Two motos in bed of Tacoma?

[silentbob]

I fit 2 SBKs in a Tundra but they wouldn't fit in a Tacoma.  The SBK and the Monster pictured above, fit because of the difference in handle bar height.

[ducpainter]

I have two Baxley chocks.

Now I'm thinking of borrowing a trailer.  By the time I get both bikes in, there won't be room for stands, ramp, tools, fuel, etc.  Plus, as Derby noted the tie-downs are not situated for properly securing two bikes.  (I added two cleats in the front of the bed.)

So...can I use a ball attached to my fender, or should I purchase a hitch?

depends on the weight of the trailer and the rating of the bumper....

all the pertinent info should be right on the bumper near the hitch area and on the tongue of the trailer.

[DucHead]

depends on the weight of the trailer and the rating of the bumper....

all the pertinent info should be right on the bumper near the hitch area and on the tongue of the trailer.

3500 LBS MAX GROSS
TRAILER WT 500LBS MAX
TONGUE LOAD BUMPER
CAPACITY ONLY

That is what is written on my Tacoma bumper: four lines as typed.  What does this mean... I can pull 500lbs. with my bumper?  Wouldn't it be easier to write: "Bumper capacity 500lbs"?

Nineteen years of school and I'm so easily confused. 

[derby]

3500lbs trailer and contents, with a max 500lbs tongue weight.

[DucHead]

3500lbs trailer and contents, with a max 500lbs tongue weight.

Cool!!  Then all I need is a ball rather than a hitch!

Thanks everyone!!

[mitt]

Cool!!  Then all I need is a ball rather than a hitch!

Thanks everyone!!

Yep, for a MC trailer & 2 bikes, using the bumper should be fine.  Don't forget about wiring harness for brake and turn signals!

Depending on the height of the truck (4x4 or 2wd), the trailer may have a front to back slope to it since most trailers are designed with using a draw hitch, thus the trailer tongue will be lower than a typical truck bumper.  The slope isn't a big deal though if you have someone helping.

mitt

[DY]

Yep, for a MC trailer & 2 bikes, using the bumper should be fine.  Don't forget about wiring harness for brake and turn signals!

Depending on the height of the truck (4x4 or 2wd), the trailer may have a front to back slope to it since most trailers are designed with using a draw hitch, thus the trailer tongue will be lower than a typical truck bumper.  The slope isn't a big deal though if you have someone helping.

mitt

This is what i think of whenever i hear of using the bumper to tow. 


Hehehe.  I'm sure its not the same case as what's being discussed here. 

[Grampa]

I thought theTacoma and a Frontier were very similar in bed width and length.

I've had two bikes in the back of my truck lots of times, both SBK and monster. (I have a shortbed Frontier)

[DucHead]

I thought theTacoma and a Frontier were very similar in bed width and length.

I've had two bikes in the back of my truck lots of times, both SBK and monster. (I have a shortbed Frontier)

From the responses I can fit two bikes in the bed, but not the other items too (ramp, fuel, tools, stands, etc.).

[derby]

I thought theTacoma and a Frontier were very similar in bed width and length.

I've had two bikes in the back of my truck lots of times, both SBK and monster. (I have a shortbed Frontier)

i think your wheel wells protrude less into the bed area.

also, other than the accessory rail cleats, tacomas don't come with forward tie down points. you can put d-rings in the floor, but they don't come stock.

[DucHead]

i think your wheel wells protrude less into the bed area.

also, other than the accessory rail cleats, tacomas don't come with forward tie down points. you can put d-rings in the floor, but they don't come stock.

Yeah, only d-rings at the rear of the bed.  I did put two up front though.

Regardless, my Taco is the 4-cylinder version, so maximum  towing capacity is 3500 lbs. which equals the capacity of the bumper.  Even with the trailer, I'll probably only be around half capacity.

[hbliam]

I would never use a bumper to pull any trailer, no matter whats stamped into that bumper. Just go get a hitch installed and be on the safe side. That being said, you should be able to fit two bikes in the bed. I have in the past with a regular bed. You can fit three dirtbikes (they can rub a bit). You could fit two SBKS (or other bikes with similar handlebar height) simply by putting one in backwards. Lastly, if you are in CA you can only tow a trailer in the right two lanes, so fitting bikes in the bed becomes a bit more important if you want to use the carpool lane.

[DucHead]

I would never use a bumper to pull any trailer, no matter whats stamped into that bumper. Just go get a hitch installed and be on the safe side. That being said, you should be able to fit two bikes in the bed. I have in the past with a regular bed. You can fit three dirtbikes (they can rub a bit). You could fit two SBKS (or other bikes with similar handlebar height) simply by putting one in backwards. Lastly, if you are in CA you can only tow a trailer in the right two lanes, so fitting bikes in the bed becomes a bit more important if you want to use the carpool lane.

Hmmm...is this a concensus, or have many of you towed bikes using the bumper instead of a hitch?

[mitt]

Hmmm...is this a concensus, or have many of you towed bikes using the bumper instead of a hitch?

I have used a bumper mounted ball a lot of times, on a 1/2 ton chevy, a ford explorer, and a ford ranger, for way more than the rated capacity, and never had a problem.

I am not familar with the tacoma bumpers, so use your own judgment, but a 2 place moto trailer is going to be like 500lbs max, plus another 800 in bikes, so you are only going to less than 30% of the rated load.

I would use the bumper.  Did you read my ? above - do you have a wiring harness for the lights?  On newer vehicles, it is not a straight forward question - my Nissan required a special harness and relays under the dash that cost about 75$.

mitt

[DucHead]

I have used a bumper mounted ball a lot of times, on a 1/2 ton chevy, a ford explorer, and a ford ranger, for way more than the rated capacity, and never had a problem.

I am not familar with the tacoma bumpers, so use your own judgment, but a 2 place moto trailer is going to be like 500lbs max, plus another 800 in bikes, so you are only going to less than 30% of the rated load.

I would use the bumper.  Did you read my ? above - do you have a wiring harness for the lights?  On newer vehicles, it is not a straight forward question - my Nissan required a special harness and relays under the dash that cost about 75$.

mitt

Yes, thanks mitt I read everyones posts.  I found a website that has a harness specifically for my truck.