General Cycling Discussion - Bike Transporting Crew Cab Truck

I have a Ford F-150 Crew Cab and am looking for a better bike tranportation method than just throwing it in back.

I want to start riding after work on the local greenways so I'll need something secure enough where my bike wouldn't get stolen as my trucks parked throughout the day.

I stopped by the local shop and was all excited when I saw the Insta Gator Bike rack that didn't require you take off the front wheel every time. But it required a long enough bed and as you can guess when I got home and tried to line my bike up in the bed, the bike was about 2" too long and the gate wouldn't close which would of course rule out the Insta Gator.

So now what do I do? My truck doesn't have a hitch on it. (Didn't come with the towing package) Should I look at having that installed so I can use the hitch racks.

Up for suggestions at this point.

THX!

Not sure if it will work with your truck, but I really like the Yakima Bed Head.

http://www.yakima.com/Product.aspx?id=109

You have to remove the front wheel, but it's very secure, and small when you remove it.

Bob

You have two basic point to install a bike rack on your truck that are practical.
One at the rear (not really great on a pickup due to the tail gate) or at the
front on a safari type rack.

My money is on the front safari type rack. You may have to have a front grill
bar guard installed then find , or make, a bike carrier for your bikes. For a truck
as long is as yours is keeping the bikes in sight would help you keep from mashing
them while backing up too. Either way your choices are very limited.

Best of luck , mate. ;)

Do you really need to close the gate? As long as it is attached to the rack, it should be okay. I have a Nissan Frontier with four doors and I can't close my gate with the bike in it either. It's a little ghetto, but I just bungee cord it in, and lock it to the bed cleats.

They also have these:

http://www.rackattack.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=21&cat=Pick+Up+Truck+Bike+Racks&gclid=CLG5kruZnoYCFQ7vPgodzGz9uA

By the way, with the way you have this thread titled, I came in here expecting to see a bike hauling a Crew Cab truck....

Get a new Nissan as the commercials show that it has a larger payload than the Ford F150 (you can all of your bags of cement in and not leave any on the loading dock.






Just kidding, although have you looked into the bed fork mounts that are lockable. I believe Thule makes a version. The front wheel would have to be removed, but that should allow enough length for the tailgate to shut.

Maybe I'll change the title:)

With the instagator you close something in the tailgate which lock the bike in place. Not sure how it worked. It's big thing was how easy it was where you didn't need to remove the front wheel.

Is it really that big of a hassle to remove the front wheel?

Is it really that big of a hassle to remove the front wheel?
No hassle at all. Plus, in my experience the bike racks that attach to the front fork and not the front wheel are much more stable.

It takes seconds and the skill of screwing in a lightbulb...very easy...assuming you have a bike with a quick release skewer.

I know mine does...I'll go that route then. Removal of the front tire should give me the extra 2 inches I need for the bike to fit.

World's smallest crewcab pickup....the Subaru Baja. I screwed two mounts into a wooden bar that sits right into two slots atop the rear wheel housings. Bungee cords hold down the plank and the bikes. They sit down in back behind the cab, out of the way. Haven't lost one yet.

Oops, the picture.

Ditch the truck and ride your bike to work.

Problem solved.