Wing Transport

[OldGuyOnABike]

I am looking for a way to transport. Two years ago you guys helped me out when I was going to trailer my GL 18 to Phoenix. Thanks again for all the reply's and suggestions. Everything worked out great. I thought having a trailer is to much a pain in the ass for all the typical reasons, some place to park it, another set of plates, also if you only use it twice a year and 2 more tires to go flat on you. So.. I was looking at a Rampage lift in lieu of a trailer. I would like to be able to drive down south until there is no snow, park the truck and cruise for a couple of 3 weeks. See how good you folks in the deep south have it. I live close to Winnipeg, Manitoba aka low Arctic.... Anyhow, I was thinking of building my own for two reasons, the company doesn't ship to Canada and the cost of the unit is approximately 3000$ plus current exchange rate of .37c on a buck which is another 1000 and I can only guess that the duty is about 10 % and last of all I might have to pay our provincial tax of 7%, and I am not going to even count the cost of driving to Florida to pick it up because that would be a fun thing......lol
So that puts my cost of purchase around 4300$..
I talked to a buddy of mine sheet metal fabricator after showing him the video of it and was surprised to hear he thought the metal alone would be around 700$ plus paying shop fees and a welder.
Has anyone out there seen on of these units or has one that I may get some information and or pictures on there construction. The video say the it is constructed from 1/4" and 3/8" steel. I'm guessing the 3/8 is the base and 1/4 for the trolley. The total weight is about 300 lbs which isn't a problem because I have a electric winch in my garage which is great for loading and unloading. The best thing about it is for winter storage my bike could sit on it and wouldn't burn up any extra space in my garage.
I would appreciate input on this positive or negative or an alternate method, besides a trailer.

[H20loo]

I watched the video and it seems like alot of work and probably heavy to move.
I think i would prefer a folding trailer that you could stash somewhere out of the way. Less money also

[H20loo]

What i was really thinking is - how are you going to protect your bike from that calcium spray that the northern states use. I dont even want to drive my motorhome thru that stuff

[WingAdmin]

What i was really thinking is - how are you going to protect your bike from that calcium spray that the northern states use. I dont even want to drive my motorhome thru that stuff

The calcium chloride is not that bad - it's used because it doesn't harm concrete and vegetation as much as salt, and is not corrosive like salt.

Rock salt is the worst - it's widely used because it's cheap, and it causes corrosion like crazy. The salt spray is what kills cars up here - and bikes (that have no protection against it like cars do) are particularly susceptible.

We have power outages here because of road salt! During a cold spell, the salt spray coats the wooden poles with high voltage lines. When it rains, the (salty, wet) wooden poles become conductive, the high voltage wires short out, and the poles catch fire. Eventually they burn through and break apart. This is one that burned and broke free, causing an outage - this is the next day after it had been temporarily repaired:

Burned and repaired power pole

[harvey01]

I have seen the Rampage lift you discuss. I have actually watched my Gold Wing being loaded on the back of a pickup with the lift.

But then I get to thinking, you have a pickup so you can have that bed to carry stuff. And every time you have the Rampage in the bed, you are limited in what you can carry. And frankly the lift itself represents too much cost for me to want to leave it out in the elements year round so then we have to get it out of the Pickup and have a place to store it when not needed. And the lift itself is not light to put in the pickup and remove.

Yes a trailer does require some maintenance and a storage place, but it dies not tie up the bed in my pickup, I don't have to worry about the Wing falling in the pickup and then falling onto the highway. Yes with a small trailer the Wing could still fall if not tied down correctly.

However for the money you are going to invest in making a similar lift you can probably find a good double axle cargo trailer that is fully enclosed with ramp to drive the Wing in. And the Wing is protected while being towed down the road. Plus you have additional cargo space for whatever---tools, clothes, camping stuff. And with a trailer or the Rampage I would just drive it to my destination and then get the Wing out/off to run around. In fact with a trailer you can use a lot of different vehicles to be the tow vehicle. I remember years ago the wife and I were camping in GA and this guy pulled in with a Cadillac deVille towing a 25+foot RVtrailer. He even had a huge tool box mounted on the back of the trailer with all kinds of tools. Once settled in the campground, he and his wife took off in that Caddy sightseeing.

If you are into camping, you might consider a camp trailer with a room on the back for a Wing. This would cut down on hotel costs as you travel and you would have your own bed and the bike for sightseeing.

[crock4]

I have an ALuma fold up trailer that I use to tow mine with every year back and forth between Florida, and Ohio. The trailer weighs less than 400 lbs.It has a 1000lb capacity. I use a weather proof cover made for trailering a bike that fits my wing like a glove, and has padding to protect the bike. When not in use the trailer stands up in the garage against the wall out of the way. Total weight with bike and trailer is less than 1500lbs. Have done this 4yrs so far with no problems. I came up with this combination because I have a Chevy Colorado with a 4cyl engine, and needed a way that would not overload the vehicle. Gas mileage ain't bad either.

Bob

[MikeB]

I'm not in the market for a trailer but I did google the Aluma Trailer. Looks pretty good.
Of course, there are lots of other You tube videos of trailers too.
If you google it, you will find more information than you can possible swallow in one sitting.

