Motorcycle in Avalanche bed

[Drew Dowdell]

Hi all,

 

I'm looking at getting a '12 or '13 Avalanche in the next few months. I'd like to be able to haul a motorcycle in the back without putting down the mid-gate and just leaving the tailgate down. I looked into the moto-tote, but it looks like the motorcycle weight + weight of the moto-tote would exceed the 500lbs tongue weight rating on the hitch receiver. The motorcycle is 500lbs and has an overall length of 91 inches.

 

Can I just run with the tail gate down and the bike's rear wheel resting on that?

 

Thanks.

[muddkatt]

Short answer..YES

 

My neighbor's son hauls his Harley in the back of his Avalanche from Minnesota to Florida every winter with just the tailgate down.

[Drew Dowdell]

Short answer..YES

 

My neighbor's son hauls his Harley in the back of his Avalanche from Minnesota to Florida every winter with just the tailgate down.

 

Thanks. Does he put it in at an angle or does he keep it on the center line of the truck? It looks like from the front of the front wheel to the center of the rear wheel is 76.5", so the rear wheel would be squarely on the middle of the tail gate if I put it in straight.

[muddkatt]

I really don't remember, but I think it was centered. I do remember noticing that the rear tire was on the end of the tailgate. In other words if the bike would have been 3 or 4 inches longer, he would had to either load it differently (angled), or extended the bed by adding something for the rear tire to rest on.

[Drew Dowdell]

I really don't remember, but I think it was centered. I do remember noticing that the rear tire was on the end of the tailgate. In other words if the bike would have been 3 or 4 inches longer, he would had to either load it differently (angled), or extended the bed by adding something for the rear tire to rest on.

 

Okay cool. My main concern is if the tailgate can handle the weight. By the dimensions, it seems as if the bike's rear tire would be nearly center point on the tailgate if I put it in straight.

 

The idea is that I would be able to get the bike from Pennsylvania to Miami for a few weeks to go out riding with my dad.

[muddkatt]

Look at it like this, how much does the bike weigh? Lets go big and say 1000 pounds. About half the weight would be on the front tire, and the other half on the rear tire. That would put 500 pounds on the tailgate. No different than two guys sitting on the tailgate. If the tailgate wouldn't hold that, why have a truck/avy?

[Drew Dowdell]

Look at it like this, how much does the bike weigh? Lets go big and say 1000 pounds. About half the weight would be on the front tire, and the other half on the rear tire. That would put 500 pounds on the tailgate. No different than two guys sitting on the tailgate. If the tailgate wouldn't hold that, why have a truck/avy?

The bike is 500lbs... so 250 lbs on the tailgate.

 

But sitting 250lbs on the tailgate is different than bouncing 250lbs on the tailgate as would happen when going over bumps and such.

[Nanotech Environmental]

The gate and its cables are strong enough. If worried though, Just get a sheet of 1" plywood & cut it to the same length as the bed& gate with the gate down. Throw it in first and load the bike on top. It will easily support the load of the bike on the gate.

[Drew Dowdell]

Thanks all