Ramp Surface

[RiderBloke]

Well we are enjoying our 26RR. In the 14 months we have owned it I have towed it 5,500 miles and slept in it for 174 nights as I wintered in Florida working with Habitat. The bike (BMW F800GT) has done most of those miles in the back and I am very happy over all with the setup and the weight distribution as I journey. The trailer has been very good on the road and both my wife and I like it a lot. She has only slept in it for a couple of weeks because she has to work to pay for all this 😜.
My one gripe or rather worry is the ramp surface when unloading the bike. (Loading is a no worry exercise.) A friend taught me how he does it and it works OK but my heart rate goes up considerably during the exercise. Never touch the front brake; have the motor running and the bike in gear and use the clutch as the brake; go down as straight as you can. I keep the motor running in case it stops where my feet don't touch the ground, usually right at the bottom of the ramp - with the motor running I can always go forward up the ramp a bit and have a second (or third) go. That's where the adrenalin pumps very hard. So far no issues 😛 (except I did drop the bike in the grass in Dade City after it was out as I rode around to get it under the awning). 😡
So all this is to ask: Has anyone found a way to make the surface of the ramp much less slippery to a bike tyre? It looks and feels fairly rough but in reality is just a smooth surface to the tyres.


Sent from somewhere on the face of the earth with my iPad/iPhone using Forest River Forums
2014 Toyota Tundra towing 2016 Grey Wolf 26RR hauling BMW F800GT
73 nights camping & 3990 miles towing in 2015

[zuterbru]

Hey Riderbloke, what I normally do when unloading a bike is have the engine off and in gear sitting on it riding it down. That way when you are rolling back you use the clutch for your rear brake controlling your speed, and of course you use your front break if needed but your speed will be low. Learned this years ago with dirt bikes while walking along, you can let go of the clutch and it is like the breakaway on the trailer.
I have never heard of having the motor running and then use the clutch for the rear brake, sounds dangerous to me. The front tire locks up pretty quick as I am sure you have noticed since there is not much of a load on it. Give it a try this way you will feel much safer.

[RiderBloke]

Originally Posted by zuterbru

Hey Riderbloke, what I normally do when unloading a bike is have the engine off and in gear sitting on it riding it down. That way when you are rolling back you use the clutch for your rear brake controlling your speed, and of course you use your front break if needed but your speed will be low. Learned this years ago with dirt bikes while walking along, you can let go of the clutch and it is like the breakaway on the trailer.
I have never heard of having the motor running and then use the clutch for the rear brake, sounds dangerous to me. The front tire locks up pretty quick as I am sure you have noticed since there is not much of a load on it. Give it a try this way you will feel much safer.

Thanks, I'll try it that way next time.
Ride safely.


Sent from my iPhone somewhere on the face of the earth using Tapatalk

[zuterbru]

You will feel much safer, because you will be able to control the speed really easily, try it on a level surface or slight incline to get the feel of it. My next project is getting my K75 in my 26rr. Going to have to go back to putting the ATV in the back of the truck but I am OK with that since I will have both my toys with me.

[northstar1960]

the more you load and un load the easier it gets . for me it's ride it in and back it out , always with engine running and in 1st gear heading in and out . i have a 950 lbs vulcan 2000

[RiderBloke]

Originally Posted by northstar1960

the more you load and un load the easier it gets . for me it's ride it in and back it out , always with engine running and in 1st gear heading in and out . i have a 950 lbs vulcan 2000

Yep. That's what I've been doing for the year or so I've had the trailer. I only keep the engine running coming out in case it doesn't roll far enough for me to get my feet down as we get to the bottom of the ramp.
Take care.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[RiderBloke]

Originally Posted by zuterbru

You will feel much safer, because you will be able to control the speed really easily, try it on a level surface or slight incline to get the feel of it. My next project is getting my K75 in my 26rr. Going to have to go back to putting the ATV in the back of the truck but I am OK with that since I will have both my toys with me.

In case you are looking at how and where to tie the K75 in have a look at my earlier thread from last year where I detail the extra floor rugs I added and how I tied the HF wheel chock in. It has worked out very well and still allows me to use the trailer when I am traveling.
Take care.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[rmac04401]

I ride mine in in 1st gear running, then Not running riding out. I have loaded and unloaded many times.

[zuterbru]

Yep Riderbloke I saw that, plan on doing that myself, pretty good post. Glad to hear it is still working for ya.