I've got an engineering problem, I'm looking for solutions to carrying a KTM on the back of this lorry.

The main issues are

how to get it up,
how to get it down,
how to secure it
how to get access to the rear door without having to get the bike down

I'm brainstorming this with various parties but could do with a bit of inspiration. The bugger is the height of the back of the lorry (a good 5 foot)

You key difficulty seems to be the back door. Most trucks set up with bikes on the back have a side door instead. There seem to be quite a few designs including mounting a sliding frame on the back with a small winch mounted at the top. Your key challenge will be that the frame would also need to be hinged to one side, similar to a rear wheel carrier to enable it to move to one side. Aside from the challenge of creating a sliding frame going up and down that can also hinge sideways which wouldn't be insurmountable, the key aspect will be whether the frame of the vehicle could support this level of weight on the hinge. Alternative approaches could be either looking at whether you could mount the bike up front on the bull bar instead - doesn't seem as great but you do see a few overland trucks with this set up. Another option could be relocating the door - could you create a side access and not have to use the rear door as this will significantly simplify your engineering challenge.

(Picture isn't loading, tends to happen on this PC so presuming answer makes sense with picture)

I've seen some photos of Peter at Bikers Home in the desert with a somewhat similar arrangement on either a Daf 4400 or a Unimog. He had what looked like a roof-mounted hoist. Perhaps he can suggest something?

Does it have to go across the back--could it be mounted on the side?

Tim

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

I've been pondering the same problem on my land-rover 109 forward control.
The idea I was planning but haven't carried out yet (far more basic mechanical work to do) was to have a rear mounted winch that could be used for rearwards recovery (often you don't want to go deeper into the mire) coupled with a simple L frame on the roof that can swing out and have the winch cable ran over it to lift the bike. It would also raise and lower the twin spare wheels I've got on the back. My truck has the advantage of no rear door.
Some people reckon having no rear door is more secure as you can keep an eye on side doors easier, paranoia possibly.
Sorry for the lack of photos but it's too dark outside work hours.

Go the whole hog and have a hydraulic tailgate loader fitted, double as a bike carrier, put some cutouts in the floor for the wheels to sit in, tie down eyes, rear under run of course, and a personal lift up to the rear door. I can see the lift function being a better "chic puller" as climbing up a ladder into the back of your truck will be a turn off!!

Tieman Industries > tailgate loaders

I'm looking at the possibility of a single column light weight tail lift.............yet to find one though

Hello Gimp, How’s the headroom in your box ?
I would have thought you lose a stack of storage space with those angled sites, most camper conversions use those top corners for cupboards. Not to mention all that bonnet length which could be living space (shudagotaGAZ ;-) )

How to carry the tender to your yacht:
It might have been a 2 stroke, I’m not a bikespotter, but I have seen a motorbike mounted vertically on the back of an overland truck.
The rack consisted of a U section that slid in a larger U vertically on the back of the truck.
A picture’s worth a thousand words so take a look at the attachment (sorry about the appalling handwriting):

For lowering and raising, only the front wheel clip held it, but once up, the bike was secured laterally with a big ratchet strap which crossed a specially prepared spot between the tank and the seat, anchored wide on the truck’s back wall. He really cranked down on the strap, and the u in a u didn’t rattle at all.
You can make the outer u long enough for the inner U to reach the ground without derailing.

I like the idea of rerouting the rear mounted winch cable so as not to double up on electrical kit (the logic behind mounting a winch on the back is impeccable; you know that where you’ve been is driveable)

I don’t know motorbikes well enough to know if a 4 stroke with its sump can put up with vertical storage but I can’t see why not, when you consider what an off-road bike goes through in use.
Good luck
Luke
(I’ve been lurking on your fun and friendly forum for a bit, but my dream vehicle is Czeck, not Russian, and until She lets me get one I wouldn’t have much to contribute)

Attached Files

bike rack.pdf (18.8 KB, 434 views)