tailgate mats, and they work really well. The backside of most of them are well insulated and as long as you don’t leave it on the gate all the time and keep it and the gate clean before use it’s fine. DaKine is pretty much the standard for mats. Some have velcro retainer loops for the front forks, they work great for keeping the bikes upright even on rough dirt roads. If it’s just me I throw my bike in the back the truck under the shell, but with more than one guy the mat is the way to go. My bike bouncing around in the back alone is certainly not going to do any more damage than I do riding and crashing it. 

Tonneau covers don’t make any sense to me, seems they just render your truck bed a long trunk. My father in law has a pop-up on his daily Silverado, and keeps a second smaller beater truck to do actual truck things. Some of the pop-ups may give enough clearance for handlebars, but I don’t think the roll up ones would unless you take the front wheel off the bike.

DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back > nermal 02/07/2018 at 14:00

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My buddy just bought a RaceFace tailgate pad. Having seen it, I very very seriously doubt it will let bikes damage his truck in any capacity. Look into it. Its really high quality, is relatively inexpensive compared to other options and is really easy to use. He can even fit 6 bikes on it.

Honestly though you probably shouldn’t leave your bike in or on any place visible if you’re worried about it getting stolen. Its super inconvenient (I know) but you’ll at least know your bike is safe.

if you don’t want a tailgate pad the tonneau cover would be most secure. You’ll just have to get a measurement of how much headroom you’ll have. And then see how flat you can get your bike.

And then you’ll probably be limited to 1 or 2 bikes depending on how protective you are of them. AND if I were in your shoes I’d STILL worry about it.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > nermal 02/07/2018 at 14:03

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I have given this a lot of thought, and if I were to get another pickup, I would get a hard, folding, locking tonneau cover. I had a cap on my truck, and that secured my bike and other items, but made it very hard to haul things. If you are only planning on hauling one or two bikes, I think the hard folding cover is the way to go.

smobgirl > nermal 02/07/2018 at 14:05

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If you’re up for it, I second (third?) the fork mounts with some locks.

Censored > nermal 02/07/2018 at 14:23

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I haul my road bike under my roll up tonneau (sp) cover. I have an Access cover and love it. This keeps it out of site out of mind only though as you can slit the cover.

TheRealBicycleBuck > nermal 02/07/2018 at 14:27

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I used a locking crossbar with fork mounts. For daily use, the rear wheel just sat in the bed, keeping the entire bike out of the wind. I secured the bikes with a cable through the frames and wheels.

Mechanically > HammerheadFistpunch 02/07/2018 at 15:00

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Worked at a bike shop for years. Can confirm. This is the best option.

If you lock them using a cable, you don’t even have to make the clamp a permanent fixture, as mentioned. Screw them to a chunk of 2x6 the width of the bed, and toss it in when you want to haul the bike. Keep front wheel in cab.

LastFirstMI is my name > Wacko 02/07/2018 at 15:15

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Came here for this. +1

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > nermal 02/07/2018 at 15:43

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If you’re hauling a newer mountain bike the handlebars are probably too wide to put it under a tonneau cover. I’ve got a soft roll up tonneau cover on my truck and can’t put my bike under it.

nermal > E92M3 02/07/2018 at 16:02

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Plenty o’ room in the back of mine to do that, and an option I didn’t think of.

nermal > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 02/07/2018 at 16:06

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Yep, did the math. The bed rail height on my truck is ~20 in, which works out to 508 mm. Handlebars on the bikes I’m looking at are all ~780 mm. The work-around is to remove the front wheel & turn the handlebars to the side.

nermal > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 02/07/2018 at 16:08

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That’s what I’m leaning towards, the idea being to keep the bike as hidden as possible.

sn4cktimes > HammerheadFistpunch 02/07/2018 at 18:27

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I’ve seen similar done for multiple dirt bikes before. Guy had 3 in the back of his truck. 2 faced forward, and one backwards in the middle with the mount one the tailgate. Seemed pretty sturdy. He had some sort of theft proof nuts on the mounts and a LARGE chain running through the frames.

E92M3 > nermal 02/07/2018 at 18:39

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That’s probably the best way to secure it, and keeps it out of the weather.