[crock4]

I'm not in the market for a trailer but I did google the Aluma Trailer. Looks pretty good.
Of course, there are lots of other You tube videos of trailers too.
If you google it, you will find more information than you can possible swallow in one sitting.

I bought it used for 1500. Fell in love with not having to have a place to keep it. Plus no rust, and very light.

[OldGuyOnABike]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I guess I wasn't clear enough on my travel method. I would only use the lift to transport as far as I had to until I hit riding weather. I don't need the bed of my truck while I'm out on the bike. As I said I have a electric hoist in my shop so when I get home after my 3 week ride I just have to hoist the lift out of the truck and leave in in my shop.
I did take your suggestions of looking into a trailer. The Aluma trailers are really nice and after searching I did find a dealer and only 40 miles from my place. So I emailed the company and told him exactly what I wanted, size weight etc. He replies, sure, I have a 14 foot GVW 2200 lbs motorcycle trailer. Ha. What part didn't he understand that I wanted a small short light weight trailer. Oh, and it was 3100$.... So I got back to him again and he came up with an Aluma MC1F folding trailer for the small sum of 3775$. Did someone say folding trailers were inexpensive. If we were at par value on the dollar the lift would be cheaper.
I guess if I really had a use for a big trailer ( besides hauling bike for a holiday )it wouldn't be to hard to swallow. The camping thing is out of the question. I used to do that and found that if you look hard enough for a deal you can find them. Rates are always better in the winter.
Just as a point of interest, last year on my way home from Vegas riding the Pacific Coast Highway up thru the Road to the Sun. I had checked the pricing in a KOA just outside of Glacier Park. It was 92$. Further down the road, a mile outside the park was Motel Vista. It was 103$ and I didn't have to set up a tent or for a walk to have a shower. For 11$ guess where I stayed.
Thanks again for the help, I will keep looking.

Darryl

[H20loo]

Daryl, you only need to load and unload twice. I would use the ramp at your local bike shop to load your bike and unload at a bike shop or implement dealer in the south. Even with a gratuity- you would be ahead of the game.
I will be wintering in Arizona for 6 weeks after xmas and want to take the wing with me. But having seen what the liquid brine does to my chains and securement on the big truck, I am going to buy or build an enclosed trailer for the bike.
Keep us posted on what you decide as many of us are in a similar situation.
Doug

[OldGuyOnABike]

HA....well wouldn't you know it the hardest problem is always overcome by an easy solution.... Who in the hell would of ever thought of that. That makes the most sense of all. All I have to do is build another pallet and have it forked on here and forked off there, then throw the pallet back in the truck. Store my truck. Ride my face off for 3 weeks and come back.... Thanks a million for the very inexpensive solution.

Just as another side question. This is the third time I've heard of the brine on the roads. The last time I went to Phoenix via Kansas City / Oklahoma I didn't encounter any bad roads or ice conditions. As a matter of fact I could of unloaded the bike in Souix City and road from there. Unless of course that was an exceptional year. It was the middle of January and also I was told that it was cold as hell here in Winnipeg.

Thanks again Doug, If things line up the way I want I'll buy the whiskey in Arizona for us..

[mrtwowheel]

You don't even need the pallet. I think what Doug was suggesting.......the dealers around here have outside ramps made of earth or posts that a pickup can back up to, to load or unload a bike. Buy a T-shirt or two from the dealer and ask to use their ramp. For travelling through salt covered roads you could build a tall topper for your pickup bed from 2x2 framework, covered with plywood or other sheathing to protect your bike. My dad and I used to build some very nice toppers in the '60s and '70s for fellow contractors to protect their tools from thieves. We were building one on the patio the night that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, TV got the most time, that's a great memory of my dad. Our picture tube went out that night, we borrowed a set from a neighbor and carried it across the lawns.

Scott

[H20loo]

Always on for a drink or two. Have you checked out the road riders of arizona web sites?

Scott- those are awesome memories. I often wonder what memories my kids will charish.

[OldGuyOnABike]

I get what Doug was saying about not using a pallet. The only problem with that is I have no way of getting my bike out and down the street to the local ATV dealer in the middle of winter at anywhere between -15 and -30 Celsius. Ive never tried riding on ice. Hell, my drive way is 130 feet long and I don't think I would get out of it with out falling over. Ha....I think I'd have a couple of drinks first so I could blame it on stupidity for trying.
I'll check out the Arizona riders web site later tonight and see what they have.

Thanks again for all your help guys...

[mrtwowheel]

No, don't ride on ice, never worked out for me on a bicycle or a motorcycle. Never thought about you having to load up with snow and ice. Ramps are fine if they are long, strong and wide enough to put your feet down, slow and using the brakes is the way to do it. I've used a ditch or two before that worked just fine too. I've ramped on the tailgate with a ditch, but they can only take so much weight for a short period of time.

Scott

[OldGuyOnABike]

Well I still think the best idea is to build a pallet as was suggested. Get the lumber guy to come and load it up at my place and just find a place at where ever my destination is, find some place with a forklift to off load it. Easy and cheap and nothing to store but an 8' pallet.