how do I load my Vespa scooter into the back of my PU?

[Swingking]

heavy scooter.

large 1 ton deisel GMC.

very difficult to load into back of PU.

any ideas?

I tried two long 2x12's.... but it got scary half way up and half way down. don't want to scratch my babies (vespa and gmc).

thanks!!

[Swingking]

picture of truck....

[zduke4x]

Here is my experience......

Definitely not on the back of the trailer...sway usually results due to the excessive leverage the weight has based on the distance from the wheels....

If the back of the truck is out then there are front mount racks for the truck scooter out there if you do a search for them on yahoo and ebay.....

I have used the bolt on plus bumper mount old style rack that comes in 2 parts and the wheels sit in a oval of steel and are easy to load up with by putting one tire and then the other in the oval holders and buckling down the scooter tight....lol..jem

[wahoonc]

We used to use a small electric swivel hoist that was mounted on one corner on the truck bed. I used to have a 78 Rally 200, pearl white, now all I have is a Honda CH 125, wouldn't mind having another Vespa though!

Aaron

[RoadKingMoe]

I'm sure you'll find something here.

[john hd]

just pick it up and toss it in the back!

just kidding!

when i load my harley i usually look for a low spot to back the truck into. that way the ramp is more horizontal and makes loading easy.

john

[KIMILI]

Sorry no real advice.
If you can't use a ramp I would just lift it up!
If I could do it into my crappy 'les car' I'm sure you can do it.

Anyway just wanted to say: "What a beautiful Vespa!" Congratulations it matches your AS perfectly.

Have fun.

[Cracker]

I've got the same problem with a Honda 125 cc Elite. It probably weighs around 250-300 lbs. Ramps are definitely out for getting into the rear of my GMC dually! I thought about the hoist but most of them are downright pug-ugly! The Honda would be a great little scooter for playing around the campgrounds - almost as quiet as all electric - but, unless I can figure out how to carry it, it'll stay home. This dilemma has also been preventing me from making a decision about using a topper, a hard tonneau, or a sliding tonneau. Surely we're not the only ones with this problem?

[Swingking]

thanks for all the advice.

I guess I was just looking for a magic way to get the scooter in and out of the truck.

I am in 'retro heaven' when I have my 69 airstream and my 76 vespa both at the campground.

will attempt to make a homemade solution.

wish me luck.

KIMILI: thank you!!

[overlander76]

I have put my 500 lb motorcycle in the back of my truck with a ramp. I know exactly what you mean, about halfway up is a little unnerving. Here's what you need to do, make the ramp WIDER. This way you can walk up with it. The wider ramp makes all the difference. Use the 2x12's to build it with. My ramp is about 2 feet wide and it works very well. It helps too if you can park in a low spot but I'll push mine up the 3 feet to my tailgate often with no problems. Just don't drive off the edge of the ramp half way up!

Good Luck-
Brian

[dinoburb]

Well . . .

I raced Motocross and Roadracing in the '60s &'70s and had to push the bikes up a 2x12 routinely. The secret, for me, was the use of a sturdy milk crate to act as a step up to the tailgate. Without the crate it took two people to load the bike; one on the ground for the initial effort and the other in the bed to catch the bike and keep it moving. Milk crates were made of wood with heavy wire bottoms. Most of the crates today are thin, weak plastic so they probably won't do. However, a step of some sort could be made to provide the additional boost prior to the tailgate.

The other key for a successful loading is either have the truck in such a position that the bed is lower, reducing the angle you must push, or get the bike rolling fast as possible prior to the ramp to use the kinetic energy of the bike to roll it up without you pushing too hard.

The new ramps designed for loading are superb substitutes for the 2x12, but boy, are they spendy!

Take care,

[59toaster]

Hmmm It would be fun to have My 1957 Sears Allstate (Vespa) camping with our 59 Caravanner. I need a magneto for the Allstate. I also have a 50's Puch Condor Moped.

Now the real fun is our tow rig is a Suburban. I'll have to rig a way to hang it on the front.

[3Ms75Argosy]

I was thinking air bag suspension to drop the rear, but that could get pricey. How about bringing some work ramps along for the front - drive the p/u up, and then the bed would come down. I had a Honda PC 800 for awhile. I drove it up a ramp into a UHaul. Man, was that scary! Good thing I stopped in time before I hit the front of the box! Felt a little like Evil Kneviel that day. I was able to pivot the bike around inside the box on unloading day. I too vote for a wider ramp. Then you could drive/walk it up.
Good luck! Nice scooter too!
Marc

[George]

just a thought,
a little aluminum ramp AND one of those cheap harbor freight 12V.
winches.
a soft strap around the front axle ,push the button and up it comes. you could even load it at an angle so you don't have to
un hitch the trailor.
And/or possibly 2? ramps ,one for you to walk along side to steady the little jewell.
unloading would be just as easy as the winch would not let it "get away from you"
just my two cents worth
Ol' George

[Cracker]

Ol' George:

That's not a bad idea! It also gives me a good reason to wire in the extra trailer wiring that is presently tied to the chassis just behind the cab. Backing down may be a tad more difficult - but hey - why not pull it up backwards? That way I could use the front hand brake to let it down the ramp.

[Gene Wissink]

I use two folding ramps they are about eight foot long with the ends that can be put on 2x12 planks to make a better top, I made a wide ramp by making a set of plywood tops with 2x4 inserts that fit the cross members on the corners to hold them in place and then put on a coat of latex paint with sand to make a slip proff surface. I made these ramps to move a electric wheelchair

[Swingking]

that wench is a great idea!!

not bad at $49.99.

I guess I would mount it in the back of the pickup.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90282

[stephen.s1]

If you're already fixed with two planks you should have no problem with your Vespa. Walk up one plank(on left of scoot), feather the clutch whilst steading the machine and it'll do all the work. Down is easy, gravity'll help a bunch.

Put some sort of lip on the ends of the plank that'll hook into your tailgate slot. That'll keep the planks in place.

I've used this method to load a BMW K1100. That's much heavier than my P200E...

Good luck!

[uwe]

Let's call Jesse from Monster Garage!

[drboyd]

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