VFR and Ford Pickup - Help Please

Tomorrow or Tuesday I will travel 6 hours (one way) to pick up my new VFR. It's a 2006.

It's winter here and the weather is iffy. I'd just as soon haul her back in my pickup, also, I won't have a companion so the pickup is the best option.

My truck is a 2006 Ford F150. Bed is 93 inches from lowered tail gate to box end. 67 inches from box end to box end (not including tailgate). The truckbox is 21 inches deep.

OK... so I figure I'll have to remove the truck box. Although it just might fit if the rear wheel sits on the lowered tailgate.. I'm just not sure.

And I have no tie downs in front unless those rubber boots shown in the third picture can be tie downs. Should I invest in a set of canyon dancers or something else? Can I use rope?

Thanks for all your help.

-Craig

 

Get the canyon dancers. Best thing since sliced bread!

You might consider positioning the front tire into the right forward corner, side-stand down
(on a piece of wood or metal to protect the bed).

Use a minimum of 4 tie-downs. Be careful the under-fairing doesn't scrape while loading the bike.

Good luck and stay dry.

 

The tool box has to go for sure. Some buy canyon dancers others dont. I got some m/c specific tie downs that have a loop on one end. I put a small towel around the grips and just use the clip on's. Tight but not too tight. I use a total of 6 tie downs when I put the bike in the truck. You can put two more around the rear pegs. You will have to have the tail gate down for it to fir. I have to do the same with my trucks. I have two long tie downs that I wrap thru the whell.


I hope your truck has some tie down cleats. It would be pretty useless if it didnt.

 

1. Set that "truck" on fire & claim it for insurance. I use the term "truck" loosely since it is a Ford.

2. Buy a GMC or Chevy.

3. Use something like this:
http://www.condor-lift.com/product.asp?ItemID=1001
http://www.baxleycompanies.com/Chocks.html
100X more secure than a Canyon Dancer. Don't worry about the weight on the tail-gate, you should have no problem. A VFR is approx 7'3" from stem to stern. The toolbox definitely has to go in order for this to work. You can use your stake pockets (the plastic covers pop right out) for tie down anchors.

It is a Ford so by definition, it is in fact useless for anything other than taking it to the dealer for warranty work.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

Well, the box HAS to go. I have the Canyon Dancers, and wouldn't haul my VFR without one. With the VFRs bars, it is difficult to find a place to hook the straps without rubbing the body work. If the straps rub the bike, your paint is toast!! I feel sure you'll find tiedown hooks behind those rubber caps. The bed tiedowns on my Dodge are a little hard to get the hook in, so I use the stake pockets on top of the bed. The rear tire will ride just fine on the lowered tailgate. I NEVER haul a bike with the side or center stand down. I tie the front pretty tight, and the rear just tight enough to hold it down incase of a truck mishap.

 

did you get it?