I want to carry a touring motorcycle that weighs 800lbs and is almost 8 feet long is there a subcompact or midsized pickup with a manual transmission that you recommend? Or should I consider a full size pickup instead?
I prefer manual transmission and American made vehicles. I may need a long bed pickup, but I think I can make an apparatus that will enable me to carry the touring motorcycle with the tailgate down. A used pickup is my preference, for cost purposes.
90's Ford Ranger would handle 800lbs no problem. A Full size truck is not necessary and would use much more gas. a 1996 Ranger bed is 6 1/2 feet long and with tailgate down it would fit no problem. You probably would benefit from a support of some kind on the tailgate, as the small cable on the open gate are not really designed to support a load, But a simple additional chain or maybe a steel bar that will hook on gate and truck bed would work. What you have, a Gold Wing or the like?
According to Edmunds you can get a '96 Ranger for about $2k, a '98 for $2,500...sounds a bit low to me but the come with three engines..I had a '98..a 3.0L, a 1.5L (not recommended. Very underpowered) and I forget the other engine
2.3L is the other Edmunds does not list a 1.5L but I know it was offered. but it's moot, I promise you do not want that one. The 3.0L with a 4 speed manual is very peppy ...and I took a look at listings here on this site and they are going for closer to $4k and up. I thought that was low what Edmunds had but they are worth it.
I think you should buy a full sized pick up or buy a small trailer. The small pick up that David recommended was a good choice and it fit your criteria. I feel that first: you should not have a wheel on the tail gate. It's not going to support a load. Second: I wouldn't want to me the rider trying to drive up a ramp into the bed. I trailered my side car rig for a few years and it was an adventure loading and unloading onto that lower bed.
You do make a good point there TS. Especially when he describes it as being almost 8 feel long...only a Gold Wing or something like that is that big, I don't know much at all about Harley's maybe they do make one that big, that's why I mentioned the extra support for the tailgate and I wasn't considering the loading part. Maybe the Ranger, which is a good truck, with the trailer.. Good mornin!
Thank You both for taking the time to answer and research my questions. During a previous life I had a 1996 Ford Ranger and I used it to carry a motorcycle (2000 HD Wide Glide). I had purchased convex ramps that worked great for on an off loading. I sold the pickup because my size and weight made me feel that I wore the pickup, as opposed to riding in it. I then bought a new 2004 Ford F-150 Work Truck, both motorcycle and I fit rather well. Now I do not have a truck, but want to get a pickup that can safely carry my current 2007 Harley Davidson Road Glide and that I have enough room to feel; I am driving it - not wearing it.
